Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Falling From Above
2. Double E
3. Devils Sidewalk
4. Leaving The Drive
5. Carmichael
6. Bandit
7. Grandpa's Interview
8. Bringin' Down Dinner
9. Sun Green
10. Be The Rain

Disc 2:

1. DVD featuring an acoustic performance of the Greendale songs recorded in Dublin on May 3rd

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9726 in Music
• Released on: 2003-08-18
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .27 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
On paper, Greendaledoesn't sound like one of Neil Young's better ideas: a whimsical concept album-cum-community theatre piece that mixes his cosy view of small-town America--insular, sentimental, occasionally xenophobic--with well-meaning if woolly anti-corporate, pro-environment sloganeering. Such clarity of purpose rarely suits Young. Indeed, the eco-hymn "Be the Rain" makes After the Goldrushsound more gnomic than ever. But what Greendalelacks in mystique, it makes up for with love and eccentricity. Though his voice is thinner than ever, Young sounds more engaged than he has in years--certainly more so than on the sleepwalking slush of 2001's Are You Passionate--and the obvious pleasure he takes from his grand idea here is enough to carry you through the album's ropier passages.

Young's peculiar blend of control-freakery and sloppiness ensure Greendale is raw where concept albums are usually over-polished. Crazy Horse play with that bewildering naivety so typical of them, and the wrinkled spirit that they and Young bring to "Devil's Sidewalk" and the beautifully aimless "Carmichael" makes you forgive most of their self-indulgences. Even the spellbindingly crass "Be the Rain" is redeemed by Young interrupting the platitudes sung by his wife, as he bawls semi-coherently through a megaphone. There are signs, too--especially in the thoughtful "Bandit"--that he's smuggling very personal reflections on age into what initially appears to be a detached drama (much as Lou Reed, an unlikely fellow traveller, did on his underrated The Raven). Try and circumnavigate the schtick: this is the most endearing Neil Young album for some time. --John Mulvey

CD Description
'Greendale' is Neil Young's follow up to the 2002 collaboration with Booker T & The MG's, 'Are You Passionate'. Described by critics as a "musical novel", the material featured here tells the story of a dysfunctional family in a fictional Californian town. This edition includes a DVD which featuresan live acoustic performance of the album.

Customer Reviews

Welcome to Greendale
I usually rate a Neil Young album on musical content before I move on to the lyrics, however, there is a subtle underlying angryness about the 'concept' album Greendale, that makes you sit up and listen to this fictional story.
The majority of the tracks are played in the gritty/dirty Crazy Horse Style, however, something tells me that NY wants to keep his message clean instead of losing it in haze of white noise.
Stand out track is most definately 'Bandit' which NY switches from the electric guitar to the faithfull acoustic, however, 'falling from above' certainly sets the tone of the album.
Maybe those of you who saw NY play this album live from start to finish throughout Europe on a selection of acoustic guitars would be a bit disappointed, and I was definately was expecting something more downbeat, however NY certainly is getting back to his best. Greendale certainly eclipses the lackluster 'Are you passionate'. A must for any NY enthusiast, but I doubt it's for a beginner.

GREENDALE IS HOT!
Wow Ive just spent the whole night listening to this great cd and watching the bonus cd of Neil live in Ireland this year,(I went to the London Shepherds Bush gig which was a blast if a bit confusing,only because I didnt know the concept of 'Greendale'

To my mind this is the best NY album that Ive heard in years..it reminds me of the old Young/Briggs productions..rough raw edged guitar solos with Crazy Horse on great Form.Neil sings his lungs out on a number of tracks,and whether you like NY country style or with those hard humbucking solos you wont be dissapointed.

I wont go into the story of Greendale cos you can see that on NY's webpage,but you should spend some time reading the story line in the sleeve..its wacky but cool.

Any real fans of Neil CANNOT miss this album..its neil at his creative best..listen hard to "double e","bandit" and "be the rain","carmichael" and "be the rain" and you'll see what I mean..in fact theres not a dud on the whole album.

The acoustic live set takes a bit more effort but persevere and you'll see why Neil Young is still the best,most inovative musician around...he's just so fresh and...Young!

a concept masterpiece
At first like everyone else i was perplexed by Young's new album direction. This is fundamentally a concept album based upon an eponymous town (greendale) and it's quirky inhabitants. The cd itself is acompanied with a lengthy narrative which is used as detailed anchorage to the music and offers an insight into the extroadinary goings on in this "pretty melow place".

In short the music is breathtaking.Young'sguitar has never sounded so emotive whether it be on the squeling high's or the intimate acoustic lows. I suppose the album's sound is closest to a mixture of the doom trilogy(time fades away, on the beach and tonight's the night) and everybody knows this is nowhere. It would be wrong to single out individual tracks-the album needs to be listened to as a whole captivating story of mistakes,love,and the envoirement. This is a very moving piece of work.
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Perhaps the strangest thing about this album is that you feel you learn more about the enigma that it is Neil young from it as he writes in the narrative "always try to be nice to the ones you love cause you never know what's gonna happen" and"i don't think there can be a better feeling than youth making making a difference"

Whether you like it or not this is an extroadinarily ambitious and brave move by Young who still never seems to succumb to convention with his imagination sharper than ever.