For some time now, no one has been able to question Neil Young’s place in the rock `n’ roll universe. He is firmly seated in the upper-echelon of rock royalty, an artist whose catalogue is unchallenged and whose risks normally pay off.
But with this security can come a dangerous malaise, a general feeling that the artist’s prime has long since passed and that any new output is a sign of flagging vitality.
And while Bob Dylan continues to challenge this perception, Young hasn’t been as successful.
His albums are usually good, maybe even great, but no one has muttered “masterpiece” since 1992’s Harvest Moon.
Young’s latest, the soul-filled Are You Passionate?, will do little to change this perception.
That’s a shame, because despite the questionable title and sappy cover art (a rose and a sepia-toned photograph laid against a camouflage army jacket), this is a decent record made by an artist who is willing to expand on his sound and subject. Young has employed the help of soul greats Booker T. & the MGs, and the themes of passion, love and acceptance are accentuated by the solid, if somewhat formulaic soul grooves.
Booker T. Jones still has the sweetest-sounding organ in the business, and he uses it to support Young’s outpourings with a bubbling buoyancy and subtle grace.
While Young’s delivery has never been short on soul, albiet a haggard and wispy soul, this record sets a frame for the more emotive nature of the lyrics.
Songs like “You’re My Girl” and “When I Hold You In My Arms” sound just like the titles suggest, with a nice touch of Stax/Volt warmth behind Young’s wonderfully reedy vocals and slightly distorted guitar lines.
Let’s take a moment for “Let’s Roll”-Young’s response to the heroes of Flight 93 and one of the few tolerable musical responses to Sept. 11.
“Let’s Roll” is patriotic without being ignorant and strong without being overbearing, but it probably should have been saved for a tribute album or charity record. It will likely sound as dated in 10 years as “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” does today and could potentially mar this sweet record.
The rest of the tracks are pleasant enough, but there are few standouts beyond the rougher-edged “Goin’ Home,” in which Young is backed again by Crazy Horse. Perhaps this suggests that while Passionate?’s soul excursion was a nice break, Young’s heart is embedded in the roots-rock of his past, ragged glory.
Grade: B
