Harvest Moon

Neil Young

Reprise

 

The minute I got home after picking up this disc, I inserted it perforce into my CD player, punched the play button and proceeded to pick myself up off the floor. It's that jaw-dropping, gawd-awful good. After playing the Neil's new album for the first time, it quickly became obvious that I was in trouble when I saw my finger heading for the repeat button. Fifteen hours later, I finally hit the stop button because I had to go to work. Over the next several days, I found myself inexplicably drawn back to the world of, Harvest Moon. Countless extended listening sessions ensued. Needless to say, I got the same warm, intimate feelings every time the laser fired up for another round. Even now, that repeat button is still getting a good workout. In 1972 he released his fourth solo album, the number one selling, Harvest. A collection of achingly honest and direct songs that bridged the gap between artist and audience as no other songwriter had done before. Twenty years later, he's come full circle recording once more with The Stray Gators, Kenny Buttrey, Tim Drummond, Ben Keith and Spooner Oldham, the backing band for the first Harvest sessions and returning to the spirit, soul and style of that landmark album. A common thread runs through both. The two act as bookends for the balance of his work from that twenty year span. Harvest Moon is a return to roots. And the beginning of another cycle of music and life. Many of the songs are about love. Romantic love, the love for a soulmate and the love felt between lifelong friends.

 

The album is dedicated to Young's wife, Pegi. A few of the songs are an declaration of his enduring love for for her. "Such A Woman," is the purest and most obvious of these. Arranged by Jack Nitzsche, the combination of solo piano, percussion and strings create a rich atmosphere for the simple, affectionate lyrics. "You are such a woman to me and I love you, Our love will live until the end of time. No one else can kill me like you do, no one else can fill me like you do. And no one else can feel our pain. Love is a healer and I love you." A quiet heartfelt harmonica solo and background vocalist, Nicolette Larson add the finishing touch to this very personal song. He's grown up gracefully over the years and has chosen this time to reaffirm the love for his life partner. For me, this is the centerpiece of the album. One that serves as a foundation for his other observations of the various relationships experienced throughout life. The remaining songs vary in feeling and intensity. "From Hank To Hendrix," sounds like a loving tribute for his musical companions, Crosby, Stills and Nash. "Can we get it together, can we still stand side by side. Can we make it last, like a musical ride?" The title cut,"Harvest Moon," a romantic ballad of seasoned lovers who haven't lost the magic, is also the first video. In, "One Of These Days," he reflects on the importance of appreciating true friends. "One of these days, I'm going to sit down and write a long letter to all the good friends I've known. And I'm going to try to thank them all for the good times together though so apart we've grown." It's a touching sentiment and will remind you of the people that may have drifted out of your life.

 

"War Of Man," is an anti-war song. Although, this time his perspective is very different. Past songs were often a biting, angry, protest directed at an older, uncaring, generation. Nowadays, the words are enigmatic, and yet, the simple chorus paints a vivid portrait of the meaningless pain and sadness that war brings to the innocent. "No one wins, it's a war of man." It's one of his best of that genre. On the opposite end of the spectrum is, "Old King," a song about one of his old hound dogs and the shortest, most whimsical cut on the album. And finally there's,"Natural Beauty," a ten minute, acoustic live cut, detailing the wonders and abuse of the environment around us and within us. A timeless, astute commentary which reminds us to treat the human soul with the same reverence and awe that we bestow upon nature. Harvest Moon is Young at his best and offers a hint of what's to come over the next twenty years. Buy it and get ready to hit that repeat button. (SC)

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