This discography analysis is written by JT of Perth, Australia (follow him at @thesonofnoone on Twitter).
Stills-Young Band
Long May You Run (1976) http://open.spotify.com/album/52nULTP8ROvDHx6BxOan7j
TRACKS:
1) 'Long May You Run' - Sure, it's a good song and all, but it's just a bit... normal. Its structure is too normal to be considered a quintessential Neil Young song. But, it still has its fair share of charms. It doesn't miss Crosby and Nash's vocals and Stills' (for once) understated backing vocals are just right. But as I said - it's just a bit normal for me to love it. 7.5
2) 'Make Love to You' - Stills song. N/R
3) 'Midnight on the Bay' - It's as if Neil teamed up with Steely Dan to go Yacht Rocking for a week. Not saying it's a bad song, but compared to Zuma, this is Neil Diamond territory. 6.0
4) 'Black Coral' - Stills song. N/R
5) 'Ocean Girl' - Again with the Yacht Rock! This one sounds like Neil's doing everything he can to make sure he doesn't really sound like Neil Young. The song itself isn't bad - not in the slightest. But I'm trying to guess what the point to all this is? 6.0
6) 'Let it Shine' - Hey, this isn't half bad. I was probably expecting something a bit different considering what had come before, but this is harmless trash. Still, there's nothing here that makes body parts move. Nothing at all. 7.0
7) '12/8 Blues' - Stills song. N/R
8) 'Fonatinebleau' - Nothing to make body parts move? Well, yeah... that was the case until now. Holy shit is this a great fuckin' song or what? Again, no idea what the hell it's about, but that doesn't bother me. A great melody, a chugging - almost driving beat, great vocals and guitar that just slices through you. Where has this song been? Why do we get rendition after rendition of 'Cinnamon Girl' or 'Fuckin Up' when Neil could be playing this with the Horse, or with anyone. Hearing this makes you almost want to re-think the bad thoughts that you have about the whole album. Almost. 9.0
9) 'Guardian Angel' - Stills song. N/R
ALBUM RATING (For Neil Young's songs only): 6.5
VERDICT: Discounting Stills' songs (which I've done here, I've no interest in them for the purpose of the thread), this has its peaks, there's no doubt about that. It's just simply a baffling move to split an album with Stephen Stills, who by this point in time was already a spent force - whereas Neil Young was just coming to the end of one of the greatest 4 album runs in history. Oh well, we all know what they say about friends and enemies. Eat a peach!
NEXT: Weather forecast says it's getting windy in here.
