Neil Young
Chrome Dreams II

What an emotion to start writing on DeBaser with a review of Neil Young's latest work!

"Chrome Dreams II" already piques curiosity with its title: Neil in the '70s already had an album titled "Chrome Dreams" ready in his drawer, which, however, was aborted. Fragments of that marvel are scattered in epochal albums like "Homegrown" and "Rust Never Sleeps."

The impression I got is of a quite "unusual" album even if one hundred percent Neil Young. The sound is very beautiful. "Beautiful Bluebird" (a song from the '80s, already performed "live" several times) I've always liked, even made by the International Harvesters, in "country style". In this new rendition, it very much resembles, especially in the intro, "Human Highway". It's slow, enveloping, soft: almost sophisticated. Very enjoyable.

"Ordinary People", (written about twenty years ago and already heard in concerts) is nothing short of incredible and really worth buying the CD. The guitar is acidic and liquid, at times lashing. The brass is less "cumbersome" than in the live versions heard so far and the 18 minutes flow by ...and you don't even notice. It might be twenty years old, but it really doesn't show. Splendid!
Also beautiful is "Box Car" (always a return from the '80s) which loses that "Morricone-esque" aura that has always distinguished the various versions heard up till now on bootlegs, in favor of a more "folk" and true sound. I find the use of the Banjo very apt. "Shining Light" is a heart-wrenching ballad with a slow rhythm and a '50s-style choir. It's pleasant but certainly not one of Young's creative peaks.

"The Believer" seems like an outtake from "Are You Passionate?". Surely, it's not the Young I prefer, but played after "Shining Light", it can give a sense of continuity to the album: the atmosphere is the same.
Complete break instead when the electric "Spirit Road" kicks in. (Just to avoid references, it creates the same effect as when "Are You Passionate?" starts "Goin' Home"). It's beautiful! It has a melody that is immediately assimilated and the guitar is tight. Nothing new, but the song, with its solos, glides away wonderfully.

"Dirty Old Man" is one of those "punk" songs (forgive me the improper term) like "Piece of Crap" or "Fuckin' Up", with an obsessive rhythm that leaves no room for melody. A "hard" song that I would see very well played with Crazy Horse. With "Ever After" the direction changes again. A ballad with a country flavor, simple and sweet as honey. I would define it as "cute" but unpretentious. "Hidden Path" is an electric gem. Neil's guitar flies and gives us magical moments. Together with the extraordinary "Ordinary People" and "Spirit Road", it is the best of the entire work. To be listened to and re-listened to because it reveals itself slowly. At first, it might seem a bit daunting but then it gets into your head and you end up loving it. The concluding "The Way" has a beautiful melody but is irreparably ruined by the children's chorus.

"Chrome Dreams II" exceeds 60 minutes and frankly, it could have done without it: the album would have gained from it. All in all, I find it a good work, an album not thrilling but with definitely above-average points. As an old and hardened fan, I can be satisfied!