Neil Young has found love for his hits and so few legends of music do. There is an unwritten contract between gig-goers and artists where hits must be played. Few can get away without their biggest songs – Bob Dylan has evaded the likes of Mr. Tambourine Man on his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour – and those who lean into their chart toppers and conclusive best works run the risk of being typecast by those with hard-earned cash to splash on just a few concerts. Neil Young has been the best for this middle ground. A consistent whir of new material but a reflective gaze at his old works as brilliant bootleg Chrome Dreams received a proper release and Before and After served listeners with a mood board of the best bits worked over once more. Fu##in’ Up, his latest collaboration with Crazy Horse, is much the same as Before and After but with a bigger band behind him.
Waste no time at all getting into this live work. An imitable guitar riff heard in intimate venues across the globe begins City Life (Country Home). While the Young and Crazy Horse collaborations have not set the world on fire their live work remains sharp and effective – as expressed so often here. Intimately familiar vocal work from Young and an exceptional display of instrumental fury from the Crazy Horse gang brings about the same enjoyable atmosphere as they did when Cinnamon Girl was just a studio thought and not a well-established piece of their live shows – Omitted here for good reason as the band focuses on credible displays of lesser-listened pieces. Ragged Glory paid its dues as Hearts of Steel and Farmer John dominates this live album.
Valley of Hearts is given its dues as Young brings his classic vocal style to new strengths. He is an exceptional live performer – this was never in doubt – but Fu##in’ Up does well to build on Before and After. A solid, if underwhelming mid-section cuts through and it may be more the familiarity of this tone Young and the band take than anything else. Crazy Horse has a few spots of flair in the latter half – particularly the instrumental sections cutting through To Follow One’s Own Dream – but they feel loose and once more provide a weaker section of the Young touring trip. Closer A Chance on Love settles well and brings out the real joy of Fu##in’ Up – a strong Young vocal performance.
Listeners are in no short supply of quality performances from the Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young alumni but it is always welcome to hear more exceptional work. Between polished bootlegs like Somewhere Under the Rainbow and classy experiences found on a reworking of old hits littering the discography, it is a great time to get into Young. Fu##in’ Up loses its way a bit in those acceptably tight tracks. It comes to life in all the right spots though. Another in a long list of successful ventures for a prolific Young who has turned his attention to reflective performances. There is little depth beyond the interest of changing vocal tones and instrumental sections, but this is enough to carry the best efforts of a legendary musical force.
