Promise Of The Real – Earth

The cock crows, at the beginning of a marvelous version of My country home. Maybe it’s a joke, maybe Neil lost his senses. But it surely is very funny. Strange record…

Including CSNY and Archives releases Neil has close to 20 live albums. This one, recorded with Promise of the Real, is unique. All the songs relate in some form to Neil's environmental concerns. They also aren't strictly live, as there are numerous vocal and nature sound effect overdubs. It even had the french horn solo from the original After the Goldrush recording added. In all there's 13 songs:
1 from After the Goldrush (Title track)
1 from On the Beach (Vampire Blues)
1 from Comes a Time (Human Highway)
1 from Landing on Water (Hippie Dream)
3 from Ragged Glory (Mother Earth, Country Home and Love & Only Love)
1 from Sleeps with Angels (Western Hero)
4 from The Monsanto Years (The Monsanto Years, Big Box, People Want to Hear About Love, Wolf Moon)
1 previously unreleased (Seed Justice)

This is definitely one of his weirder records. That said, I find the album works for me. Currently I'd rate it as my favourite Neil live album (Year of the Horse used to be my favourite). The playing is great, the songs from the Monsanto Years album are superior to the versions found on that album. Heck, even the sound effects and the ad jingle choir work for me. Plus it ends with a 28 minute version of Love & Only Love! I suppose it's not for everybody but I just really enjoy this album. Your mileage may vary.

My copy says "manufactered in the Nederlands" but there is no european version listed here !

Does anybody know if this will ever have a vinyl release?

Consider this open letter to Neil Young as my review ...

Neil, I get what you’re doing, I hear what you’re saying, we all do. Anyone of us who was a fan from back in the 60’s understands your ion and your plight. But 50 years out, you’re preaching to the converted man. What you do best is to make music, what we want to hear is your music ... I for one am not interested in purchasing your diatribe. I could barely sit through it the first time, yet alone a second, nor would I consider dropping this platter onto my turntable to entertain my friends, because it’s just not entertaining. What you’ve given us is certainly not avant garde, so pleas don’t try and take that step with me.

I fully realize that you’re dissatisfied with the world, and you should be, but , you’re the Republican, not me. All of us, anyone who’s been to a field, a national park, or just taken a walk in the woods internally understands that the sounds of nature are musical, but they’re not music, and neither are your egregiously overdubbed choir of animal voiced music. If you wanna rail at the establishment I’m there with you, I’ll make the march, I’ll raise my fist, I’ll write a check, and I’ll do the right thing, but when the day is over and done, and I just wanna put my feet up, kick back and draw deeply on a smoke, I want to hear something from you that makes me feel good, that eases my mind, and lets me smile with sly delight.

Yes we all know you’re a high quality audio purist and preservationist, but even as a pissed off hippie hawking your pristine Pono, you know in your heart that there’s not a single note on this album that will be heard any better at 125 than on your device, especially with your auto-tuned vocals and heavy hand smashing down on the pulpit, making me feel as if you’re trying to get me to “go clear,” in that if I just follow your light the world will be a better place, and my place in it will be assured. Listen to me Neil, Earth sounds for all the world like some sort of low budget script for a sci-fi movie, one filled with uncertainty and gloom. I already know that the world’s a scary place, that there is great evil happening and more to come, but I don’t want that in my face kiddo, I just want some songs. And therein lies the truth, you’re a song and dance man first and foremost, so dig into that trunk full of memories and give me something I can recognize, something that I can touch, something that I can cling to during these troubled days.

Neil, you’ve become a parody of yourself. Believe me, I’m glad you’re out there wailing at the wall, and most of us are doing our part, so please, save yourself, you’re becoming what you feared most, you’re starting to rust.

Review by Jenell Kesler