Neil Young and Crazy Horse are channeling an early grade school music class or an early piano lesson book, whichever makes the better picture. The team, which has not released an LP as a unit since 2003, has now put together Americana, an album filled with folk ballads and minstrel songs, set to a backdrop of a children’s choir.
The new album won’t hit the market until this summer, but in the meantime, the band is happy to intimate why they are recreating folk songs for a new age and a new audience.
"What ties these songs together is the fact that while they may represent an America that may no longer exist. The emotions and scenarios behind these songs still resonate with what’s going on in the country today with equal, if not greater impact nearly 200 years later…â€
A closer look at the track list that includes “Oh Susanna†and “She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain†might provoke the question of how much re-listen value a full album of Neil Young jamming with Crazy Horse and a kids choir to easily recognizable tracks will have. I would guess very little, although the easily singable songs could make for a great concert atmosphere. Unfortunately, Neil Young and Crazy Horse currently have no plans to tour. Don’t lose hope just yet: Americana does not even drop until June 6, so both parties still have time to change their minds.
Following is the full Americana cover art and track list, courtesy of Rolling Stone.
"Oh Susannah"
"Clementine"
"Tom Dooley"
" Gallows Pole"
"Get A Job"
"Travel On"
"High Flyin’ Bird"
"She’ll Be Comin ’Round The Mountain"
"This Land Is Your Land"
"Wayfarin’ Stranger"
"God Save The Queen"
cinemablend