Neil Young - Fork In The Road

[russycarps]

Christ on a bike, this is a Turkey of the highest order! Lyrically, it made me cringe from start to finish. Musically, it has a unfinished, rough feel which is not too bad. But those songs........ 1/10. After I turned it off blood was pouring from my ears

He isnt one for greatest hits sets. I bet he plays loads from this album. I predict by the end of his set there'll be about 15 people watching if so.

[Tugger2k]

havent listened to it yet but

he surely haqs to play a greatest hits type gig at the big g doesnt he. there is no way he can get away with not playing certain tunes

[The Nal]

I quite like it. Hes always produced dodgy lyrics the odd time. The rough, unfinished feel is great.

[russycarps]

havent listened to it yet but

he surely haqs to play a greatest hits type gig at the big g doesnt he. there is no way he can get away with not playing certain tunes

[TG24]

Only read a couple of reviews but has been panned so far. Mostly for lyrics like:

"Got a pot belly. It's not too big. Gets in my way when I'm driving my rig."

[The Nal]

Only read a couple of reviews but has been panned so far. Mostly for lyrics like:

"Got a pot belly. It's not too big. Gets in my way when I'm driving my rig."

[beamends]

I quite like it. Hes always produced dodgy lyrics the odd time. The rough, unfinished feel is great.

[The Nal]

His lyrics are rather odd at the best of times, he's technically not a brilliant guitar player and his singing is often rather, er, "interesting" - but the enthusiasm comes across and that's what does it for me.

[micawber]

I'm enjoying it. I like the way that he's wrapped up his love of cars and driving, with the deterioration of the world and himself! It's always good to see a little humility. "She always wants to please you no matter what shape you're in". Some of the songs are a little frothy, but the raw garage rock sound keeps them moving along at a pace.

"There's a bailout coming but it's not for you. It's for all those creeps hiding what they do."

Edited April 8, 2009 by micawber

[sjhande]

Well I like it. Lets face it Shakey's quality control on his own stuff has always been a bit flaky. But theres good stuff on there - and I too like the "loose" feel.

It's difficult not to judge him against his best work - and we've been lucky recently as his last few have all been corkers. Judged against those - its not his best. Judged against some of the others (Are You Passionate?/ Landing on Water? Everybody's Rockin' for instance) they're not bad.

To say its a complete turkey is a bit harsh

[russycarps]

It's difficult not to judge him against his best work - and we've been lucky recently as his last few have all been corkers.

To say its a complete turkey is a bit harsh

[Red_Eye_Jedi]

I thought it was a really good album!

Nice garage "unclean" feel to it.. its not too perfect but I think its really good!

i'v listend to it 3 times though.. perhaps you need another listen?

[Mr Ploppy]

I listened to it right through for the first time yesterday and have to say it seemed very 'bland'.

I do actualy like the rough sounding recording that Neil makes and prefer that to him being over-produced.

However, when listening to some of the tracks on this album and the subject matter (ie) the bailout - I wished he had been a bit more clever with the lyrics as they seem not very well thought out and a bit too direct.

We've had Neil do political stuff in the past, but like it or loathe it, those tracks seemed to take some direction - Fork In The Road seems all over the place if you ask me.

As I first listen - I was not impressed.

Kinda like Johnny Magic but cant help being reminded of Hey Hey My My when the backing singers sing 'johnny magic johhny magic' or is it 'johhn rotten johhny rotten' and that spoiled it for me.

Light A Candle is ok.

Off The Road is ok.

Just Singing A Song is not bad - but the backing vocals seem a bit improv and not thought out.

Cough Up The Bucks is fairly funky.

But thats about it - everything else made no impact on me and if this is indeed the Fork In The Road for Neil then he needs to backtrack and take the other fork as this road is a letdown.

I said weeks ago that Neils Glasto set will either be good or a major letdown. To be honest - I will watch him because I think he is great, but I wont be going to watch him hoping for some amazing setlist as I very much doubt we will get it.

[kohoutec]

I've given it 3 listens so far...Put it this way I'm not in any hurry to give it a 4th at the moment

[grandadcollective]

havent listened to it yet but

he surely haqs to play a greatest hits type gig at the big g doesnt he. there is no way he can get away with not playing certain tunes

[When Jokers Attack]

Don't count it out. This is Neil Young we are talking about. I don't think he does set lists! There may be a bit of a thread but from what I've seen and heard (not live yet though) he'll do what he feels like on the night, be it a classics set or Fork in the Road in it's entirety. He's a maverick and for me that's what makes him an unmissable headliner. He could turn out to be a more controversial choice than Jay-Z. (Which, to keep thing positive, was ace).

[blue&white]

It will be interesting to follow the US / Canada tour to see how the set lists unfold - first night had 1 song from FitR, second had 3 songs - probably means by Glasto we'll have the whole album!

[sjhande]

For those (meself included I think) looking for a greatest hits set - here's the words of the man himself :;

"I don't believe in just doing my hits, because you can only do that so many times, and then you just repeat yourself. At this stage in my career, that would be the kiss of death. You might as well go to Vegas and just collect. I don't want to do that yet, and hopefully I can avoid doing that for a long time."

Whether we like it or not - this points to a "Fork In The Road" set !!

Bang on Neil for your commitment to

[Mr Ploppy]

After a few listens I have now deicded that half the tracks are fair to decent, and the other half are poor.

Anyway, I would love to see Like A Hurricane at Glasto this year - but maybe not if it is performed like this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpHU_Zj4yYw

Gotta say - I don't rate this performance at all and wonder what other Neil fans think of this clip?

(BTW) for non-Neil people: don't use this video as a benchmark!

Mr Ploppy

[scruggsy]

After a few listens I have now deicded that half the tracks are fair to decent, and the other half are poor.

Anyway, I would love to see Like A Hurricane at Glasto this year - but maybe not if it is performed like this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpHU_Zj4yYw

Gotta say - I don't rate this performance at all and wonder what other Neil fans think of this clip?

(BTW) for non-Neil people: don't use this video as a benchmark!

Mr Ploppy

[ig1234]

I was expecting to be dissapointed from what I'd heard before I got the album, but I like it after a few listens. Only track I really don't like is Johnny Magic. Too cheesy.

Just Singing A Song and Fuel Line, are excellent, Light A Candle in my opinion is one of his best quieter songs for years, bar Boxcar, but that was a ressurected song.

I'd give it about 3.5/5, but saying that, the only Neil album I don't like is Everybody's Rockin'.

As for setlists, www.sugarmtn.org, resurrected a number of classics and random songs from the past in his first 2 dates, including some others from Harvest and Tonights the Night, as well as Hawks and Doves and Sleeps With Angels! All up in the air, very excited for Nottingham and Glasto. He only played one new song one night, a few more the next. getting Springsteenlike.