Paradox is a soundtrack album by Neil Young and Promise of the Real released on March 23, 2018 on Shakey Pictures Inc. The album serves as the soundtrack to Daryl Hannah's 2018 film, Paradox, in which Young also stars. It is the third studio album recorded by Young and Promise of the Real.
| Paradox | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | March 23, 2018 | |||
| Recorded | January 19, 2014 August 19, 2014 September – October, 2016 January 31 – February 1, 2017 | |||
| Studio | Shangri-La, Malibu Campfire Pit, Malibu Desert Trip Festival, Indio Jack Singer Concert Hall, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Capitol Studios, Los Angeles[1] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 53:00 | |||
| Label | Shakey Pictures Inc. | |||
| Producer |
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| Neil Young and Promise of the Real chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Paradox | ||||
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Background and recording
editThe instrumental passages on the soundtrack, entitled the "Paradox Passages", were recorded in the studio by Young and Promise of the Real without re-watching any of the film's footage: "We'd seen it, so we just remembered it. There are similarities [with Dead Man], but I like to do that. It's an easy way for me to express a soundtrack: I have the same thing in The LinkVolt Years."[4]
The tracks "Show Me" and "Peace Trail" were previously recorded in a different form for Young's 2016 solo album, Peace Trail. The full-band recording of "Peace Trail", included on Paradox, was the first time Young and Promise of the Real had performed the song together.[4] The live version of "Pocahontas" is from a 2014 performance. Also, the song "Tumbleweed" is a re-recorded version from his 2014 album Storytone, and the song "Hey" contains a guitar riff from the song "Love and Only Love" from Neil’s album with Crazy Horse Ragged Glory.
Band member Lukas Nelson performs a cover of "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground" by his father, Willie Nelson. Regarding capturing this performance for the film, director Daryl Hannah noted, "It's effortless magic that always happens between them. It's a real gift to witness the creative freedom they have around each other."[4]
Reception
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2019) |
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Pitchfork | 6.0/10[5] |
In a mostly positive review for Pitchfork, Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote: "Drifting between spooky guitar solos, sweet strums, and half-remembered choruses, this soundtrack occasionally stops for a full-fledged song, but these complete moments feel accidental, as if the fog lifts just long enough to reveal a full landscape."[6] Uncut's Michael Bonner wrote: "In many respects, the ramshackle, campfire vibe of the soundtrack mirrors Hannah’s film itself – but, critically, it is neither a fully immersive experience like the Dead Man soundtrack or a third album with Promise of the Real. It’s perhaps best not to view Paradox (either film or soundtrack) as a major work from a significant artist, but yet another of Young’s shaggy digressions."[7]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Many Moons Ago in the Future" | 0:30 |
| 2. | "Show Me" | 1:46 |
| 3. | "Paradox Passage 1" | 2:16 |
| 4. | "Hey" | 3:18 |
| 5. | "Paradox Passage 2" | 1:23 |
| 6. | "Diggin' in the Dirt - Chorus" | 1:11 |
| 7. | "Paradox Passage 3" | 2:52 |
| 8. | "Peace Trail" | 5:06 |
| 9. | "Pocahontas" | 3:14 |
| 10. | "Cowgirl Jam" | 10:36 |
| 11. | "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground" | 4:41 |
| 12. | "Paradox Passage 4" | 0:13 |
| 13. | "Diggin' in the Dirt" | 3:15 |
| 14. | "Paradox Passage 5" | 0:24 |
| 15. | "Running to the Silver Eagle" | 2:54 |
| 16. | "Baby What You Want Me to Do?" | 1:23 |
| 17. | "Paradox Passage 6" | 0:18 |
| 18. | "Offerings" | 0:51 |
| 19. | "How Long?" | 2:26 |
| 20. | "Happy Together" | 0:46 |
| 21. | "Tumbleweed" | 4:01 |
Personnel
edit- Neil Young – guitar, ukulele, pump organ, harmonica, vocals
- Lukas Nelson – guitars, vocals
- Micah Nelson – pump organ, charango, guitar, vocals
- Corey McCormick – bass, upright bass, vocals
- Anthony LoGerfo – drums, bongos
- Tato Melgar – drums, percussion
- Jim Keltner – drums
- Paul Bushnell – bass
- Willie Nelson – spoken word
- Joe Yankee – electric harp
- "Storytone Orchestra" (on Tumbleweed) – violins, violas, cellos, basses, oboes, english horn, bassoons, french horns, harps, pianos, acoustic guitars, conducting
Additional roles
- Gary Burden, Jenice Heo – art direction
- Adam CK Vollick – art, photography, recording (19–20)
- Daryl Hannah, Dana Fineman – art & photography
- Dana Nielsen – engineering, recording, mixing (8, 10–11)
- Eric Lynn – recording (2)
- Tim Mulligan, Dave Lohr – recording, mixing (8–10)
- John Hanlon – mixing (8, 10–11, 13, 16), recording (11, 13, 16), production
- Niko Bolas – production, engineering (21)
- Al Schmitt – recording, mixing (21)
- Steve Genewick – engineering (21)
- Chris Walden – arrangements, conducting, production (21)
- L.D. Call – recording (1)
- Johnnie Burik, Rob Bisel, Tyler Beans, John Hausmann, Diego Ruelas – assistant engineers
- Chris Bellman – mastering
- Elliot Roberts – direction
Charts
edit| Chart (2018) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[8] | 36 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[9] | 57 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[10] | 114 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[11] | 85 |
| French Albums (SNEP)[12] | 171 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[13] | 32 |
| Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[14] | 19 |
| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[15] | 87 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[16] | 65 |
| US Soundtrack Albums (Billboard)[17] | 24 |
References
edit- ^ "Neil Young Archives".
- ^ "Neil Young Archives".
- ^ "Neil Young + Promise of the Real - Peace Trail (Official Music Video From the Film 'Paradox')". 30 March 2018 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c Mugan, Chris (March 28, 2018). "Neil Young and Daryl Hannah on collaborating for her film Paradox: 'This is not a film you're supposed to over-intellectualise'". The Independent. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (March 28, 2018). "Neil Young / Promise of the Real: Paradox (Original Music From the Film)". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
- ^ Thomas Erlewine, Stephen (March 28, 2018). "Neil Young / Promise of the RealParadox (Original Music From the Film)". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
- ^ Bonner, Michael (March 20, 2018). "Neil Young's Paradox – film and soundtrack album review". Uncut. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Neil Young %2B Promise Of The Real – Paradox" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Neil Young %2B Promise Of The Real – Paradox" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Neil Young %2B Promise Of The Real – Paradox" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Neil Young %2B Promise Of The Real – Paradox" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Neil Young %2B Promise Of The Real – Paradox". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Neil Young %2B Promise Of The Real – Paradox" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2018. 18. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved My 15, 2018.
- ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Neil Young %2B Promise Of The Real – Paradox". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Neil Young %2B Promise Of The Real – Paradox". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ "Neil Young Chart History (Soundtrack Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2024.