After The Gold Rush

Of fucking course Neil Young comes out again on a day when I'm in the car and can't piss about with YouTube. So after Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, i know there is Neil Young albums out there that i can enjoy. This is probably his most famous one? maybe tied with Harvest. First track wistful and gorgeous. a great opener. The title track also fantastic, Neil doing his silly falsetto whine on this one that in just can't take seriously, but its a great track. Only Love Can Break Your Heart I heard first as the St Etienne cover, but have heard this before and its also great. We're really doing very well here Mr Young. Southern Man is a little bit meh folk rock, but some really nice picking at the end, is that Nils Lofgram? An ad between literally every track so far. cheers Neil. Till the Morning Comes, another great ditty. Lonesome Me doesn't do much for me, Don't Let it Bring You Down sounds like a bout 4 different songs which all came after it. Birds is gorgeous, When You Dance is a lively rocker and good. I stuck Everyone Knows on later on to see which I preferred and I think it's still that for me, but overall v much enjoyed.

I can only hit 5 stars so fast, you know?

It’s kind of amazing how Lynyrd Skynyrd completely missed the point of “Southern Man” (and “Alabama”, from Harvest) when they responded with “Sweet Home Alabama”. In fact, they pretty much proved the point Neil Young was making in those songs: that the south was unapologetic in its past and then-current bigotry. “Sweet Home Alabama” praises segregationist/racist Alabama Governor George Wallace, Richard Nixon’s abuse of presidential power against a political rival and implies that Neil Young should be the one with a guilty conscience…because, uh…he is against those things? That song is pretty much the musical equivalent of saying “Mind your business, Yankee”. Which would be fine, I guess, if “Southern Man” and “Alabama” hadn’t been such well written and damning condemnations of the southern populist attitudes of the day. Like I said, Lynyrd Skynyrd only proved his point. Thats enough about Skynyrd, the confederate flag waiving doofuses, we’re here to talk about After The Gold Rush: Another classic Neil Young album in a string of classic Neil Young albums that were released between 1969 and 1979. Put any 70’s artist up against Neil Young’s catalog in that time. You’ll find very few whose output comes close to matching that of Neil Young’s in terms of consistency, quality and longevity. I’d argue that David Bowie is maybe the only one who comes close. The two are similar in at least one respect: Their steadfast adherence to their artistic visions in the face of massive success resulted in some of the greatest albums of the decade, if not all time. “After the Gold Rush” sits comfortably among the all-time greats.

Not on Spotify except one song. It was a shit song. Probably not a 1/5 in truth but I just hate him so much.

A quintessential lying on the floor and thinking about why he left you while the rain pours outside and the heater’s on the fritz album. Simply superb.

Wasn't on Spotify so just listened to Southern Man for 40 min straight. Great song. Know the album like the back of my hand anyway, incredible.

Seminal early Young. Evocative of a loss of innocence and the instrumental embellishments of horn and piano thru out are very tasteful. Perfect.

After The Gold Rush is a quintessential Neil Young manoeuvre, parsing a never-to-be-filmed script from his 60s-fried neighbour Dean Stockwell to badge a bunch of songs he had already, inspire a couple of god-puncher new ones, and knock them all together into a perfect undulation of ballad, rocker, folk lament and whimsy, irrefutable evidence that Young is a lot more clear-eyed and calculating in record arrangement than his "we just banged this out in a weekend" demeanour might suggest. He had an absolute armada of treasure galleons over the '70s, and from both what he put out then and what has come out recently, he was wily in how he rationed it. More of a journey than a trip, duke. Very amused to read that he has trouble singing some of these lines as they are now gibberish to him too. Such magnificent gibberish, though!

Somewhere between a solid listen and changed my life

10 out of 10. The idea that an old metalhead like me would be so enthralled by Young's slow and easy guitar solos astonishes me. On one hand you have some Herman Li solo with 10 billion notes, on the other Young hangs out on 4 or 5 notes, but the emotion is bleeds nourishes my soul.

Thoroughly enjoyed. Very melancholy album sung through a beautiful voice

This album has some of my favorites on it. Listening to it as a whole really brings everything into focus though. The album is extremely melancholic, yet Neil Young is such a gifted lyricist, that there is no over reliance on metaphor and I don't get a sense that he's wallowing in his emotions; they just are what they are. After listening to quite a few Neil Young albums as a whole, I think that this might be my favorite.

Thanks for pulling all your music from Spotify, Neil. I get it. I support it. But, also, I miss having it on hand. "After the Gold Rush" isn't my favorite Neil Young record but it's among them and is worthy of 5 stars.

This is a fucking masterpiece.

Neil Young's 1970 album, After the Gold Rush, stands as a monument of singer-songwriter artistry. It's a record that transcends genre, weaving folk, country, and rock into a tapestry rich with emotional depth and lyrical brilliance. This review delves into the album's core elements, analyzing its strengths and weaknesses. Lyrics: Poetry in Motion Young's lyrics on After the Gold Rush are where the album truly shines. They're a blend of personal reflection and social commentary, delivered with a raw honesty that resonates deeply. The title track paints a picture of a world ravaged by environmental destruction, yearning for a simpler time. "Southern Man" confronts racism and injustice with a potent simplicity: "Southern man, don't need him around anyhow." Beyond social commentary, Young explores themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" is a heartbreaking ballad about the fragility of love, while "Ohio" mourns the Kent State shootings with poignant imagery: "Tin soldiers and Nixon coming / We're finally on our own." Young's lyrics are infused with a sense of longing, a search for something just beyond reach. They're not always easy to decipher, but their ambiguity invites repeated listens and personal interpretation. Music: Sparse Beauty The music on After the Gold Rush is intentionally stripped-down, often featuring just acoustic guitar, piano, and Young's distinctive vocals. This minimalist approach allows the lyrics to take center stage. Neil Young's signature raspy voice adds a layer of vulnerability and raw emotion. The instrumentation, however, isn't without its highlights. Nils Lofgren's piano adds a touch of elegance on songs like the title track, while Danny Whitten's slide guitar on "Southern Man" provides a sense of urgency. The use of harmonica and strings on select tracks adds subtle texture without overpowering the overall intimacy. Production: Capturing the Moment Produced by Young himself with David Briggs, After the Gold Rush has a raw, lo-fi quality that perfectly complements the album's themes. The recording captures the essence of live performance, with minimal studio trickery. This stripped-down approach may not be for everyone, but it creates a sense of authenticity that resonates with the emotional honesty of the songs. Themes: A Tapestry of Discontent After the Gold Rush reflects the disillusionment of a generation. The album was released at the height of the Vietnam War and the counterculture movement. Songs like "Southern Man" and "Ohio" capture the frustration and anger felt by many young Americans. However, the album isn't all about protest. Tracks like "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" delve into the complexities of love and loss, while "After the Gold Rush" and "Don't Let It Bring You Down" offer a glimmer of hope for a better future. Influence: A Legacy of Inspiration After the Gold Rush has been hailed as a landmark album in singer-songwriter history. Its influence can be felt across generations, inspiring countless artists from Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty to Eddie Vedder and Kurt Cobain. Young's raw honesty and poetic lyricism paved the way for a new wave of artists who explored personal and social themes in their music. Pros and Cons: Weighing the Gold Pros: Powerful Lyrics: Young's songwriting shines, capturing a range of emotions and social commentary. Emotional Depth: The rawness of the music and vocals creates a deeply affecting listening experience. Genre-Bending: The album blends elements of folk, country, and rock to create a unique sound. Enduring Influence: After the Gold Rush continues to inspire generations of musicians and listeners. Cons: Lo-Fi Production: The stripped-down production may not appeal to listeners who prefer a more polished sound. Limited Instrumentation: The minimal arrangements can feel repetitive at times. Cryptic Lyrics: Some listeners may find Young's lyrics too ambiguous or open to interpretation. Conclusion: A Timeless Masterpiece Despite its minor shortcomings, After the Gold Rush remains a cornerstone of American music. It's a raw and honest exploration of life, love, and loss, set against a backdrop of social and political upheaval. The album's enduring strength lies in its ability to connect with listeners on an emotional level, offering solace and inspiration even decades after its release. After the Gold Rush is a testament to Neil Young's songwriting prowess and his enduring legacy as a voice of a generation.

I love Neil. He’s probably one of my top ten music artists of all time, certainly top twenty. One of the coolest music listening moments I’ve had in a while came while listening to this album. The title track was playing, and it occurred to me that in the last verse he’s singing about the future moment when HUMANS LEAVE PLANET EARTH TO GO TO A NEW HOME PLANET. The title track is easily one of my favorite songs of his or anyone else’s, but I had never put that together before (I had eaten an gummy that probably helped…) and I think it’s just a brilliant lyric. With the work that Space X and others are doing now on laying the groundwork for making humans a multi-planetary species it’s an even more ominous and prescient song than when written - I think it’s one of the best songs of all time. All that said, while I love this album I actually don’t rank it as high as many do among Neil’s vast catalog. It actually loses me in the back half far more than EKTIN, Harvest, On the Beach, Tonight’s the Night, and Rust Never Sleeps at the very least. The first 4 songs are strong, but to me the title track is by far the highlight. There’s one other track that makes me think deeply on this one. As someone born and raised and actually still living in the American south, I have mixed feelings about Southern Man. Not that the America Southern Man doesn’t need critiquing, far from it. I’m not a fan of generalizing, and while many in the south were definitely super racist and loud about it in the 70’s, I wish Neil had acknowledged somewhere in the song that (A) not everyone in the south is a racist, far from it and (B) racism is certainly not isolated in the American south, far from it. My grandparents were in their 40’s when this song was written, and they were all exceptionally against Jim Crowe, taught both of my parents that we're all equal, and those lessons passed to me. Were there, hell, are there systemic problems of inequality in the south and a disproportionate amount of southern men that were outwardly racist, absolutely. I am far from proud of the entirety of the history of the American south. I also think that addressing concerns about in a song called Southern Man is a bit divisive, and doesn’t credit where progress has been made. I think this is why Lynyrd Skynyrd (a far more progressive band than most people realize) had issue with this song as well. One of my favorite musical fun facts is that Neil and Ronnie Van Sant became really great friends after Sweet Home Alabama, and Neil was a pallbearer at Ronnie’s funeral. Unfortunately I can’t be too hard on Neil and it’s easy to see why a song like this is necessary: there’s a fucking confederate flag flying just 30 miles or so from Greenville, SC (where Lynyrd Skynyd’s fateful plane took off from) today in 2024. For a more nuanced critique on the Southern Man, listen to the Southern Rock Opera album by Drive-By Truckers (one of the greatest American rock bands ever); the “duality of the southern thing” describes the American south as succinctly and accurately as is possible I think. I digress…. TLDR: I love Neil, the title track is an all time great song and worth stars for by itself, Southern Man is complicated to me, and the back half is a bit boring to me.

Very very Neil Young. Mournful and poetic. I don't really get where Neil got his reputation as a rocker since all of these songs seem carefully mellow. Maybe his live shows are real gnarly.

As expected 3*

I’ve never really been into Neil Young, it was okay but probably won’t listen again

Not a bad album, just a bit more Neil Young than I care for in one sitting. Some good song here though. Southern Man and Only Love Can Break Your Heart

Another Neil Young, huh? This one started slow but really picked up at “Southern Man.” The anger he feels about the state of the south then (and honestly, probably still now) is so apparent. That alone makes it worth listening to. He slows it down after that, but still keeps the emotional honestly coming. That’s how I’d describe this album - vulnerable and honest. I’d liked what I’d heard from Neil Young to this point. “On the Beach” is a great album, and “Rust Never Sleeps” was alright. This falls somewhere in the middle of those two for me. It has its moments, but it isn’t what I assume to be his masterpiece. I know he has a number of albums that made the list, so I’ll wait until I get his best. Three stars. Southern Man, Oh, Lonesome Me, Don’t Let it Bring You Down, Birds

Went in expecting to hate it based on Neil's other work on this list. Didn't hate it. Didn't really like it either. I just don't really like his voice. It's whiny and grating.

Quintessential folk rock protest music. Profound lyrics unfortunately sung by Neil Young. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s least favorite album.

I didn't know Neil Yung's work, I like the way he writes and the intensity of his writing. The tracks "After the Gold Rush", "Southern Man" and "When You Dance I Can Really Love" deserve a special listen.

classis a little bit high lol

Segona obra mestra de Neil Young consecutiva... i encara no havia arribat al seu cenit. Aquí, predint ja una carrera plena de canvis, abandona el rock estrident i les jams amb els Crazy Horse que definien 'Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere' i dona el protagonisme a la guitarra acústica, el piano, i les meditacions introspectives. El canadenc en un estat de forma imparable

Classic album of a legend, before he tried to pull off some heavy metal, punk stunts in his later career... Folk rock at its best!

Beautiful, haunting and heartbreaking, this collection of songs show Young at his finest .

Vital escutar esta obra-prima. Sempre vai cativar os ouvintes com sua profundidade emocional e brilho musical, devido à sua composição excepcional, diversidade musical e atmosfera íntima. Cada música conta uma história cativante e evoca uma gama de emoções, mostrando a habilidade de Young de criar letras atraentes, ao abranger uma variedade de temas, incluindo amor, perda, ambientalismo e questões sociais. A paleta sonora do álbum é rica, apresentando violão, piano, violão lap steel e harmonias vocais exuberantes. Essa diversidade cria uma experiência auditiva única e envolvente.

Some of Neil Young’s best work. The title track is exceptional, evocative songwriting

tellement un classique, on peut pas passer à côté. 5

totally masterpiece

Years ago after listening to the Rivals podcast on Neil Young vs Lynyrd Skynyrd, I listened to Southern Man for the first time and thought it was so boring. This time it was so good

10/10 one of Neil Young’s best albums some really fantastic songs throughout

Very good

Another one of Neil's classics, perhaps a little gentler than Harvest except for the absolutely scathing Southern Man. Love it.

Album 110 of 1001 Neil Young - After the Gold Rush Rating : 5 / 5 Favorite Track : After the Gold Rush I like my Neil Young. This one doesn't disappoint. Great collection of songs. May be pushing it with the '5' but I listed through twice more and am good with it.

I love Neil Young and I love some of his music but I only like lots of it.

i’m a genuine sucker for both neil young and folk rock sung in a kinda weird voice. this is both, and it rules. also the lyricism

Exactly what I needed today and what I want when putting on Neil Young or any of his pals: go lucky, catchy music one can always listen to

5.0 + Been listening to this record continuously for the better part of a week and it keeps sounding better and better.

This Neil Young album is arguably better than Harvest, with every song being great. My favorite song is ‘Southern Man’; it’s got a great melody and lyrics, and it’s way better then ‘Sweet Home Alabama’, which it inspired. The rest of the album is no slouch, though. This is one of the Neil Young albums I have less to say about, so bye.

this whole thing is making me realise I absolutely adore neil young, haven't heard a bad album yet

Cool neil

Evergreen Neil album, the soundtrack to the exact moment when the hippy revolution fizzled out and the freaks all got proper jobs and mortgages - though still smoked dope. If this was the soundtrack to a film it would be the key party scene in The Ice Storm.

Love this album. Brings up a lot of nostalgia. I can clearly remember my dad putting this on when I was a kid. Neil's voice is such a beautiful and familiar sound.

Neil Young at his very best. Beautiful songs performed with incredible care. This is an album that is free of time and space. After The Gold Rush doesn't need to prove anything.

Very nice

Tämä levy on melodisesti uskomaton saavutus - ja tietenkin myös tulkinnallisesti. Kaikki paitsi Don't Let It Bring You Down ovat hyviä. Voit huokaista helpotuksesta.

So familiar, yet so new. Fabulous album. Just perfect.

A record of extraordinarily high quality from such a young artist. “Tell Me Why” sets an easy tone, hinting at the mix of delight and melancholia to come. Title cut is an all-time rock lyric and Neil’s eccentric vocal style has never been more effective (“Look on Mother Nature on the run in the nineteen-Seventies.” is just haunting.) “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” is another classic. Drop out the controversy and “Southern Man” is a pretty great rock song, dark and edgy. All of the cuts work on their own terms, and offer a bit of a hootenanny feel that smoothly mixes the sad with the, well, not-sad. Even the upbeat cuts have a touch of wistfulness, and/or blues. “Til the Morning Comes” is a nice bouncy little interlude which sets a context for “Oh Lonesome Me” which could be laughably mawkish but the high, oddball vocals and lovely playing (harmonica especially and that brief, understated solo on the outro [which woulda been nice to hear more of]) elevate matters such that it feels quite relatable (honest and, thus, affecting) in the end. “Old Man” is unimpeachable, if seeming a little downgraded a bit by overexposure, while the solemn and stately “Birds” shows just how pure and strong (that is not quavering and breaking) Neil could make his voice. “When You Dance” is underrated in the extreme. Lord knows that “Cripple Creek Ferry” is awfully good for being the arguably the weakest tracks here, besides being far better than the Byrds silliness of the same name. Looking back, few artists have ever gone off to such a great start in their career. The quality is all the remarkable for the steady and voluminous output of early years; his solo albums 2-5 are all rightfully represented here, and all released within.

It's a great Neil Young album, unfortunately by not being on Spotify I was also greeted with ads between most tracks, which took away from the overall vibe. Still, what a wonderful lyricist - it's hard not to care deeply about what he's singing about or be reflective when he sings. Cheers Neil.

My favorite Neil album. As a teenager I would listen to a cassette copy on my walkman over and over while mowing lawns.

My Neil Young hot take is that I might like this album more than Harvest. Another from Dad's vinyl collection, so I feel a connection to my Pops when I throw this one on. Beyond that, the melodies and lyricism here are just fantastic. It's a great listen, and it's in and out in barely half an hour. Canadian excellence.

Neil Young is always good stuff.

Love it, and very childhood memorable.

Classic

Young Neil is badass and I often come to this album more than Harvest

Neil Young has a lot of records and I only really know Harvest and After the Gold Rush, but I really love this record. Especially lonesome me, and only love can break your heart.

Simply brilliant.

A great folksy time from Neil. It's a low 5 for me, but it does break through I think.

Classic Neil Young. One of his best for sure. And while I appreciate his moral stance on not having his music on Spotify, I wish he would think of his fans! C'mon Neil! 5 stars.

Favourite songs: After the Gold Rush, Southern Man, Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Birds, "Oh, Lonesome Me", Cripple Creek Ferry Least favourite songs: Till the Morning Comes 5/5

Neil can do no wrong in my book. Live Rust with Crazy Horse is still my favorite but this is great

touchful as always

Fantastic album.

Beautiful and timeless

Neil's songwriting and guitar playing on this one is sublime

Excellent Neil Young record that includes some iconic songs with a just slightly undercooked sound to make it feel like it was a recorded as live takes in a small studio.

I love Neil, one of his classics with some big singles, title track and Southern Man.. Though my favorite part is the last 3 songs of side two.. Love those songs.

Listened to it many times before he left Spotify (screw JR)

Usually not into folky rock but this was really great and impressive and can see why so many people respect his work. Everything that bozo Bob Dillon wishes he could be, that's for sure. 8/10

This album is so right up my alley!

good

This is good rock and roll music. I had forgotten how good it is

Lovely album. Too bad he's being a prat about Spotify.

One of my favs

One of my favorite. An absolute classic. So many memories of singing Neil around the campfire.

Simple, straightforward, nothing fancy, and yet still brilliant. Just a timeless sound for me. Not as much of a favorite as Harvest but it's a good one. Don't Let It Bring You Down is my favorite, but Only Love Can Break Your Heart is next.

Such a goddamn beautiful album that it should be made available the world over on Spotify, no matter what Mr. Young demands. You can tell me this is Old Neil's best album and I'll silently nod in agreement.

Absolute gem, every track brought me back in time.

Just beautiful. Slow songs that just take you away, heavier songs that make the lyrics scream. Beautiful album. 5/5

Neil Young at his best

So many great songs in such a short space of time.

Makes me feel very emotional and nostalgic. I listened to this back to back twice all through. I know some people don’t like Neil Young‘s voice, but it is beautiful to me. This was my dad‘s kind of music and made me think of him a lot. For that reason and many others…

4.7 -

Peak Bruce to peak Neil

One of my top albums for sure

It is rare for an artist to release 3 consecutive essential albums, but between 1969 and 1972 Neil young did it with “Everybody Knows This is Nowhere”, “After The Gold Rush” and “Harvest”. He also managed to squeeze in “Deja Vu” with Crosby Stills Nash and Young in that span. These are all albums that made an impact, tgat could be considered <I>important </I>. This would be a great album independent of the others, every song is solid, and it includes several of my favorite NY songs. I have 16 of the 21 albums NY put out between 1969 and 1990. After The Gold Rush is certainly in the 1/2 dozen I’d rate 5 stars. 5/5 Aside: it seems that this album is blocked on Spotify, that’s a bummer. But not a problem since I own it on vinyl and CD.

Great album but not even my favorite Neil Young.

Neil Young #4 and this might be recency bias, but if this list could only have one Young/Crazy Horse I’d probably choose this one Tracks 3-5 together are a real Canadian rock powerhouse (recorded in California, yadda yadda, give us this please) Thought the sad-sack performance of “Oh Lonesome Me” was uncharacteristic until I realized it was a cover. Still really like the song An all-weather classic HL: “Tell Me Why”, “Only Love Can Break Your Heart”, title track, “Southern Man”, “Oh Lonesome Me”, “I Believe in You” December 4, 2023

After the Gold Rush may be as good, maybe better than Harvest in my mind. Rocky, folky, country this album is in my top 10 for sure.

Another classic. Pre Crazy Horse so it's sure golden Neil. Always love "Don't Let It Bring You Down" and for novice listeners, the "non" hits are great. Enjoy!

Neil Young made better CSNY records without CSN. Masterpiece, got the singer songwriter 70s rolling, downhill.

Just became one of my favorite albums. I know a lot of songs from it but never heard together.

Brilliant! 5/5

Beautiful late 60s/early 70s album with Neil's signature sound. The emotion streaming through these melancholy songs sound like they come from a much older person. There's just an undeniable beauty and truth that leaps from the speaker when this album plays. Don't Let It Get You Down is insane. I've been loving this album for 30+ years and it still hits hard.

I love this album

I enjoyed this album… quite a good selection from Neil Young. I was familiar with After the Gold Rush (I know one other person who may consider Nana Mouskouri’s cover the definitive version) and Southern Man. In a bit of turnabout, I was surprised that one of my favorite songs today was Neil Young covering Oh, Lonesome Me. What a lovely version! This was a concise, enjoyable album that I am happy to see on this list.

I've become quite fond of Neil Young's song-writing and musicianship. This is another good one.