Neil Young and Crazyhorse: Psychedelic Pill

    Neil Young can JAM!  His knack for extended jams and proclivity towards improvisation is often overshadowed by his second to none songwriting ability, but when Young gets down, he can be as gritty as the jamband giants.  With the release of Psychedelic Pill,  Neil Young and Crazyhorse's first "proper" album in what feels like forever,  Young and crew put his folky songwriting to the side for a good dose of instruments.  

     When Neil Young teams up with Crazyhorse, there is often a heavier sound, and Psychedelic Pill is no exception.  Dense with reverb and feedback, the album title is very apropos.  Throughout the psychedelia of the album, however, Young stays true to his form, as he clearly prefers the driving of noise, rather than a sound that is ethereal and spatial.  Within Psychedelic Pill, Young prefers to use his instrumentation as a way to induce trance, most evidenced by his 27 minute opener, "Driftin' Back," a song that employs a simple chord progression with heavy Crazyhorse overlays.  Despite the extended songs, Psychedelic Pill is still classic Neil Young.  The songs, no matter how long, still use the traditional verse-chorus-verse format, Young just extends the breakdowns in between.  Young often utilizes this style in live shows, so Psychedelic Pill is a great example , and  a beautifully accurate portrayal, of Young and Crazyhorse is their rawest form.  Also, the sound of Psychedelic Pill, does not necessarily break new ground for Young, but rather highlight his talents and strong suits;  a much better exercise for someone with his age and credibility.  

     Per usual, Neil Young writes songs about getting old.  Those even remotely familiar with Young's work know that age is his preeminent fixation.  While some may consider the continuing subject bordering on schtick, one must look at the world through the eyes of Neil Young, a man who has stayed relevant through a seemingly endless gabal of trends and styles.  As an icon of cool, who has withstood decades of cultural vogue, Young is allowed to wear his age on his sleeve.

     Neil Young, and whatever entity he plays with, seems to have the Midas touch.  every note produced by the Canadian idealist still turns to gold.   Psychedelic Pill is another shining example of this, as Young and Crazyhorse capture their magic on record once again.  It is incredible to hear an album like Psychedelic Pill, a work that, after all these years, still hold up in the Neil Young pantheon of works.