Broken Arrow

After the success of *Sleeps with Angels* and the Pearl Jam collaboration *Mirror Ball*, Neil Young had raised his artistic ante to a nearly unsustainable level. So for this collaboration with longtime backing band Crazy Horse, he dialed down expectations with a looser format that reflected his careful but casual way of making most albums. The opening trio of tunes are extended workouts that leave plenty of room for Young to stretch out. A live version of Jimmy Reed\'s \"Baby What You Want Me to Do\" is rough and tumble, played with fire. The guitars on \"Scattered\" are mournful and divine, while the acoustic \"Music Arcade\" casts Young in the role of wandering minstrel.