Why Neil Young Is Good

The very mention of Neil Young’s name conjures up a vastly different opinions and thoughts with different people.

"Oh, that’s the guy with the whiney voice" or "He’s an awful guitar player" are the usual responses to Neil’s name.

Anyone who knows me knows that I have an affinity and attachment to Neil Young. During the Beat Heathens yearlong stint as the house band at the Peel Pub in Toronto backing Dan Gallagher, we would often be called upon to play entire nights without Dan. Dan had a busy television schedule that made it necessary for us to play some of those Wednesday night shows without him. Often, I would bring Neil’s music in to play because a) it was simple to play and could be jammed easily, b) with my limited vocal ability I could pull his music off and c) I was such a big fan that I just loved playing the stuff.

It was these covers that lead to us partaking in a Neil Young tribute band. It was during the time of doing these gigs that my appreciation for Neil grew even further. At the time, I was in a highly structured musical environment where it seemed that theory dictated every musical movement I made. Neil’s music and, in fact, his entire being, is all about feeling music. It’s about the moment. So, when I was playing the Neil Young part, I felt free. It was somewhat ironic that while pretending to be another musician I often found myself on another plain of my own being.

Neil Young is not about technical virtuosity, nor is he about fear. To be Neil Young you must be brave. He doesn’t concentrate so much on the correct notes, more on letting the mood of the song dictate the performance. Nearly all of Neil’s recordings are done live in the studio, including vocals. This, by no means, is an excuse for his lack-lustre vocal ability. Rather, it is testament to his conviction. He has often said that many use the analogy that recording a song is much like painting a picture, whereas he sees it as more like taking a photograph. Songs, to Neil, are immediate and it is vital to him to get them recorded quickly. When you consider that all of his biggest hits like "Heart Of Gold" and "Rockin’ In The Free World" were done live, it speaks volumes about how important it is to keep music honest.

I am a firm believer in live recording. If not live, than "simple" recordings. Music should sound organic and pure. That said, electronic trickery has its merits, but the general public are not stupid. In a world where Brittany and Shania have gained great popularity, out popped Nora Jones to remind us that people also like their music real.

Shortly before going on the road with the Neil Young tribute band once, I was driving one of the greatest guitar players in the country home from a gig. He is one of the greatest musicians I’ve ever seen. He knew I was leaving for a tour and asked me what band it was. When I told him it was a Neil Young tribute, he spent the duration of the ride raving about Neil and his merits as a guitarist. I was astounded. But after some thought, I realized that Neil’s appeal as a musician is far reaching. His playing style preaches mood and it’s importance. It reminds the technician in us that the feeling generated by our playing far surpasses the note choices.

Neil’s biggest appeal to me is his attitude. Since his first solo record, he has done everything his way. From the use of less-than-average players (Crazy Horse) for some 35 years, to his release of an album recorded entirely while the musicians were blindingly drunk, to his embracing punk rock, to recording Rockabilly, Country and Electronica albums through the eighties, to the making of an 8mm film to pair his concept album "Greendale", Neil has never backed down from his positions. He has always just done it his way and that is inspiring.

In the end, Neil is a brilliant songwriter who has written the soundtrack to many people’s lives. His songs are personal to him, and are embraced as personal by others. That, to me, is the secret to good music. Honesty. The general public sees right through a phoney. Sure, it’s okay to write songs for fun. Music is fun. However, the music that stands the test of time is honest music. That’s why Neil Young gets more airplay than Air Supply.