"Neil Young" (Neil Young, 1968) & "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" (Neil Young & Crazy Horse, 1969)

As most debut albums go, Neil Young’s euphonious first is not perfect, by any means. Nevertheless, such is to be expected from an artist who was relatively new to the music scene, with the exception of his brief and turbulent spin with Buffalo Springfield. This is the band which Young later turned his back on in return for developing a solo career, an album with the little-known Crazy Horse (Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere) and a stint with hippy revolutionaries Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (Déjà Vu). Young’s first release unfortunately received little acclaim and attention; surprisingly, since he had been key in the break-up of Buffalo Springfield. Nevertheless, for those sharp-witted individuals lucky enough to give the record a spin in 1968 it proved a delight in showcasing the upcoming singer-songwriter’s artistic potential.

The nine-track LP opens with a jolly instrumental entitled The Emperor of Wyoming which is then followed by the semi-autobiographical track named The Loner. As a standalone song, it is one of Young’s most recognisable works and among the best tracks on the album. Other highlights on the album include the guitar-driven I've Been Waiting For You, the more laid back ballad entitled The Old Laughing Lady (including some outstandingly well arranged backing vocals) and the soulful upset of I've Loved Her So Long. The album's concept seems to track the beginning and end of a turbulent romance.

At a length of thirty-six minutes, the album is anything but overlong. In fact, the song lengths seem quite appropriate with the music in this case. Then again, the nine-and-a-half minute closing track The Last Trip to Tulsa is traditional Young, as he often places at least one song of epic length on the majority of his albums. This particular track is an absurdist one, drenched in irony and steeped in weird, wondrous humor. Although this is not a great album by any means, it is one which boasts the introduction to my favourite musician and therefore, to me, there is something undeniably special about each listening.

Now here we have an album, and one which remains a significant milestone in Neil Young's career. Not only is this the first essential Neil Young album, it's also the first great Crazy Horse album. It's the first recorded collaboration with the infamous backing band. Comprised of seven songs, the album has a relatively limited number of tracks but that isn't a bother when tracks like Down by the River and Cowgirl in the Sand each last almost ten minutes.

The album has a much heavier tone than its easy going predecessor. Electric guitar jams alternatively take preference over Young's previous acoustic-based album. It is rock n' roll at its most purest sound, and from the opening Cinnamon Girl to the epic Cowgirl in the Sand the album continuously pumps out amplified works of electrifying power. The album's self-titled track defines Young's career with a rare sense of beauty that few artists can even establish after decades worth of albums. The high-pitched backing vocals bare much contrast to Young's nasally, down-trodden voice while Young's heartfelt lyrics suggest rather than state epitomes of loss and regret. However, in the case of Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, Young demonstrates an eloquent vocal range of stark contrast to his previous solo work.

Much of the guitar work on heavy rock tracks such as Down by the River sound great because of their sketchy, simplified chord progression. The folk-rock sound achieved by the album is owed to such guitar playing. Condensed drum beats and unpolished production techniques somehow manage to make the sound even better. The less appreciated track Running Dry (Requiem for the Rockets) is a multi-layered song which references the backing band's roots and combines some grating violin strokes with a suitably sluggish rhythm.

This is an album which retains the listener's attention throughout, with mesmerising guitar solos of great length and power. It is this that makes the album such a success; the talent of elemental garage rockers such as the late guitarist Danny Whitten (who also provides shadowy backing vocals) and the longtime bassist Billy Talbot ultimately define the impulsive sound of the horse. Neil Young, on the other hand, proved that he was a talent to be sought after.


Upcoming Neil Young Reviews: After the Goldrush (1970) and Harvest (1972).

"Mean Creek" (Jacob Aaron Estes, 2004)

7/10

Ever since it was released on Region 2 DVD in 2005, I have been quite a fan of Mean Creek. On first impression, it felt like a Larry Clark knock-off, but something that had a notable sense of integrity when compared to material such as Kids and Ken Park. Nevertheless, of Clark’s films it was most reminiscent of Bully; a film that was “great” when compared to the director’s prior efforts at exploiting young actors and provoking unnecessary fear in anyone over the age of thirty. Mean Creek is a far more realistic approach to the irresponsible behaviour of certain youths in our failing societies because each character had a back-story and the predictability of the plot meant viewers could watch intently with the knowledge that tragedy was imminent.

Jacob Aaron Estes’ feature-length debut has a perfectly chosen setting; the idyllic backwoods of a small town somewhere in the heart of Oregon state. Much different to the typical city setting that is chosen for the majority of films focusing on the behavioural response of teenagers in extreme situations. A variety of beautiful landscapes are depicted, but are abruptly shattered with the onset of death. It is with this that the warm sky turns to grey, the ancestral woods become threatening and the inviting river becomes a gaping crack in the land. Somehow, this is all so effective, even when the viewer is fully aware for the inevitable mishap that was destined to happen immediately as the children set off to unveil their misguided attempt at revenge.

The characters attempt to justify their plan to “give a bully a taste of his own medicine” by saying that it a well-intended act of support for a timid male who is said to of been victimised by a much larger, dyslexic boy. Oddly enough, the viewer only sees the misunderstood “bully” act inappropriately once prior to the group of teens deciding to enact revenge. Therefore, it is difficult understanding exactly what this boy has done to get the reputation he has and considering the boy clearly has psychological issues, you would expect the teens to have more understanding. One could argue, that this is the core issue of the film; that the teens are inspired by the notion of revenge and are fascinated by a severely dyslexic boy’s lack of social intelligence among his peers. Does this mean that aggression is harboured by these teens? Not exactly, but it showcases the spontaneity of decisions made by teenagers who do not consider the consequences.

For a first time director, Jacob Aaron Estes projects a brilliant image of the much-trodden path of “innocence lost”, whilst also showing a knack for realistically writing the dialogue of youths. He manages to craft tension and allows the actors to comfortably encompass their roles without sensing disillusion from the cast. Josh Peck’s performance is a long step away from his much-established position on primetime Nickelodeon programming (Drake and Josh). The key scene when he enters an expletive-fueled tirade on the canoe is just as uncomfortable as it is disheartening. However, it is Scott Mechlowicz’s performance that serves as the crux behind the lingering memory of the film. His character is just as much a bully as Josh Peck’s, if not more so because he does not suffer from any known disabilities, and seems to gain a great deal of satisfaction from the prospect of a prank. Mechlowicz utilises the character’s disrupted background and lack of self-respect, ultimately painting a portrait of alienation and heartache. For fans of John Boorman's masterpiece Deliverance, this is definitely recommended viewing and is bound to appeal to anyone who enjoys studies of how humans react when facing extreme circumstances.


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