Chrome Dreams II

by

Neil Young

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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.

Actually 3.5 Stars. This is Neils best album since his still underated masterpiece "Sleeps with Angels" but still doesn't rank with his greatest material. Ordinary People is worth the price of the CD by itself. This is a towering epic which I never found the least bit tiresome over its 18 minute length. It is such a strong number that unfortuately some of the other songs on the album suffer in comparison. Neil has done this before -"Like a Hurricane" dominated "American Stars N Bars" and "Shots" did the same on "Reactor". "Don't be Denied" also dominated the earlier "Times Fades Away".

After several plays I however did pick up the magic of some of the other numbers. I agree with another reviewer in that Beautiful Bluebird has a familiarity with Sail Away from Rust Never Sleeps but its a nice enough song. Boxcar, Shining Light,The Believer and Dirty Old Man are also well done and enjoyable and The Way is a bit different. The only tracks I really haven't got into were Spirit Road which didn't seem to go anywhere and No Hidden Path which didn't hold the attention like the longer Ordinary People.

So if your a Neil Young fan (and I am) then you'll enjoy the CD whilst acknowledging that Neil has done better. For the casual listener try the brillant "Sleeps with Angels", "Ragged Glory" or "Freedom" if you want the later material or overwise go back to Neils absolutely classic unmissable albums from the late 60's and 70's. These include "Everyone Knows This is Nowhere", "After the Goldrush",Tonights the Night","On the Beach","Zuma" and probably his all time classic "Rust Never Sleeps". If you prefer his softer side "Comes a Time" is the best of these albums.