(Reprise Records, 2003)

Neil Young fanatics were not thrilled about spending close to one-hundred dollars to hear an opaque, elaborate song cycle, filled with straying narrative from Young during his 2003 promotional tour for the late-summer release, Greendale. The album received more notice than any of his albums had in the past decade - unfortunately, the attention was not positive, but perhaps it set the stage for the forthcoming record.

Arguably Young's first concept album, Greendale is an earthy and ambitious tale of a family torn apart by murder, living in a small town called Greendale. The plot and setting give Young a common theme to unite Greendale's ten songs, and the record truly profits from that focus so that the complex, long-winded story is almost abolished. Young's earnest and visceral songwriting beautifully takes away all meaning from the meandering, sophisticated principle of the record.

The opening track, “Falling from Above,” presents listeners with the rustic, folk-rock story of two characters, Grandpa and Jed, sitting on their front porch, looking back bitter-sweetly at the more serious moments in life. This seems to be the recurring sound and theme of Greendale, as Young seemingly provides his audience with thoughts and memories of his own existence, preaching to put “a little love and affection in everything you do.”

Three tracks later, the ghostly and affecting “Bandit” proclaims hopefully that ­­“someday, you'll find everything you're looking for.” But the song itself shows a darker, more melancholy side to not only Greendale, but to its creator, Neil Young, as well. Although the lyrical content of “Bandit” holds true to the record's concept, the instrumentals of the tune sincerely set this song apart from the rest of Greendale.

After another five songs, including three ten-minute-plus story-songs, listeners are greeted by Greendale's closer, “Be the Rain.” Quite possibly the most innovative and passionate song of the album, “Be the Rain” spouts Young's naturally romantic and political digressions, encourag­ing listeners to tenderly look back and reflect upon their own lives, to learn from sadness and contentment alike with ease, and to move forward with renewal and aspiration.

Whether or not Greendale appeals to the musical majority, Young put his heart and soul into this record, and it shows delightfully. It may not be up to par with the latter-day works of other folk-rock pioneers like Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen, but Greendale proves that Neil Young is still working adamantly, keeping up to his good ol' tricks.