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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

After The Gold Rush

Neil Young

1970

After The Gold Rush
Album Summary

After the Gold Rush is the third studio album by the Canadian-American musician Neil Young, released in September 1970 on Reprise Records, catalogue number RS 6383. It is one of four high-profile solo albums released by the members of folk rock group Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in the wake of their chart-topping 1970 album Déjà Vu. Young's album consists mainly of country folk music along with several rock tracks, including "Southern Man". The material was inspired by the unproduced Dean Stockwell-Herb Bermann screenplay After the Gold Rush. After the Gold Rush peaked at number eight on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart; the two singles taken from the album, "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" and "When You Dance I Can Really Love", made it to number 33 and number 93 respectively on the Billboard Hot 100. Critics were not immediately impressed; the 1970 review in Rolling Stone magazine by Langdon Winner was negative, with Winner feeling that, "none of the songs here rise above the uniformly dull surface." Village Voice critic Robert Christgau was more enthusiastic, saying: "While David Crosby yowls about assassinations, Young divulges darker agonies without even bothering to make them explicit. Here the gaunt pain of Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere fills out a little—the voice softer, the jangling guitar muted behind a piano. Young's melodies—every one of them—are impossible to dismiss. He can write 'poetic' lyrics without falling flat on his metaphor even when the subject is ecology or crumbling empire. And despite his acoustic tenor, he rocks plenty. A real rarity: pleasant and hard at the same time." Critical reaction has improved with time; by 1975, Rolling Stone was referring to the album as a "masterpiece", and Gold Rush is now considered a classic album in Young's recording career. In 2014, the album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Wikipedia

Rating

3.68

Votes

7226
Genres
Rock
Folk
Singer Songwriter

Reviews

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Thu Jun 22 2023
5

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.

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Mon Jun 19 2023
4

Thoroughly enjoyed. Very melancholy album sung through a beautiful voice

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Tue Jun 13 2023
3

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

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Sun Jun 25 2023
2

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.

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Tue Jun 13 2023
5

classis a little bit high lol

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Sat Jun 17 2023
5

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

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Tue Jun 20 2023
5

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.

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Sat Jun 24 2023
5

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!

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Wed Jun 28 2023
5

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

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Thu Jun 29 2023
5

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.

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Sun Jul 02 2023
5

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.

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Tue Jul 11 2023
5

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

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Wed Jul 12 2023
5

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

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Fri Jul 14 2023
5

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

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Sat Jul 15 2023
5

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

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Tue Jul 18 2023
5

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

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Thu Jul 20 2023
5

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.

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Mon Jul 24 2023
5

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

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Fri Jul 28 2023
5

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.

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Tue Aug 01 2023
5

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

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Wed Aug 02 2023
5

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

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Wed Aug 02 2023
5

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

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Sun Aug 06 2023
5

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.

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Mon Aug 07 2023
5

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

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Sun Aug 20 2023
5

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.

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Tue Aug 22 2023
5

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.

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Tue Aug 22 2023
5

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

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Wed Aug 23 2023
5

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

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Thu Aug 24 2023
5

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.

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Tue Aug 29 2023
5

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.

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Thu Aug 31 2023
5

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

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Sat Sep 02 2023
5

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.

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Sat Sep 02 2023
5

Neil Young is always good stuff.

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Tue Sep 05 2023
5

Love it, and very childhood memorable.

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Fri Sep 08 2023
5

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

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Tue Sep 26 2023
5

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

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Tue Sep 26 2023
5

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

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Thu Sep 28 2023
5

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.

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Sat Oct 07 2023
5

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

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Sat Oct 07 2023
5

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.

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Tue Oct 10 2023
5

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

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Tue Oct 10 2023
5

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

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Fri Oct 20 2023
5

This is a fucking masterpiece.

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Tue Oct 24 2023
5

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

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Wed Oct 25 2023
5

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.

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Wed Oct 25 2023
5

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.

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Fri Oct 27 2023
5

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.

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Thu Nov 02 2023
5

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

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Fri Nov 03 2023
5

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

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Tue Nov 07 2023
5

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!

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Tue Nov 07 2023
5

This album is so right up my alley!

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Fri Nov 10 2023
5

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

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Mon Nov 13 2023
5

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

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Wed Nov 15 2023
5

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

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Sat Nov 18 2023
5

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.

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Sun Nov 19 2023
5

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.

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Wed Nov 22 2023
5

Absolute gem, every track brought me back in time.

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Thu Nov 23 2023
5

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

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Mon Nov 27 2023
5

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

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Tue Nov 28 2023
5

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…

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Thu Nov 30 2023
5

One of my top albums for sure

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Sat Dec 02 2023
5

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.

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Sun Dec 03 2023
5

Great album but not even my favorite Neil Young.

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Thu Jun 22 2023
4

A great album overall. You can feel Young growing as a songwriter, with songs such as Southern Man being particular standouts. That said, I don't think it can compete with his next album, Harvest, which stands as an outright masterpiece.

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Thu Jun 22 2023
4

Niet geluisterd, maar ken dit album zeer goed. Ik hou ervan.

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Fri Jun 23 2023
4

Second Neil Young in a row, and it was perfect to demonstrate my comment yesterday about his versatility. Yesterday an album that was meh in the best case, and today one that is classic and almost perfect.

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Sun Jun 25 2023
4

Very mellow, almost Dylan with a different voice.

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Mon Jun 26 2023
4

Now this was a good Neil Young record. Bunch of early 70’s southern folky rock.

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Mon Jun 26 2023
4

excellent album with neil young’s signature voice and folk/rock stylings. rock solid. highlights: “southern man”, “oh, lonesome me”, “birds”.

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Mon Jun 26 2023
4

8/10 folk / country / rock. solide album. dommage pas sur spotify

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Wed Jun 28 2023
4

Southern change gonna come at last. Best track: Southern Man

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Mon Jul 03 2023
4

This was a pleasant folk, country and rock album. While I don't think this was really my favourite of any of those genres, it was a nice album to spend half an hour of the evening enjoying. It was also kept interesting by breaking up the country and folk tracks with some more energetic rock. Overall a good album. Favourite: When You Dance I Can Really Love

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Thu Jul 13 2023
4

Ateh que foi legal, nao sabia que eu gostava de Neil Young

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Thu Jul 13 2023
4

I appreciate that it puts me on the wrong side of history but… Sweet Home Alabama is a much better song than Southern Man, right? There are some beautiful moments on this album but it’s also pretty whiny and nasal. Also, Spotify.

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Thu Jul 13 2023
4

One of Neil Young's great 70s albums!

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Thu Jul 13 2023
4

Yet another golden hour from one of the most consistently captivating songwriters and guitarists of all time.

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Tue Jul 18 2023
4

Some good songs, quintessential Young. Still doesn't quite jive with me.

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Tue Jul 18 2023
4

Only love can break your heart is a truly great song. I like this Neil Young a lot. Not the biggest fan of his voice, but it hits a groove after a while.

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Fri Jul 21 2023
4

I dig it, makes me wish I weren’t pot-committed to Spotify as far as playlist building goes, a lot of these make for great road trip songs but Neil Young has pulled his music from that platform. I thought I’d hate it but I didn’t find his voice annoying like I thought off the first track, and the horn on After the Gold Rush sort of won me over early.

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Fri Jul 21 2023
4

Following the success of Deja vu, Neil Young shifts from blues rock to all sorts of folky styles. And it really works out for him. For some reason, indieheads considers the first two tracks to be his best songs. I thought "Tell Me Why" lacked anything special, while "After the Gold Rush" was a boring ballad, and after three listens, I still didn't get the appeal. The tracks after that, however, really impressed me. We got some sick fingerpicking and some catchy pop tracks. Thought it got weaker near the end, especially hated "Birds." It's a versatile short listen that's great for introducing Neil Young to people.

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Wed Jul 26 2023
4

The title track and 'I Believe In You' are absolutely heart-wrenching. Beautiful album, wish I discovered it sooner.

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Thu Jul 27 2023
4

Oh Neil Young. Just finger yourself in front of me. Come on.

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