Intended by Neil Young as a follow-up to his near-mythic unreleased 1977 recording CHROME DREAMS, the 2007 album CHROME DREAMS II features the same basic band and approach. Unlike many of Young's more conceptual albums, it contains songs written over different periods of time in different stylistic modes. Some of the tunes here have been waiting around since the '80s, including the 18-minute epic "Ordinary People," a slow-burner in the classic Young tradition that he audaciously positioned as the album's single.

Arranged around that sprawling centerpiece are some humbly poignant folk-rock gems, including the pretty, acoustic-based ballad "Beautiful Bluebird" and the shimmering, waltz-time love song "Shining Light." On the harder side, there's the trademark Crazy Horse-style crunch and quirk of the chugging rocker "Dirty Old Man" and the "Down By The River"-esque workout "No Hidden Path." Ironically, by attempting to follow no single sonic template on CHROME DREAMS II, Young turned out perhaps his most consistent effort of the decade.

1. Beautiful Bluebird
2. Boxcar
3. Ordinary
4. Shining Light
5. The Beleiver
6. Spirit Road
7. Dirty Old Man
8. Ever After
9. No Hidden Path
10. The Way