Hear Neil Young Leave Scorched Earth on ‘Peace Trail’
Neil Young has shared his new song “Peace Trail,” the title track off the rocker’s upcoming 38th studio album due out December 9th.
“The world is full of changes/ Sometimes these changes make me sound,” Young sings on the slow-burning, angst-filled track. A second Young vocal – lightly coated in voice modifying software like Auto-Tune creeps in the background: “I think I’ll hit the peace trail/ I know that treasure takes its time/ I think I’ll hit the peace trail/ I think I like my chances now.”
Although Young has spent the past few years on the road performing with Promise of the Real, the rocker recorded Peace Trail alongside a stripped-down outfit featuring drummer Jim Keltner and bassist Paul Bushnell at Rick Rubin’s Shangri-la Studios. The album also features the previously released Dakota Access Pipeline protest song “Indian Givers.”
“Peace Trail” was released as an instant download to fans that preordered Young’s new album. Peace Trail is available to purchase now through Young’s site in a variety of formats, including a vinyl version that’s accompanied by a “100% organic hat.” The new track also marks Young’s return to streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music 16 months after he pulled the vast majority of his catalog from non-Tidal and Pono streaming services due to “devalued” sound quality.
“AM radio kicked streaming’s ass. Analog cassettes and 8 tracks also kicked streaming’s ass, and absolutely rocked compared to streaming,” Young wrote in July 2015. “Streaming sucks. Streaming is the worst audio in history. If you want it, you got it. It’s here to stay. Your choice.” Young has not yet commented on why he allowed his music back on Apple Music and Spotify.