Music Evaluation: Neil Younger delivers appropriately ragged, uncooked dwell model of 1990’s ‘Ragged Glory’
The venerable Neil Younger provides a ragged and uncooked dwell take of his beloved 1990 album “Ragged Glory” with a brand new album, titled “Fu##in’ Up.”
In fact, the 2024 model does not have the identical semi-youthful vitality that the 44-year-old Younger put into the unique. Possibly his voice is a bit shakier, the guitar solos not fairly as refined, however the songs nonetheless crackle with an influence that is frankly beautiful coming from the not-so-young Younger.
It is clear that the 78-year-old and his band Loopy Horse fed off the small crowd on the Toronto membership the place this was recorded in November 2023. Younger is clearly having a blast on stage, a lot in order that he determined to launch the songs simply months after the efficiency. That is from a man who has held on to a few of his most beloved dwell exhibits for half a century.
Younger and Loopy Horse carry out 9 of the ten “Ragged Glory” songs in practically an identical preparations to how they had been recorded again in 1990.
Just one music from the unique launch, “Mom Earth (Pure Anthem),” is absent on ”Fu##in’ Up.” The songs have all been retitled with lyrics from the unique, aside from the duvet of “Farmer John.”
For instance, “Over and Over” turns into “Damaged Circle” and “Like to Burn” turns into “Valley of Hearts.”
The considerably profane album title is kind of the identical as a music from “Ragged Glory,” simply with a few completely different characters in between the “f” and the “in.” (It went from “F(asterisk)!#in’ Up” in 1990 to “Fu##kin’ Up” in 2024.)
For all of its virtues, some followers of the unique could quibble with Younger tackling the fabric 34 years later, particularly since he does not differ a lot from the originals.
“Not everybody will wish to hear it as a result of it’s not for everybody,” Younger writes within the liner notes. “Within the spirit it’s supplied, we made this for the Horse lovers. I can’t cease it. The Horse is runnin’ — what a journey we have now. I don’t wish to mess with the vibe, and I’m so glad to have this to share.”
It could be for a distinct segment Neil viewers, however that area of interest is bound to like it. And Younger in all probability does not care what the remainder suppose.
