Neil Young's "Electronic" Album

This near mythical, near electronic album by Neil Young sold about two copies in 1982. Why come? Considering most of his fans were dyed in the wool hippies, a "computer" music album understandably didn't gel with their freedom rock tastes. I've heard about this for awhile but only just came across it at another blog. Truth be told it's a pretty fun set of songs with a very heavy "Heavy Metal" (the sci fi fantasy movie) vibe to its synth laden guitar rock. Upon listening i am not sure i would agree with the theory that it was meant to act as a cautionary tale of modernity taking over. Naw. I read that was some sort of apologists response to the slagging it was taking at the time. I mean, listen to it. It sounds like the perfect soundtrack to a saturday night at the arcade in the roller rink circa, well, the year it can out, 1982. It sounds decidedly intentional. The cover art is straight out of, again, 1982. Despite the criticism and poor sales, the Rolling Stone review was quite generous in its awarding of 4 out of 5 stars.......

"Well, Mr. Weird is at it again" was one of the first reactions I heard to the synthesized sounds and Vocoderized vocals that typify a lot of the material on Neil Young's new album. Trans. With Young, one learns to expect the unexpected, but this record is as drastic a break from career form as David Bowie's kiss-off to his Thin White Duke persona with Low. And twice as surprising, too, because Young, despite his penchant for shifting gears from record to record, has always sunk his roots deep into the good earth, the fertile loam, of the American singer songwriter tradition. So, if Neil Young feels compelled to scramble his lyrics in computerized Morse code, running his voice through Vocoders and octave dividers, what are we to make of this brave new world that's overtaking us, turning our sturdiest songsmiths into computer clones? Has the ever-suggestible Young, in his zeal to escape the sad fate of those touring Tutankhamens (and former bandmates) Crosby, Stills and Nash, taken it too far this time?"

The review, available here, goes on to say how Young had been smitten by Kraftwerk at the time. Who wasn't? To be fair, about half of the album isnt really all that robotique... but that half would still fit in an early 80's arcade (or the mall scenes from Fast Times At Ridgemount High) with out missing a beat. I'm a sucker for a good vocoder vocal, and this album has plenty of them. Dig out the old 2600, pop in Frogger and press play. Enjoy.


NEIL YOUNG "TRANS"
Geffen Records, 1982


(In the interest of full disclosure, Alli doesn't like this album at all.)