Off the Mark on Neil Young

J. Freedom du Lac questions the timeliness of Neil Young's new album, calling it "somewhat strange, given that the album doesn't appear to be inspired by any recent events" ["Neil Young's Antiwar Howl," Style, May 3]. Du Lac criticizes Young, asking, "Did he only recently realize his contempt for Bush and his outrage over the war in Iraq? Where ya been, Neil?"

The answer is that Young has been recovering from a well-publicized brain aneurysm, which seems not to have affected his social consciousness.

Neil Young fans have grown to expect such topical albums.

-- Michael Arnone

Chantilly

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I'm puzzled by J. Freedom du Lac's criticism of Neil Young's new album, "Living With War."

Du Lac says Young's collection is "a couple of years behind the curve" and asks, "Did he only recently realize his contempt for Bush and his outrage over the war in Iraq?"

Last time I checked, there was a big congressional election coming up in November. There are still close to three years left in this dangerously incompetent administration -- and no end in sight to a war it chose to start and was unprepared to win.