Track Listing

1. Arc

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34471 in Music
• Released on: 1991-11-12
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Live, Import
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Customer Reviews

Young's grunge-era "A Love Supreme".
Arc is one of Neil Young's master works. It is his grunge-era "A Love Supreme". Recorded in 1991, during a Crazy Horse tour, its style is often called "industrial", but invites comparisons with Sun Ra, with Kick Out the Jams-era MC5, with Sonic Youth, and with the post-rock movement that would emerge later in the decade, notably in Young's native Canada.

Used to infuriating critics, Young has long refused to be tied to one particular genre, and this 35-minute noise rock soundscape succeeded in infuriating people who wanted Young to stick to folk-rock, or even the proto-grunge of Crazy Horse. Those determined to be infuriated no doubt will be, but those willing to hear the beauty of this ecstasy built from feedback will be richly rewarded.

Of interest to fans of Sonic Youth, Mogwai, and Sun Ra.

Not of interest to fans of James Taylor.

Feedback, feedback, and more feedback!
Over the course of "Arc," Young compiles a host of song-endings, feedback loops and vocal asides from the live shows which make up the "Weld" album into a repetitive, hypnotic collage. According to the liner-notes, this is "a compilation composition," and this emphasises the fragmented nature of the recording. Certainly not one for the Young dilettante, but, taken as it was originally intended, as an eccentric sister record to the double-live "Weld," this serves its purpose admirably.

Arc - A wider view
This CD was originally released as part of a 3CD Weld/Arc set but has become available seperateley. The music itself is one long track where Young shows the avid listener the true force of his talent and gives a real insight into how Young works, always trying to search out new directions for his music. In all it is a difficult album to comprehend but as with many works of art the listener must let it 'grow on them' before judging it. If compared with 'After the Gold Rush' for example, there will be dissapointment but it is a work that shouldn't be compared for it exists on its own, 'Arc' is one of the few truly great, modern enigmatic recordings.