Neil Young shows off Chrome in October

[Above: Bootleg back cover from the original Chrome Dreams]

Neil Young is getting married! (This is not true.) In honor of this wonderful occasion (actual occasion: new studio album, Chrome Dreams II, out Oct. 16 on Reprise), Young has chosen to remain steadfast to the age-old wedding custom, "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue." This turned out to be pretty simple, really.

Old is covered, because, let's face facts: Young, despite his name, is no spring chicken at 61 years of age. The new aspect is the album itself. Borrowed is its title, which comes from the original Chrome Dreams, recorded in 1974-77 but never released for unknown reasons. That just leaves us longing for "something blue," but fret not, for a simple Google search of the words "Neil," "Young" and "blue" turns up "about" (What's the matter, Google? Too hot for you? Maybe you should step out of kitchen!) 2,600,000 results. It's safe to say Young has something blue.

What does this all mean aside from the fact that I spend too much time on the Internet? It means that those of you waiting for the long-promised Archives box set Â which is basically Young's Chinese Democracy at this point, now set to drop on February 18, 2008 Â will have to instead be satisfied with a new studio album. Said a posting on Young's official site on August 16:

"Continuing a tradition that goes back to 1969, Neil Young played his latest recording for Reprise yesterday. The recording was played for about 100 people in Burbank. Produced by 'The Volume Dealers,' NY and Niko Bolas, the recording runs 60+ minutes and includes two giant songs that time in at 18:30 and 13:00, respectively. Drawing from three songs written previously, and 7 new songs, the latest Neil Young is a very diverse recording."

Diverse, indeed. Young will take his fake marriage all across North America in mid-October. Due to their shared affinity for epic-length songs and their status as veteran legends, Pink Floyd and Can will open. (Again, this is a lie.) Dates and locations are still to be announced.

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