Neil Young's Prairie Wind

Once upon a decade, legendary Canadian grunge-folkie, Neil Young seems to revisit his classic album Harvest. 2005's Prairie Wind is in the tradition of 1992's Harvest Moon or 1985's Old Ways, sharing a gentle, autumnal country rock feel with his most popular release from 1972.

The death of his father, respected sportswriter and author Scott Young, and a brain aneurysm provide the impetus for one of Uncle Neil's best album in years. His band of Nashville buddies like pianist Spooner Oldham or Grandpa Ben Keith on pedal steel still bring that comfortable "worn pair of jeans" sound, and Neil doesn't slack off on the songwriting.

Standout tracks include No Wonder, which has to make CSN a bit jealous, since it could have been an outtake from Deja Vu (and still be better than the other three's contributions!) The wonderful vocal harmonies include Emmylou Harris and Neil's wife Pegi.

It's a Dream makes one think Neil's old producer friend, the late Jack Nitzsche, was in the house. Its haunting melodies and ethereal string arrangements remind me of the Nitzsche-arranged Buffalo Springfield classic Expecting to Fly.

This Old Guitar is about the only song that was weak in my mind, and that's probably because it sounds a bit too much like the title track from the aforementioned Harvest Moon .

When God Made Me is a perfect album-ender. It's an especially poignant track considering the recent travails in Neil's personal life. A gospel-tinged mood reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge over Troubled Water frames a heart-wrenching melody - powerful stuff!

When combined with the recent concept album/tour Greendale, Prairie Wind shows that Neil Young appears to be on yet another renaissance in his 40 year old music career. He will always be a large inspiration to me and my cohorts in musical crime. Go pick it up if you already haven't.