The Times

The Times is a seven-track EP released in 2020, culled from Neil Young’s 'Fireside Sessions' - a series of home-recorded performances streamed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The album is a stark departure from the polished production of his later-career studio work, embracing a 'bedroom production' aesthetic that highlights the fragility of Young's 74-year-old voice. The tracklist is intentionally political, featuring updated versions of his classic protest anthems alongside a cover of Bob Dylan’s 'The Times They Are A-Changin’'. Critics, including those from NME and Pitchfork, noted the album's 'lo-fi but distinctly modern starkness,' emphasizing how the lack of instrumentation forces a confrontation with the lyrical themes of systemic racism and political leadership. While some reviewers found the nostalgia 'depressing' given the cyclical nature of the issues addressed, the consensus highlights the EP as a vital, if skeletal, addition to Young’s long history of activism. It stands as a unique artifact of the 2020 lockdown era.