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What we have here is easily Mr. Young's finest work in years, one
that erases the memory of his well-intentioned but anemic 2006
protest album, Living with War. Recorded using analog gear,
with Crazy Horse drummer Ralph Molina, pedal steel guitarist Ben
Keith, and Rick Rosas on bass, CD2 manages to sound both
home-grown and experimental. It's the work of an artist still not
afraid to take chances, who also knows what his strengths are and
doesn't stray too far from them. Trainspotters will note that
three of the ten songs were written but never released before,
while we all might puzzle over the title. Chrome Dreams is
the name of an unreleased album from 1977. So, why is this Chrome
Dreams II? Is it a similar case to 1992's Harvest Moon,
when Young went back to the virtual land of his 1972 hit Harvest
to write more material in that vein? As the original was
reportedly lost in a fire, we may never know. Chrome Dreams II
offers up gorgeous, plaintive laments and country-tinged numbers
sung in that achy breaky, heart-on-sleeve voice of Young's, as
well as ragged barn-storming rockers delivered with a growl.
There's even an 18-minute dirge that excitedly mixes R&B
back-up horns with searing electric guitar leads! Wow. --Mike
McGonigal
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