Neil Young - Songs For Judy

Neil Young - Songs For Judy - Album Review

Whilst Shakey's new output has been patchy to say the least over the last few years, the Neil Young Archives keep dispensing the goodness. After "Hitchhiker" last year we've already had "Roxy: Tonight's The Night Live" in 2018. Now we get a 23 track, 22 song single disc of solo live Neil with a difference.

A mono soundboard mix recorded on cassette and then transferred to reel-to reel for posterity from a 1976 U.S. tour by photographer/guitar tech Joel Bernstein. In conjunction with his friend Cameron Crowe, (yes, that Cameron Crowe) they compiled the best versions that comprise this release.

It is a real treat. The track listing is superb with plenty of lesser known gems alongside the staples. "White Line", which didn't finally appear on record until 1990's superb "Ragged Glory".

"Human Highway" which Neil introduces with a comment about the abortive attempts to get it recorded.

"Give Me Strength" which surfaced on an official recording for the first time last year on the aforementioned "Hitchhiker", is followed by an interesting version of "A Man Needs A Maid" which appears to feature the lead line from the "Like A Hurricane" during the intro.

"Journey Through The Past", "The Losing End" and "Here We Are In The Years" complete the lesser know songs that make this a highlights package. For the Neil fan getting these songs in at a better quality than the already available bootlegs is great, and the sleeve notes from Bernstein and Crowe really add to the overall package.

Alongside the aforementioned "Roxy" this makes a fine pair of archive releases from Neil this year. Here's hoping for more of the same in 2019.

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After "Weird Ways" heads for the stars we stay there with "Hyperspace Blues" which is one for fans of Jason Pierce's Spiritualized, and sounds just as a song with that title s…

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However, sometimes it is okay to believe the hype..
The 4th solo album from Jenny Lewis is an example of the old adage that misery makes for great art, and is another entry into the canon of great break-up albums.
It is crammed with catchy melodies, expert playing and excellent, if sometimes just a little too cool for school, songwriting. Right from the very start with "Heads Gonna Roll" the sweetness of the melodies is leavened with a perfectly judged dose of underlying menace and bitterness.
Mention has to be given to the Hammond solo from Benmont Tench on this track. The tone is deliciously fat and filthy in the best possible way.
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Tuscaloosa by Neil Young & The Stray Gators - Album Review

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No 1: featuring "Land Of Hope & Dreams" by Bruce Springsteen here

No 2: featuring "Look On Down From The Bridge" by Mazzy Star here

No3: featuring "Gonna Be A Darkness" by The Jayhawks here

With that said here's my next choice.

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This so…

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Morbid? I think not, as death is part of life. If we all talked about it a little more, maybe we'd cope with it better.

No 1: featuring "Land Of Hope & Dreams" by Bruce Springsteen here

No 2: featuring "Look On Down From The Bridge" by Mazzy Star here

With that said here's my next choice.

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