Neil Young Blends Old and New on ‘Second Song’

Rock legend Neil Young is taking us on an intimate journey into his personal archives with his latest musical endeavor, Second Song. Following the recent live set As Time Explodes, the icon has unveiled a seven-song collection with Chrome Hearts that serves as both a studio effort and a profound meditation on memory, mortality, and renewal.

The creation of this album was deeply personal from the very beginning. Young revealed that the material grew out of early morning writing sessions, convened under the light of a full moon to be recorded at Rick Rubin’s Shangri-La Studios in Malibu. The resulting tracks are not just songs; they are deeply felt confessions, with Young declaring that every piece is “straight from the heart.”

Dipping deep into his history, Second Song revisits previously unheard compositions from 1963 alongside newer creations, offering listeners a unique sonic timeline. The project draws inspiration from beloved tracks like Comes a Time and Prairie Wind, weaving lyrics that grapple with the complexities of the human experience.

The soundscape of the album is built on collaboration, featuring Young alongside longtime collaborator Niko Bolas under the Volume Dealers banner. The track list features contributions from key figures including drummer Anthony LoGerfo, bassist Corey McCormick, guitarist Micah Nelson, and keyboard veteran Spooner Oldham. The resulting semi-acoustic record is rich with reflective tones.

Second Song also embraces a fascination with sonic fidelity. Young continued his crusade for analog sound, simultaneously capturing both analog and high-resolution digital masters for listeners to compare. He noted that while high-resolution digital offers clarity, the authentic warmth of analog remains invaluable—a “museum quality sound” that invites deep immersion over repeated listens.

The album’s title track sets an evocative tone: “Through smoking leaves of time the words just tumbled forward in this second song of mine…” The collection features five previously unreleased songs, along with new versions of classics like “Casting Me Away From You” and “I’ll Love You Forever,” creating a bridge between Young’s earliest songwriting days and his most recent work.

For those interested in supporting causes close to his heart, the celebration of Young’s songbook continues through the benefit series Vol. 2 – Out of the Blue and Vol. 3 – Into the Black. Proceeds from these special editions benefit the Bridge School, a nonprofit founded by Neil and his late wife Pegi Young, which supports individuals facing severe speech and physical impairments.

These special volumes feature contributions from a stellar lineup including My Morning Jacket, Lucinda Williams, Heart’s Ann Wilson, Peter Frampton, Los Lobos, Modest Mouse featuring Califone, Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard, Cold War Kids, Kurt Vile, the Violators, and MJ Lenderman.