Neil Young + Promise of the Real Noise & Flowers 2LP

Noise & Flowers documents a 9-date tour that began just two weeks after Neil Young's lifetime friend and manager of more than 50 years, Elliot Roberts, passed away at age 76. Performing alongside a photograph of Roberts taped to his road case, Young approached each show as a celebratory memorial service to honor his late friend. It's a trek the legendary singer/songwriter describes as "wondrous."

"Playing in his memory [made it] one of the most special tours ever," Young says in the album's liner notes. "We hit the road and took his great spirit with us into every song. This music belongs to no one. It's in the air. Every note was played for music's great friend, Elliot."

In paying tribute to the manager who guided Young's career for over a half-century, Noise & Flowers explores all corners of his vast discography. It balances all-timer anthems ("Mr. Soul", "Helpless", "Rockin' in the Free World") with rarely aired '70s deep cuts ("Field of Opportunity", "On the Beach") and '00s gems ("From Hank to Hendrix", "Throw Your Hatred Down").

His frequent backing band since 2015, Promise of the Real effectively bridges the extremes in Young's sound, infusing his raging rockers and country serenades with their casual brilliance and telepathic intuition.

Noise & Flowers is a good testament for the group: they sound sensitive on 'From Hank to Hendrix,' roar throughout 'Fuckin' Up,' and generate a psychedelic swirl on 'I've Been Waiting for You.' Promise of the Real give Noise & Flowers the muscle the music needs, which means the album never sounds nostalgic or stiff: it's a warm celebration of the music made while Elliot Roberts stood by Neil Young's side.