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ONLINE 02-FEB-01 CD Reviews: neil young / road rock: vol. 1 Carly Kocurek Neil Young's Road Rock Vol. 1 sounds something like its title: music to pop into your car stereo as you drive off down the highway, the soundtrack to an introspective roadtrip. Including some interesting collaborations, the live album features several of Young's family members and even a performance from the Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde. An 18-minute rendition of "Cowgirl in the Sand" accented by memorable solos kicks off the album. While often-screaming fans detract from the music on live albums, the audience-generated noise on Road Rock adds to the feeling of a rock 'n' roll roadtrip. "Walk On" incorporates honky-tonk elements into a great piano part. The third track, the previously unreleased "Fool for Your Love," tells of a relationship gone wrong in an almost upbeat manner. The backup vocalists especially add to the song. Substantially slower, "Peace of Mind" plays out calmly. A surprisingly strong percussion beat keeps the song from turning into a mediocre lullaby. Fifth on the album, "Words" slips into a gray area between rock and country, a rich, slow blend of instruments and voices in a minor key. In "Motorcycle Mama," Young and a strong female vocalist alternate verses before building into an amazingly strong duet. Seventh on the album, "Tonight's the Night" opens with strong bass and light percussion accented by piano. The song rises and falls in intensity throughout its 10 minutes. The album closes with a cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watch Tower" featuring Chrissie Hynde on guitar and vocals. Unmatched on the album in energy, the track is driven by electric guitar and percussion and perfectly showcases Young and Hynde's vocals. The album creates an illusion of the rock 'n' roll of the past, since the focus is on energy, not lyrical content, and the music feels like the result of a jam session. How else can an album of eight tracks last well over an hour? Road Rock Vol. I definitely justifies the creation of a second volume: This is rock music at its finest, presented by a living legend. - Carly Kocurek - back - Search the Thresher pages: Enter your search terms: Copyright © 2000 The Rice Thresher. All Rights Reserved. This document may be distributed electronically, provided that it is distributed in its entirety and includes this notice. However, it cannot be reprinted without the express written permission of: The Rice Thresher, Rice University MS-524, PO Box 1892, Houston, TX 77251-1892, USA. The Thresher Online Project -- ethresh@listserv.rice.edu