Neil Young to Release New Concert Film

By Emma Koonse, Christian Post Reporter Monday, January 23, 2012

Singer-songwriter Neil Young has released another concert film, "Journeys," helmed by Jonathan Demme. Demme also directed 2006's "Neil Young: Heart of Gold" which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

"'Journeys' is so different from 'Heart of Gold,'" said Young speaking to The Associated Press. "It's like the other side of the universe. 'Heart of Gold' was a massive production with great care-taking to present this whole image of this forgotten style of presenting music, in this great old chapel of country music." The Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famer continued, "This film we just made is so opposite of that, it's just one person. The sound is completely different and the attitude of it is different."

The latest collaboration has a "grinding, binding beauty to it," said the 66-year-old singer. "Journeys" premiered Saturday at the Slamdance Film Festival -- the rival showcase to Sundance. Since its debut, the film has been selected for theatrical distribution by Sony Pictures Classics.
Filmed last year during Young's solo tour, the new concert film sees the Canadian native performing at Toronto's Massey Hall.

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"It's more distorted and funky, it's a little bit more in your face," continued Young of "Journeys." "It's like zooming in on something, losing everything that's usually around it, and you're just losing everything else. There's no bass, no drums, there's no other guitars, there's no other voices, there's no synthesizers, there's no echo… It's like a fantastic voyage into your guitars."

The film features classic songs such as "After the Gold Rush" and "Ohio," but also sees tracks from Young's 2010 album "Le Noise." "Journeys" marks Demme and Young's fourth collaboration, and along with "Heart of Gold" the two made 1993's AIDS drama "Philadelphia," and "Neil Young Trunk Show" of 2009.

Demme, who received an Academy Award for Best Director with his film, "Silence of the Lambs," said the latest film "put a lens" on Young's life. Segments of the film include the musician in his hometown of Omemee, north of Ontario, and discussing how much it has changed.

Also discussing differences of today, Young spoke with MTV News about modern music. "I'm finding that I have a little bit of trouble with the quality of the sound of music today," said Young. The "Godfather of Grunge" and musical great added that not all current music disappointed him. "Mumford and Sons and My Morning Jacket are great bands," said the singer. "I love them both and I know them well. I feel good about saying that."