Thanks for a music article I want to read. It seems that every magazine or website I like is trying to ram hip hop down my throat. There's something reassuring in musicians actually writing songs and playing instruments.

Kanye West on the cover of Time ? I haven't picked up that magazine since.

I mean that literally and figuratively.

Neil has managed to avoid the fate of settling into the comfortable posture of an oldies act. Meanwhile, his sometime bandmates C, S and N haven't sung anything new in 30 years. Some of his new stuff has trouble finding traction with audiences, but that doesn't mean it isn't good. It is admirable that he continues to look for new ways to express himself musically.

Neil Young is one of rock's true innovators. I'm glad he is still out there doing his stuff. I cannot wait to see this film.

Thanks for the review, Steph!

Thanks for the Perry Como article. It seems that every magazine or radio station I like is trying to ram rock & roll down my throat. There's something reassuring in musicians with good voices actually singing melodies.

Neil Young on the cover of Time ? I haven't picked up that magazine since.

Now, I like hip hop in small doses, and I admit to only having heard Kanye West a few times. Kinda liked it, too. But here's the thing -- I constantly hear him described as "incredibly talented, "immensely talented", "hugely talented", etc etc etc. This phenomenon is not limited to West, of course -- the term "talented" is flung about with wild abandon in the hip hop world, to the point that I wonder whether those who fling it are trying to convince me of this contention, or if they're trying to reassure themselves.

By way of comparison, it's completely unnecessary to describe Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, or Ben Keith as "talented" -- it quite literally can go without saying. As Zacharek shows, the writer's task in considering musicians like these is to describe how they're applying their talent. Merely asserting that one has divined "talent" from their efforts would do them an injustice. Seemingly not so in West's case.

This is not to say that lyrical flow and the ability to choose the right sample and hire the right producer aren't talents, mind you. And, like I said, I enjoy some hip hop. But it's a lesser form -- I don't kid myself about that.

TM

That's so right.

RK

Seeing Neil Young perform "Greendale" live was the most fun I've had since....since....seeing "The Last Waltz"

I waited in the rain, then sat in the rain to see Neil perform in Atlanta's chastain park. I had loved Neil's music top to bottom and was extremely eager to see him in this semi-intimate venue. This was a Greendale tour and frankly, the music was a little dull, monotone, and not inspiring at all. But there I sat in the rain, hanging on each note, waiting for it to get a little better but enjoying it all the same.

Neil began a solo acoustic number about mid-way through the show and about two or three verses into the song, he stopped. He then proceeded to say the following "I used to play in vegas but I stopped because I could'nt stand to have people talking over my music while I played. It's nice to see there's a little bit of vegas in atlanta" from which he then gets up, puts his guitar back, and then goes into some other song with the full band.

I was pissed. Rain still falling on my head and this jackass has the nerve to criticize people for talking rather than recognize that maybe, just maybe, his music had lost an edge that captivated these same people. An edge that would make them sit in the rain and still want to listen, even if it wasn't as good as it used to be.

I still love his music but, the man.....just a little less after that.

I think this review says it all...his new stuff just doesn't have the same edge and it's his old stuff that pulls him through.

But he has too much character for that. I caught lightning in a bottle once in Chastain Park-they did not allow tables so the the Bobo Yuppies couldn't talk throughout the performance-but that was James Taylor.

Greendale was a little slow but he cranked up the second set in KC on a Saturday Night.

I can't wait to see the movie.

So it's Neil Young's fault that a bunch of self-absorbed creeps can't keep their mouths shut during the concert. If he was really, really good, they'd be listening. I live in the Atlanta area, and I know that the offensive loudmouths at Chastain Park are the same little losers who yak it up to their friends on their cell phones at the Braves' games, at the High Museum, at the restaurants, and everywhere else their tiny little hearts take them.

Since I've read two responses to my letter rather than the article itself....

I guess this falls into whether you think an artist is an entertainer. I think in Neil's case he's both and I think smart ones know when to be self indulgent and when to give them what they want. I think it was clear while I was there that no one wanted what Neil was giving (and I say this as a fan of his music). Frankly, I was waiting for him to abandon the Greendale set altogether and play something to get the crowd into it but alas, apparently that makes me a selfish bobo(?) yuppie who doesn't really "get" Neil. I fail to see how a musician can't move away from the planned set and just play what fits the given situation. Heck, he ended the night with one of his hits but by that time, I was over it. I just think I expected him to see what the crowd was like and maybe adjust to fit the evening (a crappy, rainy night that people wanted to escape). But, again, maybe I am just a selfish yuppie (I don't think I am but...oh well, I stand by my opinon anyway)

Either way I think it was a little self indulgent to react the way he did given the circumstances.