Crazy Horse

The 1997 Australian re-release of the Crazy Horse album Crazy Moon is quite a find for fans of the band, as well as for admirers of Neil Young. Although this isn't a Neil Young album per se, it's just as inspired and similar sounding as such '70s Neil Young & Crazy Horse classics as Zuma and Rust Never Sleeps. Although the songwriting and the singing is 100 percent Crazy Horse (guitarist Frank "Poncho" Sampedro, bassist Billy Talbot, and drummer Ralph Molina), Young backs up the band that usually backs him, and brings some truly great and ragged guitar work to the proceedings. The first half of Crazy Moon is astonishing -- mammoth guitar riffs, simple yet effective lyrics and melodies, and electrifying performances (such as "She's Hot," "Downhill," "Going Down Again," and "New Orleans"). Although it's not horrible, the second half dips a bit, and doesn't match the fury of the first half. But the real story on this re-release is the inclusion of seven bonus tracks. Although two are from the lukewarm 1972 release At Crooked Lake, five great tracks from the pre-Crazy Horse band the Rockets are here, featuring the late, original Crazy Horse guitarist Danny Whitten (the subject of Young's classic "The Needle and the Damage Done"). Although the five tracks aren't a revelation, any fan of Young & Crazy Horse's work will want to check out where their rough-and-rocking sound originated. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide