With the new album Talkin to the Trees, Neil Young returns to familiar ground while seeding new creative roots alongside his latest band, The Chrome Hearts. Released on June 13, 2025, through The Other Shoe Productions and Reprise Records, the album is a testament to Young’s enduring spirit —a weaving of personal introspection, environmental urgency, and Classic Rock.
Backed by The Chrome Hearts, a group that includes longtime collaborator Spooner Oldham (organ), Micah Nelson (guitar, vocals), Corey McCormick (bass, vocals), and Anthony LoGerfo (drums), Young finds previously untapped energy in what is his first full-length collaboration with this lineup. What is considered a debut album for a new project, the album was recorded at Shangri-La Studios in Malibu, co-produced by Mr. Young himself, alongside legendary Producer Lou Adler, with engineering by John Hanlon.
With this in mind, the production is simple but significant–it captures the loose, impassioned spirit of a band tightly wound into a shared emotional wavelength. While the album’s sonic palette is rooted in Neil Young’s signature blend of Folk Rock, Garage grit, and electric fuzz, the record feels both present and urgent, addressing today’s anxieties with the weathered authority only Young can provide.
Ten songs in total, it opens with “Family Life,” a track that sets the stage for what follows. With a Country-tinged boogie and warm harmonica interludes, Young reflects on the difficulties of familial bonds and the ache of separation, possibly referencing time away from grandchildren. It is a song that is at once intimate and universally relatable, showcasing Young’s knack for embedding vulnerability in catchy, deceptively simple melodies.
Meanwhile, “Dark Mirage” has a dramatic effect on the mood. Here, The Chrome Hearts lean into a darker, more turbulent Garage Rock sound. Guitars grind and drums pound with urgency, mirroring the lyrical tension as Young explores themes of emotional disconnect and internal struggle. It is one of the heavier moments on the album, sonically and emotionally, and it proves that at seventy-nine, Young still has the fire to challenge both listeners and himself.
Amid the stormier tracks, “First Fire of Winter” offers a quiet respite from the world’s madness. A soft ballad led by plaintive vocals and gentle harmonica, it is a moment of introspection that feels like a winter sunset, melancholic but warm. This track underscores Young’s ability to shift gears without losing cohesion, and it stands as one of the album’s emotional high points.
However, the most explosive moment comes in “Let’s Roll Again,” a full-throttle battle song that repurposes Woody Guthrie’s melody from “This Land Is Your Land” into a scathing critique of environmental apathy. Young takes intense aim at Tesla and Elon Musk, with biting lines like, “If you’re a fascist, then get a Tesla / If it’s electric, it doesn’t matter.” The song bristles with fuzz-drenched guitars and harmonica growls, making it clear that Young’s activist flame is as alive as ever.
Lastly, “Movin Ahead,” a bluesy stomper with thick, distorted bass lines and grunge overtones, closes the reviewed selection on a high note. The song pulses with gritty resolve, as Young affirms his forward momentum despite the wear and tear of age and time. It is both a musical mission statement and a personal one; Young remains in motion, evolving yet constant in his vision.
Throughout Talkin to the Trees, Neil Young balances grief and protest, fragility and strength. Whether lamenting personal loss or railing against corporate overreach, the album never strays into self-indulgence. Instead, it offers a clear-eyed look at the world, filtered through Young’s singular lens. Considering this, Talking to the Trees is not a reinvention; it is a reaffirmation.
This album reminds us that Neil Young’s creative compass still points true, and with The Chrome Hearts backing him, the path forward sounds as vital as ever. That is why Cryptic Rock gives Talkin to the Trees 4 out of 5 stars.
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