Album of the Day

When you've got 28 studio albums under your belt – as Neil Young did when he released CHROME DREAMS II ten years ago today – you've no doubt got a few leftover songs, and the Reprise collection kicks off with three great ones, most notably the 18-plus minute epic “Ordinary People.” And though Young is working here with longtime collaborators including guitarist Ben Keith, bassist Rick Rosas and Crazy Horse drummer Ralph Molina, this isn't just a journey through the past; the singer-songwriter also penned strong new material in a variety of styles ranging from country-folk (“Ever After”) to gospel (“Shining Light”) to electric rockers (the Grammy-nominated “No Hidden Path”). While its title references a legendary unreleased album from 1977, CHROME DREAMS II doesn't have a stylistic or thematic focus, and that's kind of the point; it's an album that revels in driving all over the map.