Just checking to see if I can rate this any lower than 1. I can't. So I will just have to comment as follows:-
:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

Neil Young with backup singers? Don't like the backup singers.

(Sorry, Jacksonstat, belatedly read your post.)

Not a big fan at all. And this one doesn't help. Whining voice, Bad harp. And it just never seems to stop.

Enough of this song rotation already.

It just dronesonandonandon.

I'm a big fan of Neil's work, but this, alas is not one of his better works.

PatrickL wrote:

I agree, A little Neil is good for the soul, to much makes me nuts (more so than normal)

This song, like the entire album, is quintessential Neil Young. (Spoken as a hard-core fan and follower since he released "Harvest.")

I like Neil in this song, what I don't like is the backup singers. Put a cork in it ladies!

Gets real tough at the end.....

Don't wear it out!

tired of hearing this one.

ScottN wrote:

The album has grown on me, but this is probably one of the worst songs on it. Still since it's Neil I give it a 5. My NY bias shows.

I wish I thought the new songs were better. I'll listen more--NY deserves that. I hope they grow on me--positively.

normol's coments are well said and I agree, but I will admit that I was a bit dissapointed when I bought "Are you passionate?"

olesonb wrote:
I can hear bits and pieces of something that sounds like something, but it doesn't add up to anything, and those backup vocalists sound bored out of their minds. No matter how many horns and girl singers Neil piles on, this just doesn't go anywhere. DOA.

i liek this tune a lot. it sure has been getting its fair share of time around here.

Its fortunate that Neil Young never did care what critics say; if he did he would be performing Heart of Gold 300 times a year, like a needle on a damaged record. He continues on a personal journey that isn't dependent on whether others join along or drop out. Prairie Wind has bits of the journey throughout the song. Thoughts of his father and the sentiment of loss are prevelant, as are horn arrangements that remind me of the earlier Blue Notes album. I think the new album stands up well with his best albums. I've been along for the whole journey, no complaints, just appreciation for all the shared thoughts and melodies.

How could somebody burst on the stage in L.A. with buffalo springfield and take this direction in his musical career? Sad ! from the Loner "On the day that she left he died but it did not show"

I feel sorry for those backup singers when they do this song on tour. How many times can you sing "Prairie Wind going through my hair..." before wanting to shoot yourself on stage...

Neil has always been, and still remains, my favorite male artist. With that said, I wish he would have stopped 15 years ago. IMHO, he’s done nothing lately that comes close to his creative peek in the 70s. This is a great example, it’s horrible.

madtowner11 wrote:

Sorry. I'm really not an asshole, but Neil Young turns me into one (temporarily).

Wow, a Neil Young song on RP with a rating of less than 7?

It's fascinating to me how crappy his songs have to be before his sheep followers will admit they're crap. He could put out an entire album of his fingernails down the chalkboard (not too different from his voice, actually), and there would still be a pretty high percentage of people in here who call it genius.

Blah.

Enough already with this song. It's uninteresting and monotonous. He has done other stuff, presumably good, right?

blinkblink wrote:
Just the opposite for me. I've heard other things from Neil that are much more interesting and appealing. (Not a big NY fan, but he does have a few good ones in the catalog.)

freeone1 wrote:

I agree that this album really gets traction on the third cut ("Falling Off the Face of the Earth")...and think it becomes a gentle exploration, almost funny at times, on what life on earth will be without Neil Young. My favorite cut: It's a Dream, which I think is one of his greats.

I agree this isn't in the same class as "Harvest," but to me it's more deeply felt than "Silver and Gold," which had two or three really good songs and some real clunkers.

Bocephus wrote:

I don't know...fourth time around, still not clicking.

I even heard an interview recently on NPR, Teri Gross's show, and Neil's a very interesting guy. But compared to his earlier stuff, this just is flat for me.

Thanks for the encouragement, though! :)

sasa1170 wrote:

i completely agree... they sing like chickens

As much as everyone rips on Neil's voice, I have to say it's the backup singers in this song that I find very annoying. I give the song a 6, but IMO would be much better without the chorus vocals. Like the other tracks played on this album much better so far.

Not sure about this one...sounds kind of like a Frank Zappa parody of a Neil Young song...the lyrics may redeem it, but haven't gotten past the arrangement to really focus on them yet.