Track Listing

1. Beautiful Bluebird
2. Boxcar
3. Ordinary People
4. Shining Light
5. Believer
6. Spirit Road
7. Dirty Old Man
8. Ever After
9. No Hidden Path
10. Way

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10761 in Music
• Released on: 2007-10-22
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
The sequel to a late seventies album that never actually appeared (supposedly after Young played it to Carole King, who described it as "demos"), Chrome Dreams II is the latest entry in the late flowering of the increasingly mortal looking Young, very nearly seen off by illness in 2005. The following year’s blunt Living with War, fuelled by disgust at American foreign policy, eschewed platitudes and vague sentiments in favour of attacking specifics, and Chrome Dreams II, though less single-minded, also takes sides. Musically it is terrific too, ranging from the offhanded country-rock prettiness of eighties outtake "Beautiful Bluebird" and the elegant, faintly churchy closer "The Way" to the all out aggression of the wonderfully sleazy rocker "Dirty Old Man" ("I like to get hammered on Friday night, sometimes I can’t wait, so Monday’s alright"). The oft-bootlegged "Ordinary People", originally deemed too long for 1988’s This Note’s for You, finally gets an official release, an eighteen minute horn powered epic defending the victims of Reaganomics which still carries a contemporary resonance. But it’s not the only marathon number here. The grungy, hook-laden "Spirit Road" and "No Hidden Path" are just as fine, perfect examples of the turgid but irresistible riffing Young has been purveying for some forty years. With his romantic side emerging on "Shining Light" and the soulful "The Believer" it makes for a perfectly balanced set, and one which genuinely bears comparison with anything in his long back catalogue. --Steve Jelbert

CD Description
This sequel to 1977's unreleased 'Chrome Dreams' sees Neil Young benefiting from expanding album concepts. While his trademark idiosyncratic guitar lines and gruff vocals remain, 'Chrome Dreams II' showcases an expanded sense of scope and depth. This is exemplified by the re-recording of the 1988 track 'Ordinary People' which clocks in at a mammoth eighteenminutes, complete with horn section and saxophone solo. Produced by Young himself and long-time collaborator Niko Bolas, the album features many of Young's colleagues from Crazy Horse and musicians from his vintage previous recordings.

Customer Reviews

Not the best thing Mr Young has ever done but...
Bloody brilliant all the same! If it helps to show where I stand on Neil Young albums, my favourite was, is and forever will be Zuma closely followed by the "Rust" albums so those are what I am measuring this work against. Chrome dreams II has a fascinating mix of styles which it would appear has upset some of the purists, but if you come at this as a lover of rock music and not necessarily a Neil Young obsessive then you will find much to enjoy here. Superb playing by all concerned, Young's singing is above par (for him!), and even the 18 minutes of "ordinary people" flies by with nary an indulgent, unnecessary moment (honest). I've heard some good stuff this year and this is well inside the top 10.

Hat Trick.
Following on from Dylans Modern Times and Sprimgsteens Magic, Young has also delivered his best album of new material in over a decade.For me it`s the best of the 3.Great songs vocal performance and playing along with the all important production. If you are even considering buying this hesitate no longer and click on purchase. Album of the year.

Listen, and listen again
I love Neil Young's stuff and bought this as soon as I saw it on the shelf. The first listen was disappointing, it sounded like he was rehashing things he had visited over the years, but the second time around I began to realise what a good album this is. A real mix of styles, some great vocals and guitar work, and a sense of spirit running through it. Not as great as some critics and reviews suggest, but well worth its place in the Neil Young collection, showing he can still write and perfom songs that touch a chord in us.