With the archival releases of two live concerts from 1970 and 71' respectively released in the last two years, it's not really a surprise that Neil Young's new studio album, his 31st to be exact not counting live records, soundtracks or scrapped albums, has him looking towards the past; 1977 if you want to be precise. I mentioned scrapped albums before because in Neil Young's vault there are a bevy of his own personal Smile's and Basement Tapes; unreleased records that have never seen the light of day, yet bits and pieces have surfaced throughout his career on other projects. In 1977, Young abruptly scrapped Chrome Dreams, an album that would have boasted a track listing of Young classics such as "Like A Hurricane," "Pocahontas" and "Powderfinger." To say it would have been a masterpiece is without question since those songs later went on to become Young classics on other highly touted records.

To call Chrome Dreams II a sequel to an album that wasn't even released 30 years ago however would be a bit of a stretch. Chrome Dreams II is however more or less a hodgepodge of Young sounds over his entire career. Some tracks work like the Country-tinged opener "Beautiful Bluebird" and the epic Crazy Horse feel of "No Hidden Path" would sit perfectly next to the similarly laced "Cowgirl In the Sand." Some songs here though would have been better left dead and buried such as the flaccid 18-minute "Ordinary People" that was recorded way back in 1988 and is finally making its official debut here. Made during the This Note's For You sessions, "Ordinary People" is so 80's sounding with it's cheesy keyboards and horns that it almost destroys all the good will the rest of this album brings to the proceedings. Notice I said almost. Chrome Dreams II won't be confused as a top five all time Neil Young album any time soon, but it does have enough shining moments II make it a pleasurable release nonetheless.