Fiery comments and a few pot shots at deserving targets are not enough for politically charged music. Neil Young knows this, and in the lead-up to Talkin’ to the Trees, has stripped back the complexities of rebellion and revolution. Instead, he has opted for music which gets straight to the point. Lead single, Big Change, asked listeners to do as its title instructed. Prepare for and action those big changes on a larger scale. Lets Roll It was a step down from that, not because Young has changed tact or values, but because the wordplay was a tad more honed in, the instrumentals not as confident when backing his rightful bash at Tesla CEO, Elon Musk. Third single and title track, Talkin’ to the Trees, is a welcome change of pace. Countrified thrills which have always been a fundamental of Young’s sound can be heard here.
Softly spoken beauties, the blow of a harmonica and a longing tone which does much to amplify the core brilliance Glastonbury Festival headliner. Talkin’ to the Trees is a nod to the classic days of Young, when we had the time to be a little carefree, had the energy to dedicate to passive, lighter life. Not now, though. Young, like his many impressive contemporaries, is leading a new charge against the rot of the modern world. Talkin’ to the Trees may sound like a comfortable, familiar tone from the veteran of stage and studio, but it still holds contempt. In the absence of clear shots at the world around him, Young takes on a traditional form which has not been a part of his sound for some time. This is what could be, he seems to suggest, if there were cooler heads in power. In times of struggle, those politically vehement years, there is a period of hope. That is what Young brings through on Talkin’ to the Trees.
Where Young may be in an enviable position, both capable of hitting out at the world as he sees fit and retreating to the quiet life, he has rarely opted for the latter. His fury is our experience. Talkin’ to the Trees showcases Young can still write a stylish, environmentally adjacent piece of escapism. Now, more than ever, escapism is desired. What Young has captured here is a quality of life many people yearn for but have no way of capturing for themselves, be it the oppression from power or the mistakes made along the way. There is a chance to be thankful for what we have, an utterly crucial part of this song. The breeze is free. So too are the trees, the parts of wonderful nature and all its glory. Connecting with that is escapism, as is Talkin’ to the Trees.
Turn to what you can trust in times of crisis. There is an underlying suggestion from Young here that the big change will not come from lackadaisical living. It is time to get up. To make a change. Talkin’ to the Trees has an idyllic core, a sense of safety which filters out the real world. Nobody should live in their head for too long, nor should they be affected by the horrors of the modern day in every second. The trick is balance. Where Big Change may have been a thumping, roaring hit at the political strife the world over, Talkin’ to the Trees features a care-free life, and how those calm days next to beloved pets and untouched nature, can be just as dangerous. Isolation is desired in times of crisis, but Young asks those who do shy away from the real world to take a closer, impassioned look. Talkin’ to the Trees is his best song in years.
