MarkCooper

A lost artifact of Neil Young love songs and road ballads, recorded in the strongest stride of his career, released decades later.

It took Homegrown to realize how much Neil Young is like Phil Elverum, though I think the eras he recorded in doesn't reflect that very well. I think albums like this and Hitchhiker feel so strong because they feel so intimate in a very specific way. I always loved Phil Elverum's music because of how intimate it was - it feels like a lone man making music, ... read more

Remember Joe Talbot, only a Sith deals in absolutes.

Much like with PC Culture in general, Ultra Mono has this initial taste of good intentions and positive change, but steadily becomes so self-involved it swallows itself whole in its own line-in-the-sand drawing and bold absolutes.
Long story short, it's cocky in its own delusions, it's proud to be in its own bubble while simultaneously condemning those who live the same way in a different bubble. It's exhausting and the exact opposite of ... read more

I like this much more than the actual album, and honestly maybe even a little more than This Old Dog. I consider This Old Dog to be his first descent into his easy listening/adult alternative sound, which I really don't care for. I think, given the fact that they're demos and are therefore recorded with a lot more spontaneity, this Demos record scratches an itch for sincerity/authenticity I feel has kind of been missing on the last couple Mac records.

Favorite track: Dave, Tommy

Least ... read more

Trying way too hard for me