Reviews: Sugar Mountain-Live At Canterbury House 1968 (CD/DVD-A)

by: Neil Young






Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0093624983989
Format: Live
Label: Reprise Records
Manufacturer: Reprise Records
MPN: 516758
Number Of Discs: 2
Publisher: Reprise Records
Release Date: December 02, 2008
Studio: Reprise Records


Rating: - Neil at the Start
I've been a hardcore fan of Neil Young since about 1967, and always look for live, acoustic performances of his. True, he has disappointed me with some recordings over the decades, but that's the nature of art, no? Still, I've hung in there with him, and this album sums up why. My wife and I were lucky enough to see him in L.A. in 1972, and it stands as one of the, if not THE, best live show I've seen. This album from 1968 is unique for a few reasons: 1) it contains, as far as I know, the only commercially available acoustic versions of several of the songs from his first solo album, including "If I Could Have Her Tonight" and "The Old Laughing Lady" (excepting the version shown over the closing credits from the Heart of Gold concert on DVD), among others 2) you hear Neil EARLY in what has proven to be a brilliant career, before he'd worked out his now signature guitar style and with a young, bright voice so well suited to his songs and 3) it is a performance from an artist who had yet to write any of the songs most people now know him for, and if you listen carefully you can hear something in these songs only heard when a singer-songwriter is solo with his instrument. Neil has proven he can rock with the best of them, but his acoustic performances reveal the artist in him. If you are a fan, this album is a must-have.

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Rating: - Great show from Neils early career
I love this show.
The sound is a bit hissy but the performance is classic Neil Young.
The DVD has no extra video content but does contain a preview of the Archives set.

All we need now is to see it in the shops.

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Rating: - The "V" in "DVD"
I'm stunned by all the negative reviews that Neil is "ripping people off" by including a DVD that doesn't have video. The clue train has left the station without you all. The "V" in "DVD" is for "versatile" (or so it was originally designated), not for "video." It was a "versatile" disc because the developers intended it to be used in many ways, and in many devices. You can use it to read and write data on your computer. Use it to play movies or video games. Or, as Neil has opted to do, give his fans a copy of this intimate evening in PCM format on the DVD.

PCM is to CD audio as mp3 is to wav, i.e. it's the uncompressed, lossless music. Neil's always been about the quality of the music. Even after the "demise" of vinyl, eclipsed by compact discs, Neil was still releasing high-quality vinyl versions of his albums for the audiophiles. The DVD is for the audiophiles who have the equipment to support it. "Chrome Dreams II" suffered similar complaints.

With that being said, the content is great. Just Neil and his guitar, talking and singing. If you enjoyed the "MTV Unplugged" album, or the "Silver and Gold" DVD, this is the same thing, acoustic versions of his songs. While the later releases feature Neil on piano, organ, and harmonica, in addition to his guitar, the bare guitar versions here allow Neil's lyrics and vocals to shine. His singing is in perfect form, clear and delicate, almost tentative, as if he's not sure about the whole solo-artist-singer-songwriter thing after breaking with Buffalo Springfield. People complain about his "rambling" song introductions. Maybe they do ramble a bit and break the continuity of the music, but they're fun to listen to. He plays a line of music that would later turn out to be "Winterlong," remarking that he "just made that up." I'll take that with a grain of salt, as well as his contention that it only took him "five minutes" to write "Mr. Soul." His songs have a quality and craftsmanship that doesn't come in five minutes.

His "Archives Vol. I" is coming out in both Blu Ray and DVD. I don't have a Blu Ray player, yet. This just might be the tipping point. I'm looking forward to a lot more vintage Neil.

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Rating: - A Must for Neil Fans
Plain and simple, this CD is a must have for the Neil Young fan because of the banter heard between songs. It makes for a fascinating listen, especially if you are knowledgeable about his career.

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Rating: - the man now and then
Neil Young continually amazes and this recent release of archived material is spectacular. Of course long time fans have wondered about this concert for many years but the quality and the intimate nature give a rare insight into this talented man. Having had the privalege to see his most recent tour i can tell you he is better at age 63. The release of sugar mountain at canterbury house gives that rare glimpse at then and now and who he is. The only weird thing about this package is the DVD which is the cover still photo with snow moving across the screen... that's it. Unneccessary IMO. However, that is minor, this is a must have for any music fan because it spans the years and provides fresh perspective not just for neil young but also the historical/cultural aspects as well. Buy it!

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