Neil Young is returning with a new studio album that finds him looking inward after a turbulent period of political frustration. The Canadian rock icon has announced Second Song, his second album with backing band the Chrome Hearts, set for release Sept. 18 via Reprise Records.
The record arrives after a period in which Young has been increasingly vocal about the state of the world around him. Following the 2024 U.S. election, Young spoke openly about his disappointment with the political climate, describing the experience of living through what he called the “worst president in the history of our country” as a distressing experience. While he has continued to use his voice to criticize political decisions, he said he wanted to move beyond anger and reconnect with themes of love, humanity and everyday life.
That shift helped shape Second Song, a mostly acoustic album recorded on analog tape at Malibu’s Shangri-La Studios. Young made the record with the Chrome Hearts, featuring drummer Anthony LoGerfo, bassist Corey McCormick, guitarist Micah Nelson and keyboardist Spooner Oldham. The album was produced by Lou Adler alongside Young and Niko Bolas, who are credited as the Volume Dealers.
The seven-track album follows 2025’s Talkin to the Trees, which leaned into a more electric sound closer to Young’s work with Crazy Horse. It also sees the musician revisiting his own past, with two songs originating from recordings made in the 1960s.
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