Photo: Daryl Hannah
Neil Young really needs no introduction. From his early days in Buffalo Springfield to work with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and a solo career spanning almost 50 LPs, he is a living legend who, nevertheless, must answer a question put to any artist at this stage in their career: do they still have a point to prove, or an audience to reach? For Young, the answer is a resounding yes to both. ‘Talkin To The Trees’ is an invigorating first album with The Chrome Hearts, while it arrives ahead of a headline set at Glastonbury.
The first two songs neatly show off sides of Young’s writing that might be termed ‘classic’. Family Life offers light and breezy folk rock complete with a lovely harmonica outro, his voice worn but still distinctive and impressive for a singer pushing 80. Dark Mirage, meanwhile, is heavier, with its bluesy tone built around dirty riffs and solos. 
First Fire Of Winter is in the ballpark of his work on ‘Harvest’ and ‘Harvest Moon’, with a tenderness at its heart and some gorgeous slide guitar work.
Silver Eagle, named after Young’s tour bus and echoing Woody Guthrie’s This Land is Your Land, acts as a reflection of life on the road, with a sense of humour underpinning his musings on the changing world, his music and the workaday aspect of playing live remaining a constant.
Let’s Roll Again’s angry heart offers a contrast, confronting the state of culture and politics. Some of the lyrics are rather on the nose, Young singing of fascists buying Teslas and China being ahead, but it has a sense of urgency at its heart and is a call to arms for change in a turbulent time.
‘Talkin to The Trees’ shows that Young remains a vital artist, delivering an eclectic record that feels immediate and energetic while blending the sounds fans have come to love over a 60 year career. He showcases, once again, why he is one of the most important singer-songwriters of any generation and continues to make music that strikes a chord across multiple age groups.
Neil Young Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Thu June 26 2025 - DUBLIN Malahide Castle
Fri July 11 2025 - LONDON Hyde Park
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