from:
livingwithwar.blogspot.com
My review of Living With War (SDC)
Posted by: CaptainShampoo (---.socal.res.rr.com)
Date: April 22, 2006 06:53PM
And so I got a chance to hear the Neil Young record last night at Reprise.
IÕve been waiting for a great protest record about this fuckin war and
I wasnÕt about to wait another week to hear it on the internet.
So here's the report.
Simply put, Neil Young rocks the house like a mother fucker on a
mission from God. Neil is focused, angry and on target.
Neil turns up the distortion like only Neil can. It has the best
guitar tones of Ragged Glory, but donÕt look for the long jams. Neil
has too much to say.
The drumming here is urgent and goes places Crazy horse has never gone.
And then thereÕs this trumpet, which turns out to be a perfect
compliment to NeilÕs relentless guitar.
Musically, it's an assualt.
Lyrically, well same thing.
I was moved the most by ÒLetÕs Impeach the PresidentÓ. By this point
in the record, the reason that America needs a new leader is obvious.
Neil comes up with his strongest melody for this song, and 100 voices
all come in from the top of the song. It sounds like the whole country
is singing it. The melody is strong enough so you can sing along by the
2nd verse.
ÒFlags of FreedomÓ parallels DylanÕs ÒChimes of FreedomÓ, and even
calls out Dylan by name.
The record ends with America the Beautiful. No instruments, just 100
voices. I knew it was coming, yet you couldnÕt help but be moved. And
you couldnÕt help but wonder what the ***** happened to America?
I am certain this will be remembered as one of NeilÕs greatest
records. No record of his has ever sounded more urgent, more timely,
and with more to say.
I need to hear it again.
--
"I gotta get out of this place, it's all liberals here."
-Timothy McVeigh
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