Neil Young

Record review

Phases & Stages

Neil Young

Prairie Wind (Reprise)

Like any artist, Neil Young's career is defined by craters and peaks. Following 2003's disjointed Greendale and listless Are You Passionate? before that, Prairie Wind affirms Young's downhill trend. It's a return to his melodic country rock, cousin to two of Young's biggest successes, 1972's Harvest and 1992's Harvest Moon. Dedicated to his recently deceased father, Prairie Wind dwells on loss, dreams, and the passage of time. Melodically, Young creates a comfortable, atmospheric lilt his admirers will instantly recognize. Lyrically, however, Young's lost his way. Simplicity has always been one of his strengths, but tracks like "Here for You" and "No Wonder" feature choruses that are embarrassingly adolescent, while further efforts to make songs timely with references to 9/11 and Chris Rock seem stilted. Still, gently loping opener "The Painter" is bewitching, and the title track is a brooding, yet airy mix of gospel and horns that recalls early Steely Dan; a different direction for Young and one that's unexpectedly organic. Fans will want the special edition of Prairie Wind, whose DVD features footage of the recording sessions, high-resolution audio, and an amazingly complete biography/discography of all the players.

**.5

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