A couple of responses to my previous post venting about Neil Young. Mario agrees with my sentiments, and points out the irony of people like Springsteen who benefit in spades from capitalism while urging people to vote for the party that offers “warmed over socialism.” Also:

I’m not buying it and apparently most fans are saying no as well. Did you know Bruce did not sell out Convention Hall for 4 dates to rehearse this new mess of a CD? Imagine the look on his face that Asbury Park is not bowing at his altar, tickets are still available! He better get use to this because the Seeger Sessions CD and tour have a clear message: Red State Fans Need Not Listen.

Richard (who also blogs) makes some points regarding Neil Young and political songs generally:

It’s extraordinarily difficult to write topical “political” verse that doesn’t fall short of interesting politics or good verse. Dylan somehow managed the two with a few of his “protest/’finger-pointing songs’” and uncannily steps into the universal even with a piece as topical as “Who Killed Davey Moore.” It’s a rare thing, and even Dylan stumbles – “Neighborhood Bully,” or “Sundown on the Unions,” being cases in point – though even they have their merits (or am I too much of a fan to see?). It’s the stepping into the universal that makes the grade.

Neil Young’s topical work never seems to step up. “Cortez,” as good as it is doesn’t quite make it, and it’s the phenomenal guitar work that ultimately carries the song; and “Let’s Roll,” is just plain awful. (“Find the Cost of Freedom,” is terrific, but Stephen Stills gets credit for that.) Admittedly I’m not as familiar with Neil’s work as I am with Dylan’s, but he’s never been an artist I’d look to for any political depth in lyrics. And I’m not sure who he’s preaching to. From the lyrics I’ve had the patience to read – not many considering the awful slow scroll on his website – its to previously converted teenagers. There’s no depth there.

But I don’t think Neil is pandering, I think he’s leading from the heart, which is something we want from our artists, but mature artists temper with some clear thinking.

True, I guess Neil probably isn’t pandering, as such — he likely really believes the idiotic things he’s writing. Lord save us.

Clive Davis quotes a little of my rant and then makes the case for Randy Newman as proving you can be “left-of-centre, anti-Bush and intelligent.” I haven’t heard Randy’s recent stuff, though I’ve always liked him and he can certainly concoct songs with sufficient levels of irony that prevent them from coming across as screed.

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