Customer Reviews

Greendale 2nd Edition (Bonus Dvd)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Don't let anyone fool you, this album is fantastic! It is one of Neil's best in years. I bought the 1st edition with the acoustic concert as the bonus DVD, I bought the 2nd edition with the studio footage as the bonus DVD, I even bought the Greendale movie. Never once have I had second thoughts. Although the CDs in edition 1 and 2 are the same, it is the DVD that are really worth the purchase price and it is the CDs that are the bonus. I have been listening to and playing Neil Young and Crazy Horse for twenty years and I would say that the last track on the CD "Be The Rain" is unbelieveable. So buy both CDs, buy the movie, you won't regret it.

Ok, just felt I had to defend Neil Young here. First of all, before complaining about having to buy a second cd to get the DVD of "Greendale 2nd Edition", compare it to the prices of other music dvds. It may not be the lowest priced music dvd, but it sure isn't the highest either. If Neil Young was really into "greed himself" as one reviewer suggests, he would have charged $25-$30 for Greendale and for Greendale 2nd Edition. He could have and people would have bought it. It is an audio cd along with a music dvd. A lot of other artists would have.

Also in defense of NY; go to neilyoung.com you can watch the whole thing. Plus it has been shown on VH1, so it is not like shelling out $15 is your only choice.

I won't go in to reviewing Greendale 2nd Edition, I reviewed the original. But I do think that a lot of the criticisms are unfair.

Neil Young has toured almost continuously for the last year in support of Greendale, which was first released in August of 2003. The many shows have featured extensive Greendale paraphernalia -- shirts, jackets, hats etc. The original CD included a bonus DVD of an acoustic performance by Neil of the entire album. Now the CD has been re-released with a different DVD -- this time of footage of Neil and 2/3 of Crazy Horse in Neil's recording studio recording the takes that ended up on the CD. Neil's renewed his Greendale tour and there's going to be a home-style movie of Greendale coming out shortly. And can it be seriously doubted that a DVD of a show or two from the Greendale tour (complete with those rolicking encores) is on the way?

Come on already -- isn't enough enough?

Answer: HELL NO!

Greendale is a great recording -- some of Neil's best music ever, his most coherent single album since "Tonight's the Night" and, far and away, the best *sounding* Neil Young/Crazy Horse record ever recorded. For Neil Young fans, Greendale is the gift that keeps on giving, a humongous feast of an event. And, given that this second CD + DVD combination can be obtained for less than the price of most commercial DVDs, it hardly seems like a money grab.

The DVD is fascinating. The sound of this already-great-sounding record is first rate, offering both Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS options. It's a huge treat to see the original takes as they were recorded -- my only beef is that it would have been nice to see a least glimpses of other takes or break-downs here and there to give a more complete flavor of the recording process, but that's very small beer indeed. It might also have been nice to be able to just watch the studio sessions without the superimposed images from the movie; more boring, one might argue, but compelling as an historical document. The superimposed images have that same wonderfully cheesy quality that I loved about "Human Highway," but every once in a while a moment of unexpected beauty happens on those blue screens.

There is a trend toward more self-documentation by some artists. XTC's last two CDs have been followed in quick succession by additional CDs of session demos. One can only hope that Neil continues in this vein and applies the same archivist mentality to his long-rumored retrospective project.

I've liked the music of Greendale since I first heard it last year. But this second edition with the new bonus DVD totally ROCKS!! The surround mixed sound in high resolution DTS 96/24 and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio really brings a new dimension (literally) to the whole experience. It seems like more there to hear than just the stereo. Then add to that, of course, we get to see Neil and Crazy Horse while they're recording the audio tracks. The use of parts of the upcoming Greendale Movie in the background green screens is very creatively done and brings the story to life. There's also a nice intro with a cool "walk-in" look at Neil's Barn Studio, which has never been seen before to my knowledge. This really sets up the following recording sessions very nicely and puts them in context. I've watched this DVD several times already and I'm constantly seeing new little details that I hadn't noticed before. It's so much fun to watch. Even if you already have the 1st edition, this second edition is well worth having for the DVD alone!

The Second Edition of Greendale is great. Greendale is an album that just keeps growing and the more I listen to it or watch this wonderful new DVD the more impressed I am. Seeing Greendale last summer before the album was even released was an experience that I'm glad I had. We are going to see Neil Young and Crazy Horse perform Greendale one more time in Cleveland. What an impact this whole concept album has been. In a time when confusion and frustration is running rampant in our society it helps put things in a proper perspective for me. Now I have another copy of Greendale to leave in the car and another DVD that is truly amazing to me.

Thank You Neil Young!!!

Everyone knows the story of Greendale by now, but this DVD takes it futher yet again images from the greendale move being played during the actual cuts of Greendale...using greenscreens and other small effects...this DVD takes you on a ride through Neil's mind and how he records...including Crazy Horse of course...the images and small items around the studio give it flavor...plus its fun watching Neil with his Megaphone.

So go out and buy this even if you have the 1st edition you won't be dissapointed...

One thing I forgot the music on the CD is the same as the first edition but the DVD makes it worth buying 2 times..

This album is the esscence of rock n' roll boiled down to it's bare essentials. An amazing feat for a concept record. Neil dug into all the music styles that has made him such a looming figure in popular music, and blended them into one of the greatest albums of his career. There's Blues, Country, Folk, Rock and Protest music all wound together in an unpolished recording that shows that nothing beats the real sound of humans playing music live in front of a few mics. The DVD that comes with the CD makes the package complete. I would suggest getting the first edition of the CD as well to enjoy even more spare live versions of these songs in front of an audience. 1 disc and two DVDs is a ton of value for 30 dollars. Go out and buy it now!

GREENDALE is the most excited I have been about ANY album in a long time. Neil Young and Crazy Horse know how to rock. We all know that. But on this album, their unique chemistry surpasses anything they've done in the past. Neil's long solos are full of soul and filled with heart. Neil and the band have a spontinaity which allows the music to roam free if it feels like it, completely unconcerned with hurrying back to any vocal section. This allows the music to tell the story as much as the lyrics do, and that's one of the wonderful things about GREENDALE.

These songs have love and tenderness written right into them, and these emotions are very well expressed in the performance of both the vocals and the music. For example, unexpectedly, in the middle and again at the end of the song called, "Grandpa's Interview", some harmony vocals unexpectedly join the melody of the ongoing melodic guitar riff, and a few times in a row offer this touching proverb: "Share your lovin' and you'll live so long." which is sung beautifully. And there's a touch of sadness in it because we find in that same song, that such, unfortnately, is not always true.

There is so much to love about the writing, about everyones' musicianship, about Neil's vocals, the great background singers, and about the whole concept of a "musical novel", but now in this 2nd edition... to actually see the album being recorded on the bonus dvd, and to see how well it was blended the initial filming is with the the filming of the overdubs, and with the GREEDALE movie, well... don't be afraid to say it, people. GREENDALE is a masterpiece. The vision and foresight Neil Young had for this project, from the studio to the film to the stage and seeing how he has pulled it all off and made a thorough record of it all is mind blowing!

Neil Young, I think you outdid yourself with this project. GREENDALE brings me joy every time I hear it, as much joy as when I first saw you in concert with CS&N promoting "Ohio" just before it was released. I knew then, and I know now that "that guy singin' this song" writes songs (and now a musical novel) that have a conscience, and that "he" knows how to deliver these meaningful songs as well. And for me, GREENDALE is one heck of a special delivery! Love you, Neil. EVERYONE BUY THIS CD, and pay no attention to the hockey pucks out there who are too musically immature, and who are too fearful of something new to recognize the greatness of this wonderful work, and who apparently can't figure out that buying the 2nd edition of the same cd which comes with a different FREE DVD, is less expensive than buying a new DVD sold seperately! Duh! Every REAL Neil fan has worn out the first CD anyway! Here's hoping Neil Young & Crazy Horse play Philly again if there's a late Spring-Early Summer 2004 leg of the Greendale Tour added! Until then, BUY THIS CD!

Neil Young has created a mastepiece here. The music alone is awsome, the music tells a story that is great. This CD deserves some awards I think. The music here will grow on you each time you listen. Then watch the movie, awsome. This is a sure bet for those of you starving for some fresh tunes. Young Rocks again.

Phil on the East Coast.

I bought the 2nd Edition last week and have spent the entire weekend listening to the CD and watching the DVD multiple times. This is by far the best work from Neil Young in the last decade. The CD is so rich and deep that you hear something new almost every time you put it on. If you truly love music that can touch you deeply, you must buy this CD.