Album Review: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Psychedelic Pill

Ah, that difficult 49th album… By the age of 67, most of us will probably be entrenched in retirement, watching the cricket in a semi-comatose state and generally doing as little as possible. This year Neil Young has written his memoirs, got his old band Crazy Horse back together to release two albums – including this, his first double CD of all new material – and embarked on yet another world tour. Whatever pills he's on, I want some too.

If Young is starting to shows signs of aging, then it may be in his rambling, Grandpa Simpson-esque rants. On the 27-minute opener (I'll spell it out, 'twenty-seven' so you know it's not a misprint) Driftin' Back, he waywardly curses the commercialisation of art, the commercialisation of religion and, erm, the inferior quality of MP3s. “When you hear my song now, you only get five per cent,” he moans. Phew, good thing he sent us a CD to review.

Despite these idiosyncrasies, Psychedelic Pill features some of Young's brawniest recent material. The chemistry between Young and his recalled comrades is now so familiar that for Young it must be like easing his feet into well-worn slippers, and while this set brims with good-natured, old-time rockers, the epic tale of Ramada Inn and the almighty Walk Like A Giant, with its bang, clatter and droning down-tuned guitar solo, still proves that collectively they can summon one hell of a racket when the mood inspires.

Excited for his Perth gig this March? You should be.