As Neil Young diligently explores his extensive music vault, he has unearthed previously unreleased recordings from 1977, a captivating concert documentary soundtrack, an album filled with previously unheard Crazy Horse tracks from 1969, and the exciting third volume in his comprehensive Archives box set series, all making their debut in the past year. Despite these archival releases, Young remains dedicated to his craft, continuously creating new music that reflects his restless creativity and prolific nature.

In the year 2023, Young marked the return to original music with the release of two impressive LPs: All Roads Lead Home, crafted collaboratively with his Crazy Horse bandmates Ralph Molina, Billy Talbot, and Nils Lofgren, and the solo project Before and After, which features recent acoustic live recordings showcasing songs from throughout his illustrious career. When considering live albums, reissues, archival collections, and other musical offerings, Young has impressively released over two dozen albums throughout the 2020s, and we are only halfway through the decade.

In addition to his ongoing musical endeavors, Neil Young has managed to form an innovative new band called the Chrome Hearts, consisting of talented musicians he has collaborated with in the past. This group includes the seasoned organist Spooner Oldham, who has a long history with Young dating back to the 1978 album Comes a Time, as well as Micah Nelson on guitar and Corey McCormick on bass. Their debut album, Talkin to the Trees, might evoke memories of some of Young’s more aimless work from the 1980s, but like many of Young’s experimental projects, it reveals intricacies that go beyond its numerous stylistic detours, all within a concise 39-minute runtime.

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The opening track, “Family Life,” features Young’s soulful intonation of “I’ll be singing my new song” accompanied by a shuffling acoustic guitar and a vibrant harmonica reminiscent of his Harvest era. Following this, the song “Dark Mirage” showcases a smooth, greasy blues vibe that is perfect for a lively Friday night gathering. The album Talkin to the Trees takes listeners on a journey, refusing to settle firmly on one particular style; instead, it remains true to Young’s rich and varied career, weaving through different musical paths toward a unified vision.

Much like his recent musical offerings, this album (unsurprisingly, given its title) emphasizes Young’s enduring commitment to environmental issues. Notable tracks include “First Fire of Winter,” a poignant back-to-nature reflection that echoes the hypnotic, languid pace of “Helpless,” and “Let’s Roll Again,” a modern reinterpretation of “This Land Is Your Land” that critiques environmentally harmful industries and specifically targets figures like Elon Musk with the biting lyric: “If you’re a fascist, then get a Tesla.” Similarly, the track “Big Change” expresses a fervent, righteous outrage at the current state of the world. By the end of the album, Young and the Chrome Hearts return to their roots in the bars and country music scene, drawing parallels between his past work while also looking ahead to what remains in the future.