Music > Album Reviews

Neil Young - Monsanto Years

15/06/15

Another month, another Neil Young album... Sometimes, even the staunchest of fans must feel that Shakey needs some quality control. Given the seeming avalanche of albums, it is hardly surprising that there almost as many misses as hits. Thankfully, this is one of the hits.

For backup, Young has called upon Willie Nelson’s sons Lukas and Micah plus Lukas’s band Promise of the Real. It’s a good move.

New Day For Love, People Want To Hear and Big Box are all prime chunks of Crazy Horse. Wolf Moon is a rough 'n' ready acoustic number, like a beaten-up After The Goldrush. Rock Star Bucks manages the seemingly impossible by having whistling in a rock song and not sounding shite.

The driving garage-rockabilly-americana Workin' Man and Rules of Change’s folk-rock take on Pixies Monkey Gone To Heaven are the highlights. The slow-burning title track bears a more than passing resemblance to Roky Erikson's work with Okkervil River while If I Don't Know recalls Young’s work with Pearl Jam on Mirror Ball.

This may be Young's best album since Ragged Glory, 25 years ago. It’s certainly the most consistent. Anyone looking for an entry into the often confusing and sometimes frustrating world of Young could do far worse than look at this.

9/10

Released 30.06.15 Neil Young // Monsanto Years Reprise

Another month, another Neil Young album... Sometimes, even the staunchest of fans must feel that Shakey needs some quality control. Given the seeming avalanche of albums, it is hardly surprising that there almost as many misses as hits. Thankfully, this is one of the hits.

For backup, Young has called upon Willie Nelson’s sons Lukas and Micah plus Lukas’s band Promise of the Real. It’s a good move.

New Day For Love, People Want To Hear and Big Box are all prime chunks of Crazy Horse. Wolf Moon is a rough 'n' ready acoustic number, like a beaten-up After The Goldrush. Rock Star Bucks manages the seemingly impossible by having whistling in a rock song and not sounding shite.

The driving garage-rockabilly-americana Workin' Man and Rules of Change’s folk-rock take on Pixies This Monkey's Gone To Heaven are the highlights. The slow-burning title track bears a more than passing resemblance to Roky Erikson's work with Okkervil River while If I Don't Know recalls Young’s work with Pearl Jam on Mirror Ball.

This may be Young's best album since Ragged Glory, 25 years ago. It’s certainly the most consistent. Anyone looking for an entry into the often confusing and sometimes frustrating world of Young could do far worse than look at this.

Pavlis (9/10)