rev_m_neilharvestmoon

NEIL YOUNG
Harvest Moon

as reviewed by Jack Crompton at Amazon.com, April 30, 2008

A masterpiece by a totally original, uncompromising artist.

I’ve been a fan of Neil Young since I was an adolescent, when he first appeared with the ground breaking group Buffalo Springfield writing and singing ‘Mr. Soul’, ‘I am a Child’, ‘Expecting to Fly’, ‘On the Way’, ‘Broken Arrow’ and other great, memorable tunes. Although he was in a band with other demonstrably talented artists, there was something about Neil that set him part from all the others. He possessed a voice that expressed a pureness of individuality devoid of masks and pretense.

As I delved further into his music on his voyage into his solo career, his music became very personal to me. There is a quality in his voice that speaks of knowing great pain. There is some kind of ‘tragic romantic’ archetype that he expresses and it touches many people deep inside, many of them probably totally unconscious of it.

Regardless of the romantic over and undertones that his music embraces, what impresses me most about Neil Young is his uncompromising attitude toward his music. He is, what I would say, the truest kind of artist. He always does what he wants to do. He just explores himself, leaving his heart bare as he expresses his art and apparently gives no thought to wether it will be accepted or liked by anyone else or not. Consequently he has created albums that have many tracks that are clearly not very ‘inspired’. Yet, but just ‘getting it out’ he eventually arrives at those few gems that has earned him such a devoted following. He has developed a reputation for being at odds with both his record companies and fellow band mates through the years due to his insistence at doing it his own way, in true scorpio fashion.

Damn, I like his attitude! You gotta respect this guy, even if you don’t love him.

But love him, I do. This recording, ‘Harvest Moon’ was released twenty years after his previously most popular and critically acclaimed record, ‘Harvest’ (1971) and possesses a similar ‘acoustic’ sound and feel to it. I think in many ways this one is far superior, both in songs and in delivery. The album has several really strong tracks on it, starting right from the beginning with ‘Unknown Legend’, a surreal narrative of riding a harley davidson on a desert highway with her long blonde hair blowing in the wind. Young’s capacity of painting vivid compelling imagery with his lyrics is as sharp here as it ever was. It’s followed by ‘From Hank To Hendrix’ and a wonderful romantic ballad, ‘You and Me’.

The star track on this album, ‘Harvest Moon’ then moves to center stage. This is one of those A+ gems, of which Neil has written quite a few over the span of four decades. This is an endearing song with an almost waltz rythmn to it. It’s a story of nostalgic love and reunion. Sweet and tender without being sappy. I think it is only Neil Young that could pull off a song like so well and convincingly of his authenticity. ‘Man of War’ is another Young stand-out and reveals the writer’s characteristic penchant for telling it like he sees it, uncensored.

The album closes with ‘Natural Beauty’... very reminiscent of the ‘Last Train To Tulsa’ from his debut solo record of 1968. Just Neil by himself on acoustic guitar with his voice, this is one of those songs he does that is truly transcendent and haunting. In my opinion, Neil is most impactful with nothing else but his Martin D45 as instrumentation. The tune is a fitting conclusion to this great milestone statement by an artist that has justifiably earned the respect of millions.

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