As Time Explodes: Live Album＜限定盤＞

ニール・ヤングが彼の新しいバンド、ザ・クローム・ハーツと共に行ったライヴ・パフォーマンスを収めた2枚組新ライヴ・アルバム『As Time Explodes: Live Album』。本作は2025年「Love Earth」ツアーで録音。収録曲には「Ohio」「Harvest Moon」「Like a Hurricane」などに加え、比較的新しい楽曲も含まれている。

In 2025, everlasting songwriter Neil Young introduced his new band the Chrome Hearts on their jagged and sometimes politically furious album Talkin to the Trees. Almost immediately after the release of the album, Young, along with Micah Nelson on guitar, Spooner Oldham on keys, bassist Corey McCormick, and drummer Anthony LoGerfo, all hit the road for the 31-date, international Love Earth Tour. As Time Explodes was recorded at various dates of this tour, capturing a look at the band’s onstage chemistry as they brought 13 songs from across Young’s incomparable catalog to life. Things start out relatively slowly, with the first few songs easing the listener into the album. The semi-obscure "Daddy Went Walking" (rarely included on Young’s numerous live recordings) opens As Time Explodes, followed by the equally mellow acoustic numbers "Looking Forward" and "Harvest Moon" before the band turn the volume up with the classic Crosby Stills Nash & Young rocker "Ohio." From there, Young and his Chrome Hearts present a dynamic selection of fan favorites and unexpected entries. The gentle piano ballad "Long Walk Home" from 1987’s Life sits in perfect conversation with "After the Goldrush," while the brand-new protest song "Big Crime" (a Chrome Hearts tune written after Talkin to the Trees and presented for the first time on record here) pairs Young’s easily identifiable ragged guitar distortion with Oldham’s bluesy organ. The band do a great rendition of "Vampire Blues" from On the Beach before offering up solid performances of "Cortez the Killer" and "Like a Hurricane," songs that by this point in Young’s run feel emblematic of his sound and essential to the full experience of one of his concerts. Even on songs like these that have appeared in many versions over the years, the character of the Chrome Hearts -- the emphasis of the organ and keys, the drawn-out interplay between the guitars, the thoughtful and generous communication between the players -- makes even these well-worn tunes sound new. ~ Fred Thomas