Reviews (page 4 of 14)
Celente
Great album
I've been a big fan of this album for years, so I was glad to see it pop up for today's album. I know a lot of people take exception to Young's unique singing voice but I've always enjoyed how he sounds, and he's in top form on this album; the chorus in Old Man is one of my favourites in folk rock. I love the variety in the instrumentation on the record as well. I'm a sucker for some tasteful banjos. The only song on here I don't really care for is A Man Needs A Maid; it's just a drawn-out, dull dirge. It's an easy skip but the rest is top drawer stuff. Favourite Tracks: Heart of Gold, Old Man, Harvest
Decent instrumentals. Did not like the vocals. Questionable lyrics.
I like Neil Young, although I didn’t need 2 in one week. I enjoyed this. His songwriting is always good and this has some of the best songs. 4/5
Not bad. Not great. Not offensive. Not memorable. Don't quite get the hype.
Lots of slide and a heart of gold.
me gustooo
Now one by Mr. Young is much more up my alley. It's a peaceful folky album that contains a few of his best known songs. I enjoyed listening through this one far more than the previous Neil Young album I had on this list, I may even grab it on vinyl!
When I think of Neil Young, these are the songs I hear.
This album can be summed up in two words: it’s alright
I didn't remember his vocal range being so high.
Whew, finally.
(7/7) not sure how he got involved with the symphony orchestra but it seemed to work out
Out on the weekend - 8/10 Harvest - 7/10 A man need a maid - 3/10(I only liked the ending) Heart of gold - 0/10 Are you ready for the country? - 0/10 (didn't finish it) Old Man - 10/10 There's a world - 10/10 Alabama - 5/10 The Needle and the Damage Done - 9/10 Words (Between the Lines of Age) - 4/10
Great album, lyrics are powerful especially on old man and needle. I've always found neil youngs voice grating, but the songs here are good enough to look past that
Finally caught up, just in time for Neil Young's fifth swing at the ball. Ol' Neil has technically struck out after a at least three whiffs but much like an uncoordinated child on the t-ball field, we've afforded him a few more swings. I had high hopes for this as it lurched into gear. His nasally voice works well with the slower, more folksy stuff and when he's not doing overblown DAD BLUES. Accidental CAPS lock there but it seemed to fit. I've left far worse things in this accursed box blinking before me on previous occasions. This still kind of sucks, I'm sorry. God. I wanted to like this one a lot. The maid song was sort of funny as an absurd ballad, but it overstayed its welcome and led into more boring/horribly sung songs. This is better than previous Neil Young efforts, but I just can't get behind this guy. BACK TO WINNIPEG. 2 HIGHLIGHTS: I give myself the Grover falsetto and sing constantly. Can I be a pseudo-folk icon?
Fuck this too
I’ve never heard of a pro vax hippie before but he makes some good music
Vive Neil Young
Franchement très bon album. Pour ma part, j'ai trouvé l'ambiance entre Rock et Country extrêmement plaisante à écouter, melant des sonorités très calmes et classique propres à des artistes comme Bob Dylan qui viennent apporter une base stable durant tout le projet, laissant par ailleurs d'autres élements plus singuliers se glisser dans le panel de propositions de l'album. On retrouve alors un jeu très propre au niveau de la guitare acoustique et electrique qui agit comme un pillier à la fois extrêmement stable en accompagnant constament la batterie (particulièrement puissante sur certains morceau comme "Words" ou "Heart Of Gold"), et en marquant une rythmique bien construite comme dans "Harvest" ou "Heart Of Gold", mais aussi en sachant se détacher du reste pour proposer des licks bien placés qui viennent apporter de la matière à l'atmosphère des morceaux comme dans "Words" et ses lignes de guitares saturés et segmentées. De la même manière, on retrouve des élements propre à l'héritage Country classique comme la présence de l'harmonica sur "Heart of Gold" ou "Out of the weekend" mais aussi les ambiances faites au bottle-neck qui apporte sur tout l'album un coté très planant à l'encontre du coté très direct de la guitare sèche ou de la batterie marquée. D'autre part, on a une réelle singularité dans l'album de Young qui surprend énormément dans les premiers temps, avec beaucoups d'élements très surprenants comme la présence de la harpe dans des morceaux comme "There's a World" qui vient appuyer un coté très volatile, en constate total par rapport à l'introduction du morceau, très puissante. Il y a aussi la présence de drop de batterie sur certains titres comme "Words" qui viennent littéralement briser le rythme pourtant très stable la majorité du temps. Enfin, la voix de Young constitue aussi un marqueur d'une identité unique, avec un ton très planant dans des aigus très rond qui brise avec les clichés country type Johnny Cash. En résumé, l'album constitue un complet amalgame d'éléments très propre à son style d'origine, qu'il parvient à maitriser à la perfection en marquant des hits intemporels comme "Heart Of Gold", tout en y ajoutant des éléments propres qui fait se détacher l'album de la grande masse de projets du même style.
Lo country no es lo mío, si le gusta este género musical a alguien, este sería el album perfecto
Neil young is actually pretty good. Who knew.
I just really enjoy the mood that this album brings. Very strong album throughout. There’s times where I’m not too keen on Neil’s voice as it comes off a bit weak or frail, but maybe that’s just a sign of honesty and vulnerability making their way through his voice. Overall, the album is very good.
Lives up to the hype, if the hype is only scoring around 7.5/10. This is my first listen to it as an album instead of just some of the singles. Solid from beginning to end. It’s also influenced so many other albums/bands that it’s really hard to judge it in a void.
It's nkt that bad
not for me
First time I've heard anything from Neil Young. I was expecting something very stripped-back and minimal. And that was my impression for the first few minutes of the album. But once "A Man Needs A Maid" came in...oh my goodness. That beautiful, lush orchestra. And then later on in the album, when The Needle surprises you with thunderous audience applause, cutting straight to one of the few electric jams on the record. The production on this thing is immaculate, despite presenting itself as so toned down. Harvest actually sounds quite a bit like the album cover. The font itself is flashy and detailed, but outside of that, there is almost no color or any frills at all. The album, both sonically and visually, is exactly what it needs to be and not a bit more. For that, I really appreciate Harvest.
Hadn't heard this in years and it's still pretty good. Some of the best Neil Young stuff on here. Best song is probably Heart of Gold.
Probably the one Neil Young album that actually should be on this list.
Fun and Canadian that reminds me of the codeine song
This was a good album. I liked this Neil.
A very good album with the couple of weaker songs more than compensated for by the larger number of classics.
Sure
got so many vinyl records from my sister’s dad in law who passed away last year and this is one of them. i always think of him when i see an album i only know because of him.
enjoyed for the most part - a couple of standouts - some bits felt redundant/same-y but overall decent album for me
Enjoyed on a lazy morning in bed! Nice to be reminded of it's existence
Actively disliked, don't think I even managed to finish it
Relaxing. I liked it
Some classics like old man and heart of gold but a bit dull otherwise
bien
Yeah it wasn't bad, you win Neil!
*1972. *There are some weird songs here (i.e. A Man Needs a Maid and There's a World), but most of it is classic Neil Young. *Harvest, Heart of Gold, and Old Man are all on here. RATING - 8/10
Pretty nice overall. I can see it becoming something I come back to every one in a while. It does feel a bit disjointed from time to time, though
I've heard it before and liked it
Heart of Gold
A record deserving of the term 'classic' in that period when the album was the key form of musical expression by artists that took it seriously. Seen by many as his finest musical statement with the post 60s hippie hangover meeting the cynical Watergate era. It was the biggest selling album of 1972 and contains all killer and no filler with use of orchestra standing out at certain moments. Timeless yet evocative.
una iglesia con buena musica
Cool, pero no me hizo sentir cosas
Pretty slow, very good though. I like the instruments.
Nice listen, but a bit too old school for me
4/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/neil-young/harvest/ Nice lil Neil Young album. Not super familiar with the man, aside from some albums and some hits, but I've been trying more recently. I know he has albums I like more than this one, even tho this one of course has great songs like Heart of Gold and especially Old Man.
Slow to white for my taste
Really surprised me. Very interesting and complex compositions after deceptively simple set ups. Feels like a spiritual predecessor to Father John Misty
A great album with a ton of classics.
Hpnestly, i still find the guy’s voice annoying, even though in general i like singers with this tone of voice, like Thom York, but he just sounds like a 10 year old choir boy, who tries to sing after crying for an hour. That being said, this is probably as good as he gets. I’d have still given it a strong 3 altogether, if it wasnt for the incredible sound/mixing of this record, like wow. Even on worse gear, this one shines.
Ik snap het, maar het is mij toch iets te rustig allemaal. 3
favs — 'a man needs a maid', 'heart of gold', 'alabama'
was fairly good tbf wouldn't listen again 4/10
From its beginning thumps to its fading guitar/piano chords, a genuine rock classic. Even if I'm partial to the 3-album down-n-out classics (On The Beach to Zuma), Harvest was a genuine high-point in Young's oeuvre, seriously rivaling Dylan's more-lauded and influential early work. So, yeah one of rock's better (and influential) albums (yes, Alabama pissed off some southerners). 5 undeniable points of night-light.
I'm not a big fan of pure Country, although this album was interesting and I understand it's popularity by listening to the songs. It is just not my cup of tea.
When someone says “classic Neil Young” this is what they mean.
Not sure how I feel about there’s a world. And I prefer the live at Massey hall version of old man. So maybe should be a 4, but think it’s still a 5 because it has a handful of my all time favorites songs on it. See the lonely boy out on the weekend….
The album to come back to what’s real in life
2 bangers the rest is mid
I liked this album more than I thought I would!
Great, simple, chill album. Never was the biggest Neil fan but there's a lot of bangers on this one and it's a beautifully produced album
One of my all times faves. Top 20 for sure.
second half of this album is just so strong - Alabama is UNDERRATED !
Like a warm hug
Tellement bien !! Mon premier 5/5
Uno de mis discos favoritos de toda la vida, que adoración que le tengo, siempre regreso a él, a mis viajes a Motupe para la feria con la familia, esas épocas de un joven que solo era una esponja músical. 1000 de 1000
Gosto muito do estilo Neil Young, bem pra pensar na vida. Heart of Gold é uma clássica. Old Man também é muito boa. Álbum foda, 2 músicas hit dele, acho que as mais famosas mesmo. Me conecta com meus 20 anos, dá vontade de explorar o mundo, principalmente a natureza ouvindo esse álbum. 4*
= the Beatles
Don’t even need to give this a listen to give Harvest full marks. My parents brought me up on Neil. They brought me up right.
lindo álbum son 8 los puntos
Rock again... who do they think I am?! An old white man?! Give me some electronic please :( Let me actually listen to this all the way through tho for day 2...
It’s a calm, almost fragile album, but it hits deep if you sit with it. The songs are where everything really shines. Heart of Gold is simple but perfect, one of those tracks that just stays with you forever. Old Man feels warm and reflective, like a quiet conversation with yourself. The Needle and the Damage Done is probably the most powerful moment—raw, painful, and real in a way that’s hard to ignore. And A Man Needs a Maid… there’s something about it that feels uneasy but emotional at the same time, like it’s exposing something vulnerable and complicated. Overall, the album isn’t trying to impress—it just tells the truth, and that’s what makes it so strong.
The big singles from this are incredible. “Heart of Gold” is probably my favorite Neil Young song, particularly the harmonies at the very end. I will listen to the whole song just to hear that. The album as a whole is interesting- it’s mostly acoustic folk, but with lush orchestration on some songs, a live, stripped down version of “Needle,” a couple of electric guitar work outs- it’s pretty varied. My biggest issue is that the languor represented here is just not something I want to dip into all that often. On the whole though this is a very strong 70s record. FOUR STARS
There are some legendary songs here. However, though it's a great album, I found other albums by Young from this period a little better. Still, a strong 4/5. Young is truly one of the greatest songwriters, who always stayed true to himself.
Soft country, okay maar niet geweldig. Heart of gold van otis redding maar dan niet de versie die ik ken
Es un álbum que me hizo sentir varado en un espacio donde estoy flotando y estas en calma, es como si la única compañía que necesito es este álbum y mi propio ser... Es como ver un paisaje oscuro y hermoso mientras todo lo demás esta suspendido en el tiempo. Mi tema fav. del álbum es "Old Man - Neil Young".
Fue un álbum muy chill, no tanto de mi estilo pero me gustó. Agregué algunas a mi playlist.
no es la gran cosa, muy tranquilo para mi gusto
Such a lovely little album, I knew ‘Old man’ going into this and I love that song, so I was hoping the rest of the album could reach that same vibe. I think that it delivered on this with ‘Heart of gold’ and ‘Out on the weekend’ and the overall vibe of the album matched it which I enjoyed. I liked how a couple of the songs like ‘Alabama’ brought in more of a rock sound, there was enough of a bit of variation to keep things fresh whilst listening to this album. I liked the good amount of emotion in the songs, I feel like you can really hear it in Young’s voice which I think pairs nicely with the country style music. It’s a simple formula but well executed with the vocals and quality instrumentals; a great album is created and one that I will be adding to my vinyl Wishlist.
it’s fine i guess? i liked it at the start but got boring by the end
Not for me
понравились последние 2-3 трека, альбом ну НОРМАльный альбом, прослушан с удовольствием
Great album with some of Neil Youn’s best songs n it- although I was disappointed that Harvest Moon wasn’t on there- it’s my favourite and I assumed it would be there because of the title. Some truly wonderful, timeless song writing on this album. I do slightly prefer the live at massey hall album with a lot of the same songs though if I was going to choose- it’s great hearing the audience react to these.
Ok that kicked ass. Was meh on the earlier Neill Young album but this one was so good. Heart of gold is an all time great song, but so many other amazing tunes on this album. Loved it. Feel like I finally get why he’s so beloved.
Better than I remember but still a 2.5
This was badly produced and poor guy can not sing. Not for me at all.
Very enjoyable listen with less grating vocals from previous albums.
Amazing
This is a great record that also contains two absolute stinkers, A Man Needs A Maid and There's A World, just schmaltz covered nonsense. The rest? Out on The Weekend, Harvest, Heart of Gold, Old Man, Alabama, Needle and the Damage Done, some of Neil’s very best songs
Great album. 'Heart of Gold' , 'Old Man' are highlights
I’ve heard this before and I own it. And I went through my Neil Young collection within the past couple of months unlike everything else on this list. Always a good reason for a relisten though. So this is a classic and is jam packed with bangers, but the two songs with orchestration in them are too melodramatic, especially A Man Needs a Maid. That song also rubs me a little wrong even though i understand it uses “maid” to refer in part to a housekeeper in current terms but in most part to a woman in old fashioned terms. It’s enough to keep it from a perfect 5 rating.
Mellow bruh.
I see Neil, I give 5 stars.
Easy 5. The Needle and the Damage Done is an all timer.
I’m not a fan, and not the audience
I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I never thought of myself as a Neil Young fan but I thought there were some good songs on here. I might listen to this one again.
delightful, evocative of so many feelings and memories
enjoyed the ones i recognised but wasn't too fussed about the rest
Really smooth all the way through, aside from a weird dip in A Man Needs a Maid. I mean, it’s got Heart of Gold on it. I do like me some Neil Young.
47#
I just don't like Neil Young's voice....
Oscillating between twangy banjos and grungy guitar distortion, Neil Young's "Harvest" stands as one of the most enduringly influential releases of the 1970s. While "Old Man" is the indisputable highlight, the entire record is an journey through flannel-clad yearning, grief, and love.
Album Review 094 Harvest by Neil Young (1972) Rating 3.5/5 I don’t know much about the background to the album, aside from Young’s being burned out from touring and unable to move freely due to a back injury, but what this sounds of is someone who is tired, lost and feeling fragile. Harvest has strong set of songs, some of which over-polished, others under-polished and raw sounding. The only song that doesn’t fit is There’s a World, which is orchestral and sounds out of place, but does act as a good break between the softer earlier tracks and the heavier electric ones to follow.
4.5
I enjoyed this, not a perfect album but some interesting things going on (11/8 ftw) low/mid 4
Harvest is a total classic, no doubt. It's got this nostalgic, down home vibe that just hits the spot. The pedal steel and harmonica are awesome, giving it that cozy, campfire feel, especially on "Heart Of Gold" and "Old Man". The production is fantastic, mixing that stripped down folk sound with some big, orchestral moments... But, and this is a big but, it's *still* a Neil Young album. While the songs are amazing, his voice… it's a bit of a mixed bag. It can be cool, but sometimes it's just a little much. It's a shame, because the instruments and lyrics are so good, but his vocals are a bit of a hurdle for some folks. Still, it's a must-have record. I just wish someone else was singing these songs sometimes.
wasnt my favorite i fear. 1972
Absolute classic. Not a bad track on this record.
#73/1001 🇨🇦 Neil Young is the artist who commands the most space on my shelves and whilst this isnt my favourite of his records, its easy to see why its his best known. The first album that i got into was Sleeps With Angels in the early 90s and from there i've been on a journey going back through his catalogue and also enjoying his more recent works. This is a fine record throughout, A Man Needs a Maid being the only track that bothers me. Heart of Gold is maybe a little overplayed - its the only one of his tunes i ever hear on the radio. Best tracks: Old Man, Alhabama, Needle and the Damage Done, Words.
q letering babado FAVS (top 3): a man needs a maid, theres a world, alabama mençoes honrosas: out of the weekend, the needle and the damage don, words eu curti o album mas nao tanto como eu deveria, o album é bem curtinho otimo pra relaxar e o fim é definitivamente a melhor parte nota final:3.5/5
i love neil young
I suppose I should like Neil Young but I could never understand what people see in him, and I find his voice rather grating. Sorry and all that.
I think some of the backing musicianship on this might be good to great (?) but it is sooooo hard to tell because of his pathetic, soft, nasal and annoying vocals.
Never heard of Neil Young before. Some songs were good, great music if you need something moody or for thinking
Absolute masterpiece! It's one of the ones buried in my record collection & I'm glad its on the list! Buried no more!
In the multiverse NY put out a version of this album without ‘A Man Needs a Maid’ and I rated it 5 stars.
Este es el álbum con más reconocimiento de Neil Young en toda su carrera, y se entiende si lo que se busca en su música es la raíz country que le da de beber y a la cual vuelve de tanto en tanto. Más adelante ha hecho cosas más eléctricas, sobre todo cuando ha firmado junto a Crazy Horse, pero su esencia está aquí. Tengo una cuestión personal con Neil, y es que su voz no me gusta, y a menudo imagino a otros cantantes sacando más provecho de sus composiciones. Para mí es un poco ni fu ni fa, pero a los amantes del folk y del country este álbum seguro que les chifla.
God I love Neil Young. Heart Of Gold, Old Man, and The Needle And The Damage Done are 3 of the greatest songs ever written.
Really enjoyed this album. Great suggestion.
Love me some Neil Young. I think I preferred the previous record as a whole but this had some great high points. Really enjoyed Old Man and Alabama.
Glad to have heard the songs they don’t play on the radio. Good stuff.
One of the best Albums ever! So good, don’t get old!
I’m at the point, almost 100 albums in, anything I enjoy listening to and don’t swear, skip a boring song, is getting a 5.
Such a brilliant album that I hope I will listen to in full more often now. 'Old Man' is an exceptional, stand-out track for me, but it doesn't diminish the others. "Harvest" just has such a charm to it that makes for a great listening experience. Other than this album and 'Harvest Moon' I haven't listened to much Neil Young, and perhaps I should, but this album is certainly a great way to start. Rating: 4.5.
Been meaning to check this album out for a hot minute since I see so much praise for it everywhere. The only thing I've knowingly heard of Neil Young is Sufjan Stevens' cover of There's A World, which I of course love so I'm not expecting to be let down around here. Out on the Weekend - Not at all how I imagined his voice was going to sound. Vaguely western Ben Gibbard sounding. Pretty solid song though. I appreciate the slow build up throughout. Ready for more of a pay off in the next track maybe? Harvest - Certainly not a pay off to the build up in the last song, but that's okay. I'm realizing that it's maybe not that sort of album. Hearing quite a lot of small indie artists that I cherish in this song specifically. Interesting that this album has become so acclaimed when it's not really a sound that has remained extremely popular within the culture. Low key, but I'm digging. A Man Needs a Maid - Wow, all of a sudden we've got huge instrumentation. I'm experiencing a bit of positive confusion about the sudden shift in drama with the LSO here. Huge change in mood and structure from the previous two, but why? Heart of Gold - Got a bit of a blues rocker going on with this one. Again, a massive change from the first two songs and the third. All four have been solid tunes so far for sure, but I'm getting whiplash between styles. Still having trouble divorcing myself from the thought that this album is not going to be just a collection of songs, but it may in fact be. Not sure how I feel about it. Are You Ready for the Country? - Okay, another blues rock track. We're sounding like Dylan. I'm getting more grounded in what I'm supposed to expect here. Groovy number. I like the funny slidey guitar throughout. Old Man - Like this one quite a lot. Straight forward and a great tune. Nothing mind blowing going on, but there doesn't need to be with the bones as good as this. There's A World - Well, okay, the LSO is back. I mean, the song is great, the lyrics are lovely, and the orchestration is phenomenal. Really makes the lyrics seem incredibly majestic. It's just so different from everything else on the record. Feel like I'm being an asshole and should be able to turn off my desire for cohesion, but it's so widely distractingly different. The last second of the track with the stage sound is pretty interesting though. I fear that Sufjan did not set my expectations up properly here... Alabama - Not a huge fan of this one. Sort of plodding, lethargic rock instrumental that is so rich and full that I'm just sitting here with indigestion and ready to be done with. The sarcastic shady lyrics are quite amusing though. The Needle and the Damage Done - Cute little acoustic number. The lyrics are poignant and the swung chords accompany them well. The live version reveal is done well and the hard cut to the next track really works with the thematic content. It just makes me think again though, that there obviously is some sort of ALBUM statement going on here. But what and how??? Words (Between the Lines of Age) - Shreddin guitar solo going on at the end there. I'll be honest and say this is what I thought the whole album was going to sound more or less. Having heard it, I'm glad it doesn't all sound this way, but that's not necessarily a dig on this one. I'm so confused by this album. Obviously there is some quality song-writing going on, but I can't tell if the disparate musical styles herein are due to some attempt at cohesive eclecticism or just at a total inability to be cohesive. I am sort of leaning to believe the former right now. A perusal of the Wikipedia page doesn't really give me an indication of what the artistic intent is meant to be here, so it's really hard for me to accept this as a body of work that is helmed by an artist looking to create a body of work. There is genius in the lyrics for sure. I had to pivot to paying more attention to them when I realized that perhaps there was more merit in them than in the composition. But there are some moments in the production that make one think there is meant to be more attention paid there. Hard to wrap my mind around this one, and I'm sort of boggled at the reputation this album has. Strange strange strange.
Awesome. Now this is music. 4.5 Rounds up to five. Need more Neil young in my life.
Heart of Gold and Old Man really carry this album but I found it to be really an enjoyable listen.
🤣👍
Too country for my taste. And look, as a foreign woman, this is the sonic equivalent of watching a cowboy stare into the sunset or an old man parked in a rocking chair, replaying every mistake he ever made. Relaxing? Sure. Overwhelming? Never. So I won't drag the production, it's competent, safe, inoffensive. But boring is a good definition. The orchestra is the one thing that made me sit up, beautiful, dramatic, actually interesting. Loved that choice. Everything else? Didn't connect. Didn't care. Didn't engage. It's not bad enough to hate, not good enough to love. It's the musical definition of "whatever." I'll forget it. I know it's supposed to be this big confessional thing. Didn't hit me. The only tracks I'd maybe spin again are "Heart of Gold," "There's a Word," and "Words (Between the Lines of Age)."but I probably won't. Reminds me of generic mid-70s folk. No one specific, because it's too forgettable to even bother making the comparison. Rate : 2 (maybe 2.5, but I'm rounding down and honestly, 2 feels generous)
I'm giving it a 5, there are 1-2 songs I don't love (man needs a maid) but there are so many classics. Easy listening, great repeatability.
Harvest was the first Neil Young album I really got into, so it will always have a special place in my heart. That being said, I'll try to be as objective as I can, and objectively, out of the 6 albums from the seventies that can usually find their to the top of Neil's discography, Harvest has to be the least consistent one, boasting songs that are near the top of his catalog, while also having some of the weirdest ones from this period. And as others have pointed, and I agree, it has to be songs with the loud and over the top string arrangements. You can feel it's sort of a PR move, and that Neil doesn't fit in a song like There's a World, and A Man Needs a Maid (which I'll give credit to, is a decent song until the whole orchestral part), But man, Harvest simultaneously has some of his best and most memorable tracks ever. Out On The Weekend is a great opener and instantly paints that pastoral picture of a mid-summer day on the porch, Old Man and Heart of Gold have that classical Neil Young wisdom, while The Needle and the Damage Done is a glimpse into the what the future holds for Neil. And if I'm being honest, Alabama and Words can be added to that list as well. Those are some great fuzzy hard rockers. It's a good album, but those few tracks for me lower the rating. A shame really, because he couldn't quite achieve the mix of commercially and artistic viability he achieved on here until maybe the 90s.
Won’t be revisiting but was nice to listen to. I appreciate how older music is sure to incorporate some live instruments. Love that tbh.
12/03/2026 Favourite Songs: Out on the Weekend, A Man Needs a Maid, Heart of Gold, Words. Score: 3/5
Not my cup of tea
love this album -- fun fact -> James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt did some of the backing vocals
I’m a bit conflicted here. I love Neil Young but I don’t think it’s one of his greatest albums. This is probably his most commercially successful album with Heart of Gold possibly being his biggest hit. Thing is that Young is at his best when he’s rugged and unfinished, showing his vulnerability and fragility to the world. This is probably his most produced and polished album which makes for a diminished experience. Still The Needle and the Damage Done is an all time great Neil Young tune and it’s a good listen and important to his discography. Call it three stars.
Mér þykir mjög vænt um þessa plötu, fékk hana gefins frá góðum vini á síðustu öld og féll fyrir henni strax. Hún stenst tímans tönn og vel það.
Скукота пиздец
Приємний альбом, десь на 4-4.5. Heart of Gold - хітяра.
А оце хороший Ніл Янг, як я люблю.
Standouts Out on the Weekend Heart of Gold Are You Ready for the Country Old Man The Needle and the Damage Done
I'll search for comprehensive information about Neil Young's "Harvest" album to provide you with an in-depth review. # In-Depth Review: Neil Young's *Harvest* (1972) ## Overview Released on February 14, 1972, *Harvest* stands as Neil Young's most commercially successful album and his only #1 record on the *Billboard* charts . Yet this mainstream breakthrough emerged from circumstances of physical pain and creative fragmentation—Young was recovering from back surgery that prevented him from playing electric guitar in his usual manner, forcing an acoustic approach that defined the album's sound . The recording process was famously scattered: some tracks were cut in Nashville with session musicians dubbed "The Stray Gators," others in London with the London Symphony Orchestra, and the devastating "The Needle and the Damage Done" was captured live at UCLA's Royce Hall . --- ## Lyrical Analysis ### Themes of Vulnerability and Isolation *Harvest* explores what critic Jimm Cushing identified as Young's "guts to be romantic"—a willingness to expose emotional fragility that was rare in early '70s rock . The lyrics navigate the tension between solitude and connection, often through the lens of Young's then-new relationship with actress Carrie Snodgress (whom he'd met after his roadie insisted he watch her in *Diary of a Mad Housewife*) . **"Out on the Weekend"** opens with a man literally running away from connection ("Think I'll pack it in and buy a pickup"), yet the song reveals this escape as a mask for deeper longing. The narrator's retreat to a "place in the country" becomes a metaphor for emotional withdrawal rather than genuine peace . **"Harvest"** (the title track) uses agricultural metaphor to explore relationship uncertainty. Each verse begins with a question designed to gauge mutual vulnerability: "Will I see you give more than I can take? / Will I only harvest some?" The "change of plan" line—possibly referencing Snodgress's mother's suicide attempts—functions on multiple levels, applicable to divorce, family upheaval, or any unexpected life alteration . **"A Man Needs a Maid"** remains the album's most controversial lyric. The title suggests patriarchal convenience, but the song actually charts Young's terror of intimacy: "To give a love, you gotta live a love / To live a love, you gotta be 'part of.'" The narrator considers hiring help to avoid emotional entanglement, only to recognize the impossibility of such detachment . **"Old Man"** transforms a conversation with Louis Avila, the elderly caretaker of Young's newly purchased Broken Arrow Ranch, into a meditation on generational commonality. The bridge—"Old man, take a look at my life, I'm a lot like you"—dissolves age barriers through shared loneliness: "I need someone to love me the whole day through" . ### Political Consciousness **"Alabama"** functions as a sequel to *After the Gold Rush*'s "Southern Man," though Young later expressed regret about its execution. In his 2012 autobiography *Waging Heavy Peace*, he admitted the lyrics were "accusatory and condescending, not fully thought out" . The song nevertheless sparked one of rock's most famous dialogues—Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" responded directly with "I hope Neil Young will remember, a Southern man don't need him around anyhow." Despite the apparent conflict, Ronnie Van Zant often wore Neil Young t-shirts onstage, and mutual respect persisted between the artists . ### Addiction and Loss **"The Needle and the Damage Done"** stands as one of rock's first direct confrontations with heroin addiction. Written about Crazy Horse guitarist Danny Whitten (who would die of an overdose months after the album's release), the lyrics avoid preaching while bearing witness: "I am not a preacher, but drugs killed a lot of great men," Young noted in *Decade*'s liner notes . The live recording's spontaneity—complete with audible applause—creates documentary immediacy that studio polish would have diminished. --- ## Musical Character ### The Nashville Sound Working with Nashville session musicians including pedal steel guitarist Ben Keith, drummer Kenny Buttrey, and bassist Tim Drummond, Young achieved what he called "the Nashville sound without the Nashville attitude" . The Stray Gators provided supple, empathetic backing that honored country conventions while maintaining rock's edge. **"Are You Ready for the Country?"** and **"Words (Between the Lines of Age)"** benefit particularly from this ensemble's loose precision. ### Orchestral Experiments Producer Jack Nitzsche arranged two tracks with the London Symphony Orchestra, creating the album's most divisive moments. **"A Man Needs a Maid"** begins sparely—just Young's piano and voice—before exploding into symphonic bombast that even Young admitted was "overblown" . **"There's a World"** fares worse; thundering timpani and sweeping strings overwhelm slight material, creating what one critic called "Porgy & Bess from pork butt" . ### The Acoustic Core The album's enduring reputation rests on its stripped-down material. **"Heart of Gold"**—featuring harmonies from James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt—became Young's only #1 single, though he famously reacted with ambivalence: "Oh no! I've made a hit record! We can't have that now, can we?" . The song's harmonica riff and straightforward structure represented accessibility that Young would spend subsequent albums complicating. **"The Needle and the Damage Done"**'s solo acoustic performance demonstrates Young's ability to command attention without embellishment—its power lies in restraint rather than arrangement. --- ## Production Elliot Mazer, Henry Lewy, Jack Nitzsche, and Young himself shared production duties across disparate recording locations . The patchwork nature of the sessions—spanning January to September 1971—somehow coheres into a unified statement, though not without seams showing. The transition from "The Needle and the Damage Done" into "Words" feels abrupt; the orchestral tracks sit uneasily beside the Nashville material . The 2009 remaster improved the balance on "A Man Needs a Maid," though nothing could fully reconcile the tension between Young's reedy voice and full orchestral backing . Recent archival releases—including *Harvest Time* (2022)—have allowed reassessment of the creative process, revealing alternate versions that sometimes surpass the original choices . --- ## Cultural Impact and Influence *Harvest* defined "country-rock" for mainstream audiences, influencing everyone from Eagles to contemporary Americana artists. Its success paradoxically pushed Young toward more abrasive, less accessible material—*Time Fades Away*, *On the Beach*, and *Tonight's the Night* constituted a deliberate retreat from *Harvest*'s commercial achievement . The album's influence extends through: - **Elliott Smith** and **Built to Spill's Doug Martsch**, who absorbed Young's guitar approach and lyrical directness - **The "unplugged" movement** of the 1990s, which *Harvest* anticipated by two decades - **Addiction narratives** in popular music—"The Needle and the Damage Done" preceded similar explicit treatments by years Retrospective critical consensus has shifted dramatically. While *Rolling Stone*'s John Mendelsohn initially dismissed it as "a disappointing retread" of *After the Gold Rush* , the album now ranks #72 on *Rolling Stone*'s "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020 revision) and was named the #1 Canadian Album of All Time by Bob Mersereau in *The Top 100 Canadian Albums* . --- ## Pros and Cons ### **Strengths** | Aspect | Assessment | |--------|------------| | **Emotional Directness** | Unprecedented vulnerability in rock; established template for confessional songwriting | | **Melodic Craft** | "Heart of Gold," "Old Man," and "Harvest" rank among Young's most enduring compositions | | **Musical Versatility** | Seamlessly blends country, folk, rock, and orchestral elements | | **Historical Significance** | Pioneered explicit addiction narratives; sparked dialogue with Southern rock | | **Vocal Harmonies** | Strategic deployment of CSNY, Taylor, and Ronstadt enhances without overwhelming | | **"The Needle and the Damage Done"** | Arguably the album's greatest achievement—raw, prescient, and timeless | ### **Weaknesses** | Aspect | Assessment | |--------|------------| | **Orchestral Overreach** | "A Man Needs a Maid" and "There's a World" suffer from overproduction; the latter is "skippable" | | **Lyrical Inconsistency** | "Alabama" lacks nuance; "There's a World" approaches banality ("You live in the world... so look around") | | **Pacing Issues** | The album's second half grows darker and heavier, creating tonal whiplash | | **Vocal Limitations** | Young's "thin, reedy voice" struggles against orchestral arrangements | | **Self-Imitation** | Early critics noted similarities to *After the Gold Rush*; some tracks feel like retreads | | **"A Man Needs a Maid" Title** | Dated even in 1972; creates unnecessary barrier to appreciating the song's actual content | --- ## Conclusion *Harvest* endures not despite its flaws but because of them. The orchestral misfires, the occasional lyrical heavy-handedness, and the tonal inconsistencies create an album of human dimension—ambitious, wounded, occasionally misguided, but ultimately sincere. It captures Young at a crossroads: commercially triumphant yet artistically restless, physically constrained yet emotionally expansive. The album's greatest legacy may be its demonstration that mainstream success need not require artistic compromise—though Young himself would spend the subsequent decade proving he could survive without such success. *Harvest* remains essential listening not as perfect artifact but as document of an artist negotiating fame, pain, and creativity at the height of his powers.
Lisää Neil Youngia ja sehän passaa! Harvest on lempparini ukon tuotoksista (läheskään kaikkia en ole kuullut) ja se taitaa myös olla Youngin eniten myynyt levy. Harvest edustaa enimmäkseen leppoisaa country-rockia, mutta mukaan mahtuu muutama särövoittoinen veto ja kaksi sinfoniaorkesterin säestämää mahtipontista balladia. Vaikka nuo kyseiset biisit eivät aivan saumattomasti sovi kokonaisuuteen, muu materiaali on niin huippua, että tälle kuitenkin uskaltaa antaa viisi tähteä.
A classic. Ever listenable, and iconic sound. "A Man Needs a Maid" is, however... unfortunate.
Throughout the experience, this album, I was treated with many features and great artist that collaborated with this man. It was amazing to see his heart bleed through his songs.
Hillbilly hip-hop. Out on the Weekend and Old Man are both in my top 20 Neil Young songs. Some great songs here, performed beautifully.
Fantastic
I started listening to country music in sense after i played Red Dead Redemption 2. In my mind I’ve always conjured up an image of loneliness and being lost in large landscapes of mountains and nature when it comes to picturing how country music makes me feel. This album does carry a lot of those same qualities, although it does also contain rock elements which help give it a sense of uniqueness to me at least. At points it drags on though and bores me but with the song structures containing elements of Electric Guitar, Banjos, Harmonica tapped off with grandiose string sections in songs such as “A Man Needs a Maid” it blew expectations for me for what a country song or rock song from the 70’s could be. Its an interesting album but I fear I wont really revisit it that often because i did not find as much replayability in it as I thought I would. Final Score: 6/10 Favorite Songs: Alabama, Heart Of Gold, The Needle and the Damage Done
I have already listened to this before. Neil Young is one of my favorite musicians and Harvest is an all time great country rock album. Every song on this record is great and old man is probably my favorite.
Was a good album with some old stand-by's worth a relisten on occasion.
This is one of my all-time favorite albums. I have played it to the point that I almost can't play it anymore. But it's perfect.
To je to moje prekletstvo, da ko dobim album ki ga poznam od prej, mi je ljub in mam šanso ga poslušat na plošči, s super zvočniki - bom dobila ta album na dan, ko mi ne bo zneslo tega naredit. In sm prisiljena ga poslušat v avtu, prek mobitela, prek compressed bluetooth zvoka. Oh, ja. Še zmer - what an album! Včasih me presenet, glede na to, da mi grejo določeni vokali na kurac, kako mi kakšni objektivno potencialno nadležni vokali (torej, Neil Young) ne grejo na kurac. Favoriti: "Out on the Weekend", "Heart of Gold" - itak!, "Old Man", "Alabama" in "Words (Between the Lines of Age)".
Neil Young album #3 here. There are a couple tracks that I like better, like "Are You Ready for the Country," with the funky piano & arrangement and obscure lyrics; "Old Man," where the guitar & banjo are more interesting than on some of the the other tracks here and is interesting hearing it now as an older person, and "Needle and the Damage Done," which is very raw and intense. However, this one also contains one song that I actively dislike ("A Man Needs a Maid"), a song I've heard so many times that just seeing the title without listening to it now has it stuck in my head ("Heart of Gold"), and a bunch of other songs that are pleasant but not a standout. So, I probably wouldn't ever go back to it, and therefore, 3 stars.
Just don’t get it. I don’t like his voice and the music’s okay
i can't believe this is how i find out neil young sucks
Before: Well, this is my second Neil Young so far and my first repeat artist. Never was a big fan but it looks like I'll have plenty of opportunities to get better acquainted with his music over the next 2+ years. During: Starts off with a nice tune, kind of sappy, but I like it. 4 Out On The Weekend 2 Harvest 1 A Man Needs A Maid 5 Heart Of Gold 2 Are You Ready For The Country 4 Old Man 2 There's A World 2 Alabama 3 The Needle And The Damage Done 3 Words (Between The Lines Of Age) ----------------------------------------- 2.8 AVERAGE After: There are way too many Neil Young Album's on this list; however this is supposedly considered one of if not this best. For that reason I'll give it a 4 for suitability for this list. For relevance I'll rate it a 3. 3 - my personal rating 4 - suitability for this list 3 - relevance ------------------------------ 3 - composite rating
A superb album probably Neil Young’s best.
This is really good, no notes 8.5/10
I liked listening but it didn't strike me
Timeless and achingly human. Old Man and Heart of Gold are the obvious entry points but the whole album rewards the time spent listening. Neil's voice has never sounded more unguarded, and the sparse production lets every word land exactly where it should. A Man Needs a Maid always stops me in my tracks - the way the London Symphony Orchestra arrangement sweeps in under one of his most vulnerable lyrics, and it's just devastating every time Ive heard it in the last 40-some years.
Uncle Neil is the Godfather of Grunge. Lyrically and vocally, Harvest is the start of that glorious genre (I don't think Uncle Neil did it musically until he went electric and upped the distortion with Crazy Horse). From the best-selling album of 1972, we get "Old Man" (f you, Skynyrd) and "Heart of Gold." My personal favorite has always been "The Needle and the Damage Done." Great classic album that everyone absolutely should listen to before they die. Influence 5. Hits 5. Quality 4. Intangibles 5. Good stuff 4.
Enjoyable but not markedly memorable
Typische Neil Young Sound. Klingt ein bisschen angestaubt, nicht stört aber es begeistert auch keiner der Songs so wirklich. 2/5
this album is great! it’s not the kind of music i’d usually listen but still, it’s super chill and relaxing. I love Neil’s voice in this and the instruments and background music? it’s amazing!
A little bit of Neil goes a long way. The old standards are great, but after a while that voice grates on me.
Neil. Nuf said
There are nine Neil Young albums on this list (if you include Buffalo Springfield Again and CSNY’s de ja vu). If I had to listen to only 9 Neil Young albums before I died Harvest wouldn’t be one. I think that’s because the best songs - Old Man, Needle and Damage Done have better versions on live albums like Live Rust. Listening again I enjoyed the orchestral arrangements and some of the guitar playing was excellent.
Had a couple of other Neil Young albums through this and wasn’t that impressed - thought this was good though - Harvest is a great track
I like it
Really pleasant with a surprising amount of orchestral ambition
Fav tracks: Heart of Gold, Old Man, Alabama, Words (Between the Lines of Age)
a good album! the back half is very solid and i really enjoyed my multiple listens. while the orchestral bits were a bit much and a man needs a maid was weird af, there’s a world grew on me on second listen. if i have to pick just two faves which no one is making me do but myself, i gotta say old man and words.
What a great record. Beautiful songwriting. The more orchestra heavy songs aren't landing for me as strongly as the rest of the record. Old man and Words are incredible songs. Listening to this, the influence many of my favorite artists take from Neil Young is abundantly clear. Wilco, Jason Molina, etc.
Quite good! Definitely the best album we've gotten so far. Sufjan Stevens must have really liked Old Man Fav tracks: Old Man, Heart of Gold
Idk man neil young is just annoying. I really don't like his voice. It's not even crooning it's just grating tbh. Like shut up. I don't wanna hear you. Like I really do not gaf. This is not for me. Why does he say his vowels like that. It's annoying af. I don't like this. Why does this sound so evil. Disney villain sounding ahh. I like Alabama you can't really hear his voice. Favourite: Alabama Least favourite: There's a World
This generator loves Neil Young and the rest of CSNY. Still a really good album. Some beautiful vocals and acoustic guitar and iconic songs
I have a disease where I can't rate Neil Young albums less than five stars
My rating 3.2. 3rd Neil Young album. Want to listen to the three I order of release. Again, this is ok. Hit songs (Old Man and Heart of Gold) worth the price of admission but rest of album. Meh.
Utterly simple music. I do not like you, Neil Young.
It is a consistently strong album. I prefer his later work, which has a bit more anger, but this still has his trademark sense of melody and harmony.
Really solid album and there are some great individual songs on it. Just let down slightly in my eyes by some of the odd song with overblown orchestration of ‘there’s a world’ that don’t really fit the vibe of the rest of the album.
I actually recently discovered this album this past fall, and fell in love with it! Still in the honeymoon phase here but I think this record is beautiful. The songwriting is strong, the instrumentals are gorgeous, and the lyrics are timeless. Great album.
Here's an album that brings me back to childhood. My parents had this in the van's CD changer pretty frequently, so I heard it a lot. Do I like it because of nostalgia or because it's actually good? Hard to say, but it's a nice listen.
Plenty of pompous lyrics, irritating harmonica, and bloated production all over this record. Neil Young’s voice has grown on me over the years, but I can’t say I enjoy what he’s singing about. The London Symphony Orchestra stuff doesn’t suit him at all. Are You Ready For the Country is pretty wretched. Old Man is part of a good song but it’s ruined by the grating backing vocals. The 2nd half finally has 2 minutes I enjoy without reservations. The Needle and the Damage Done is just a great song. Telling that it’s just Young and a guitar. The final track didn’t bother me but I was ready for it to be over by then. I think there may be a Neil Young recording out there I’d enjoy, but this ain’t it.
C’est l’album qui m’a ouvert les yeux sur le vieux folk rock américain. Un grand album de A à Z.
Classic.
Bien en general
Not too sure about There’s a World and Alabama, but other than that this was a really enjoyable listen. Old Man is such a perfect song; a definite Top 100 track of all time. I also love how the guitars, keys, and drums opened up in proper rock style on the closer, Words. What a solo! Neil Young has a lot to say here, and gets his emotions across to the listener extremely effectively. Thanks to the lovely Harmonica, Banjo, and Slide Guitar accompaniments, I’ll be gladly going back to listen to him again.
Never been a huge fan of Neil Young but this is a good album. Lots of great songs and few weak points. A nice relaxing listen
Nice 🌾🌾🌾
pop sound, lett å like men fanger meg ikke hundre prosent. noe med vokalen som ikke treffer for meg.. Lander på svak 3
stunnin'
Pretty sick, good ol folk American music from Neil. Not much more to say
I really liked this one! Had some unexpected more orchestral arrangements which was fun. His voice is not great but in a way that is really endearing and tends to heighten more emotional moments.
cool
I don’t know, man. I was a Neil Young hater coming into this - or at least I thought I was. You have to give it up for the songwriting though, the guy is a beast. These are gorgeous songs and the record is a classic clearly for good reason. I have a hard time still with his voice, though.
Classic Neil Young. This was perfect to listen to while driving. At times, quiet and soulful, other times almost cinematic.
Great album, surprised me
I love Neil Young, one of my favorites. He’s an incredible song writer both musically and lyrically and he’s equally great playing both acoustic and electric. This album is one of his best for sure, full of classic Neil Young. For me, the only miss on here is There’s a World, but the rest is still strong enough for a 5.
Although his voice is iconic, I find it hard to say that Neil Young is a strong vocalist. His rock music is fantastic, and I even like his lyrics, but his vocal power comes in a distant third in this competition. Even when the guitars are blaring he’s melancholy at best in delivering his lines. I say all that to get to the point that this is a fairly good album and Neil Young is an excellent musician.
I love this album … one of my all time favorites. It is peak acoustic Neil on some legendary songs … Heart of Gold, Old Man, Harvest, Alabama, Needle and the Danage Done. But, it’s not perfect. I can’t get it to 5 when Are You Ready for the Country and A Man Needs a Maid on the track list. It’s as solid as a 4.5 gets on this list and I want it to be a 5, but it’s not. It’s in my personal top 10 albums of all time but, alas, that doesn’t make it immaculate. A live Neil Young album is always better lthan a studio session anyway.
I like Neil Young fine. He writes amazing songs and, oddly enough, I like his voice but he's not a favorite. That said there are some amazing songs on this album, old man being my favorite, Heart of Gold and Alabama not far behind
Short and sweet album with some classics
Another genre-definer, every track is worth its weight, his best album in my opinion.
I want to give this a 5, but I'm going to go 4.5 and round down because Neil is one of my favorites and he has other albums I like more. Still a classic tho
Un pur bonheur ça transpire l'humanitude🙏🙏🙏
my canadian king
More Neil. One of his best. Still waiting on Down By The River ...
Okay it’s got a top song
Whoever compiled this list loves Neil Young. I didn't mind this album though, Heart of Gold and Old Man are classics
4+
neat... no wonder people like this neil young fella
Awesome album
Didn’t mind this one but not really that into it
If i didn't listen to this many years ago I probably would have hated it as folk and country isn't my thing but damn i love this sound. songs like alabama and old man are so good. I learned the song a man needs a maid is kind of a joke song? its just not a good joke and it's kinda weird o well every record is entitled a stinker. he was in love with actress carrie snodgrass and ...well after they had 2 kids they separated. supposedly a lot of this record was about his love for her. you can now say that a heart of gold isn't very strong. look i got my own not good jokes 4/5
Ta bien
Plano, tiene lindas melodías y buenas guitarras ,pero recae y se vuelve tedioso.
A classic, but several tracks sound mawkish now, while several others sound both timeless and epoch-defining.
💤
A couple of bangers on a very eclectic album.
Excellent. Very chill but impactful lyrics and did not expect to like it that much
Me encanta
least fav- A Man Needs a Maid liked first few songs the most and the last two as well
Its OK, not really for me. I like the more orchestral/cinematic sounds that some tracks use. It didn't grab my attention, but it was a good background listening in the evening. :)
Yea he's nice
Harvest is a pretty good country rock album with a good variety of different sounds that keep every song feeling interesting. 3.8/5
Much better than the usual Neil Young so it gets a 3
S’alright
02/24/26 Con que me quedo: • Maybe Harvest (? • A man needs a maid empezo mal, pero el final con la orquesta mejoro la cancion un monton. A maybe •Heart of gold, definitivamente. •The needle and the damage tiene cierta tristeza que me gusta. Y la transicion hacia Words between the lines of age es un si. Buenos toques como de jazz •Old man is there En general es de un genero como la cancion de autor gringa que es MUY gringa y no conecto tanto, pero buen album para acercarse. Lo escucharia de nuevo. Siempre me ha llamado la atencion el sonido de la armonica y aqui esta muy presente. En gral despues de la primera escucha: 3.7/5
Not bad, it's Neil Young things.
No me gustó. Rescato una parte: To give a love, you gotta live a love To live a love, you gotta be part of When will I see you again?
My favorite Neil Young album, although it has a few weak tracks keeping it from being a top tier album.
Excelente para un domingo de verano, tiene una de mis baladas favoritas
This is the Neil Young sweet spot. Songwriting that fits his style well, and a good variation to it. I still don’t love his voice, but it works here. I can see why this is considered his best.
Neil young has a voice that captivates and keep you interested. Its soothing sound
Cantante desconocido. Su música es una especie de folk, aunque tiene otros toques bastante novedosos. Por ejemplo, en una canción aparece una orquesta que irrumpe de la nada. Eso me gusta.
no es mi onda pero bastante bien
3.0
Nice.
Thought I'd enjoy this more. So wingey though.
it’s a good album and i do love neil young. however, something is holding me back from giving it a 4 as i feel like it would round down to a 3 before it rounded up to a 4.
I've come to expect such greatness from Neil that this perfectly solid album feels a bit disappointing. There is still some truly fantastic songs like Heart of Gold and Old Man. Unfortunately the album has some lackluster moments as well like Are You Ready for the Country or There's a World which come off as a bit unexciting musically. There is also a few other that are good but not exactly super standout. Then there is A Man Needs a Maid which has unfortunately aged kind of poorly. I have Neil Young albums I prefer to this, but to be honest it would still be a highpoint in many artists' discographies.
not my cup of tea
No thank you
- such a beautiful album - lyrics are so gorgeous and poetic - harmonies in you and me sound so soothing - genuinelu a masterpiece - harvest moon deaduzz brings tears to my eyes
This album makes my top 10 of all time. Listened to this in my mid teens and these songs really hit home to my heart. Adding orchestration to a few songs make the tracks flow into one another seamlessly and keep it diversly interesting. Heart of Gold I sang at karaoke as a duet. Great LP.
O Jack Nitzsche não funciona muito bem com o tipo de música que valoriza algo mais "cru", felizmente são só duas faixas. O resto do álbum é ok, provavelmente gostaria mais em outro contexto.
Meh, ok
Lined more than I expected!
Not as bad as most Neil young albums.
1972. Wholesome raw lyrics and imagery and a best seller for the year. I do love the era and soundscape.
Classic Gold
decent. i think it is repititive, but all in all a few enjoyable songs. not something i probably would listen to again in its entirety
His voice is so terrible
Knew about half these songs but had never actually listened to Harvest all the way through before. My favourite Neil Young record is On The Beach which led me to view this as the poppies, ippier side of him that he largely rejected. I lent into that a bit in my last review of a Neil record for this project, and would like to renounce that, as I look forward to giving After the Gold Rush a fair hearing too when I get that.
Okay ate I liked :)))) old man slay
I have to disagree with all those who say there's too much Neil Young in these parts. I'm a big fan and own all 7 of his albums that grace the list, plus a few more. Still, while this mightn't be my go-to album of his, stand out tracks like Alalbama, Needle & Damage Done, Heart of Gold & Out on the Weekend make this an incredible album and a perfect introduction to the man's music I think. Listening earlier, I wondered whether the big brass bed from Weekend was the same as the one from Dylan's Lay Lady Lay? A reminder that I've not listened to Neil much recently and need to rectify that. 5 stars.
kind of iconic
Nej detta behöver jag inte höra igen. För mycket country-känsla för mig.
Saker 1001albumsgenerator punkt com lärt mig: G Love & The Special Sauce existerar The Rolling Stones suger Neil Young tycker jag tydligen nu är jättebra, välkomnar 30+ smaklökarna.
Fan vad fin han är här. Och enorm respekt för en man med så jobbigt diskbråck att han inte kan stå upp och lira elgurka men ändå köttar på! Drömmen om att flytta ut på landet fick nytt liv efter några varv med denna.
Är nog denna och after the gold rush jag har närmast relation till. Mycket bra skiva där ett par trökisar här och där kompenseras av bland det bästa han gjort.
Loves its
haha asså varför höjs volymen så mycket vid heart of gold? gåshud i alla fall!
Aargh! En urstark fyra. Fyra komma fem? En underbar artist och människa. Vill ju ge femman men den når ju inte riktigt trofém, utan fingrar bara på kanten av översta hyllan
Awesome album with 3 classic songs on it. Other songs are good too.
neil for normies
Soft and country ish,
Not resonating with me. Can't grab onto it besides a few of the songs. Seems pretty weak as an album 2/5
💕💕💕💕
The hits are still fun, but the albulm as a whole lacks energy or staying power for me with Young's flat and repetitive vocals and unexceptionable backing band.
The only reason I'm giving this four is to justify the five for Live Rust which is the penultimate Neil Young album.
Phenomenal album. I love the build to a really emotional end. "Alabama" and "Words (Between the Lines of Ages)" are particularly impacting. Young's story-telling song writing style mixed with classic folk/blues instrumentation really pull the listener in. It's engaging and interesting, even fifty-some years later.
who LISTENS to this? it's kermit the frog singing over an acoustic guitar about how sad and lonely he is. "a man needs a maid" a man needs to get a job and stay away from her!!!! this is practically white noise to me. it's rambling drivel. some of them are almost decent to my ear in terms of their instrumentation, but i cannot get over his voice. nails on chalkboard. the highlight of this are the extended instrumental sections such as on "words" where i could listen to music.
Okay I can now confirm after two albums, Neil Youngs voice is very hit or miss for me. That said the rest of the constituent elements of this album are far better then the previous, though that may be a taste thing because I do like this general era of country-rock. Opposite to a lot of albums on this list, it starts bad and gets better as it goes. I was very worried about the first two songs, but then it does pick up into something I actually enjoyed. Heart of Gold is absolutely great. I really like Old Man too, which gave me a big "OH I know this one!" moment. The build into the chorus is sooo good. Alabama is a great guitar piece with a strong chorus. Also in the last leg of this album we start getting some really good vocal harmonies out of nowhere. I didn't really get people liking the previous Neil Young album and hearing the first few songs I thought that was going to be the case here again, but I left very pleasantly suprised! It gets a 4, and honestly it could've been a 5 had it not been for the first 3 songs which I do not like.
3.6 2x a few classics on here
This album was once one of my very favourite, over 20 years ago; so listening to it again is nostalgic for sure. First time I’ve listened to in its entirety in awhile. Still such an easy listen with more musical variety than I remembered. I remembered this album as acoustic guitars and harmonicas. Which is still very much true. But there’s more piano and more electric guitar than I remembered, and done to perfection in “Are You Ready For The Country” So glad I got to listen to this album today. Last two songs are still the best in my opinion.
9/10
didnt like it
Not my fav
didn’t like his voice, songs felt really dramatic which i liked, idk not entirely my thing
When to listen: bummed out or want to be more bummed out. Look, it's a good album. Heart of Gold and Old Man... always loved 'em. But sometimes having a musical style means having a repetitive album and that's the case here in my humble opinion.
This was my first exposure to Neil Young and I have been a fan ever since. I am not sure he has any 5 albums, but he has consistent 4's and a few 3's. His influence on music cannot be overstated.
Real plodding first two songs but I did like the line "I've seen you give more than I can take" from Harvest. Nice bridge to A Man Needs a Maid. Heart of Gold IS great. Are You Ready for the Country? - I like the laugh that kicks it off. Old Man is great - love how it's building already but then the octave jump/harmony crashes in out of nowhere before it settles back down. There's a World - jarring tonal shifts between verse and chorus. Love the orchestra though; what a maverick move. Alabama - VERY cool; emotional chords to start, and then a sort of Byrds-Fleetwood Mac sound to the tune and harmonies for the chorus with some The Who sounding backing?! Then back to Byrds emotion again before another build. The Needle and the Damage Done is alright. Words - INCREDIBLE song; one of the best ever, added to the hallowed halls occupied by Baba O'Reilly, Hallowed Be Thy Name, and Do You Feel Like We Do. SUCH cool timing stuff going on throughout, and a really She's so Heavy/Lonesome Tears drawn-out ending with amazing guitar riffs. Love the singing crashing back in for a surprise encore.
I was quite skeptical about this one. I have been quite indifferent towards Neil Young and his songs. Sure, I already knew Heart of Gold and loved that song, but for some reason I never was bothered to learn more about this artist and his other work. And after hearing the first song, I wasn't sure this was going to be my genre of music, but somehow Neil Young takes you with him on a long path in the countryside and suddenly you are entranced by his music and you have to admit: this was a great album.
Absolute great American road trip of an album. Cool sliding guitar notes accompany Neil’s whining story telling, it reminds me of the classic image of a hobo you met stowing away on a cargo train telling the story of his travels. Old Man is an all timer too.
Even though this is the third Neil Young album I've been given and I'm not a fan, it was an aptly named album as I was in the process of harvesting an orchard of mangoes. I let the album blend in with the breeze as it rustled the leaves and I thought well, it's not a bad album for the context. 'Heart of Gold' and 'The needle and the damage done' were the only tracks I previously knew and I've heard them too many times already to give them any more consideration. The other tracks were pleasant enough in a breezy orchard but it just feels dated and tired.
Some really good songs. For some reason Words really got to me - especially the instrumental parts. Heart of Gold also a classic of course.
Von Neil Young kannte ich bisher nur "Heart of Gold", welches schon ein sehr starker Track ist. Die anderen Lieder des Albums lassen sich aber ebenfalls gut hören. Nichts für meine Sammlung, aber dennoch ein gutes Album.
If this is Neil Young's best and most popular album, I am not a Neil Young fan. It's American rock at its best but he just does not have a voice for music. It's unfortunately one of the weaker albums so far. 2/10
Not my jam
Harvest is the fourth studio album by Canadian-American musician Neil Young, released on February 15, 1972, by Reprise Records. It featured the London Symphony Orchestra on two tracks and vocals by guests David Crosby, Graham Nash, Linda Ronstadt, Stephen Stills, and James Taylor. It topped the Billboard 200 album chart for two weeks, and spawned two hit singles, "Old Man", which peaked at No. 31 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and "Heart of Gold", which reached No. 1. It was the best-selling album of 1972 in the United States.
A pretty good album, but I am not sure why people think this is is best album. He has at 3 other albums that easily clear this one. Overall, this didn't do a whole lot for me, but I did enjoy it. Mid 4.