And Neil is right, it is truly phenomenal. Blu-Ray is THE way to go. For several reasons:
1) Blu-Ray has more room and therefore, more stuff! A DVD has 4.7 GB, a Blu-Ray has 60GB. And the Archives is crammed with extra bonus material, 15 min. of live Springfield from their final show in Long Beach, many raps from the Canterbury 69! (not the 68 show but 69! I hope they end up releasing that show in the future), more photos, more audio interviews, more clippings, more videos than DVD can handle and much, much better sound quality than CD. Which leads to:
2) The sound quality is so spectacular, words cannot describe hearing Expecting to Fly or Country Girl on Blu-Ray, it's like being in the studio and hearing the master tapes. Nothing, not vinyl, CD or DVD-A can compare to the sound quality of the Blu-Rays. You have never heard Nei Young's recordings in such outstanding clarity and depth. Simply breathtaking.
3) The ability to maneuver around, so you can read an interview with Neil about writing Broken Arrow while listening to the song or look at photos of him in the studio or onstage.
This is a fascinating thing to do I found. While listening to the Needle & the Damage Done, you can read the original lyrics (when it was known as Bel Air Blues) or navigate to the photos of Neil in the hospital around the same time (Dec. 1970). There are so many
fascinating pieces of information (like Last Trip to Tulsa dates form Feb.1966) that it was all overwhelming, the amount of information crammed onto the Blu-Rays.
I didn't want Blu-Ray, mind you, I didn't have a player or a PSP3. But when I was given my copy of the Archives last week all that was available was Blu-Ray and boy, did I luck out.I borrrowed a PSP3 and spent Memorial Day weekend like the hippie in the 1970 Rolling Stone review of Deja Vu by JRR Young, head stuck between the speakers going, "Neil Young is heavy, man..."
As to the Archives themselves they are so many incredible treats that it is sensory overload. Just a few highlights include the unreleased treasures like Slowly Burning,
the CH version of Everybody's Alone (much better than the pop confectionary CSNY recording), Dance, Dance, Dance, (both versions), the live Tell Me Why, Bad Fog, the Stray Gators version of Journey thru the Past, the remixed Helpless (now with harmonica!), the honky tonk piano by Nils Lofgren on Wonderin', Oh Lonesome Me in stereo!, and so many more.
And then there is the video - absolutely gorgeous transfers of CSNY doing Down by the River on Music Scene and Sea of Madness at Big Sur and the acoustic Mr.Soul at Woodstock and On the Way Home & OLCBYH at the Fillmore 1970 and an acoustic Ohio in Boston 71 to name a few. And there's plenty more of unseen Harvest barn recordings. Again, all in pristine quality.
My advance copy didn't come with the book so all I can say is that it looks pretty sweet and I plan on picking it up asap. But the hard work that has been lavished upon project this is apparent in every frame, from the recreations of the Riverboat or the barn, to interviews and photos and clips. Sure, there are some things missing but that's what I forgot to mention about Blu-Ray, it's upgradable, so we may get more live Springfield or High School Graduation or Ain't Got the Blues or the Mynah Birds' It's My Time or Cinnamon Girl from the Fillmore in the future. Not on CD or DVD just Blu-Ray.
The Archives is a technological breakthrough that has to be experienced to be appreciated. It is a revolutionary for box sets and raises the bar into the stratosphere for multi-media from here on out. Bravos to Neil & Larry and Joel, and especially DP Ben Johnson, who has the eye of a painter in his mood lighting on many of the accompanying images.
So get the CDs or DVDs if your finances are limited but if you want to do yourself a long-term favor go with the Blu-Ray. Bernard was right about this. I have been to the mountaintop and the view and listening was fine!
Mike Thomas
