Talkin To The Trees (2025)

"As you might have noticed, the US is bitterly politically divided these days. (2025) So it’s hardly surprising that "Talkin To The Trees", Neil Young’s forty-fourth studio album has a thing or two to say about that. While no one has ever looked to Young for cogent political analysis, there’s no denying that he’s capable of writing gloriously blunt and bracing protest songs when he’s properly fired up. "Big Change" and "Let’s Roll Again" are the new record’s snarling highlights, a one-two knockout punch of sarcasm-drenched yet entirely sincere bile in which Young cranks up his guitar and takes direct aim at Trump and his lackey Elon Musk. "Big Change" boils down to Young declaring: ‘Big change is comin’!’ over three descending distorted chords, but that’s all he needs to summon up the horror of the Trump Reich apocalypse. What it is, though, is the weirdly comforting sound of an oddball genius proffering words of hope as the world burns all around us." (Loudersound; 3,5 uit 4 sterren)