American Stars & Bars - NEIL YOUNG***

The Old Country Waltz/Saddle Up The Palomino/Hey Babe/Hold Back The Tears/Bite The Bullet/Star Of Bethlehem/Will To Love/Like A Hurricane/Homegrown

After his collaboration with Stephen Stills, the follow up release from Neil Young was American Stars & Bars. It comprised tracks recorded over several years with the majority reflecting a country flavour. (US:21 UK:17)

“The inclusion of Like A Hurricane only cements the mediocrity of the rest of the material - unenergetic, overblown country pieces with little of the personality that made Neil's previous years so fruitful.”

“Quite country. On one hand, American Stars & Bars shows that Neil Young could write nice melodies, which is fine of course. But on the other hand, this album shows how fond Neil was of the old-fashioned, regressive, traditional Midwest American popular music. Like A Hurricane is a classic song, but the five-minute single version should have been enough.”

“It’s a bit of a rambling collection spreading across three or four years but including some of his most accomplished songs. Like A Hurricane has outlasted any number of songs from his back catalogue, and is still capable of sending shivers along the spine of the unwary listener, whilst Will To Love displays his outstanding song-crafting skills to a very high degree.”

“After the failed Stills-Young Band tour, Neil went solo again and cut this album with some country songs and a little rock on it as well. Highlight is the classic Like A Hurricane, with one of the best guitar solos of all time. The rest isn't that special.”

“This is another of his throw a bunch of outtakes together records, pieced together from material old and new. The principal reason for buying it is Like A Hurricane, a classic. The rest is patchy, although I love the sweet country of Star Of Bethlehem.”

“For any fan, this is a must own. It shows three different sides of Neil. Most of the first album is very country-esque. The Old Country Waltz is exactly what it sounds like, for example. There is also his acoustic side with Star Of Bethlehem and the beautiful Will To Love. The real classic off this album is Like A Hurricane which is still a concert favourite to this day. And closing we have Homegrown, which combines his rocking side with his country side.”