A TreasureReprise ****

This history lesson is one hardcore Neil Young fans will be only too happy to sit through. Assembled from the vaults, this live recording from 1984/1985 captures a time when Young's country tendencies gained the upper hand. The music is taken from two US tours following the release of Old Ways, which ended up with his record label suing him, basically because he didn't sound like his old self. Young reacted by heading out on the country circuit, with a country band featuring the late great steel guitarist Ben Keith and fiddler Rufus Thibodeaux. They played country, or at least Young-country, with its layers of energy, pastiche, irony and affection. And they played it with swagger. Five previously unreleased tracks arguably hold most interest here: with, Nothing Is Perfectand the driving Grey Riderscarrying the most impact. See neilyoung.com

Download tracks: Grey Riders, Southern Pacific