• From: The House Of Rock
  • Registered: 2006-06-18
  • Posts: 760

Topic: Neil Young Fans Say New Album So Bad It Shouldn't Be Released

The Guardian UK is reporting that Neil Young has announced the release of a new album, and no one could be more distressed than his fans.

For months now, Young obsessives have been awaiting the release of Archives Volume 1 – a vast library of early recordings, in the form of 10 Blu-ray discs. This week, however, reports have emerged that an album of new Neil Young material – called Fork In the Road – will pre-empt Archives, pushing its February release back into spring.

Often, this would call for celebration. Who needs old material when you are being offered shiny, new songs by a music legend? Alas, that's not what Neil Young's fans seem to be thinking. They have heard these new songs – on Young's recent tour, or in a new viral video – and let's just say they don't like them very much.

"Would a record company actually listen to this garbage and then agree to release it?" asked one fan at the popular Thrasher's Wheat site. "At some point, they're going to have to take a stand – right? I'm actually rooting for the record company here."

With Fork In the Road, Young seems to be exploring three things – dirty blues, direct lyrics, and his LincVolt electric car project. That all sounds well and good until you hear the opening lyrics of the title track.

"Got a pot belly," Young sings, "It's not too big / Gets in my way / When I'm driving my rig."

The video – clearly a webcam recording of Old Shakey chomping on an apple, mouthing along, cotton buds in his ears – doesn't inspire much confidence. A few minutes in, he sings about blogging. Later in the video he plays air guitar as a flat-screen TV seems to be repossessed. Commentary on the financial crisis? Maybe. Revelatory rock music? Says a fan of his for the past 20 years: "This new stuff is simply the most tired music I've ever heard from Neil."

Neil Young's spokesperson confirmed to Rolling Stone that the "timeliness of the subject matter" on Fork In the Road meant that it would be released soon, probably postponing Archives and the highly anticipated lost album Toast. "It seems logical," the spokesperson said, "but that hasn't been confirmed yet.

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  • From: Massachusetts
  • Registered: 2007-10-23
  • Posts: 1,929

Re: Neil Young Fans Say New Album So Bad It Shouldn't Be Released

I saw this video yesterday and thought it was hysterical.  Yes, Neil looks ancient, but he certainly still has his opinions and is not afraid to state them.  He actually makes a funny comment about his sales being in the trash, but thanks his fans.  Also (Jane will love this) he makes a comment about current radio.  I thought the apple music player was a scream!

Neil will always be Neil.  He does what HE thinks is right.  Remember Greendale a few years ago?   To me he is a musical storyteller.  He has  created so much great music in his lifetime that in my book he's allowed to be a little crazy once in a while. 

I was going to post a link to the video yesterday, but thought it might be considered too political.  Thank you Keith for posting about it here in such a correct way.

Sandy

"There's a lot of people that are in so much of a hurry to be, I guess, to be famous or that they don't want to take the time to learn to play and do all that.They'd rather just knock it down off a computer and maybe get on a game show and get famous..That's fine if that's what you want to do.
"We're more old school than that. We like creating the sounds."  - Tom Petty
  • eva
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  • Registered: 2007-03-15
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Re: Neil Young Fans Say New Album So Bad It Shouldn't Be Released

samjp4 wrote:

I saw this video yesterday and thought it was hysterical.

Sandy sent me the link and I also couldn´t stop laughing while watching this video.... it´s really hysterical!

I think Neil Young´s job is to alienate people from time to time to wake them up - even his fans obviously...it doesn´t look like he will ever stop doing that. big_smile

Can´t say much about the quality of the music though, because I have only heard the Fork in the Road song so far.

Eva

  • suhl
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  • From: Springfield, IL
  • Registered: 2007-01-27
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Re: Neil Young Fans Say New Album So Bad It Shouldn't Be Released

i love neil young.  his last album was nothing to write home about.  ragged glory is in my top five albums ever, possibly number one.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fCdNsm7gvu8

If wine and pills were hundred dollar bills
I might keep you satisfied

suhl's Website

  • Registered: 2006-12-28
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Re: Neil Young Fans Say New Album So Bad It Shouldn't Be Released

I picked up Prairie Wind awhile back, and that one didnt overwhelm me either...but I see Neil when I can, he does his annual Bridge School Benefit in Oct, Ive misssed the last three though...by the way, I never seen 15,000 people stop cold, and listen to Tom Waits, his voice just sent chills through your body....the musicians that show up for Neils benefit are astounding!...I'll always be a huge fan of Neil Young, I just respect the man

Shred

  • Registered: 2006-12-28
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Re: Neil Young Fans Say New Album So Bad It Shouldn't Be Released

I thought I'd share one of my favs from Neil, youngster he was

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq0tAoO3 … re=related

  • From: Gnashville, TN
  • Registered: 2007-02-14
  • Posts: 198

Re: Neil Young Fans Say New Album So Bad It Shouldn't Be Released

Neil is apparently at the point in his life that no matter what he does people will give him credit for "shaking things up".....

anyone else it'd just be a crappy album

"why isn't the number "11" pronounced "onety one"???....S. Wright.

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  • suhl
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  • Registered: 2007-01-27
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Re: Neil Young Fans Say New Album So Bad It Shouldn't Be Released

Shredit wrote:

I picked up Prairie Wind awhile back, and that one didnt overwhelm me either...but I see Neil when I can, he does his annual Bridge School Benefit in Oct, Ive misssed the last three though...by the way, I never seen 15,000 people stop cold, and listen to Tom Waits, his voice just sent chills through your body....the musicians that show up for Neils benefit are astounding!...I'll always be a huge fan of Neil Young, I just respect the man

Shred

waits and young are amongst the best songwriters of all time.  so hard to choose between the two.  i give the edge to waits just for sheer imagination and variety, but like i said ragged glory might just be the best album ever made.  but then rain dogs is great too.  i love waits and young and would love to see them both at the same time. 

and last guy, i make no excuses for an all time great making a shite album.  bad is bad, what i do say is if they already have  good enough back catalogue to be sealed as one of the best ever im not going to let a bad new album take anything away from that.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fCdNsm7gvu8

If wine and pills were hundred dollar bills
I might keep you satisfied

suhl's Website

  • From: Northern Shenandoah Valley
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 143

Re: Neil Young Fans Say New Album So Bad It Shouldn't Be Released

Ha ha ! What happened, did the majority of Neil's fans finally get too old to smoke pot everyday, and now they just don't get it ?  ha ha !

Rock on Neil !!!!!

  • suhl
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Re: Neil Young Fans Say New Album So Bad It Shouldn't Be Released

Shredit wrote:

I thought I'd share one of my favs from Neil, youngster he was

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq0tAoO3 … re=related

that's one of the best songs ever written

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fCdNsm7gvu8

If wine and pills were hundred dollar bills
I might keep you satisfied

suhl's Website

  • Curby
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Re: Neil Young Fans Say New Album So Bad It Shouldn't Be Released

Neil's volume of work speaks for itself.  If all he ever did was Harvest, he'd still be in the Rock And Roll HOF.  "Old Man" I want played at my funeral.

12 Reply by gsj

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  • From: North Essex, England
  • Registered: 2006-09-21
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Re: Neil Young Fans Say New Album So Bad It Shouldn't Be Released

Haven't heard the new one but 'old school' Neil has a regular place on our turntable at home. Damn, we even waltz to some of it....couple of ol' shuffling hippys smile

never give up, never slow down
never grow old, never ever die young
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Neil Young Fans Say New Album So Bad It Shouldn't Be Released

Isn't Neil Young notorious for making albums that aren't great? Like he's constantly trying to screw over the record companies that want nothing more than Keep on Rocking in the Free World Pt.II

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
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  • Registered: 2006-12-28
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Re: Neil Young Fans Say New Album So Bad It Shouldn't Be Released

suhl wrote:
Shredit wrote:

I thought I'd share one of my favs from Neil, youngster he was

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq0tAoO3 … re=related

that's one of the best songs ever written

Yep smile

  • suhl
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Re: Neil Young Fans Say New Album So Bad It Shouldn't Be Released

i'm telling any neil young fan that doesnt have ragged glory get it.  imo it is better than harvest though i doubt people will share that opinion.  either way it is an absolute classic.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fCdNsm7gvu8

If wine and pills were hundred dollar bills
I might keep you satisfied

suhl's Website