Living With War (Vinyl) [Import]

 

 

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The issue of Neil Young's politics has been a contentious one ever since he put out "Ohio" as part of CSNY waaaaaaay back in 1970, a powerful song that definitely dumped Young into the bleeding heart liberal category of rockers. This is the man who gleefully announced Nixon's resignation onstage four years later, but also stated "Even Richard Nixon has got soul" in his 1976 song "Campaigner". For a Canadian (who maintains his Canadian citizenship, no less, even though he's resided in the States since the mid sixties), NY got extremely patriotic and jingoistic towards America by the time of 1980's "Hawks And Doves"; he then went on to spend most of the decade supporting and praising the hardline conservative Reagan administration, to the dismay of many fans and critics.

But so much for the history lesson...coming on the heels of the remarkable "Prairie Wind" album, NY brings us "Living With War", recorded over four days with his Prairie Wind rhythm section, as well as a 100-voice choir and trumpeter, both of which add very distinct melodic touches to these ten tracks. From a musical standpoint, one has to wonder why Young didn't make this record with Crazy Horse, since musically it would be right up the Horse's alley (minus the ten minute guitar solos). Anyway, as was mentioned everywhere from CNN to Jon Stewart's "Daily Show", "Living With War" is essentially a ten song rant about the failures of the second Bush administation post-9/11 and especially their adventures in Iraq. On this album, Neil Young makes his feelings about these issues painfully clear, he is clearly against the war, and his outspokenness on the subject should endear him to the left wing/anti-war movement everywhere. In a Neil Young context, "Living With War" is a sometimes sardonic, empathetic, variation on "This Note's For You" (his anti-rock commercialization rant from the late 80's) drawn out to album length. In that respect, the only other NY album I could compare it to that has a thematic thread running through it would be "Tonight's The Night".

One has to salute Neil Young's courage and artistic integrity in bringing this record out. Having the nerve to actually write and put out a song called "Let's Impeach The President" (which even features some choice sampled soundbites of George W in the solo) has undoubtedly won Neil Young his own file at Homeland Security, but I doubt he cares too much, feelings I'm sure NY emphasized by taking "Living With War" on the road with CSNY on the aptly-named "Freedom Of Speech" tour. I've often said, since "Living With War"'s release that nobody has been criticizing Neil Young the way they did the Dixie Chicks for sharing the same views; after all, all the Dixie Chicks did were make a remark or two at a concert yet they still recieve death threats (and, overall, their career has suffered ever since, in the biggest popular music firestorm since John Lennon said The Beatles were more popular than Jesus). I have yet to see anyone burn their old copies of "Harvest" in protest against the new Neil Young album.

Editorializing aside, it must be said that, a) if you are a fan of NY's grunge-style music and b)happen to share the same views on Iraq, the War On Terror and Bush in general, you will like this album. As an artistic statement, it is an impressive work. Yet I doubt "Living With War" will ever be found in a list of the top five Neil Young albums as it is the exact opposite of the timelessness of the rest of Young's repertiore. "Living With War" is very 2006, which is probably it's biggest downside. Having said that, though, I'll take it over the "Hawks And Doves" jingoism any day.

Living with War is Neil Youngs latest and probably strangest album he's ever done. Some of the old rockin' hippies style and guitar flare is evident here but from a purely musical and artistic standpoint the album feels and sounds a little empty.

However, from a lyrical and spiritual perspective, one gets nothing but the honest truth and a powerful cry for justice and freedom for America and the world.

Some of the tracks sound and feel a little silly, (a little forced as well.) That's about the only thing that is obvious. Neil gets very personal and is purely sympathetic throughout the album for the victems of War and serious human problems like poverty, senseless death, children scarred and so on. The messages within the lyrics speak volumes. Very high conscience for the suffering that this latest American v.s. Iraqi conflict has inevitably created.

Also there is a genuine all out attack on President George Bush.

And most importantly, a great cry for peace and brotherhood.

Largely the album is enjoyable do to the force of intent that you feel Neil has expressed in this album. To do something to help and to give an answer and to really say something, but every track feels rushed and not very well played or thought out at all. It sort of comes across as a demo. The best song on the album for me was the good ole "America the Beautiful" which is all gospel in its rendition and has no Neil in it that is audible.

Its an anti-war album with class and good intentions but its a big splash in stead of a smooth ride. Not the best of Neils work. Its an obvious album to enjoy if you are anti-war but the album in its entirety is not fabulous. Neils character as an artist is never in doubt but the songs seem too out of synch with 2006. Plenty of references to the sixties and its anti war movement is brought into play but Neils lately more accustic sound since the 1993 Harvest Moon album and more recently Prairie Wind, stands in stark contrast to the blaring rockin' guitar solos of Neil in this album.

To sum it up, Neils social conscience is there as plain as day and tugs at the heart strings but don't expect to be singing along as the albums songs are a bit too wild and eccentric.

If the album were acoustic and the songs written and played and arranged more along the lines of his most recent albums which are fantastic in everyway, then this album might be excellent but its only interesting and mildly exciting for my taste.

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