Harvest

It's Harvest by Neil Young. What more is there to say?

Alternated between better than average folksy music and rock, with a couple of dramatic 70s movie soundtrack songs thrown in there

Classic

A classic I can appreciate in parts, but not completely to my taste. Some absolutely incredible songs, some so-so. I "borrowed" my dad's copy of this LP when I was 12 and still have it.

Some of Neil Young's classic songs are on this album, but the rest are pretty underwhelming. A few tracks use an orchestra which doesn't really add much to the album. Young's compositions are pretty straightforward melodically, so it come across as overly indulgent. Still, "Heart of Gold", "The Needle and the Damage Done", "Out on the Weekend" and "Old Man" are Young at his best. There are also some examples of Young's shrill distorted guitar sound that went on to influence grunge music, but those songs just aren't very exciting. Overall a mixed bag, but definitely worth a listen.

really really good. i just dont like neil youngs voice, but thats on me

It took me a long time to come around to liking Neil Young but now I really do, and really like this album in particular. "Out on the Weekend" and "Heart of Gold" are the standouts.

Love Neil Young

Solid record. A couple classics on it. The Maid song is a little weird.

would listen again while working cohesive banger

Loved it. It has a chill vibe that is meeting me were i'm at at the moment.

I love this album; harvest is one of my favorite songs. 4 stars only because there are a couple of tracks I find myself routinely skipping over.

In an effort to do addition by subtraction, Neil does a god job. It's just not quite After the Gold Rush. He'd refine it by the time he hits Tonights the Night. Some really great cuts on here, but its not his best work. 8/10 Favorite Song: Old Man

nice

Still love a few songs but some had hard time playing all the way through

Great album. Classic Neil Young.

It's pretty good. 'Heart of Gold' and 'Old Man' are timeless bangers. Just didn't seem that cohesive. The inclusion of the symphony on a couple of tracks seemed unnecessary. I think we got spoiled with 'Everybody Know This is Nowhere" first. Had higher expectations for this one.

I swear, everybody I know can't stand Neil Young. I think he's great

Are you ready for the country? Because it's time to go. A wet paper bag of an album, in both good ways and bad.

Neils bestseling album from '72.

Can't believe I sold this one. And now listening to it again, I guess I'll have to buy it back 4.5 stars

7.5/10 pretty good album with nice and varied songwriting, which kept me interested throughout. 'Old Man' is particular highlight for me which probably bumps it up to a four star. I would it probably loses points for uniqueness in my opinion but it was written in the early seventies so maybe that is to be expected slightly.

There were some really slow blah songs in here. But that being said this is probably his best work. Would be a 5 other than the poo poo in between.

Nicely written and produced folk/country rock album - at first the country-influence was a bit too much but it got a lot better as the album went on. It is my 6th (!) Neil Young album on the list and I liked this the most along with After the Gold Rush. The others were a bit too middle-of-the-road to me and I didn't particularly like his voice. But this album is Young's best, or one of the best.

One of the best!!

A heartfelt, honest album that is exemplary folk music. Neil Young perhaps at his best, despite some albums kinda just like an old man groaning. But Heart of Gold is phenomenal.

Love it probably slightly below on the beach

Really good. Lots of underrated songs. Great music to exercise to?

One of the albums that I'm somewhat familiar with. Not sure why he went symphonic on a couple of songs. They stick out, in a bad way. The rest are bangers.

A classic I probably should've heard by now. I knew I liked older country before starting this project but I'm surprised how consistently I've rated it. The occasional use of slide guitar like on Harvest and Old Man obviously gets my approval I wasn't expecting anything like A Man Needs a Maid or There's a World, that was surprising but i liked the cinematicness grandiosity of those. That switchup from the more straightforward rocking, country tunes does a lot for the variety and keeping my attention without feeling like they disrupt the flow Like with After the Gold Rush there are spots where I'm slightly put off by Young's voice, but I didn't find it to happen so frequently. I've maybe gotten more accustomed to it after that album This could go up to a 5 with repeat listens I think Highlights: Ready for the Country, Harvest, Old Man, Heart of Gold

Great album

Fantastic album, not sure about the maid song though 🤣

I love all the various versions of Neil and Harvest has a few great tracks on it but I must reserve my greatest acclaim for Neil for the harder rocking versions of Neil. Alabama goes hard, though.

Pleasant.

Lovely folk rock.

Liked it more than I initially thought, also wasn't aware this was the album with Old Man

GOAT shit

It's got a country vibe, almost like you're at a saloon. There is a notable tinge of sadness in his voice which pairs well with the snippets of hope.

The kind of artist where you're like I really should've been familiar with the before, then you hit a song and go "oh I know this one!". Really good but a bit too much of a country-twang to it.

It's so hard for me not to be nostalgic for this album. It reminds me of my Dad, it reminds me of listening to classic records in college. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm a sucker for a soulful harmonica and crooning voice. It's beautiful, and full of heart - a heart of GOLD, in fact.

Getting a Neil Young album on the first 20 degree day of the year? Perfection. 4.5/5 - I loved, but not as much as I loved On The Beach. Standout tracks/ - Old Man: 5/5 I LOVE this song - Alabama: 5/5

Definitely the best of the Neil Young albums we've had so far. It kinda feels like it's the pinnacle of his career and we didn't need all of those other ones. "Heart of Gold" and "Old Man" are great, and the rest falls in suit. A solid album that helped lull my toddler to sleep on Friday when I had to drive her around because she was having a mental breakdown. That gets it a bonus star for me. It's really cool to finally listen to "Alabama" and understand the Neil Young references in Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama"

Wish we could go 3.5 with this bad boy, but alas. So tipping it to 4 because of the classics

We have now, finally, come to the end of CSNY representation on the 1001. One CSNY, one CSN, one David Crosby, two Stephen Stills, and seven(!) Neil Young. Back on our first exposure - album #95 (CSNY), I said: “I'm gonna wait to weigh in on Neil Young's voice until we listen to a full album of just him. For now, let's just say his is not my favorite voice in CSNY.” Seven Neil Young solo albums later, I’ve gotta say we have finally hit the best of the 12 CSNY-related albums. I still don’t think Young has a good voice. But when it works, it works. And “Harvest” is the best collection of it working. “Heart of Gold,” “Needle and the Damage Done,” and “Old Man” are proof of just how good Young can be as a writer and musician, and how the right combo of slide guitar and harmonica blend well with his… acquired taste of a voice. While much of “Harvest” hits just right for me, I can’t do “A Man Needs a Maid.” Even with Young’s explanation of what inspired it, he makes it weird. The other bit of songwriting from the album Young commented on that I found interesting was “Alabama.” I learned that Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” was a response to Young’s critique, and Young later said that he "richly deserved the shot Lynyrd Skynyrd gave me with their great record. I don't like my words when I listen to it. They are accusatory and condescending, not fully thought out, and too easy to misconstrue.” They may be accusatory, but they’re not altogether wrong. “Sweet Home Alabama” is the better song, but it just helped to entrench stubborn Southern pride and other issues that Young pointed out and still plague the state five decades later. Overall, seven is too many Neil Young albums to feature. But this is the best one.

Old Man and The Needle And The Damage Done are my favorite songs on this album. Heart Of Gold and Out On The Weekend are solid too. Once again, I love his guitar style, mixing melodic lead ins to his chords. It’s my favorite style of guitar to play. I’m less enthusiastic about the country trimmings. After all the albums of his we’ve heard, my conclusion is that Neil Young is a four star artist.

I like it... Not enough that I would buy it, but enough for four stars, since I'd happily play it through again at some time in the future.

Got to listen to this while working on The Lagerithm and chatting with my love. It was nice.

Good voice. Nostalgic feel almost throughout. Old man and heart of gold are timeless classics. Would listen to again and try to pay more attention to it, but hard not to skip straight to those two songs and listen on repeat

Haven't heard this legendary record before. Filled with such melodies to think and reflect, a record of a lifetime you have to fully listen to a few times to fully appreciate its lyrics, its sounds and much more.

Et behagelig og emosjonell album med en varsom kvalitet. Knel Ung klaffer mer og mer for meg for hver nye plate : )

Good mix of rockier tunes and grand works. Would pick up again.

Loved Old Man and Alabama. Felt like a movie soundtrack. Love the guitar

Total score: 72/10 Stars: 3.6

Loved this one.

Fajne. Kilka piosenek do zapisania. Jak na songwritera to dobre działa. 4/5

(was cooking while listening on my bluetooth speaker) I was glad to get some country/folk, and I've heard this album thru before, not many times, but once or twice. Love his voice, it's so chill but also whining at the same time. Heart Of Gold is one of my favorite songs ever. Old Man is also a classic, it gave me goosebumps and has beautiful lyrics. Other songs I liked: Alabama, The Needle And The Damage Done, Words. The orchestra is very cool, but also a bit odd. It kinda adds to the "western" feeling. It is very noticeable when it comes, cause the rest of the album is so dry and dusty. I think it's nice he experienced with it. The lyrics in A Man Needs A Maid seems a bit old fashioned. Even for 1972... or is it just me? I really am a sucker for this kind of music, and I just love his songwriting. Will give this 4 (3,5) because of the amount of bangers, not because of the album as an entirety/concept. Also I don't know much about Neil Young and the importance of this album. Would be nice to be enlightened. Will soon listen again on speakers or headphones.

I've heard this album way too many times, so it's no longer one of my faves, but obviously great song writing.

Liked it, heart of gold was the best on this album

I was aware of Neil Young but had never really listened to him to I found this album in a charity shop about 20 years ago. On first listen I couldn’t really get past his “ weird” voice but after a few spins I started to appreciate the music more and more. I know now it’s a classic!

Out on the Weekend! Heart of Gold! Old Man! The Needle and the Damage Done! Nice going Neil!

Yesssss

More weird than I expected, but can’t argue with the best songs on it

lo disfruté

Excellent

Excellent

Heart of gold is still one of the best songs ever written

Two Neil Young albums within a week is too many, and there is definitely too many in total on this list! Mostly he sounds like a muppet and I can't unhear it. That being said I enjoyed Harvest much more than the others we've had and I wish I'd actually spent more time listening to it over the weekend. I particularly love 'The Needle and the Damage Done', Lior did a great cover of this track for Triple Js Like a Version (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1G9shwZgyw) which I had the CD of back in the early 2000s. I love both versions of the song, and hadn't listened to either in years, so it was really lovely to hear it again! I'd listen to it again. Death to harmonicas

I officially can't figure out Neil Young. I love his work with Buffalo Springfield and CSNY. Then I found several solo albums to be a bit boring. Then I heard "After the Goldrush" which was excellent. "Harvest" is perhaps his most celebrated album so I've been excited to hear it. But again, I'm lost on why the generator feels I needed to hear this. "Heart of Gold" is undeniably an amazing song. But the rest? I mean it's fine. The story of his debilitating back injury forcing a simplicity to the playing is compelling, as is his then new love interest. But does it really make for great music. It has its moment but it also has a song called "A Man Needs a Maid". I'd hoped there was some other meaning behind that but he is literally singing about someone cleaning his house. I wondered if I was going crazy in remembering that "After the Goldrush" was great so I've listened again and I stand by my enthusiasm for that album. "Harvest" on the other hand... sorry Neil Young fans, I just don't get it. But I guess it could get an extra point on the strength of "Heart of Gold" and the fact that I'm really supposed to like it for some reason.

Nice album.

7/10

A new appreciation of Neil Young is the best thing that has come out of this project. Turns out this album that everybody loves is actually really good. Who knew.

An album as old as me, and a helluva way to kick off this list. The word that comes to mind when I think of Neil Young is passion; and this is the default album for wearing that passion on its sleeve. Love in Out on the Weekend, Heart of Gold and a Man Needs a Maid. sorrow in The Needle and the Damage Done, and anger in Alabama. It was the sgnature album for me in '97, '98 and I wore its opening line on my back as I navigated a break up, and indeed found it a perfect wallowing song in sunbsequent heatbreaks. I've always found the thin, orchestral almost reedy plangent quality demonstrates a kind of emotionally open masculinity that is far more resonant with me than more butch demands for love, attention, and respect. This is my first review in this list, and I absolutley hate star based reviews as I find them too shallow to really make any impact. But that's waht I've signed up for and htis being my first is literally the benchmark. Its a well loved staple in my collection that I dont listen to that much anymore, but still no so well, like and old pair of work trousers. I'll be humming Heart of Gold all weekend I dont doubt. Its not in my top 100 albums I dont figure so It gets 4/5

Ez 4.5

A classic. Really chilled. Great production.

Great Neil Young album with many of his best songs.

Just breathtaking. A sweet, emotional record that just hits all the strings. The leading track is great and opens the record nicely, theres return to more rocksy roots and a hint of groovy coutnry tunes(Are you ready for the country?). Songs are also emotional and the lyrics are well thought of. Overall the record is just so well rounded and masterfully crafted, the lyrics are amazing and the instrumental work is perfectly complementary. Favorite track: Out on the weekend. Overall score: 8.2/10

Enjoyed it. Very chill/casual vibe for listening

Malgré une vibe country/folk que j’apprécie généralement peu, je considère cet album comme une belle réussite du style. La chaleur du son, la voix limitée mais pleine d’émotion de Young, la guitare parfois brouillon qui laisse entrevoir la facette rock du canadien, quelques harmonies vocales avec les potes,…. Ça sent la liberté, la route, un peu la nostalgie aussi. C’est simple, sincère, et ça touche comme un bon blues. Un classique que n’a pas cherché à l’être.

4/5

El country no está precisamente en mi línea, ni el hip hop, pero de estos géneros prefiero el country. Neil Young está entre los más representativos, gusta sus letras, son humanas

I accidentally listened to Harvest Moon before realizing I actually drew Harvest. Harvest Moon is generally lesser Neil Young, but its title track is one of the most beautiful songs ever recorded. Harvest is an all-timer. Part of my life since I was in middle school. Heart of Gold was the first song I learned to play on guitar. Needle and the Damage Done is proto-Elliott Smith. Love it.

Nie jest to moja ulubiona płyta, ale bardzo ją doceniam pod wieloma względami. Ma cudowne vibes. Teksty są ponadprzeciętne i zawsze w punkt. Maniera Neila może męczyć, ale hej! Bob Dylan wyje jak koza a i tak go wszyscy kochają! 7/10 tylko dlatego, że zabrakło mi utworu, który od razu dodam na playlistę.

finally, some decent neil young. he has so many albums in this list and this is maybe one of two that actually deserves to be on here. everything i've said about his music in my other reviews is still true here, but there are some actually good songs in the mix this time. it's a game-changer. favorites: heart of gold, old man, alabama, the needle and the damage done

Have always enjoyed Neil Young, listened a lot with my Dad and could listen to this album over and over and not tire of it.

Good but I'm too sad to care

Gran album. quizás hoy sean excesivos los arreglos orquestales

Well this will be good. Iconic voice, timeless songs. 50 years ago still feels authentic.

Best Neil Young album I've ever heard.

Left me relistening twice in Order to get a grasp of wether I like it or not. Apparently good enough Folk Rock.

Classic Young.

Classic

Legendary. 4.7/5

Very chill album, almost atmospheric at times. Easy-listening and can be quite catchy. Heart of Gold was an easy favourite, followed by Words

47 years of living without listening to a Neil Young album and now two in a week! Enjoyed it - much preferred the rockier numbers - not fully sold on his vocals and there are a couple of bum tracks ("Theres a World" & "A Man needs a maid") which feel out of place with a Disney strings backing track.

Harvest is a great album, showcasing Neil Young’s talent for heartfelt songwriting. However, his voice can come off a bit whiny at times, which might not be for everyone. Still, with two all-time great songs on it, it’s undeniably a classic worth hearing.

Folk and country music is not my cup of tea, but Harvest is great. The low-key moments interconnect well with energetic electronic guitars and even some huge orchestral bits. The vocals are great and bring forth a nice vibe. Wasn't really a fan of some of the more laid back parts, but other than that, there's not much to complain about here.

I can't listen to this album and not think of taking Music in the History of Art and listening to several songs on here. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5

Off the bat, I recognize a couple tracks. Didn’t realize he had an album called harvest (without the moon). Rounding up to a 4, it’s not quite there but too good to be a 3.

i remember liking this album a lot when i first listened to it ages ago and i still really like it now! we need more artists to Yearn like this....get ur fucking asses up and YEARN no one wants to yearn anymore....but seriously i really enjoyed his melodies and i like the kind of folksy production of this album a lot. i don't know if i'll become as big of a Neil stan as a lot of people i know are, maybe i need to listen to the rest of his catalog, but i enjoyed this album a lot!

Can’t say I’ve done a lot of Neil Young listening in my life, and I wasn’t sure what to expect here. I came away really enjoying the album. It was my soundtrack while grocery shopping this morning, and fit my mood nicely this morning. Definitely surprised at how much I enjoyed it, and will have to check out more from him in the future.

An amazing album but "A man needs a maid" is terrible and really breaks the flow of the album imo.

Super chill. Takes me back

I love it!! It's easy, but so monumental at the same time. And a plus for a short album.

oh neil…it kills me that he has the capacity for such incredible songwriting because when it works, it works so astronomically well, but when it doesn’t work…it’s the goofiest thing i’ve ever heard. basically i’m saying that sometimes his lyrics are powerful enough to transcend the inherent silliness of his voice. and when that happens it’s totally magic. but when it doesn’t happen i’m like lol get a look at this guy…neil! you’re only 25! you’re gonna be OK!!!!!!!! fav tracks: the needle and the damage done; old man; out on the weekend

i really enjoyed that! very pretty and soulful. sounds like he had a lot going on at the time

Joya

Ah... Neil Young's most famous record. When I heard this the first time I was a bit disappointed. 'Heart Of Gold' wasn't as good as I expected, and neither were the rest. But I am starting to warm up to it. And for me being someone who usually have a bit of a hard time with Neil, actually find myself letting go of that a bit here. The opening track, 'Out On The Weekend', is probably my favourite track of the record. It has a nice melancholy touch to it, and you just gotta love the steel guitars that gives it that extra atmospheric touch. There are a few weird ones on this record, though. 'There's a World', for example, comes in very suddenly and unexpected. It's like leaving your cozy cottage in the woods through the front door and end up on the main stage of an ongoing Phantom of the Opera play. Very strange. 'Alabama' also sounds like a worse version CSNY's 'Ohio' (Alabama was released before Ohio though, but still) In summary the record holds a high standard, and it's easy to see why it is a classic. Still, this is no 5 star record to me. Even though the quality is high, there aren't enough singles, or hits if you will, that carries it to that next level.

I've skipped quite a few Neil Young albums as they weren't on Spotify but now they are back! I need to go through my back log. This felt like quite generic Neil Young with "Heart of Gold", "Young Man" and "The needle and the Damage Done" standing out as a step above the rest. Without the hits it would be a mid-3 but with the hits it move over to the 4 territory.

Production is inconsistent and the string arrangements are too much for this acoustic album. The songs are generally solid, in spite of the wanton misogyny of "A Man Needs A Maid". It has its flaws, but I can't help but still love this album.

Great tunes, but not to my taste.

Finally listening to it - This is so good lmao I'm realizing that, at the right time, in the right place, I may be a country mark... I grew up listening to Neil Young in the background (and my dad singing way worse then Neil Young ever did) ((AND demanding I learn how to play The Needle and the Damage Done)) but actually sitting down to listen to it, this album is really beautiful [barring like, Are You Ready for the Countryand A Man Needs a Maid] Heart of Gold alone makes this an all-timer, but Old Man and, of course, The Needle just seal the deal. Amazing album. God, I love Heart of Gold okay....... There's a World is... a song. But otherwise wall to wall bangers.

4 maybe 5

Ik zat nog even in mijn ergernis over de vorige saaie plaat, hoorde de eerste klanken van deze en dacht: 'daar gaan we weer..." Helemaal onterecht. Want Neil zet hier wel wat neer. Misschien zit er af en toe wat minder interessants tussen. Een aantal nummers, vooral op de tweede helft, compenseert dat sterk. Old man behoeft eigenlijk geen toelichting. Meer opvallend is dat ik juist het minst ingekleurde nummer The needle and the damage done erg sterk waardeer. Hier past het minimale zo goed. De zangstijl past Neil ook bijzonder goed. Neil verdient hier weer een mooie 4. En, ondanks een eerdere 2 en valse nummers op andere albums, een oeuvre-waardering.

Pretty damn good, and more theatrical than I expected.

Very beautiful indeed." the harmonica sounds soo good" was my honest reaction while listening to the first track and the rest fo the album did not disappoint either.Also, I felt Words was such a beautiful and fitting final track for the album. Overall a solid a 4-4.5

Melodic, lovely voice and stories

I thought I would hate this and I was pleasantly surprised. His voice is still hard to take at times though

Хороший альбом, ехать ночью было круто

I really liked this one. I'm not super crazy about it, but it's definitely a great piece of music. I'd never be mad to listen to it again. Interestingly enough, the more popular songs on the album didn't stick with me as much as "Harvest" and "Alabama" did. Fav song: Alabama

найс, вайбово. больше похоже на сборник песен, а не на альбом, но минусов не вижу.

I’ve never really listened Neil young but surprisingly a good album. I would be enjoyed more when I was a grumpy teenager tho.

Good job, Neil. 4

Solid album and easily a go to when I'm searching for something that only Neil can give

Pretty chill

The most interesting Neil Young album so far of the several million there seems to be on the list. There were many tickles of 'I'm sure I've heard this loop before'. It's musically excellent. I love the use of the orchestra, it doesn't dominate, they're used sparingly and to glorious effect. I'm still not sure I get the Young mystique ... but this is a compelling argument for it. It's a very good album.

Excellent Neil Young album with two classic songs, "Heart of Gold" and "Old Man." I'm also a fan of the opener, "Out on the Weekend." I love that laidback, strutting drum beat. Spare folk with some beautiful country twang and a bit of hard rock here and there. A nice collection of everything Neil Young does well.

Excellent stuff. It’s a great. He’s an artist I am enjoying more & more as I get older

I seem to get these low key chilled out folksy albums on rainy days. I'm not complaining cause this is great.

There are too many Neil Young albums on here. But there’s a reason this is the one everyone knows.

Young doesn't really make bad albums. There's a few that are better than others and this one of the better thans.

I didn't like every song, but every song I liked I really liked.

Album with three Neil Young classics. I was surprised to hear the full production with an orchestra. It felt off brand and out of place but I still enjoyed it.

That’s just really good music.

Album provides a positive music experience, hover, I can't help but feel like Neil Young is a bit too self absorbed. One song about loneliness, then he's bedding an actress. Another one, then he has to sort through groupies. And then he gets a wave of applause. It's an easy 4, although I worry that I might end up not liking it on constant repeat, but the first listen was a pleasant experience. Save for that feeling of Neil not really knowing what loneliness is.

With all the other Neil Young on the list, I could've sworn I reviewed Harvest already. Oh well. In my opinion, the best Neil Young is After the Goldrush and Rust Never Sleeps. Everything else is supplementary, but rarely bad. Harvest has a lot of Young's most scenic songs, which tends to stay in the same gear for most of the album's runtime: a nice, leisurely meander.

Actually first listen, though it doesn’t feel like it considering how many times I’ve heard “Heart of Gold” and “Old Man”. By the way, just realized that’s Ronstadt on both of those songs It’s frikin weird to hear Neil Young + an orchestra hearty stew of an album, though I might prefer On the Beach, After the Gold Rush and Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere HL: “Heart of Gold”, “Old Man”, “The Needle”, “Words”, “A Man Needs a Maid” December 7, 2024

I'm not the biggest Neil Young fan in the world, generally I find his music too soft & wistful, but the fact that this record contains Heart Of Gold, Old Man and Needle pushes it into some pretty remarkable territory.

Ah Neil Young ja. Heart of Gold har vært på repeat lenge. Klassiker blant eldre menn. Synes det var mye bra her, men det var også noe som dro litt ned, ikke alt funket. Ble kanskje litt ensformig, likte når han bytta til elektrisk gitar. Men alt i alt et veldig bra album.

Like the different instrumentation, lyrics are ok. Heart of gold, there's a world are great. Gives a good, homey vibe, yet sometimes very climactic & cinematic. Solid album overall, 4/5

Ah I'm not his biggest fan but it's soulful and easy. It is what it is

Really solid album. Every time I hear Neil Young I say this, but I wish I liked him more. His songs are objectively great, but I just can’t seem to get into him, even this album, which is probably his best one. I realize I’m the one that’s wrong here, so it gets 4/5 from me. Even though it might deserve 5.

A good Neil Young album. Some tender moments and it was overall enjoyable. Not much to say otherwise. Standouts: Out on the Weekend, Heart of Gold, Old Man, Alabama, and Words(Between the Lines of Age).

3.5

Out on the Weekend Harvest A Man Needs a Maid Heart of Gold Old Man The Needle and the Damage Done Words (Between the Lines of Age)

It's not my favorite album by Neil but it has a few of my favorite songs. His previous two albums are just much better though.

a great album by one of the greats

What a great album. I really like Neil Young. I like his music, his playing and his voice and this album has all 3 in abundance. Love everything about it but a couple of tracks stop it from being a 5 from me. I would give it 4.5 if I could.

And just like with yesterday's album, my group returns to an artist we got very, very early on in our journey. The seventh album we'd ever gotten was Neil Young's RUST NEVER SLEEPS, a live album he did with Crazy Horse. I'd written a very short 3/5 review for it, which I can reiterate in its entirety here: "Well, I hope I'm more into any of the other six Neil Young albums on this list." As you can see, it's not very insightful. Back then, I guess I just didn't have the words to explain how much I wasn't into Young getting his Dylan on. Well anyway, it's taken 317 albums, but, hey, here's another one of those six. His most acclaimed, to boot — 72 on the most recent Rolling Stone 500. So... Was I actually more into this than RUST NEVER SLEEPS? Absolutely. This is a great album, comprised mostly of what I've taken to calling "country comfort." Y'know, to me most country music evokes late evenings, porches and bottles of beer. A whole "the modern man unwinds" kinda thing. This album also evokes unwinding to me, but it's not just confined to the porch — it's out there, on the ranch or in the prairies. There's this larger scope to it all that I really dug. It's just top-notch music, all around. And, sure, maybe a few lyrics on here are a bit too depressing to fit that "country comfort" vibe exactly, but, look, I can't just not imagine sitting on a horse, looking out over the canyons, or just resting on the fence watching the sunset. It's that vibe that does this whole thing so well. Which just makes it all the odder when I get randomly interrupted by another album. Like, OK, let's talk about the London Symphony Orchestra songs. To begin with, I'm not opposed to the orchestra being here. Hell, I love a bit of orchestral accompaniment. You should see how much I love Metallica's S&M, or even those Royal Philharmonic Orchestra albums where they RPO all over Elvis and Beach Boys songs. And if they were accompanying Young on, like, "Old Man" or "Alabama", that'd be one thing... (And can you imagine Skynyrd calling out the London Symphony Orchestra alongside Young? Goodness.) But like I said, the songs they're on both sound like they come from different albums. They're so grand and sweeping, and I like them, but they're just at such odds with the rest of the package. Especially because there's only **two** of them, one on each side. Like, maybe I'd understand it more if the LSO was on half of the tracks, or all of them, or if they just weren't here at all... I'unno, it's like taking Aerosmith's ROCKS and throwing two "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing"s on each half. Y'get me? And I **like** "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing"! Like, the country comfort stuff by itself would've been a 4 verging on a 5, but with the LSO tracks, as much as I did enjoy them... Yeah, it pulls the whole thing down to a 4 solid. Good stuff, of course, just... Could've been the slightest bit more cohesive. Alright, well, that leaves five more Neil Young albums left to get through. Fingers crossed it doesn't take **this long** 'til my group sees another one — and, hopefully, I dig it as much as this.

++: Harvest, A Man Needs a Maid, Are You Ready for the Country?, There's a World, The Needle and the Damage Done +: Out on the Weekend, Heart of Gold, Old Man, Alabama, Words (Between the Lights of Age) 8,5/10

Neil Young has always sounded so old. He mentions he's 24 years old in one song and he sounds 60. Solid work though, some of his more dramatic sounding music is not my favorite.

Pretty.

Probablement le meilleur album de Neil Young, mais ça reste Neil Young. 7.5/10

Another great Neil Young album, but he just can’t breakthrough to a 10 for me. 9/10

Admittedly don’t love his voice but his lyrics are compelling

I totally forgo About heart of gold such a great song. Album is shorty but it has a good buildup tempo. Solid album but really like 3 songs are stand outs imo

I like it but not enough to explain why. I think it's nice and chill and it's a cool mix of acoustic and orchestral, but dear God I am not prepared for another Neil Young album, let alone 3 or 4. 04/11/24

Fantastic album to go for a walk to, chill country vibes. Pleasantly surprised

Yes

+ Out on the Weekend + Harvest - A Man Needs a Maid ++ Heart of Gold +- Are You Ready for the Country? ++ Old Man +- There's a World +- Alabama + The Needle and the Damage Done +- Words (Between the Lines of Age) great shit even though I don't like all songs. Heart of Gold and Old Man are amazing 4*

Overall een goed album, maar ik vind die orkestrale nummers (vooral a man needs a maid, wat een kutnummer) echt moeilijk. Deze vallen echt uit de toon.

Vet maar niks nieuws

This either had some really good folksy songs or crappy whatchamacallits.

Excellent album, I've heard it many times and still love it. Poetic lyrics with chill music, it's great stuff. Didn't really care much for it when I was a kid but these days it really fits with my tastes. Will be listening to this many more times.

There’s a laid-back yet melancholic vibe to the whole album that I can’t help but enjoy. Young’s voice, though not technically perfect, has this raw emotional honesty that hits just right. The blend of country, folk, and rock is seamless, creating an atmosphere that’s comforting. It’s not a flashy album, but that’s part of its charm. Instead, it’s intimate, like Young’s inviting you into his world for a little while. The album is a beautiful, heartfelt and timeless. It’s one I can always return to when I need to slow down.

Basic but good stuff. Good writing and easy melody

Classic

Well written and performed. A little too mellow for my usual taste but I’m glad I listened to it finally

Now here is a classic album I haven't heard before! We get Heart of Gold and Old Man, songs I've heard many times, but I also enjoyed the rest for the most part. I liked Out on the Weekend, too. Felt like a good fall album, especially with all the Harvest talk.

A big one from Mr. Neil Young! It's wild how many of his albums are on this list, honestly. American David Bowie I guess. But this is a classic album, it's one I'm sure I own. "Old Man" and "Heart of Gold" are both big time bangers from Neil, maybe his biggest songs. It's a great album. Favorite tracks: Old Man, Heart of Gold, Harvest, There's a World. Album art: Very simple, but in a good way. Old timey font, yellowed paper effect, orange moon. What more do you need? 4/5

Oh this is nice. TBH my first listen thru I fell asleep but I don't think its exclusively the album's fault. I think my general listening habit of not hearing lyrics until a month or so into listening hurts this album. Is it a tad tongue in cheek? Also curious what percentage of this list is Northern California.

Normal

Absolute classic.

Fall campfire vibes

I have heard the name Neil Young through the years but I have never really listened to him before. The soft vibe of the album, the piano, and the harmonica all makes for a great album. I am now a Neil Young fan!

Not bad at all.

Old man, take a look at my life, I'm a lot like you! That line goes so hard on this record. Such a solid folk/country record with some incredible songwriting. It's pretty hard to beat honestly. I also love the variety in the sound throughout the album.

Easy listening. Really enjoy this album for its laid back vibe and seamless transitions between tracks. Extremely well done acoustic guitar melodies.

Very nice

Jeg har hørt albummet et par gange, første gang var det en lidt tung omgang kl meget tidlig morgen. Hart of gold er dog klasse, og gav mig mod på det sidste. Hen på aftenen passede stemningen perfekt til lektie læsning. det her album vil nemt kunne vokse på mig.

I like this one

Solid Neil Young album with heart of gold

A few fantastic tracks. Some tracks are too theatrical for me.

Good

Neil, my boy, you are rolling! Favourite track: Are You Ready for the Country.

Excellent album - ambiance

Sound is fan-tas-tic! But a lot of Neils lyrics gives off such a whiny man-child vibe. I like his way of singing though.

Of course "Heart Of Gold" as an all time heavyweight stands out! Except the two weaker numbers "There´s A World" and "Words" only great songs on this album. 4,5

First of all, a man does NOT need a maid (or a mommy). This is 2024 man! And it's just a bad song. At first listen, I didn't like this album at all. But I gave it another listen later in the evening and enjoyed it. Heart of Gold is a great song. Also liked Words (Between the Lines of Ages).

Good but inconsistent, enjoyed a lot of the songs but there were others that I wanted to skip. Most of the later songs were good though. Favorite songs were: 6. Old Man 7. There's a World 8. Alabama 7/10

This is such a great album and, naturally, the one that got me into listening to Neil Young.

could be more daring

This is a really good Neil Young album that is temporarily derailed by There’s a World. Aside from that theatrical mess, Harvest is a solid Country Folk album. Great twang, from the opening track about a woman wearing Neil Young out to the classics, Heart of Gold and Old Man, Needle and the Damage Done. 4 stars despite There’s a World

4/5 - Enjoyed this album and would listen again, but it isn't at the top of my list. Rating higher for Heart of Gold.

There is something undeniably warm and soothing about this album, even as I usually grow quickly bored of "simple" rootsy music like this. Which sounds hilarious considering a song title like "Needle and the Damage Done" admittedly... Not sure it's possible to distill nostalgia from objectivity on this, but isn't that the point of music and art anyways.... at least 3 huge and worthy classics/hits on this which help propel it along when it drags (it's Neil Young so it's gonna drag here and there, and does). Sequencing of the tracks was smart on this too - the opening track "Out on the Weekend" is a snoozer but at the same time makes sense to open up the album - it would be lost later in the record and probably skippable. Honestly there are times where this album will piss me off, and has - it's so stupidly laconic that if I want some energy I'll want to fling the record into a wall - so it'll never be a favourite, but there's an undeniable appeal when you're lazy or depressed or sitting and swinging slowly on a shaded porch on a hot summer day or i suppose strung out on heroin if that's your jam. blahblahblah this is probably the Neil album to have if only just for the musical history. 7/10 4 stars.

I like the drama. Hard to listen to this with new ears though

Classic Neil Young

I've long had a soft spot for Neil Young, really ever since he released his weird triangle tube shaped MP3 player in the mid 2000's. He's a weird guy and I like him. This was a really nice album I listened to it while sending of photos on Saturday morning, and it was great balance of peaceful and rockin. Album cover: A-. Its a cool design.

This is my first time listening to Neil Young. I liked the album! I liked "Are You Ready For The Country" and "Words (Between The Lines of Age)" the most. I like the rocky-country-folksy sound. The album didn't feel like it had a ton of diversity, and even with a tight 37 minute run-time, it managed to get a little stale. I'm going to explore more Neil Young, and I'm sure more will show up on this list. 7/10

175/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

I’m a huge Neil Young fan, and this is loaded with great songs. It’s Neil’s most famous record for sure, for good reason, but a lot of the core fan base prefers other records. I recommend the 33 1/3 book about this album.

This is a classic album, full of good songs with several great ones. Folky Neal is not my favorite of his iterations, but the quality is undeniable.

This was nice, more energy than Bob Dylan

First listen. WOW

I really loved it; I did. However, in the back of my brain there was something missing.

Haven’t listened to much of Neil young but what an album! Those instrumentals are fabulous. 1972 right on the nose

This one is well pieced together. Less whiney and mellow Neil and more picked up the pace but still a fast shuffle Neil. Neil still likes to jam out in this one, though I don’t think he’s ever given that up but whatever. This is a good album with standout tracks you’ve most likely heard. Choice cut: Words

There is something so haunting yet comforting about Neils voice. Incredible album.

Enjoying this! Not my usual but a decent album 3 1/5 stars, rounded up to four

A beauty of an album. My favourite of his

I don't have a whole lot of Solo Neil Young to compare to outside of Rust Never Sleeps, but this one feels like a slightly weaker album than that one. I think the second half carries in instrumentals, while the first half has some better lyricism. There are some pretty forgettable tracks here, but also some of my favorite Young tracks. Favorites here are Old Man, Alabama, and The Needle and the Damage Done.

Never considered Dated wisdom from Old Neil: A Man Needs A Maid. Fabulous album. Walked in Whitemud Creek while listening. Slow pace fit me just fine.

I am not normally a Neil young fan. There’s just something about his voice that bothers me… but I can’t not love this album. His voice works here and isn’t as annoying as on the beach. But I also think the writing is better here. This is definitely his OP

Harvest is Neil Young's fourth album, and his most successful. It includes two of his biggest hits, "Heart of Gold," and "Old Man." While he was well know for his early work with Buffalo Springfield, this album made Neil Young into a star. The album is a collection of country rock songs, and it has become a staple of that genre. Young's work is defined by his voice - a not-traditionally-good, but very expressive voice. The album initially met with mixed critical reception, but the consensus has improved over time.

I just can't get past the voice. This is the first album that I really noticed the song writing, but the voice just turns me away.

Excellent lyrics and style overall. His guitar work has feeling.

Love this album. Very tender in places and probably my favourite Neil Young album.

Some really nice songs here. Young's singing at times is a struggle but for the most part is ok. He does a great job of making you feel the emotion of the sing, even if you are not paying particular attention to the lyrical content.

Great album with well known “Heart of Gold” and “Old Man,” but don’t miss “The Needle and the Damage Done.” First track and “Alabama” also strong. Then, go listen to “Tonight’s the Night.”

I wasn't always a big Neil Young fan, but there are some surprising tracks on this one. There Is A World really stands out.

7.5/10

Probably enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. Not sure I have listened to Harvest before. I liked the story about the row boat. 4.5

If there's anything I've been taught by this list, it's that I'm a homer for Neil Young. It's an album that tries to balance grandiosity with the simple, rootsy rock that Young is known for, and ends up getting caught in the middle. It's still solid, and there are some insane players on this record (CSNY bandmates, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt...), but on first full listen it's not my favorite by him, despite having some of his best songs. Favorite tracks: "Heart Of Gold", "Old Man", "Words"

Classic

Ça travaille bien, j'ai bien aimé.

Very enjoyable listen bloobsPls

This is a great album. I just love several of the songs.

Out on the Weekend // Heart of Gold // Old Man // Words 4.5/5

Some of Neil Young's best material ever lands here, i love "Old Man" and "Heart of Gold" with a passion, yet i feel like it is a super inconsistent record in terms of writing. Songs like "A Man Needs a Maid" and "Alabama" are awkward, not only for the weird string arrangements but also for the somewhat corny lyrics. Shout out to "Needle and the Damage Done" though, incredible lyrics on that one regarding helping a friend lost on drug abuse.

Yet another great album. I can see why Neil Young has 8 albums on the list. The beginning was a bit dull. The second half was a blast. This album has plenty of hits. 4 stars for "Harvest".

I like the chill, folky opening song. Harmonica solo. Harvest is fine, but kind of twangy for my taste. Like the lyrics though. I might not be understanding the point of A Man Needs a Maid, which is too bad because the dramatic music and vocalizations were nice. It grew on me, again despite the lyrics. Heart of Gold is also nice. I do enjoy folk music, and this album is growing on me as it goes on. Old Man is probably my favorite song in this album. Haunting lyrics and nice guitar. Noticing the banjo for the first time too :) Really digging the guitar solo on Words. Nice song to end the album on. Overall, solid album.

I do like his lyrics, though his voice does tend to grind on me after an entire LP.

I have definitely not listened to this enough for how much I love Neil Young. A Man Needs A Maid and There's A World have orchestral arrangements that cause the tracks to sound overproduced as hell and come across as very cheesy but they are Harvest's only large misses. Heart of Gold and Old Man are eternal classics, Alabama and Harvest should have been, and aside from the previously mentioned orchestral arrangements, Harvest has such a well-realized acoustic rock sound. It rarely steps on itself and allows Neil's guitar, voice, and harmonica to speak as they choose. The electric guitar-led jam at the end of Words is a phenomenal closer.

Heart of Gold Old Man There's a World Alabama The Needle and The Damage Done Words (Between the Lines of Age) (has an interesting subtractive time signature of 3+3+3+2 or 6+5)

Fine, j'aime ça Neil Young.

Great album. Very Crosby still Nash and Young.

Very mellow. Much more my usual speed than Stankonia. Heart of Gold is of course a classic. Good music to write to!

Somehow I have never listened to a Neil Young album before. I'm not sure how that has happened, as he seems to be right up my ally. That being said, I've listened to this album three times now, and though I think its quite good, it hasn't impressed me the way I hoped it would. But who am I to say such a thing really. 'Heart of Gold' is an insanely great song. 'Old Man' and 'Out on the Weekend' are very good. The rest of the album, so far, hasn't excited me very much. The album kinda reminds me of Dylan's 'John Wesley Harding', which is a good album but has never been one of my favorite Dylan albums. Perhaps when I eventually listen to the rest of Neil Young's albums, I will like them better than this one. Its a good album, but I hoped I would like it better 3.75/5

I listened to this while driving alone on an empty desert highway, and I cannot recommend that experience highly enough. I think that is the ideal listening situation for this album.

A classic by any standards, Harvest is a solid folk album and one of Neil’s best cover to cover. There’s really only one or maybe two songs that drag a little bit overall there are several hits and somber tones that really make you listen and think. Old man is one of my favorite Neil songs and it’s such a simple tune that every generation can relate to. This actually is a must hear. 8.4/10

Geggjuð ...

Not the best voice. But his lyrics are gold.

Very good album

4 Now that I am an old man, this speaks to me way more than it used to.

could i write poetry to this? n

Banging Chill Pappamusik + Heart of Gold. Vad är "A Man Needs a Maid" för Vibe?

What are you doing Alabama? You got the rest of the union to help you along What's going wrong?

Yeah, this was good. Fun enough. Not the most inspiring, but the lyrics were great. If the other writing had kept up, then you’d have one stellar record here. 4/5

Pretty good, there’s better by You g.

I am a teen of the 70s, and I tend to prefer the music from that era. I like many of Neil Young's songs, but not all. Still overall, his music is a favorite.

Glad I got this album after old Neil pulled his head out of his ass and put his music back on Spotify. The hits are 5/5, the rest is solid other than "There's a World" which sounded like a mash up of 1940's theatre production with Neil on vocals. The lyrical pairing to the theatrical sound of "A man needs a maid" is bizarre. Leaving the Orchestra out of this album would have made for a much more cohesive experience.

So many classics! And a great songwriter!

Admittedly, Neil Young has never been one of my favorites. He’s had a few songs here and there that I’ve enjoyed, but overall I just never found a great interest in him. This album changes that. It’s a fantastic album.full or heartfelt lyrics together with a slice of Americana. it is Ernest spot in my future rotation. I’m sure Neil would be thrilled.

Heart of gold & old man

Great overall album. Classic for sure.

Great album to chill out to. A bit samey but enjoyable throughout

This is definitely Neil Young’s best solo album. “Out on the Weekend,” “Heart of Gold,” and “Words (Between the Lines of Age)” are my favorite songs here. I wish they’d kept the entire album as more low key and acoustic. There are a few songs that just feel out of place, especially “Are You Ready for the Country?” Solid album, though.

Wow. So, mostly good and listenable, with a few classics I was familiar with. But I cannot get over the track “A Man Needs A Maid.” What a bizarre track! Beautiful orchestrations set to the biggest whiny lyrics. Reading about his back injury and background only helps minimally - that song just really threw me for a loop.

Very good album, behind Rust Never Sleeps and After the Gold Rush. A Man Needs a Maid isn't great, though

my kingdom for a heart of gold

awesome

Glad it’s back on Spotify. I will definitely listen again. I didn’t like it as much as harvest moon on first listen

A man needs a less misogynistic metaphor. Otherwise really impressed with the lyricism and sound quality

So Neil definitely wanted a bang maid, right?

Great album by Young. Some truly great lyrics throughout and the overall tone is great. 4/5 Will listen again

vrlo chill :)

Good old Classic Folk Songs - pleasant songs

While I wouldn't call myself a fan of country rock this was a really solid album. The highlights here are definitely the two lead singles Heart of Gold and Old Man, but the songwriting and lyricism on display is excellent across the board.

Good

Some top folk hits, but filler as well

A pleasant and chilled Neil Young Album. Orchestral elements used sparingly, which adds to their effect, making you sit up and take notice when they come in. Has Heart of Gold on it. Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: Heart of Gold Date listened: 12/04/24

I don't know what to say about this that has not been said before. Neil Young was touched by grace on this. (with the obvious exception of "man needs a maid", what the hell were these lyrics?). 'Words' is the one song of his that always hits me right in the feels, no matter how many I have heard it. And one thing that really got to me this time in ways I had not noticed to this extend before is Ben Keith's pedal steel. Subtle, aching, intentional. My dad is a huge fan of Young, and this is probably one of the first records I ever heard. To this day, hearing this record reminds me of him, and of the turntable in the living room, or of the many hours we spent on some road on our way somewhere... I can smell the car when I hear this. Some records are that: a direct line to love and belonging to one another across generations, and to smells, emotions, feelings from a time that has passed and of which I have grown nostalgic without realizing. Today I sometimes join forces with my daughter and my mom to tease him endlessly about his enduring, unextinguishable love for "Nelle Youngue" (pronounced with a heavy french accent), including his more tedious productions of late. But deep down I recognize there something beautiful and precious about sticking with an artist no matter what, because they woke something up in you that cannot be tamed. This album, for me, encapsulates the best of my dad. He sticks with people. He is grounded and deeply connected to the place he is from (he actually lives less than 5 ks from the house he was born in). He values friendships, and cares for people and for the world. He loves hosting, and to be surrounded. He is a simple man, but also a quite complicated in many ways. And we have had our differences, disagreements, misunderstandings, frustrations at one another over time, but. There was always this deep love for music, and this album which he gifted me in so many ways. "There's a world you're living in No one else has your part" He definitely found his part, and is playing it beautifully. As for the album, I don't think this is even my favourite one of his, musically speaking (On the Beach might take the crown). But this is definitely the one I carry with me and know the most intimately. How do you even rate this?

Great overall album. Love 'Heart of Gold', The Needle and the Damage Done", and 'Old Man'. His voice didn't bother me as much on this one as the other 2 I've gotten in this project. 4/5

Neil at his finest.

Heart of Gold, Old Man, Needle and the Damage Done. All classics. Not one I reach for often but still iconic. For some reason this got me into a My My, Hey Hey rabbit hole this weekend. Never realized there were 2 different versions of this song: - My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue) - Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black) Both are great but I prefer the lyrics of Blue but the Black rocks! Anyway, the godfather of grunge is awesome!

Excellent record! That early 70's country rock vibe is almost perfect here. Heart Of Gold is of course the money-maker but Maid and The Needle are both pretty fantastic also. The orchestra-backed pieces like Maid are kind of interesting to me -> odd for Neil Young in a way, and maybe reaching for something a bit like Elton John's Madman from the year prior...?

The best Neil Young album in my book

Bueno.

Not my favorite, but a classic for sure.

After After the Gold Rush, Young releases Harvest, his most accessible and laid-back folk rock album. "Heart of Gold" and "Old Man" are the two strong pop hits that lead this record and set the tone. The deeper cuts are slower and more patient but generally solid, most of them having memorable hooks. The two outliers are "A Man Needs a Maid" and "There's a World" which employ the London Symphony Orchestra. I can see where he's getting at with the juxtaposition between the excessive orchestra vs the mundane lyrics, but it sticks out and doesn't sound good at all. The former would work well as a ballad based on live performances, but would be more forgettable. "There's a World" is just bad, and his musical-like singing is the lamest I've heard. "Out on the Weekend" and "Harvest" are fantastic openers and are the ones most likely to grow on you. They're slow, patient, and soothing with great lyrics. "Are You Ready for the Country?" is a solid country song but a bit dull. "Alabama" is the hardest song on here and inspired by the famous Lynard Skynard hit. I think it's ok but forgettable. It's a nice change of pace from the slow second half. "The Needle and the Damage Done" is a pleasant minimalist folk track. You can hear the despair and disappointment in his voice. The claps are a bit weird, it's in a weird spot on the record, and I don't understand why it's so popular. "Words" is our long epic closer that reminds me of Everybody Knows This is Nowhere. Ties together all the strengths of this record into a satisfying end. Some regard this as Young's strongest album. With how mature and sophisticated the sound is, I can totally see why. I did find the deep cuts underwhelming. And although the record has a distinctive cohesive vibe, some tracks stick out too much. I was hoping there would be some other track I'd love as much as the 2 hits (or like cuts from other albums).

A good album from one of the greatest. He's only just reappeared on Spotify and I can finally listen to an album.

An absolute classic. Took me a long time to appreciate Neil Young but this is defo one of his best! Nice, relaxing and dare I say it, reflective kind of soft rock. My review doesn’t do it justice.

Good think Neil is back on Spotify ;-) Classic album with some high-water marks. BUT I still remain with Harvest Moon as my fave of Neil's.

Canada's greatest soul singer. Seriously. That voice. Harvest is a great album. It still sounds timeless, despite the social commentary of the time. Good effort, dude.

Wow. Never understood the Neil Young reference in Sweet Home Alabama until now.

Really nice listening, Neil brings a serious gravitas to his music and excellent musicianship.

The only song that I knew from this playlist was Heart of Gold. Pretty chill for background music.

Classic "pastoral" album with a heavy edge, a great one!

Och, een heerlijk album om de brakke vrijdagochtend mee te starten. Dit is mijn favoriete Neil Young plaat, al ken ik ook bij lange na niet de complete discografie. Wat heeft deze meneer veel muziek uitgebracht. Als je de samenwerkingen met Crosby, Stills en Nash er bij telt, plus Buffalo Springfield, vertegenwoordigd Young de 1001 album lijst met plus min 8 albums. Een muzikant in hart en nieren. Het scheelt echt dat ik dit album op vinyl heb, want ik heb toch écht een hekel aan alles op YouTube kijken, slechte kwaliteit, advertenties... Enfin, terug naar het album. Het is er typisch zo eentje die je vader aan je laat horen toen je nog jong was, om er vervolgens geen goed woordje voor over te hebben. Maar dan word je oud, en voelt het gehele album opeens extreem nostalgisch aan. Je denkt, had ik maar geluisterd naar m'n old man... Kampvuurmuziek is het misschien, ja, maar emotieloos staren naar het vuur zit er niet in. Hier zullen tranen weggepinkt worden. Heart of Gold is zo puur. Een perfect nummer met een mooi thema en veel emotie. Klopt van top tot teen, en blijft een fijne om aan te zetten op een brakke dag. Telkens als ik Old Man luister lopen de emoties wel een beetje op. Ik kan me helemaal plaatsen in de tekst. Hier moet je niet te veel woorden aan vuil maken, gewoon lekker luisteren. Alabama spreekt over de situatie in het zuiden van de US in de jaren '70. Veel racisme, verdeeldheid, criminaliteit. Dit nummer bekritiseerd het racisme en geweld. Als tegengeluid kwam Sweet Home Alabama, die ook wel de problemen aan de kaak stelde, maar de focus legde op de Southern culture en tradities. Ben ik de enige die zit te wachten op Nelly's Hot in Herre bij het intro van There's a World? Neilly Young? Nee? Oke... Conclusie: Harvest blijft een diepe indruk op mij maken. De kracht zit hem in de perfect uitgevoerde muziek, vocalen, in combinatie met diepe emotionele motieven en politiek beladen thema's. Veel nummers zijn tijdloze classics geworden. Waarom geen 10 dan? Tja.. dan moet echt élk nummer perfect zijn. A man needs a maid, There's a World, en Word zijn absoluut niet slecht, maar zijn wel kleine vlekjes op een anders perfect album. Rating: 9/10 Highlights: Heart of gold, Old man, Alabama, The needle and the damage done

Deze had ik al eventjes niet gehoord.. Hoofdzakelijk vanwege de eigenwijze, seniele man achter het album, die nog steeds geprikkeld (snap je hem, prik) is omdat Spotify anti-vaxxers een podium gaf. Grow up fucking hobo, we willen je prachtige discografie weer ontdekken. Dat gezegd hebbende, het beluisteren van Harvest voelde best wel als een herontdekking van een klassieker. In mijn gedachte was het een ultiem kampvuur-album, en was ik vergeten dat het hier en daar nog best wel groots en orkestraal was voor Neil's doen. Dat dit het mentale plaatje was ontglipt wordt snel verklaard, want dat symfonische geneuzel als in 'A Man Needs a Maid' en 'There's a World' laat me koud. Het doorbreekt een voor de rest enorm consistent album, met een aantal career highlights van de beste man. De titel kampvuuralbum heeft de plaat voor een significant deel te danken aan de opener 'Out on the Weekend'. Wat kabbelt dat nummertje fijn voort. Ben normaal geen groots fan van het oorverdovende getetter met de mondharmonica, maar in deze song voegt hij echt wat toe. Enfin, ik wil kamperen, nu. De titelsong sluit naadloos aan, en moet eigenlijk gewoon altijd samen met 'Out on the Weekend' afgespeeld worden. Een waardig nummer om de titel van het album te dragen, ietwat simpel, maar waanzinnig effectief. Waar sommige andere nummers een hoop strijkers en andere Disney-esque effecten van stal haalt, laat 'Harvest' zien dat Neil eigenlijk gewoon het beste is als hij lekker dichtbij z'n roots blijft. De grote singles, 'Heart of Gold' en 'Old Man', was ik zeker nog niet vergeten ondanks hun lange afwezigheid op het streamingplatform. Dit zijn wellicht de bekendste werkjes uit z'n oeuvre, geen verrassing gezien de thema's die weerklinken bij het grote publiek en de akoestische instrumenten die het goed doen op de radio. Het zijn gewoon sterke country rock songs, maar hun succes overschaduwd wel een beetje de rest van het album, waar minstens zoveel muzikaliteit inzit. In 'Alabama' bijvoorbeeld, wat misschien wel m'n favoriet van deze plaat is. Daar hebben we ook eindelijk die befaamde elektrische gitaar die we uit duizenden herkennen. De song onderstreept dat Neil niet echt gecharmeerd is van het primitieve volk uit het Zuiden, en voelt als een spirituele opvolger van 'Southern Man'. Het zal hoogstwaarschijnlijk de druppel zijn geweest die de emmer met moonshine liet overlopen in Dixieland, met als gevolg dat de rednecks van Lynyrd Skynyrd het southern anthem 'Sweet Home Alabama' uitbrachten. Naast dat het topic aansluit bij het werk op zijn voorgaande album 'After the Gold Rush', komt hij ook sonically en instrumenteel veel meer overeen. Het is een beetje een vreemde eend in de bijt op 'Harvest', maar had graag meer vergelijkbare folk rock langs horen komen. Al met al is het gewoon een puike plaat, die zich met speels gemak voortbeweegt. Die easy going vibe is misschien wel de grootste kwaliteit van het album, en een voornaamste reden achter z'n succes. Echter mag Neil van mij wel iets vaker bijten, zoals hij dat ook deed op 'After the Gold Rush' en later op 'On the Beach'. Het is bij vlagen wonderschoon in z'n eenvoud, maar het mag soms best wel wat spannender. Die verrassingsfactor is nagejaagd op de orkestrale songs, maar die vielen daardoor simpelweg uit de toon. Afijn, zet godverdomme je muziek weer op Spotify, door de stront getrokken hippie! 8/10 Highlights: Harvest Old Man Alabama

Definitely the best Neil album so far, had some genuinely good songs on it. Reminded me of Fleetwood Mac in some place, particularly liked Alabama. Felt that the quality varied a lot though and there were still some duffers, particularly any stripped back song where Neil's not very good voice was more prominent. Double bad if he had to hold any notes for longer than 2 seconds. Generally though I did enjoy it and would listen again so it has to be slightly better than average, 3.5

The best Neil Young album we've had so far and the only one I'd heard prior to starting this list. Heart of gold, out for the weekend, and old man are all great but I think the needle and the damage done is the standout track. Not sure I can quite give it a 5, but it's close. I don't like a man needs a maid 4.5

Neil Young is the best.

I was already familiar with this album and it's a good one. It's one of his more mellow albums, full of great stuff. Heart of Gold is one of the first things I learned to play on guitar. My favorite track is The Needle and the Damage Done.

# Playlist track - Heart of Gold # Notes - It's an interesting listen. Possibly with the exception of Every Man Needs a Maid. - It's a shame it's not available on Spotify. Fuck Joe Rogan. +1 Star for Neil.

I thought I would enjoy this more, the lush (for Neil Young) orchestration on some of the songs seem to take the bite out of them. The last song Words seems the best balance of grit and grandiose. Some key songs here keep this from being a middle of the road effort.

Neil Young is consistently good and that does not stop on this album. I doo feel like his style does get old after a while, but the album is short enough to where it doesn’t drag because of it.

3,5

The orchestra backing on the track's "A Man Needs a Maid" (meh) and "There's a World" (I think I liked it, I swear I have heard the orchestra music somewhere else though) are jarring. I dig the sounds, kind of reminds me of Metallica's S&M, but they just don't seem to fit with the rest of the album. I would definitely listen to this album again if it was easier to find and play.

pretty smooth, some cool moments

Neil Young has such a distinct voice. Few iconic 70’s songs on the album that never age.