Peace Trail (album)

Last updated
Peace Trail
Peacetrailneilyoung.jpg
Studio album by
Neil Young
ReleasedDecember 9, 2016
RecordedSeptember 9 – 12, 2016
Studio Shangri-La Studios
Genre Rock
Length38:20
Label Reprise
Producer
Neil Young chronology
Earth
(2016)		Peace Trail
(2016)		 Hitchhiker
(2017)
Singles from Peace Trail
  1. "Indian Givers"
    Released: September 18, 2016
  2. "Peace Trail"
    Released: October 28, 2016
  3. "Show Me"
    Released: November 11, 2016
  4. "My Pledge"
    Released: November 18, 2016 [1]

Peace Trail is the 38th studio album by Canadian / American singer-songwriter Neil Young, released on December 9, 2016, on Reprise Records. Co-produced by Young and John Hanlon, the album was recorded at record producer Rick Rubin's Shangri-La Studios. [2]

Contents

Described as a "primarily acoustic" album, Young recorded Peace Trail with drummer Jim Keltner and bass guitarist Paul Bushnell. [3]

Background

Peace Trail was written and recorded following the release of Young's live album, Earth , in 2016. [3] Despite working extensively with Promise of the Real throughout 2015 and 2016, Young opted to record a solo album with session musicians Jim Keltner (drums) and Paul Bushnell (bass). Young explains the decision to Mother Jones :

"I started writing Peace Trail here in Colorado, then I went back to California. I had a few other tunes going around in my head, so I had a couple of them finished after a few days and then I wanted to go into the studio. I like to go in right away as soon as I have things. I called the guys from Promise of the Real, whom I've been playing with, and they were all on the road. Right after I hung up the phone, I wrote another song and started writing another, and I'm going, 'Hey, I can't wait. I should be doing this now!' My experience tells me that when it's there, it's there, and you can't make it wait. So I got Jimmy Keltner and Paul Bushnell, two good guys, and went in and did this record." [4]

Writing

The album's songs find Young commenting on technology and social change, and the need for people to drive that change for the positive. He explains, "This record has a good feeling. When something may be worn out, thank God or the Great Spirit or whoever for something new that is coming. That's the greatest news you could ever have. Maybe it's a baby, maybe it's a movement, maybe it's a way of thinking, maybe it's evolution. Who knows? But it's a big deal, and it's not a bad feeling." [5]

In the song "Indian Givers", Young expresses support for local activists at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation amid the then ongoing Dakota Access Pipeline protests. [6] Young spent his 71st birthday joining the protesters and performing at the site. [7]

The lyrics to "Show Me" express support for women's rights. Young remembers the reaction from the audience when he first played the song: "When I first sang that, I think it was in Telluride, Colorado, and I heard that sound. I've never heard that before: all the women in the audience spontaneously erupting into applause, or encouragement, or whatever it was — recognition?" [5]

Recording

The album was recorded in four days at Shangri-La Studio in Malibu in mid-September 2016. [8] The album features only Young, Keltner and Bushnell, with additional overdubs by Young, credited to Joe Yankee. The album is Young's first to employ Auto-Tune, on the song "My Pledge". [6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 57/100 [9]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Classic Rock Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Pitchfork 6.7/10 [12]
Uncut Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [13]

Peace Trail received mixed reviews upon its release. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 57, based on 18 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [9]

In a positive review for Uncut , Damien Love expressed surprise that Young opted not to record with his current backing band Promise of the Real, but praised the album's collaborators, Paul Bushnell and Jim Keltner: "Bushnell provides that perfect kind of bass you barely notice. Keltner’s percussion is a different story. Captured mostly in first or second takes, he doesn’t so much keep the beat as respond to what Young is doing, an improvised interplay of odd, shaggy patterns. The record often becomes a duet between Young and Keltner." [13] In another positive review for Classic Rock Magazine , Rob Hughes wrote: "While it may not be the most musically involved album of his 50-year career, it’s persuasive evidence that Young still has a lot to offer." [11]

In a mostly positive review for Pitchfork, Sam Sodomsky praised Young's dedication to releasing politically charged albums and his prolific output: "While Young’s voice has certainly never sounded older than it does here, there’s something youthful about his energy. Besides the fact that his two-album-a-year-clip keeps him in pace with your Ty Segalls or John Dwyers, his music is guided by a restless determination to cover new ground and speak his mind." [12]

In a negative review for Allmusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine suggests that the album's recording process was rushed: "It's interesting aesthetically, but the problem with Peace Trail isn't the concept, it's the execution. Intended as a musical bulletin à la "Ohio" or Living with War , Peace Trail is filled with songs about its precise moment in time, but the execution is so artless it veers toward indifference." [10]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Peace Trail"5:32
2."Can't Stop Workin'"2:45
3."Indian Givers"5:41
4."Show Me"4:02
5."Texas Rangers"2:29
6."Terrorist Suicide Hang Gliders"3:17
7."John Oaks"5:12
8."My Pledge"3:54
9."Glass Accident"2:53
10."My New Robot"2:35

Personnel

Additional roles

Charts

Chart (2016)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [14] 52
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [15] 27
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [16] 30
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [17] 61
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [18] 72
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [19] 23
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [20] 23
Irish Albums (IRMA) [21] 58
Italian Albums (FIMI) [22] 75
New Zealand Heatseekers Albums (RMNZ) [23] 1
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [24] 32
Scottish Albums (OCC) [25] 41
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [26] 82
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [27] 14
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [28] 24
UK Albums (OCC) [29] 57
US Billboard 200 [30] 76
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [31] 8
US Folk Albums (Billboard) [32] 3
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard) [33] 5

Related Research Articles

<i>Bloodflowers</i> 2000 studio album by the Cure

Bloodflowers is the eleventh studio album by English rock band The Cure. It was first released in Japan on 2 February 2000, before being released in the UK and Europe on 14 February 2000 and then the day after in the US by Fiction Records and Polydor Records. Initially the album was to be released in 1999, as it had been completed by May that year, the record company wanted it to be released “post millennial fever,”.

<i>Sleeps with Angels</i> 1994 studio album by Neil Young & Crazy Horse

Sleeps with Angels is the 22nd studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, released on August 16, 1994, on Reprise as a double LP and as a single CD. The album is Young's seventh with Crazy Horse. Co-produced by David Briggs, the album is Young's last with his long-time producer, who died the following year. The title track was written and recorded as a tribute to Kurt Cobain in wake of his suicide. Although the rest of the album was recorded before that event, the album takes on a somber, subdued tone throughout. Musician and author Ken Viola described the album as one of Young's "top five records. It examines the nature of dreams — both the light and dark side — and how they fuel reality in the nineties. Dreams are the only thing that we've got left to hang on to."

<i>Living with War</i> 2006 studio album by Neil Young

Living With War is the 29th studio album by Canadian / American musician Neil Young, released on May 2, 2006. The album's lyrics, titles, and conceptual style are highly critical of the policies of the George W. Bush administration; the CTV website described it as "a musical critique of U.S. President George W. Bush and his conduct of the war in Iraq". The record was written and recorded over nine days in March and April 2006.

<i>Chrome Dreams II</i> 2007 studio album by Neil Young

Chrome Dreams II is the 30th studio album by Canadian-American musician Neil Young. The album was released on October 23, 2007 as a double LP and as a single CD. The album name references Chrome Dreams, a legendary Neil Young album from 1977 that had originally been scheduled for release but was shelved in favor of American Stars 'N Bars.

<i>Fork in the Road</i> 2009 studio album by Neil Young

Fork in the Road is the 31st studio album by Canadian / American musician Neil Young, released April 7, 2009, on Reprise Records. The album was released on vinyl on July 26, 2009.

<i>Phrazes for the Young</i> 2009 studio album by Julian Casablancas

Phrazes for the Young is the debut solo album by American singer-songwriter Julian Casablancas. It was released through his own Cult Records label, via RCA and Rough Trade Records, on November 2, 2009, in the United Kingdom and the following day in the United States.

<i>Le Noise</i> 2010 studio album by Neil Young

Le Noise is the 32nd studio album by Canadian / American musician Neil Young, released on September 28, 2010. The album was recorded in Los Angeles and produced by Daniel Lanois, hence the titular pun. The album consists of Young performing solo, mostly on electric guitar with echo effects, distortion and feedback. The sessions coincided with the death of two of Young's longtime collaborators, filmmaker L.A. Johnson and steel guitarist Ben Keith, influencing some of the lyrics. Lanois also experienced a near-fatal motorcycle accident during recording. The album is the first collaboration between the two Canadians.

<i>Americana</i> (Neil Young & Crazy Horse album) 2012 studio album by Neil Young and Crazy Horse

Americana is the 33rd studio album by Canadian / American musician Neil Young, released on June 5, 2012. The album was Young's first collaboration with backing band Crazy Horse since their 2003 album, Greendale, and its associated tour.

<i>Psychedelic Pill</i> 2012 studio album by Neil Young and Crazy Horse

Psychedelic Pill is the 34th studio album by Canadian / American musician Neil Young, released on October 30, 2012. It is the second collaboration between Young and Crazy Horse released in 2012 and their first original work together since the Greendale album and tour in 2003 and 2004. The album was streamed on Young's website on October 24, 2012, and leaked onto the Internet the same day.

<i>The Monsanto Years</i> 2015 studio album by Neil Young and Promise of the Real

The Monsanto Years is the 37th studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young and the American rock group Promise of the Real, released on June 29, 2015 on Reprise Records. A concept album which criticizes the agribusiness company Monsanto, it is Young's thirty-fifth studio album and the third by Promise of the Real. The album is the first collaboration between Young and Promise of the Real. The group is fronted by Lukas Nelson and features his brother Micah, both sons of Willie Nelson.

<i>Earth</i> (Neil Young and Promise of the Real album) 2016 live album by Neil Young & Promise of the Real

Earth is a live album by Neil Young and Promise of the Real, released on June 17, 2016 on Reprise Records. Recorded during the band's Rebel Content Tour in 2015, the album was produced by Young and John Hanlon and features live performances augmented by studio overdubs and additional nature and animal sounds.

<i>Schmilco</i> 2016 studio album by Wilco

Schmilco is the tenth studio album by the American rock band Wilco, released on September 9, 2016, by dBpm Records. Wilco announced the album on July 19, 2016, and released two songs, "Locator" and "If I Ever Was a Child". The album's announcement came a little more than a year after their previous studio album, Star Wars.

<i>I See You</i> (The xx album) 2017 studio album by the xx

I See You is the third studio album by English indie pop band the xx. It was released on 13 January 2017 by the Young Turks record label. It was the band's first album in more than four years, following 2012's Coexist.

<i>Hitchhiker</i> (album) 2017 studio album by Neil Young

Hitchhiker is the 39th studio album by Canadian / American singer-songwriter Neil Young, issued September 8, 2017, on Reprise Records. It is the ninth release in Young's ongoing archival release series and the first of the Special Release series.

<i>The Visitor</i> (Neil Young and Promise of the Real album) 2017 studio album by Neil Young and Promise of the Real

The Visitor is the 40th studio album by Canadian / American singer-songwriter Neil Young and his second studio album with American rock group Promise of the Real. The album was released on December 1, 2017, on Reprise Records. The album was preceded by the singles "Children of Destiny", which was released on July 4, 2017, and "Already Great", which was released on November 3, 2017 and is in response to President Donald Trump's campaign slogan of Make America Great Again.

<i>Roxy: Tonights the Night Live</i> 2018 live album by Neil Young

Roxy: Tonight's the Night Live is a live album by Canadian musician Neil Young. The album is culled from live recordings made at the Roxy Theatre on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, shows that celebrated the club's opening as part of Neil Young Tonight's the Night Tour 1973. Neil Young and the backing band he called the Santa Monica Flyers played two sets a night on September 20, 21, and 22, 1973, shortly after the band had finished recording Tonight's the Night. Because of that, almost the entire concert is made up of that album.

<i>Songs for Judy</i> 2018 live album by Neil Young

Songs for Judy is a live album by Canadian / American musician Neil Young, released on November 30, 2018 on Shakey Pictures Records. It is Volume 07 in the Performance Series of Neil Young Archives. The album features recordings from Young's solo acoustic sets during the November 1976 United States tour with Crazy Horse.

<i>Colorado</i> (Neil Young album) 2019 studio album by Neil Young and Crazy Horse

Colorado is the 41st studio album by Canadian-American singer-songwriter Neil Young, released on October 25, 2019, by Reprise Records. The album was preceded by the singles "Milky Way" and "Rainbow of Colors" and is dedicated to Elliot Roberts, Young's manager since 1967, who died aged 76 on June 21, 2019. It was also the first album to feature Nils Lofgren as a member of Crazy Horse since 1971.

<i>Barn</i> (album) 2021 studio album by Neil Young and Crazy Horse

Barn is the 43rd studio album by Canadian-American singer-songwriter Neil Young and his 14th with American rock band Crazy Horse. The album was released on December 10, 2021, by Reprise Records. A stand-alone film of the same name directed by Young's wife Daryl Hannah was also released for streaming and on Blu-ray.

<i>World Record</i> (Neil Young & Crazy Horse album) 2022 studio album by Neil Young and Crazy Horse

World Record is the 45th studio album by Canadian-American singer-songwriter Neil Young and his 15th with Crazy Horse, released on November 18, 2022, through Reprise Records. The album was produced by Young and Rick Rubin, and preceded by the lead single "Love Earth".

References

  1. ↑ "Neil Young singles & EP discography". Discogs. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  2. ↑ Blistein, Jon (25 October 2016). "Neil Young Preps New Album 'Peace Trail'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  3. 1 2 Sodomsky, Sam (26 October 2016). "Neil Young Announces New Album Peace Trail". Pitchfork . Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  4. ↑ Blickenstaff, Jacob. For Neil Young, the Trump Era Feels a Lot like the '60s. Mother Jones. December 11, 2016. Accessed January 1, 2024. https://www.motherjones.com/media/2016/12/neil-young-interview-peace-trail-indian-givers-standing-rock/.
  5. 1 2 Lewis, Randy (2016-12-05). "Neil Young has a fire in his belly in new 'Peace Trail' album". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  6. 1 2 SCOTT BAUER (2016-12-15). "Neil Young takes a stand on 'Peace Trail'". The Advocate. Associated Press. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  7. ↑ Interviews, Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & (2016-12-19). "Neil Young - Peace Trail". Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews. Retrieved 2024-01-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ "Neil Young: Peace Trail review – creatively loose protest songs". TheGuardian.com . 11 December 2016.
  9. 1 2 "Reviews for Peace Trail by Neil Young". Metacritic . Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  10. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Peace Trail - Neil Young". Allmusic . Retrieved December 22, 2016.
  11. 1 2 Hughes, Rob (December 5, 2016). "Neil Young - Peace Trail album review". Classic Rock . Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  12. 1 2 Sodomsky, Sam (December 8, 2016). "Neil Young: Peace Trail". Pitchfork . Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  13. 1 2 Love, Damien (December 5, 2016). "Neil Young - Peace Trail". Uncut . Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  14. ↑ "ARIA CHART WATCH #399". auspOp. December 17, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Neil Young – Peace Trail" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Neil Young – Peace Trail" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Neil Young – Peace Trail" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Neil Young Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Neil Young – Peace Trail" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Neil Young – Peace Trail" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  21. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 50, 2016". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 50 (dal 2016-12-09 al 2016-12-15)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  23. ↑ "NZ Heatseekers Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. December 19, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  24. ↑ "VG-lista - Topp 40 Album uke 50, 2016". VG-lista . Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  26. ↑ "TOP 100 ALBUMES — SEMANA 50: del 09.12.2016 al 15.12.2016" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España . Retrieved December 22, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Sverigetopplistan - Sveriges Officiella Topplista". Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved December 17, 2016. Click on "Veckans albumlista".
  28. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Neil Young – Peace Trail". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  29. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  30. ↑ "Neil Young Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  31. ↑ "Neil Young Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Neil Young Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  33. ↑ "Neil Young Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.