Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts
As Time Explodes
*** out of *****
Neil Young, at 79, took to the road yet again in 2025 with his newly formed backing band The Chrome Hearts for a 31 date international Love Earth tour. As Time Explodes (a Record Store Day release) is a document of that tour recorded at various stops, and while far from vital, it is a nice snapshot of Young and this talented band.
That group is, Micah Nelson on guitar, Spooner Oldham on keys, bassist Corey McCormick, and drummer Anthony LoGerfo. Somewhat surprisingly the thirteen track effort does not focus on his lackluster 2025 album, Talkin' to Trees, and instead is propped up by old warhorses that have a slightly different feel at this stage in his career.
The live record opens with the acoustic stroll through the retro looking "Daddy Went Walking" using harmonica, light organ, and a touch of twang. The vocals on the opener and a few other tracks very heavily use echo and along with some wobbly tones, can make the production feel a touch undercooked. "After The Gold Rush" is a bit shaky and "Ohio" in particular starts very interesting with gnarly guitar, but then goes limp with a slower sloppy version of the classic.
Much better is this version of the well loved "Harvest Moon" which is highlighted by the best part of this live album, Oldman's warm electro keys. Oldman's work also really elevates a few other album highlights including the still relevant "Vampire Blues" which has a loping groove and the lumbering beast of "Cortez The Killer" which is softer overall using a slow crawling intro, before falling apart in the middle, then rising from the ashes with the songs lost last verse and great soloing to close. "Like A Hurricane" is not up there with the all-time versions of the song ( see Live Rust, Way Down In The Rust Bucket etc) but it is solid with a percussive intro, good rocking mid section, and a final Oldman key spotlight before the finale.
A host of newer songs are fine if inconsequential, such as the basic "Looking Forward", the ode to his bus "Silver Eagle' and "Name of Love" which does have nice backing vocals from the Chrome Hearts. "Be The Rain" deploys good guitar tone and has the desire but not the energy to nail things down, while the dramatic "Long Walk Home" is a piano ballad that uses harmonica as both songs deal with modern political issues.
Neil has always let the muse drive him and he dives into political issues, in comparison to say Bruce Springsteen, who crafts tight protest music, Young wanders, lashing out with the feeling of an immediate emotion in more raw fashion for better or worse.
Sure the world didn't need another live Neil Young record, but he wanted to release one so that is good enough to deliver that "Neil Feel' in 2026. As Time Explodes is for completists and diehards, but fans just checking in on what the artist is up to these days will find interesting twists from Young and company to enjoy.
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