Hey, this is pretty good
01/03/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Having heard some awful things mentioned about this album on the Internet, I was leary of buying it. After obtaining most of his other albums, I finally broke down and bought it (as Donovan is one of my favorites). The biggest complaint I heard about this album is that the sound was updated to fit the scene of the 1980's and I'm guessing that most people prefer Donovan for his more softer/accoustic/psychadelic sound. Thus the reason for the negative publicity. Having said that, there are some 80's-like rockers (heck I think this was 1981 before things got too digital in the music industry). There are keyboards (similar to the sound you hear on Radio KAOS by Roger Waters) on some songs.
The first 3 tracks (musically) are typical 80's like rockers. "No Hunger" is the first melodic ballad (70's sounding) and very good. Nuetron (musically) is forgettable but "Me Me I love you" has a catchy fast paced rock riff. "Heights of Alma" is an orchestrated ballad which sounds like a national anthem for a european country. Very catchy. "No Mans Land" makes the whole album worth while. This is Donovan at his best. Just him and the accoustic signing a touching tune about a dead soldier from WWI. One of his best songs from *any* album. Just listen to those lyrics. "We are One", "Madrigalinda" and "Harmony" finish off the album quite nicely (although I could do without the falsetto on Harmony). Lyrically, this album is as good as it gets. A concept album (Nuetronica) with themes about world peace, no starvation, living in unison, etc.. and it does not come across as phoney as some of the other songs from different artists (which I won't mention) who write songs about peace. The bonus tracks are fabulous. "Split Wood Not Atoms" (as strange as the title is) is a great song. The accoustic version of "Heights of Alma" is much better than the studio version. This is an album NOT to be overlooked if you find yourself getting into Donovan. There's some gems on this album that will leave you feeling glad that you bought it. It certainly is a better album than his 1977 Donovan s/t. Don't let the 80's instrumentation disuade you as there's some really good songs that have just accoustic guitar and a nice laid back 70's sound. Gets my vote for one of the most meaningful albums to come out during the 1980's."
Best Donovan you've never heard
watery eyes | Toronto, ON Canada | 08/31/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"A very good LP released only in Europe. It's really an album of two sides. Side one is a synthesizer-driver set of decent pop songs. Side 2 is a very nice acoustic set. The total feels like a combination of Slow Down World and Sutras. The bonus tracks are interesting but don't add very much.
Sadly, the engineering of the CD is terrible, flat and muffled. I still listen to the CD-R I made off my old LP, crackles and all."
Through the Straits of Doubt
Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 05/28/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
""Neutronica" is one of those delightful discoveries that is important for Donovan fans. Originally released in Great Britain in 1981 as an anti-war set, this Burning Airlines/Pilot release contains the first 11 tracks from the original LP & 6 bonus tracks of live versions and alternate takes. My favorite track is the opener "Shipwreck" with its snarling electric lead and catchy melody, "We said our love would weather the storm; We had each other to keep us from harm & when we sailed through the straits of doubt." "Only to Be Expected" is a perky environmental track as applicable in 2005 as in 1981, "Boys & girls in every land go hungry even now in lines they stand; Food is burned to balance banks & taxes go to buy missiles & tanks." "No Hunger" walks similar musical ground as John Lennon's "Imagine" with its lush melody and idealistic view of what would be possible if we loved each other. "Neutron" is a curious anti-war song with a loping slightly offbeat melody about the "real estate bomb," "The property stays, but the people are gone." "Me Me I Love You" is a sweet pop ditty that would fit well on Donovan's new "Beat Cafe" set. "Heights of Alma" is a delightful track with a traditional folk melody that sounds part military march with Donovan singing joyfully, "We caused the Russians to surrender!" "Madrigalinda" is a madrigal for Donovan's wife Linda, a sweet romantic song. The original album closer "Harmony" is a simple acoustic track with Donovan exercising his upper register on the lovely chorus. Of the bonus tracks, Donovan's energetic take of Buffy Sainte-Marie's "Universal Soldier" is enthusiastically received by the live audience. "Split Wood Not Atoms" is bouncy track that decries nuclear weapons. The CD release ends with an a capella version of a folk melody "Fair Ye Well." "Neutronica" is a release that holds many treasures for Donovan's avid following. Enjoy!"
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1