Bridge: A Tribute To Neil Young CD

THE BRIDGE, featuring a wide palette of alternative-identified artists covering Neil Young songs, wasn't the first tribute album ever made, but it was the first one anyone noticed, and it may well have been the best. Its success, which had something to do with the fact that the artists were all rabid Young fans with palpable ideas about what to do with his songs, led to an outpouring of other tribute albums, most of which have been far less successful. Often they included--or, in one case, feted--the artists here, who became instant superstars on the tribute circuit.

But the superstar on THE BRIDGE remained Neil Young, whose songs withstand both the weirdest and most loving of interpretations. Among the former are Dinosaur Jr.'s very fast, very bratty punk take on the folky standby "Lotta Love" (aided by a guest singer who sounds mysteriously like Daniel Johnston) and Bongwater's tape-loop-aided version of "Mr. Soul" (a song Young himself has done many times and many ways). Others play it straight. The Pixies' "Winterlong," featuring one of the few recorded duets between Black Francis and Kim Deal, is a nearly perfect pop song; Soul Asylum's "Barstool Blues" sounds like a lost classic of flannel-shirted rock; and guitarist Henry Kaiser (performing with singers David and Rosanne Lindley) squeezes every bit of junkie juice out of his downer medley of "The Needle And The Damage Done" (on piano) and "Tonight's The Night" (with full band).

Principally recorded in 1988 and 1989.

Essential for Young fans.

In theory, The Bridge: A Tribute to Neil Young was a perfect concept, since most alternative bands of the late '80s owed the singer/songwriter a heavy debt. In practice, it wasn't entirely satisfying. Some groups, like Bongwater's collage of "Mr. Soul," made their interpretations self-consciously distinctive, while others, like Soul Asylum and Loop, played it close to the original. But the best moments came when a band played the song like it was their own. Listen to Sonic Youth's rampaging "Computer Age," Dinosaur Jr.'s faithful "Lotta Love," or The Pixies' gorgeous take on "Winterlong" for proof. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Producers: Soul Asylum, George Drakoulias, Tom Herbers (track 1); Flaming Lips (track 3); Nikki Sudden, John A. Rivers (track 4); Paul Kendall, Loop (track 5); Nick Cave, Mick Harvey (track 6); Kramer (tracks 7, 13); Gary Smith, The Pixies (track 8); Sonic Youth (track 9); Fred Giannelli, Genesis P-Orridge (track 10); Dinosaur Jr. (track 11); Henry Kaiser (tracks 12, 14).

Engineers: Tom Herbers (track 1); Paul Kendall (track 5); Victor Van Vjgt (track 6); Kramer (track 7, 13); Wharton Tiers (track 9); Richard Schiessl (track 10); Sean Slade (track 11); Oliver DiCicco, James Geddes (track 12); Oliver DiCicco (tracks 14).

Rolling Stone - 4 Stars - Excellent
Q - 3 Stars - Good