10.25.2005
Dust in the wind
Not to beat a dead (Crazy) horse, but Nude as the News has an interesting joint review of Neil Young's Prairie Wind and Bruce Springsteen's Devils and Dust up that expresses disappointment with both.
"It's disappointing to listen to these albums as they make us wonder whether either artist can ever be vital again," writes Ben French. As I've written here, I would agree with regard to Young. Springsteen, however, is another matter. When he fails, it feels as if he is trying too hard. When Young fails, it feels as if he isn't trying hard enough.
With Devils and Dust, there is much to like. Where it bogs down are the points at which it seems like he's trying to channel the dusty textures of Nebraska or even The Ghost of Tom Joad, rather than perform the songs in their best form and then worry about whether they fit the album as a whole. The same problem plagued The Rising to a certain extent, as weaker songs were given the full-blown USA treatment as Bruce sought to offer a balm for the nation.
Left with the task of simply recording an album of good songs without the need to soothe the soul of a country -- or pat it on the back and say everything will be all right in about 3 1/2 years -- I'm confident Springsteen can delivery another winner.
Young, on the other hand, just doesn't seem capable. While Prairie Wind is growing on me still -- I'm past what French writes about disappointing albums from favorite artists: "These are the albums you play a few times and don't really enjoy, play a few more times hoping to find something to like, and then never play again to protest the disenchantment" -- it doesn't feel like things are going to get any better than this.
"It's disappointing to listen to these albums as they make us wonder whether either artist can ever be vital again," writes Ben French. As I've written here, I would agree with regard to Young. Springsteen, however, is another matter. When he fails, it feels as if he is trying too hard. When Young fails, it feels as if he isn't trying hard enough.
With Devils and Dust, there is much to like. Where it bogs down are the points at which it seems like he's trying to channel the dusty textures of Nebraska or even The Ghost of Tom Joad, rather than perform the songs in their best form and then worry about whether they fit the album as a whole. The same problem plagued The Rising to a certain extent, as weaker songs were given the full-blown USA treatment as Bruce sought to offer a balm for the nation.
Left with the task of simply recording an album of good songs without the need to soothe the soul of a country -- or pat it on the back and say everything will be all right in about 3 1/2 years -- I'm confident Springsteen can delivery another winner.
Young, on the other hand, just doesn't seem capable. While Prairie Wind is growing on me still -- I'm past what French writes about disappointing albums from favorite artists: "These are the albums you play a few times and don't really enjoy, play a few more times hoping to find something to like, and then never play again to protest the disenchantment" -- it doesn't feel like things are going to get any better than this.
