Neil Young—Heart of Gold

Jonathan Demme' film Neil Young--Heart of Gold (2005) is one of the best concert fields I have seen. One reason is that it makes no claims for itself or its subject. It begins with little exposition. We see people arriving at a concert, and the concert commences. The film spends little time dwelling on the rapt faces of people in the audience. The focus is almost entirely on the stage and the music, on Neil Young. That is another reason for the success of the film—it documents a concert, and the concert is excellent. Finally, the subject of this film, Neil Young, is at his best in this film as he sings songs from two of the richest periods of his career—the early 1970s and the 2000s. The band that backs him up is well suited for the task, and a few well chosen guests, such as Emmy Lou Harris, are appropriate to the occasion. The sound quality and camera work are highly effective.

Most of the songs Young sings in this film come from his 2005 album Prairie Wind, with a selection of songs from the early 1970s album Harvest. These are two of the best albums he has recorded. Young sings nearly as well in 2005 as he did in 1972.

There is a winsome poignancy to this concert that stems from the fact that it was filmed shortly after Young suffered a life-threatening brain aneurysm. This encounter with mortality deeply influenced the songs on Prairie Wind, many of which contemplate the passage of time, the loss of friends and relatives, the nature of one's transient existence.

Young is a fine song writer—this is something I've not really noticed, though I've enjoyed his music for thirty-five years. He is a deeply introspective writer without being self-absorbed, and his lyrics are often emotional and poetic. Of course, his recent album Living With War makes clear that he remains fiercely political .

Two recent albums of early 1970s concerts by Young—Live at Massey Hall and Live at the Fillmore East--are shockingly good. They remind us of what a remarkable musician and song writer Neil Young has been, and continues to be.