NEIL Young’s archives series keeps rolling on.
Return to Greendale is a live performance of Greendale, his 2003 “audio novel” with Crazy Horse. Set in the aforementioned small Californian coastal town, the record was released to mixed reviews. With its themes of corruption, corporate power, invasive media and environmentalism, it’s certainly an ambitious and intriguing project, though I’ve always thought it never quite worked. Was a little unfocused, a little too blunt.
The concert finds Young and the Horse tacking closely to the recorded versions of the songs. The angry Grandpa’s Interview is a brilliant 13-minute workout for the band, with Young railing “It ain’t an honour to be on TV/And it ain’t a duty either.”