by Sheldon Birnie
Neil Young is back on the Horse. Finally.
Yesterday marked the release of Neil’s latest release, Americana, and the announcement of a Neil Young & Crazy Horse gig at the MTS Centre in November. For fans of The Horse, this has been a long ass time coming. Neil has played Winnipeg on his own, solo with a backing band, and with Crosby, Stills and Nash since I’ve moved to town, but it’s been almost 10 years since I’ve seen him and Crazy Horse in action. Tickets go on sale in two weeks, but I can hardly wait that long.
Hopefully the show is more rewarding than the new album. While Americana has its moments, it’s a far cry from the rugged beauty of Ragged Glory, Zuma, or Broken Arrow. Maybe I haven’t given it enough time, but the novelty of hearing Neil and the boys rock through “Oh Susanna” or “Clementine” is not quite as satisfying as hearing them tear into “Cortez the Killer” or “Loose Change.”
Americana certainly has its moments though. “Wayfarin’ Stranger” is a beauty of a tune, and the arrangement here ranks among some of Neil’s best. “Tom Dula” and “Gallows Pole” really shed light on the dark sides of American folk music, much like Deep Dark Woods do with their contemporary cuts. The disc is certainly worth repeat listening. I’m just not sure I want to throw down cash on the LP just yet.
But one thing is certain: I’ll be throwing down hard cash on floor tix for The Horse’s MTS gig, that’s for sure. Seeing Neil with any other backing band is great, sure. But The Horse has some sort of raw power that is unheard of in today’s musical climate, and has influenced countless acts, from Zeus to Pearl Jam to Eamon McGrath. Opportunities such as this won’t present themselves much longer, friends. See you there.
