Neil Young readies Volume 2 of his Archives series

In the past, when we’ve commended an artist for releasing an album or touring during their later years, there’s always been a slight undercurrent of quaintness. Like, “Aww, grandpa made his own lunch today.” But we can’t coddle Neil Young as the Canadian legend may be doing the most work he’s ever done.
On top of the recent Twisted Road tour, helping with the Elton John, Leon Russell, and T Bone Burnett collaboration, and working with Daniel Lanois on a brand new studio album, Young has announced the release of Volume 2 of his Archives series, reports NoDepression.com.
Archives, which has been in the works since the late ’80s, is essentially Young clearing attic space, doling out previously unreleased tracks and rarities taken from both the studio and his live performances.
Volume 1, which was released in June 2009, covered Young’s work between 1963 and 1972. For Volume 2, according his NY Times site, the legendary singer/songwriter is “rebuilding” three unreleased albums – Chrome Dreams, Homegrown, and Oceanside-Countryside — and one live recording, Odeon-Budokan, that were made between 1972 and 1982.
A release date for the package has not yet been set, but NY Times confirms it will initially be “released in vinyl from analog masters as they originally were created for that format.” Translation: dust off your record player (if you haven’t already).
In other news, AmericanSongwriter.com reports Young and Lanois will perform four songs from his other upcoming release — aka that aforementioned new studio album — at the October 2nd Nuit Blanche festival in Toronto. Explained Lanois in a recent interview with the Toronto Star, “At the strike of midnight, we will premiere four tracks from the Neil Young record, visually and sonically.” Neat-o.

Chris Coplon @'CoS'