Chrome Dreams II

Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Neil Young

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 23, 2007)
• Original Release Date: October 23, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Reprise / Wea
• ASIN: B000VEA31Q
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (82 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #8,504 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
What we have here is easily Mr. Young's finest work in years, one that erases the memory of his well-intentioned but anemic 2006 protest album, Living with War. Recorded using analog gear, with Crazy Horse drummer Ralph Molina, pedal steel guitarist Ben Keith, and Rick Rosas on bass, CD2 manages to sound both home-grown and experimental. It's the work of an artist still not afraid to take chances, who also knows what his strengths are and doesn't stray too far from them. Trainspotters will note that three of the ten songs were written but never released before, while we all might puzzle over the title. Chrome Dreams is the name of an unreleased album from 1977. So, why is this Chrome Dreams II? Is it a similar case to 1992's Harvest Moon, when Young went back to the virtual land of his 1972 hit Harvest to write more material in that vein? As the original was reportedly lost in a fire, we may never know. Chrome Dreams II offers up gorgeous, plaintive laments and country-tinged numbers sung in that achy breaky, heart-on-sleeve voice of Young's, as well as ragged barn-storming rockers delivered with a growl. There's even an 18-minute dirge that excitedly mixes R&B back-up horns with searing electric guitar leads! Wow. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Young's Best Album Since 'Freedom', October 23, 2007

By	Joshua Downham (Muncie, IN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you admire the musical genius of Neil Young, then 'Chrome Dreams II' will blow you away. If you are expecting it to be a poor album, then you will be very pleasantly surprised. 'Chrome Dreams II' is not just another good Neil Young album. It is a great, great album and easily Young's best work since 1989's 'Freedom.' It is likely to exceed almost everyone's expectations. It certainly exceeded mine.

The definite highlight is the 18 minute epic "Ordinary People." Although nearly 20 minutes long, it doesn't drag at all. It could've just been a long jam, but there are lyrics throughout. Then there's "No Hidden Path" which takes one back to "Cowgirl in the Sand" and "Down by the River." I cannot recommend 'Chrome Dreams II' enough. It's really spectacular.

30 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Three star album with a 20-minute five-star track, November 8, 2007

By	Robert P. Inverarity (Silicon Valley, California, United States) - See all my reviews

Chrome Dreams II ain't a bad album, by any means. But neither is it a great album - as far as albums go, Prairie Wind is the best in ages, and this doesn't touch it. (I say that as a fan of Old Black-wielding Neil first and foremost, too). It's lumpy - putting an adrenaline-pumping epic like Ordinary People in the #3 spot guarantees that the rest of the album feels slow and uncommitted. Neil isn't as focused as he has been on the last two albums. The album's too long. And, for all the strengths that these songs have, they can't live up to the material that was on Chrome Dreams I. What this album is, and what it should have been called, is Freedom II.

Beautiful Bluebird is a very close rewrite of "Sail Away" from Rust Never Sleeps, itself a rewrite (though not as obviously) of Comes a Time's "Human Highway." Sail Away is so far the superior song that Bluebird feels a little wrong, though it's a sweet, sad little lyric anyway. It dates back to the early 80s, from the original (still unreleased) Old Ways album.

Boxcar is a rerecording of a song from Times Square (an unreleased album from '89). This one improves on the original version - it works better coming from a grizzled old Shakey than the still-young man of 40. The band is great.

Let's get it out of the way: Ordinary People is a priceless contribution to the Neil Young discography. Sure, it uses cliches left and right, introduces very little musical complexity, and piles on anecdotes to the sky, but you know what? It works, and it's true, and it's glorious. The problem, though, is that if Neil had released it as a single, it wouldn't be any less essential than this album is.

(Aside: Ordinary People is a 1988 recording, and it sounds like it. It fits surprisingly well with the rest of these songs, but it's clearly not the same singer, or songwriter, or band. And those 80s synths are pretty distinctive.)

Shining Light is a great 50s-ish ballad, quite a surprising track for Neil. It's really quite moving, but it wilts in the shadow of Ordinary People.

The Believer could well be an Are You Passionate? outtake - it sounds just like an MGs track, but without the MGs - which is to say thin and unconvincing. The lyrics retread AYP to no effect. I really liked about half of AYP, but I skip this.

Spirit Road is a pretty rockin' rocker, but it's a little whiny for my tastes. Again the shadow of Ordinary People makes this seem less worth hearing.

Dirty Old Man is this album's Piece of Crap, but this doesn't have the joy or elan that that had. It seems a little pro-forma and forced. Still fun, though.

Ever After is a quirky little observation that makes me smile. One of the album's hidden treasures.

No Hidden Path doesn't work. Not where it is, anyway. Swap it with Ordinary People in the tracklist, though, and this is a very solid four-star album. Funny how that works. I've seen it compared to "Change Your Mind", but it ain't. It's an attempt, but it doesn't have any lyrical rigor - the words seem made up on the spot, and they don't seem particularly insightful. But it's a lot more likable as part of a slow buildup to Ordinary People.

The Way. I mean, a kids' choir? No way. Well, it works - what can I say? This might be the strongest closing track of any album since Sleeps With Angels - reassuring but not cloying, assured but still questioning.

I burned a resequenced copy of this album after listening through it twelve or so times. My tracklist is Boxcar, Spirit Road, Ever After, Shining Light, No Hidden Path, Dirty Old Man, Beautiful Bluebird, Ordinary People, The Way. Try it out if you're so inclined - it may seem strange, but it works pretty well to my ears. Nothing will make this a five-star album, but it can be a strong four star album. Still, new music from Shakey is always welcome to my ears.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely fantastic like always!, October 26, 2007

By	Rob "Rob" (Roanoke, Virginia) - See all my reviews

I'm a huge Neil Young fan. I've seen him many times in concert and always love how he's adapted his styles and changed without caring what others thought. I love his voice and think it's just beautiful when he wails out and puts all his effort into it.
Owning all his CDs, rarities and even Chrome Dreams I (hard to get) I was ecstatic to hear that this was in release.
I've heard Ordinary People many times before and Boxcar on Times Square so these aren't new to me. First of all, I think Ordinary People is a fantastic song and the 18 minutes moves along at a steady pace that sews together a fabric of different people and lifestyles in our society. Amazing.
Other great songs on this CD are "No Hidden Path" , "Beautiful Bluebird" "Spirit Road" and "Dirty Old Man". "The Way" is a beautiful (albeit different) song and reminds me of "Lost In Space" from Hawks and Doves with the children chorus.
I do hear alot of Stars and Bars in this album, too, which is way underrated.
Seeing Neil in concert November 21st in Toronto at Massey Hall (another great great album!!) and cannot wait. I can't wait to see his hometown Canadians response to him.
Keep going, Neil. You've got a lot to still contribute. Bring on the boxset!