MUSIC REVIEWS

NEIL YOUNG’S ARE YOU PASSIONATE ?

Neil Young’s new CD, Are You Passionate?, was released in April 2002 and has received positive reviews from the God Father of Grunge’s fans. The 11 song CD has appearances from Booker T. & The MGs as well as Neil’s long time band, Crazy Horse.

Are You Passionate? is being compared to Young’s 1992 effort Harvest Moon. While the listener will notice similarities between the two CDs, Are You Passionate? reflects ten years of Neil Young’s musical and lyrical evolution.

The opening number on Are You Passionate?, “You’re My Girl,” is a moving story about a father’s thoughts as his daughter is reaching the end of her teenage years and becoming an adult. It is thought that Neil Young’s daughter, Amber, is the inspiration for this tune. “When I Hold You in My Arms,” “Quit, (Don’t Say You Love Me)” “Two Old Friends” and the title tract are the songs that will remind the listener of Harvest Moon. Neil kicks out the jams with “Going Home” and “Let’s Roll.” “Let’s Roll” is a tribute to Todd Beamer and the heroes on Flight 93 who brought down the fourth plane on September 11th.

Are You Passionate? was produced by Booker T. Jones, Duck Dunn, Poncho Sampedro, and Neil Young himself. The music of Booker T. and The MGs and Crazy Horse add flavor to this important CD which will help to set the patterns and style for many musical endeavors in the early 21st Century.

Another interesting CD is A Southern Rock Opera by the Drive By Truckers, released in October 2001. This two CD set is possibly the breakthrough album for this young southern rock group from Alabama. The mild success of their first two CDs, Ganstability (1998) and Pizza Deliverance (1999) has netted the Truckers a cult following which could lead to major rock stardom with a real successful CD.

The Southern Rock Opera contains thought provoking songs such as the opening cut “Days of Graduation”, “Ronnie and Neil” (about Ronnie Van Zant and Neil Young), “The Three Great Alabama Icons,” “Wallace,” “Guitar Man Upstairs,” “Let There Be Rock,” and “Shut Up and Get On the Plane.” The Southern Rock Opera contains many references to the southern rock band Lynard Skynard and coming of age in the South. The Drive By Truckers blend the sounds of many southern bands into a distinctive sound all there own. This CD is an adventure; if you are up to it, check it out.

For classical music aficionados Yo-Yo Ma’s new CD, Silk Road Journeys, When Strangers Meet, is a unique collection of music from the nations along the fabled Silk Road traveled by caravans, silk and porcelain traders, and Marco Polo between the Middle East and China during the Medieval era. If the listener can get past the first track, a “Traditional Mongolian long song,” this CD opens the door to music of the orient often missed by casual contact with sitar music and other popular oriental instruments. Cuts like “Moon Over Guan Mountain,” “Blue Little Flower,” “Legend of Herlen,” and “Blue as the Turquoise Night at Neyshabur” make Silk Road Journeys an important CD for classical collections and international understanding. For novice Yo-Yo Ma listeners there is Classic Yo-Yo, a collection of this influential cello player’s “major hits.” This CD includes a song from the hit movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

On a somber note the Clarion Issue regrets the death of John Entwhistle (1944-2002), the Who’s base player, on June 28, 2002, while on tour in the U.S.A. Entwhistles’ unique bass style helped catapult the Who to a major position in the rock world of the 1960s and 70s. Entwhistle’s base lines helped make major hits such as “Tommy” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” anthems for the baby boomers of the era. His piano, horn, and vocal work will be missed by loyal Who fans everywhere. John Entwhistle wrote songs for the Who, including “My Wife,” which appeared on the album Who’s Next. Entwhistle’s solo albums included Whistle Rymes, Smash Your Head Against the Wall, Rock, and Rigor Mortis Sets In. Many of these titles can be purchased at the on line music stores. We will miss you John.