Re-Ac-Tor

Neil Young has always relied on the spontaneity of the moment to create his magic. Re-Ac-Tor may not be one of Young's major accomplishments, but it does contain several essential moments, including the defiant opening cut, "Opera Star," as underrated a tune as Young has written. "Surfer Joe and Moe the Sleaze" is one of Young's shaggy dog tales, complete with cowbell and a few tortured screams. "T-Bone" is nearly perverse industrial, grinding for nine minutes on the bizarre couplet "Got mashed potato / Ain't got no T-Bone." "Shots," "Southern Pacific," and "Motor City" have their obvious charms. This raw-in-the-studio is quirky and entrancing.