[.ca] Freedom

From Amazon.co.uk:
Freedom was Young's return to form after almost a decade of electronic experiments and mediocre novelty music. "Rockin' in the Free World", a howling anthem about homelessness, depression and drug dealing, bookends the album--and, in 1989, proved the singer/songwriter hadn't completely dropped into obscurity. The romantic ballads ("The Ways of Love"), grunge-predicting guitar-rockers (a siren-screaming version of "On Broadway"), and one amazing, punk-like story-song ("Crime in the City \oSixty to Zero, Part I\c") constitute Young's strongest writing in years. --Steve Knopper

Neil's 10 year itch:
Every 9 or 10 years its seems Neil Young reinvents himself. In 1969 Young released his first great album, 'Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere', his first with Crazy Horse and delivering timeless tunes such as 'Cinnamon Girl', 'Down By the River', and 'Cowgirl In the Sand'. It was, in retrospect, a monster album. Nine years down the road, with every aging 60's rocker's future perilized/paralyzed by disco fever, Young infused rock and roll with new life via 'Rust Never Sleeps' and its 'Hey Hey My My' anthem. Fast forward ten more years through the sleepy 1980's, and here is Young announcing his return once again with the album 'Freedom'. His newfound relevance would differ from the continued relevance of other 1960's superstars such as Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton: Young would not only be revitalized among his long-standing cadre of followers, but would find a new body of listeners among the youth coming of age in the early 1990's. It was a remarkable resurgence. Interestingly, 'Freedom' borrows a bit from the success of 'My My Hey Hey'/'Hey Hey My My' by taking the albums centerpiece, 'Rockin' In the Free World', and using a live acoustic version to open the disc, and closing with a rousing electric studio version of the same song. The electric version is clearly superior as the acoustic version is marred by audience noise, and lacks the final verse, as well as the sheer power the lyrics demand. The same is true of the second song on the disc 'Crime In the City', which is presented in an acoustic version. The live electric version from the 'Weld' disc blows this one away. I always thought it would be great fun to be able to generate a setlist for an artist like Young prior to a concert. While most people expect to be hearing 'Rockin' In the Free World' from this disc, I would love to hear a live rendition of Neil's cover of The Drifter's 1963 number 9 hit, 'On Broadway'. As on 'Rust Never Sleeps', Neil is doing things with Old Black on this song, and others such as 'Don't Cry', that are literally unheard of... and that's a good thing. Other excellent offerings include 'Someday', with lyrics and background recordings sure to make you tune into the great mystery of life, its meaning and purpose. There are two beautiful love duets with Linda Ronstadt, 'Hangin' On a Limb' and 'The Ways Of Love', and 'No More' is a solid rocker, with a sound reminiscent of Dire Straits. Coincidentally Neil's band features Joe Walsh bandmates Rick Rosas on bass and Chad Cromwell on drums. Cromwell would go on in the '90's to play with Dire Straits founder Mark Knopfler. Some more familiar faces are flanking Neil on this production as well. From Crazy Horse, Frank Sampedro contributes guitars, keyboards, mandolin, vocals and even serves as "computer scribe" (hmmmm....). Another familiar Youngian, Ben Keith, contributes his familiar steel guitar, as well as alto sax, keyboards and vocals. On three songs recorded at The Hit Factory in New York, we have a stripped down version of the band, offering killer guitar/bass/drum jams ala The Jimi Hendrix Experience. While 'Freedom' isn't the groundbreaking work 'Everybody Knows...' or 'Rust Never Sleeps' proved to be, it did serve the purpose of positioning Neil square in the mainstream of popular music for another decade. He would maintain that rejuvenated status through releases such as 'Harvest Moon', 'Weld', and 'Ragged Glory' in the years to follow. But it all began, all over again, with 'Freedom'.

Not one of his best:
I love Neil and Rockin' in the Free World is a great song, but overall this album is not very strong.

Not his best, and overrated from the first:
I respect this album as the catalyst for Neil's return to his former glory after the unpredictable 80s, but I have to say I don't like this work. Granted, "Rockin' in the Free World" is arguably one of his greatest songs, especially the electric version that closes the album, but the rest of the tracks are pablum and don't compare to that song or to albums like "Rust Never Sleeps" or "Tonight's the Night." Instead of this, I recommend you buy the two albums that bookended this one, "This Note's For You" and "Ragged Glory." The former is a power swing album that polished off his 80s genre experiments in a scintillating way, and the latter is one of his best albums by far; it succeeds in a way that "Freedom" doesn't by the songwriting quality alone. Before I say not to buy this, I do have to say that many, many people love this album and not just because others do; they see it as a thankful return to form by Neil after a disappointing decade. So those of you who read this may very well love it, so go with your instincts; I personally say that you will do better with the two I have mentioned above.

Freedom:
After a decade of changing genres and getting no hits Neil came up with this album. It was a return to form and had a big hit with Rockin' In The Free World. Rockin' In The Free World- this is the live acoustic version and while not as good as the electric version it is great. Crime In The City (Sixty To Zero, Pt. I)- I liked the first 45 minutes of this song but then it got a little boring. Don't Cry- Neil makes his guitar soung like thunder!!! Hangin' On A Limb- Good love song. Eldorado- I like the percussion on this track and it tells a good story. Ways Of Love- I don't really remember this song. Someday- One of Neil's best and he can play piano too. On Broadway- If you don't like the guitar on this song then you don't like guitar PERIOD!!!! Wrecking Ball- I like it. No More- Okay. Too Far Gone- Honky-tonk drug song. Rockin' In The Free World- His best song and Crazy Horse joins him. A word of advice to those who do not like their music loud or only like Neil's softer side like on Harvest: DO NOT buy this

Essential Neil.:
I had enjoyed "Neil Young" as a casual listener before this, but "Freedom" is the first album of his that I totally absorbed and loved. Whether it's his "comeback" or not doesn't really matter, it's just near perfect in my book. It starts and ends with different versions of "Rockin' In The Free World", one of his signature songs. Both amaze. "Crime In The City (sixty to zero part 1)" is a great epic track, and "Don't Cry", "Hangin' On A Limb", and "Eldorado" are all slower, but moving, and have great guitar throughout. Other highlights to me are "Too Far Gone" and the excellent "No More", which I think was another single from this album. I'm now a huge fan of 15 years, and if I kept only 3 "Neil Young" albums, "Freedom" would easily be one of them.

• Rockin' in the Free World
• Crime in the City (Sixty to Zero, Pt. 1)
• Don't Cry
• Hangin' on a Limb
• Eldorado
• Ways of Love
• Someday
• On Broadway
• Wrecking Ball
• No More
• Too Far Gone
• Rockin' in the Free World