This Week's New Releases

It pains me to say it, but I'm disappointed by Neil Young's latest effort, Chrome Dreams II. I had very high expectations, especially after visiting An Aquarium Drunkard for the long lost original 1977 unreleased predecessor. It's no secret that Neil is one of my favorite artists of all time. Whether it's his beautiful, acoustic, heartfelt ballads or his "Grandfather of Grunge" electric noise-rock, each of his phases represents a different stage in my life. I remember camping at our cabin in the woods (built from logs and mud) while my buddy Verno played songs from Neil's Unplugged album on an old guitar around the campfire in the mid-90s. Fast forward to 2003's headlining Bonnaroo appearance. Neil is universal - a true legend in our time. I'm not saying Chrome Dreams II is horrible, but I found it tough to listen to it the whole way through. There are definitely tracks worth hearing, so it is still a must-have in any music lover's collection.
But when it comes to new music this week, I've gotta instead recommend Ryan Adams' Follow the Lights EP. I haven't always been a Ryan Adams fan - it took some time for me to get into Easy Tiger.
And if you're feeling adventurous, you can count on Ween. La Cucaracha delivers more of the creativity and disturbing antics we have come to expect from Dean and Gene.