Moshkiae
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Review - Neil Young - Journeys (2011)
Neil Young - Journeys (2011) Cinematography by Declan Quinn
Directed by Jonathan Demme Some songs listed: Helpless, Ohio, Down By The River, Rumbling, Love and War, Leia, After The Gold Rush, I Believe In You, You Never Called, Walk With Me. America has never been seen as an important cog in the wheel of progressive, or innovative music. Some groups have come up, and touched up, and then disappeared. You can name one group, and their next album does not fit. This is the way it is in America with its corporate style controls of music ... that prevents the folks that are not in it for the money to do something else. Regardless of what kind of music it is, though some music styles tend to suffer more than others when this happens. The individual work by many folks ends up in the back of the CD store and only a handful of folks that are music fanatics, regardless of what it is, will ever appreciate ... the rest! The tradition of folk music, is the main source of inspiration here for Neil Young, with its outspoken ways and views, is one of those things that will never die, in any country, and somehow, always manages to be seen, found, appreciated ... and loved. The country of origin, is not important ... but when you listen to it all ... it's like you are there, you know the place, and you live and die with it all. Nowadays, this work will, inevitably, be electric and then some.
Many people come and go ... times passes by ... your favorite albums change ... and we don't give a damn anymore. When I moved from Madison, WI to California, I took 10 albums under my arms, because I could not let them go any other way ... they meant something to me, that was valuable, and perhaps that was the musical sensibility that has stood with me all my life ... 40 some years late. It might not mean anything to you ... but as I sat there in front of my computer, listening to this DVD ... I realize how strong, true, and valuable my words are, specially at ProgArchives, for the care, appreciation and love, that some of us had ... for somethings, that eventually ... and in time ... became cynical, stupid and sometimes pathetic. For some of us, those words were important ... it spoke what you wanted to say. "Journeys" is a trip back to the place where Neil spent a lot of time as a kid. And got his start in music. What it does not show anyone, is ... how a kid out of nowhereville, ends up with such an experience and such an ability to play, and then sing ... and let us know how we feel, amidst all the daily everything that is going on in our lives. In 1969 and 1970, in Madison, WI and then just later with the bombing of the building on the campus, there were a lot of things that you were next to ... that were really screwed up ... and then you heard this voice out loud ... and you could not help feel good, right, and know ... it was right, it felt right, and it was valid! This stuff REALLY happened ... unlike so much of the music out there these days, that is inconsequential and basically selfish and meaningless in the middle of the real issue! Progressive music had its inception in these times. It was almost as a result of these things ... the music was more complicated because these situations were not easy ... they were very difficult. The Chicago 7 was an attempt to indict all the different variations of youngsters that the "society" didn't like in America ... but in the end, these folks, were all cleared and the very folks that tried to jail these people as our "leaders" were actually more corrupt than the folks they ahd arrested for subversion and many other things. And the corruption did not stop in Chicago and more than it did in Los Angeles, or other places! And many of these artists and musicians were spokespersons for a lot of these events, in their own way ... so when you hear Neil sing Ohio and show you the 4 people that died, you must realize ... this is not just a song ... this is a sentiment that many of us felt, and it also scared us silly! Many of us did not want to see this Police State doing what we just saw!
Sadly, and more often than not (specially today), we don't care ... you have your lollipop and you suck on it! So what?
This is a solo concert, of Neil and his instruments, on the stage ... and that's it. No frills, no dancers, no backup singers, no drummers, no bull ... and the result is incredible and fascinating, and you know right away, when he hits the chord ... just wrong ... that this is pure, honest feeling ... the kind that you can not buy on the stores anymore because of all the polished studio stuff that smells so hard of windex, or pinesol that you can't stand even looking at it! It's insipid and ugly and is only trying to sound better and prettier than it really is! Sort of like adding perfumes to hide the stink under it all. Or hide it under slick production, so we think that you can play it all and are a better musician than anyone else. There was one thing here, that I loved. And it was that while watching this, I kept thinking of Peter Hammill ... and how he is so uninhibited when he was solo and did his own thing ... the albums were all incendiary, strong and out there ... and Neil is the same way. What was even better, and really shows how much of a progressive musician Neil actually is, but we will never state or think so, comes out when you see him doing these old songs by himself, all 4 or 5 parts mixed into one, and he sings on it by himself. And guess what? ... it's still good, and still shines! If there is anything here, that too many folks fail to see, is that ... there is an answer as to what the music is for. For some, it is ... LIFE ... a veritable painting of who the person is, and this film is directed magnificently by Jonathan Demme as such, and deserves the credit for allowing the stuff to show as it is, and not do any dubs or cuts ... which ... for all intents and purposes, shows one thing that is hard to fathom ... this guy is still with it after all these years. And in the end, it was not only him that "believed in you" ... it was us that also believed in some great work, that was not selfish, idiotic, megalomaniac, or simply ... radio crap. And this guy has shown everyone that you can not beat ... the pure music of the heart ... regardless of what it is called. Absolutely beautiful cinematography by Declan Quinn, in what should be a film that everyone should see and appreciate. Honesty, directness and care, does not come any clearer, stronger, and more beautiful than that! Maybe, what "progressive music" (or any other music for that matter!) is missing these days, is its soul ... instead of ideas of what it is supposed to be. And for that we probably have to go back to the start and learn ... what it all meant ... so we have an idea! All I could say in the end was ... Thx Neil ... it was one of the very first, and most loving looks, I have ever seen at a time and place, and at least one of the folks that helped it all come alive. Not many of us will ever be lucky enough to experience that in their lifetimes!
post edited by Moshkiae - 2013/02/13 08:44:28
As a wise Guy once stated from his holy chapala ... none of the hits, none of the time ... prevents you from becoming just another turkey in the middle of all the other turkeys!
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Guitarhacker
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Re:Review - Neil Young - Journeys (2011)
2013/02/13 08:40:08
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I may have to set aside some quiet time to watch that....
My website & music: www.herbhartley.com MC4/5/6/X1e.c, on a Custom DAW Focusrite Firewire Saffire Interface BMI/NSAI "Just as the blade chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer "
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Moshkiae
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Re:Review - Neil Young - Journeys (2011)
2013/02/13 08:51:23
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Hi, Thx ... there is a type of ego-defrag that something like this does for me. It doesn't put it all in order, but adds perspective. I liked that I knew that I was not the only one, and I knew it, THEN, as well, despite many folks not giving a darn. The hard part, is, when writing/discussing these things, some folks won't like it, because this is so individualistic, as to pretty much tell the digital folks that what you are doing is not necessary at all! Specially when that person does not have it inside in the first place. It's really different. It's not music for a song's sakes. It's a life! And I'm not sure that some folks get that ... or were able in their lifetimes, to take that chance, and try it ... it might not work ... but you will rarely, if ever, regret having tried it! But it also shows you how much some of that music was important when it first came on the FM dial in those days ... because AM radio was only playing the cut up version of Suite Judy Blue Eyes! Which, to me, shows the vanity of the radio/tv world as opposed to giving you something real ... that is right there in front of you ... that sometimes we ignore. And in those days, there were people that didn't think any of that was valid ... in Madison, they were the folks at the ROTC, and others that thought they were Republicans and right wingers ... they didn't care ... they just didn't like long hairs and artists!
post edited by Moshkiae - 2013/02/13 08:56:45
As a wise Guy once stated from his holy chapala ... none of the hits, none of the time ... prevents you from becoming just another turkey in the middle of all the other turkeys!
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The Maillard Reaction
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Re:Review - Neil Young - Journeys (2011)
2013/02/13 09:02:24
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I've finally heard enough interviews with old Neil to realize that I can easily listen to music played by people who are a lot happier about playing it.
:-(
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jamesg1213
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Re:Review - Neil Young - Journeys (2011)
2013/02/13 09:51:30
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Nice review as always Pedro. I've seen a lot of bands in my time, but unfortunately Neil Young and Crazy Horse at Birmingham NEC still rates in the bottom 3..a complete cacophany from start to finish. Couldn't wait to get out.
Jyemz Thrombold's Patented Brisk Weather Pantaloonettes with Inclementometer
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Guitarhacker
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Re:Review - Neil Young - Journeys (2011)
2013/02/13 15:48:55
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jamesg1213
Nice review as always Pedro. I've seen a lot of bands in my time, but unfortunately Neil Young and Crazy Horse at Birmingham NEC still rates in the bottom 3..a complete cacophany from start to finish. Couldn't wait to get out.
I've always thought that was part of the charm of old Neil and CH.....
My website & music: www.herbhartley.com MC4/5/6/X1e.c, on a Custom DAW Focusrite Firewire Saffire Interface BMI/NSAI "Just as the blade chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer "
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Moshkiae
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Re:Review - Neil Young - Journeys (2011)
2013/02/16 10:27:03
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mike_mccue
I've finally heard enough interviews with old Neil to realize that I can easily listen to music played by people who are a lot happier about playing it.
:-(
In the day and age of insipid music, that has as much feeling as a refrigerator, I find his working through a song really good, and despite the miss of a note or two here and there, in the end, the feeling comes out just fine ... and this is something that you can not teach in music ... and is one of its most important and endearing things about rock music in the 20th century. Perfection is an illusion, based on our preferences, and does not, necessarily, have anything to do with the "music" in your heart at all. It goes back to that old joke from Peter Michael Hamel's book ... that guy playing one string on his instrument and saying, happily, that "I got it I got it ... " ... and the folks next to him are going ... what? But you, as an audience, have no idea what that "dream" or "feeling" is! And hope that you can find out one day, so that the "waht" is no longer invisible, and you now can compose and play ... easily! The worst concert I have ever been to and walked out of, was ... Deep Purple, with Leon Russell. Too loud and in the end, DP were out of tune and horrible! Long Beach Arena eons ago! Also walked out of an Ozric Tentacles show here in Portland, because they had no one on the sound, and the band sounded worse than your kids garage band ... at least you know the kids tried, but the folks here that put the show on, had issues with keyboards disappearing, including Ed's in the middle of a song, not enough power at one time and the bass dropping altogether ... you could see the lights go totally off on that side ... it was horrible! And Ed did not get frustrated, but seeing the drummer have to end a song surreptitiously, was really sad and bad. They had no crew whatsoever, or anyone to help them that knew what they were doing!
post edited by Moshkiae - 2013/02/16 13:31:53
As a wise Guy once stated from his holy chapala ... none of the hits, none of the time ... prevents you from becoming just another turkey in the middle of all the other turkeys!
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craigb
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Re:Review - Neil Young - Journeys (2011)
2013/02/16 10:35:14
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Wow, I'm glad I missed that O.T. show! I like them a lot and wouldn't want that impression to stick with me...
Time for all of you to head over to Beyond My DAW!
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The Maillard Reaction
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Re:Review - Neil Young - Journeys (2011)
2013/02/16 11:09:17
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Moshkiae
mike_mccue
I've finally heard enough interviews with old Neil to realize that I can easily listen to music played by people who are a lot happier about playing it.
:-(
In the day and age of insipid music, that has as much feeling as a refrigerator, I find his working through a song really good, and despite the miss of a note or two here and there, in the end, the feeling comes out just fine ... and this is something that you can not teach in music ... and is one of its most important and endearing things about rock music in the 20th century. Perfection is an illusion, based on our preferences, and does not, necessarily, have anything to do with the "music" in your heart at all.
  
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jbow
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Re:Review - Neil Young - Journeys (2011)
2013/02/16 18:26:19
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Neil has done stuff I considered to be GREAT and some I really don't care for. HARVEST and After The Gold Rush stay in my rotation but there are songs on GR that I skip over. CSNY and 4 Way Street were great too... as was CSN.
I have had a lot of his early songs in my playlist (me and my guitar and vox) for many years. The bad I was in in 1970 did Southern Man and I did a solo of Needle and the Damage, I still love playing that one... but my favorite to play and sing is Old Man, I love the transition to the loud vocals, "Old man take a look at my life I'm a lot like you..."
I have been mulling over doing a Young Man version of it... change a few words it should work well. I love doing Tell me Why too... just great music and I can do play the solo, lick for lick, to Cinnamon Girl.
Electric, I like doing Alabama and Powderfinger.
I looked the show up today, at your recommend and it is OnDemand on Comcast... mebbe tomorrow.
Thanks for the heads up!!
Julien
Sonar Platinum Studiocat Pro 16G RAM (some bells and whistles) HP Pavilion dm4 1165-dx (i5)-8G RAM Octa-Capture KRK Rokit-8s MIDI keyboards... Control Pad mics. I HATE THIS CMPUTER KEYBARD!
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jbow
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Re:Review - Neil Young - Journeys (2011)
2013/02/16 19:27:24
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My daughter bought me a copy of Neil's book, Waging Heavy Peace for my Kindle and I have been afraid to read it. I am afraid I will read it and it will completely ruin the whole thing for me but I will give it a try. I'll prepare myself because I like Neil too much to let it ruin his music for me. I cannot fault someone for being passionate about what they believe. You can have Greendale though...
I guess I am what they call "old and in the way" (an old Church joke). I was singing Hank Williams "I Saw The Light" today... unrelated but same sort of great music, really in the same vein I think... and "I'm So Lonesome I could Die".
J
Sonar Platinum Studiocat Pro 16G RAM (some bells and whistles) HP Pavilion dm4 1165-dx (i5)-8G RAM Octa-Capture KRK Rokit-8s MIDI keyboards... Control Pad mics. I HATE THIS CMPUTER KEYBARD!
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Moshkiae
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Re:Review - Neil Young - Journeys (2011)
2013/02/17 12:05:20
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jbow
I guess I am what they call "old and in the way" (an old Church joke). I was singing Hank Williams "I Saw The Light" today... unrelated but same sort of great music, really in the same vein I think... and "I'm So Lonesome I could Die". I am as well in many ways ... although I tend to try and hide/speak from a more literary/artistic historic perspective of things -- which you saw in the review. Like the work my dad was known for, it is "quotidian" ... and this is not something that everyone knows what it is or what it means ... but basically it means that not all creativity is 100% accidental and that there are things, movements and history that helps that piece come about. Neil Young, is an American Peter Hammill ... no biggie there ... and you know where their work comes from ... the inside ... and that's that! A song for song's sakes ... is nothing to me. So, while I may like to hear a lot of things, up to and including this and that and that and that ... many times they fall off the face of the vision of mine, because it is just an empty song ... the vision behind it is ... just a song, not a reality! I think that all of the stuff I like is chock-ful of "meaning", because my whole life has been around literature and art, and all of it ... ALL OF IT ... has some meaning and is the reason why they are remembered! NOTHING, stands out more for us, than when it hits you in the heart ... and you feel it ... and while it is possible that a song can do that to you, or anyone else, generally that song will stay with you all your life -- changes or not -- because it is "a part of you"! This is the reason why some music I won't review or care about ... what am I going to say about it? ... that it is a pretty song for a pretty song's sakes? To me, like most arts, that has always been a sort of experiment, to learn something from it ... and not always necessary ... IF ... you can already see things inside. This is the main reason why the film Woodstock is so important to me ... the music meant something, and in the end, we listen to what is supposed to be the most important piece of music ... and it is done in front of trash! The meaning? ... we don't give a damn, and I believe that Jimi knew it, although he had heard Toni McPhee do Amazing Grace the same way a couple of weeks prior to it in London! (There was a precedent! Or inspiration!). Not only have we forgotten the meaning of it all ... we don't care, and to me that is worse than anything else! Just like there is when we have a topic that has some value to it, and it is interrupted by someone that ... probably doesn't care ... and that has a tendency to bug me, and I try hard not to do that to anyone else!
post edited by Moshkiae - 2013/02/17 12:26:48
As a wise Guy once stated from his holy chapala ... none of the hits, none of the time ... prevents you from becoming just another turkey in the middle of all the other turkeys!
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jbow
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Re:Review - Neil Young - Journeys (2011)
2013/02/17 17:03:00
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I was wrong (first time) lol... it is NOT OnDeand on Comcast HOWEVER it will be replayer on
02/26 12:20 - 1:50p
370 STARZ, 218 STZHD, 710 STZHD
Your channel numbers may be different but STARZ 2/26 12:20 PM
I have my DVR set, I had to set it online since it is so far out... butit is SET. The EAGLES show IS On Demand tough. Showtime.
J
Sonar Platinum Studiocat Pro 16G RAM (some bells and whistles) HP Pavilion dm4 1165-dx (i5)-8G RAM Octa-Capture KRK Rokit-8s MIDI keyboards... Control Pad mics. I HATE THIS CMPUTER KEYBARD!
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The Maillard Reaction
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Re:Review - Neil Young - Journeys (2011)
2013/02/17 18:54:16
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Hey Mosh...
Did you catch the circa 1880 rock n roll paintings and the riffing on the standards with Claude Monet visual pun?
best,
mike
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Moshkiae
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Re:Review - Neil Young - Journeys (2011)
2013/02/18 15:10:54
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Hi,
I thought it was funny, and kept thinking ... hmmm ... the turkey is making an interesting comment about Neil (or me!) being very fuzzy, with colors changing all the time!
Valid argument, btw!
Even changing glasses doesn't matter ... !!!
The irony of it all, for me, is seeing all the glamour and discussion about The Eagles. In many ways, for me and my experience, a lot of the Eagles thing and problems were exactly what California became ... Hotel California and Greed is Good ... and that was it! The values and care, was pretty much gone, and I am not sure I would compare that band to the one that did "Desperado" and some of the earlier stuff. That's me though ... really pretty production and song design, though ... no issue ever in that area!
As a wise Guy once stated from his holy chapala ... none of the hits, none of the time ... prevents you from becoming just another turkey in the middle of all the other turkeys!
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The Maillard Reaction
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Re:Review - Neil Young - Journeys (2011)
2013/02/18 15:41:12
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:-)
I was thinking about how Monet spoke about painting the hay stacks over and over again the way a roots rocker might play the same song over ad over again.
With impressionistic expression and a with a propensity for living in the moment.
all the best,
mike
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