Albums to watch

A Letter Home

Neil Young

A Letter Home

A collection of classic covers by the legendary rocker, recorded for Jack White's Third Man Records in a refurbished 1947 Voice-o-Graph vinyl recording booth

ADM rating[?]

6.5

Label
Third Man
UK Release date
26/05/2014
US Release date
29/04/2014
  1. 8.0 |   The Guardian

    Its gloom is potent and pervasive, and, while you're mired in it, A Letter Home doesn't seem like a baffling act of wilful perversity
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  2. 8.0 |   The Observer

    Lo-fi production values and rudimentary instrumentation (it's mainly just Young and his guitar, with the occasional flash of harmonica or piano) make for an intensely intimate set
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  3. 8.0 |   Q

    It's a curious artefact for sure, but it casts a unique spell. Print edition only

  4. 8.0 |   State

    A rewarding insight into his character and inspiration, it may also prove to be a defining moment in the latter part of an exceptional career
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  5. 7.5 |   A.V. Club

    Young and White have managed to make an album that’s absolutely useful with a recording process that is absolutely central to that use
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  6. 7.0 |   musicOMH

    Some will find A Letter Home something of a gimmick and it’s hard to see it being anything other than a peripheral addition to his substantial catalogue
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  7. 7.0 |   Spin

    One of his strongest sets in a long time
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  8. 7.0 |   The Music

    As intimate a portrait of Young as you’d ever get
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  9. 7.0 |   Uncut

    Illustrates that vagaries of sound quality can sometimes enhance the drama of a record, and rarely undermine the potency of a good song. Print edition only

  10. 7.0 |   Rolling Stone

    In its perverse way, A Letter Home is one of the most enjoyable records Young has made this century
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  11. 6.3 |   Pitchfork

    The crackling whistle that introduces "Needle of Death" speaks much more strongly to the life-changing power of music than any extra-musical project ever could
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  12. 6.0 |   Independent on Sunday

    It is both ridiculous and oddly moving
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  13. 6.0 |   Mojo

    His latest is a lo-fi affair. Print edition only

  14. 6.0 |   The FT

    The decrepit recording technology makes a kind of sense too, giving lyrics about loss and impermanence a fragile, tenuous quality
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  15. 6.0 |   Evening Standard

    All the songs have been recorded “better” elsewhere but if you have a secret yearning for the acoustic qualities of the bottom of a budgie’s cage, then this is for you
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  16. 6.0 |   PopMatters

    A solid entry in Young’s huge catalog, but also one of his more successful experiments
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  17. 5.8 |   Consequence Of Sound

    As baffling as it is intriguing, and it’s tough to imagine Young gives a shit about what you or I think of it
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  18. 5.0 |   Drowned In Sound

    Be it a bad joke, a big mistake or simply wild misjudgement the truth remains: no matter the quality, good songs sung well always win the day
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  19. 4.0 |   The Arts Desk

    Young does make a decent fist of classics like Dylan’s “Girl from the North Country” and Willie Nelson’s “Crazy”
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Neil Young: A Letter Home

  • Download full album for just £10.49
  • 1. A Letter Home Intro £0.99
  • 2. Changes £0.99
  • 3. Girl From The North Country £0.99
  • 4. Needle Of Death £0.99
  • 5. Early Morning Rain £0.99
  • 6. Crazy £0.99
  • 7. Reason To Believe £0.99
  • 8. On The Road Again £0.99
  • 9. If You Could Read My Mind £0.99
  • 10. Since I Met You Baby £0.99
  • 11. My Hometown £0.99
  • 12. I Wonder If I Care As Much £0.99
  • 13. A Letter Home - Digital Booklet N/A
  • Service provided by 7Digital

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