Psychedelic Pill by Neil Young and Crazy Horse

This past Tuesday brought the release of a new album by Neil Young. Not just Neil Young however but Neil Young and Crazy Horse. For any knowledgeable fan of Young's music they know what this has meant in the past. It could mean some incredible recordings such as the famous Live Rust era recordings. It could also mean albums like a couple of the early nineties recordings which were forgettable at best.

While not being a complete washout this album leans to the latter. With eight songs stretched over two discs, and over eighty minutes the album is self indulgent in the extreme.

There are a couple of, if not gems, certainly worthwhile listens on the album. Born in Ontario is a silly little song about just that, where Young was born. More importantly the song Twisted Road is one of Young's best over the recent years. With nods to the first time he heard Dylan's " Like A Rolling Stone" and continued references to Hank Williams and especially The Grateful Dead the song is catchy and if nothing else will make one feel nostalgic.

Another success on the album is For the Love of Man a typical plaintive song from Young which while a nice song still has nothing in it to distinguish it from songs Neil has written ten times in his career.

What is most buzzed about on the album are the songs in which Young and Crazy Horse let loose and riff and riff and riff. Frankly for me, it is too much. For an artist that to me is at his best when he is giving us those incredible lyrics and unique voice I do not need to be reminded for twenty seven minutes as in the abominably long " Driftin Back" that Young and the boys can still jam.

A bit better but still a huge investment in time for what nuggets of joy are imbedded in them are " Walk Like A Giant," and " Ramada Inn." These are not bad songs, indeed some of the lyrics are clever and worth hearing but with these lyrics each being buried in sixteen minutes of guitar pounding solos it is a stretch.

The best that can be said of this album is that it is for Young enthusiasts only. Truthfully however that might be too welcoming as no one would call me anything but a huge fan of Young's music. Even so this is one Psychedelic Pill i do not see myself swallowing again.