Neil Young’s Music Box, Here We Are In The Years

By Danny R. Phillips

Doing an unauthorized DVD of any artist, let alone on someone as historically cantankerous as Neil Young, can be a real bitch. Little to no music or performance footage from the artist can be used, forcing the filmmakers to turn the film into a history lesson instead of a flat-out celebration. And sadly, that’s exactly what’s happened with Neil Young’s Music Box, Here We Are in the Years.

Not that a history lesson on a man like Neil Young is not entertaining, especially for music geeks like me. We get information on his early roots and love of music (an affinity for Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Elvis, and Little Richard), interviews with members of his early band The Squires, and comments from music luminaries. Much is touched on regarding Young’s complexities and musical expansiveness. The great Roy Orbison speaks of Young’s dark side in song and the success he found with two highly successful bands (Buffalo Springfield and CSN&Y) only to leave them at the top. We hear about Neil’s placement as the godfather of grunge by Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain (lyrics from “Hey Hey My My” are quoted in Cobain’s suicide note) and Young’s love of everything from George Harrison (he was his favorite Beatle) to the strangeness of Devo and Kraftwerk.

Yes, Mr. Young has been there and done that. He has shaped music for future generations, he helped invent country rock, and pushed the bubble of rock hard until it popped, allowing electronic blips and bloops to be considered part of the acceptable sonic landscape. Most music people understand that he has paid attention throughout the years, allowing himself to expand and let the music grow around him but with no comments, footage, or songs from Neil, the documentary does little more than repeat itself.

Yes, it is worth watching. Yes, there are moments of insight into a man that lets few in. Yes, the documentary is finely crafted but if you really want to know the influence that Neil has had on the rock and roll world, go to a record store and buy everything from nearly every artist that has picked up a guitar since Buffalo Springfield. Then, my friends, you will see the full scope of Neil Young’s influence and in the process, you will learn far more than comes from this DVD.

Here We Are In The Years was released on June 21 by Sexy Intellectual and can be ordered from See Of Sound. You can watch a clip on Vimeo here.