What a turd this album is. Not even a fresh, steaming one, but the kind a dog would disown.
It was a rough time for Neil Young albums around the turn of the century, much worse than the 1981-87 period. After Broken Arrow there was nothing for four years until this and the almost equally execrable Road Rocks. The next two albums were nothing to write home about, either. All of which makes the sheer majesty of the 2001 Crazy Horse tour all the more remarkable. (Though perhaps one day soon we'll hear 2000's "Toast" album and see that period in a different light.)
Next to this, American Dream has some redeeming features. I listen to this and I think, "Boy, the Stills songs really are the worst", then the next track starts and I think, "No, the Crosby ones are the worst", then a Nash song comes on, and…
I heard a rumour, possibly in Broken Arrow, that Neil had given CSNY the best songs that he'd written for Silver and Gold. Well… it sounds to me as though Neil is plagiarising himself. Slowpoke may be the best of a bad bunch, but I'm sure it sounds like one of his old songs, possibly Peace of Mind. And Out of Control sounds a bit like Philadelphia to me. As for Queen of Them All, that sounds like Crosby, or Stills, or Nash.
Something else, quick, to take the taste away.
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