| Like the Band,
Neil Young eschewed his Canadian roots to create a sound rooted in
American folk and country, which he mixed with visionary, poetic rock in
Buffalo Springfield and on his solo albums. He played the crucial fourth
wheel role in Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, but ultimately proved
too individualistic to participate in a democracy. The gritty, electric
assault of his work with Crazy Horse is the alter ego of Young's more
folk/country-based work, and also proved a key influence on the grunge
sound of Seattle (Young even recorded a live album with Pearl Jam as his
backing band). Over the years, he's followed his mercurial muse through
everything from rockabilly to synth-pop to big-band blues, always
remaining uniquely Neil. |
