Rating: 6/10
Genre: Rock/Folk Rock
Not many artists are lucky enough to reach true legend status. Even fewer are able to have a career span over 40 years and maintain the same level of relevance as when they started. So it is no small feat that at 65 Neil Young has released his 33rd album Le Noise. Produced by Daniel Lanois "Le Noise" is somewhat of a departure from Young's trademark folk rock sound and a step in a new direction. Stripped of all his backing it is just Young and his guitar for company as the record unfurls around you.
The music is on display here is some of Youngs most interesting and challenging of recent years. The heavy distorted guitar sound and echoey vocals is very different from the usual acoustic ballads that adorn his solo records. Le Noise sounds more like a spaced out Young and Crazy Horse collaboration with the heavy guitar tones stealing the show and making each track that little more epic. Whilst a vast improvement on his 2009 effort fork in the road, which was a rather shambolic cliched rock n roll record about driving fast cars, Le Noise is still far from Young's greatest achievement. Overall the effects and overlaps of guitars and vocal tracks blur much of the album together making it hard to pick out where one song ends and another begins. The distortion also gives this record a very sparse feel leaving the listener feeling almost disconnected from it. As ever Young's voice is on top form when it breaks out from behind the wall of noise and his lyricism is as personal and affecting as ever which is especially notable on tracks such as "Hitchhiker" and "Love and War".
Overall Le Noise is a brave release for Neil Young. Whilst it is nowhere near his best work it is still worth exploring and a welcome sign that there may well be life in the old dog yet.
Download: "Love And War" "Hitchhiker"
No comments:
Post a Comment