Reviews (page 10 of 13)
poop
Neil is a great writer and he's written at least 4 great songs for this album. Not his best, but really good stuff.
This is good, but I don’t hear anything that differentiates it from any of the several other albums by Neil Young on this list. I know he is talented, but to be the most represented artist here I think should come with a bit more variety in the work presented. no offense, Neil. I just don’t understand the rationale that went into assembling the list.
Young knows how to sound emotional, and the emotions run the gamut on this album.
Neil can write some pretty good songs, but he insists on singing them. It works on some of them, but I really don't like his voice most of the time.
I can't. His voice is sooo whiney. When he harmonizing is ok but it's like he's trying to sing way to high for his voice. Just no
good album
Listened a million times
Another 4.5 star album. There’s a few songs I skip but overall this is just a great album.
God knows I love neil young but I'm not sure I can fully get behind it Still awesome though. Southern Man rocks. Lynrd Skynyrd can shut it
Maybe I'm a loser but aside from title track and southern man pretty forgettable
used to be an all-timer and now it's just kinda...there...6/10
I only know Neil Young from CSNY and his hits, so this was new to me. I didn't really know what his sound was. On my first go around I didn't like it too much, to be honest, but after a re-listen, reading along with the lyrics, I enjoyed it very much.
Brilliant songs, brilliant variety and just brilliant everything.
That was a delight.
Distinct sound not as good as later stuff
Neil Young's music would sound better if Neil Young wasn't singing
Neil Young is alright, not nearly as good as he thinks himself to be but decent enough. Surprised to be able to listen this on Spotify since I remember Neil saying he was going to pull his music from Spotify during his major tantrum over Joe Rogan a few years ago. Probably forgotten that he had sold a lot of the rights to his music to an investment fund and so had only limited control over it.
Fuckin Neil Young man. Great song, sleepy, upbeat, sleepy, rockin, annoying, melodic, sleepy again. He's just got too much material.
Keep on rockin' in the free world, Neil! No notes
One of my favorite albums of all time. I love the way you can feel the state of mind Neil is in when he puts out an album. The disillusionment of the 70s lies heavy on these songs.
Not generally a happy place, it is a wonderful place of influence that Young creates with this record.
35/100 - some good songs. Bit old school for me
Quite enjoyable poppy folk.
Wonderful folky country rock album from thee Neil Young. Neil is a great lyricist, you can see what he’s seeing and feel what he’s feeling. A lot of great songs here - some queiter and lonelier, some emotional and loving (or heartbroken) and some that just rock. He’s also got a unique and wonderful voice (though it’s an acquired taste), with a gentle vibrato and haunting quality. Beautiful vocal harmonies support simple but effective melodies. Just a great album all around.
Neil Young still sounds like a muppet, but this is at least bearable.
Not much to say except really solid album full of Neil Young, total comfort music. This is really solid classic rock with some nice tones being explored. Looking forward to revisit more.
Neil Young's voice is really abrasive to me. On this album it sounds like Kermit the Frog mixed with a small child. It sucks because everything else about Neil Young's music is right up my alley and is also very good. I really really want to love Neil, but I always just get stuck on his voice. It pulls me out of any immersion I get from the story of his songs or appreciation of talent and skill of the instrumentalists. Maybe one day I'll be able to listen to an album of his and not get distracted by his voice, but today is not that day. That aside, it's an excellent album. The songs are interesting from a lyric and instrumental standpoint, and there's a ton of variation between the songs that no songs sound too similar to each other. Favorite Song(s): Southern Man, Cripple Creek Ferry
Best Song: Southern Man. Neil finally bringing the energy to play. The way his unique vocal qualities mirror that of the guitar are fantastic. Worst Song: Cripple Creek Ferry. They've just gotta stop with this "Cripple Creek" business. Overall: I've learned to love me some Neil Young, but a lot of this album harkens back to how I felt when I didn't quite "get" him. I think he sometimes gets stuck in this awkward middle ground, where he doesn't rock as hard as he's capable, nor does he recede into the muted and melancholy singer-songwriter that he also excels at, and instead lands in a relatively boring middle. This album has too much of that middle.
Smooth and mellow, like a highland whiskey. Come to think of it, ...
Although Lynryd Skynryd seems to have taken offense at this album, or at least the Song Southern Man, After The Gold Rush is a true classic of early 70s country rock and proto-type of Southern Rock. Almost every song is a classic, especially the aforementioned Southern Man, Tell Me Why, the title track, Don't Let it bring You Down, and Only Love Can Break Your Heart. There are quiet ballads (Only Love Can Break Your Heart) and rocking tunes (Don't Let It Bring You Down), and everything in between. What's the most amazing is how different it is from the work he did with CSNY or Buffalo Springfield. Perhaps it's because Young is in the driver's seat here instead of a supporting role. Whatever the reason, this is pure Neil Young and toward his 70s peak. It's also his first fully realized album. His first, eponymous, album was fine but yielded no note worthy songs. The follow up Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, was more on track (especially the songs Cinnamon Girl and Down By The River) but aren't nearly as complete as After The Gold Rush. The follow-up Harvest was also phenomenal, but Young wouldn't see an album like this (and Harvest) again until Comes a Time, 8 years later.
difficult to evaluate because I know so many CSNY titles and it's hard to compare. 3
Neil Young's *After the Gold Rush* feels like the soundtrack to a melancholy daydream—vivid, strange, and existentially unsettling. It's the kind of record that unpacks your nostalgia in real-time. "Tell Me Why" is deceptively optimistic, like a cigarette disguised as meditation. Then, there’s the title track, which feels like you’re reading sci-fi poetry from an old hippie’s diary. Young’s voice isn’t for everyone, but it doesn’t matter—it’s exactly what you’d want on a hazy afternoon, when you're thinking about the end of the world while making coffee. It’s flawed, brilliant, and oddly prophetic.
Southern Man and Birds are great tracks. Rest is half decent. 3.5stars
Yeah, a begrudging thumbs up.
I may have already said this; but since the start of this project I totally come around on Neil Young. This is among his best. Title track is excellent, and probably the best on the album, but the whole album is solid. I like the guitar tone in Southern Man. Yep, I'm giving Neil Young five stars. Nobody's more surprised than me.
Back to back Neil Young albums, let's go. I love the way he focuses so much on getting the feeling of his songs right instead of being perfectly produced. The songwriting and human imperfections are what make his music special.
Tight. Southern Man is a phenomenal song to rage too. The rest of it has nice weird rockers and weird soft stuff, very much on brand. I like when you dance, don't let it bring out down, only love... But. Southern man. Mr Young a master of the d minor blazer. Not like the d major (controversial?) Sweet home. When will you pay them back? - folks, who think they are serious people, will dance all around themselves to say why it's not a legitimate question, or why it's not young's to ask. It is a legitimate question, but I've done the south extensively and expect those greasy cocksucker sons of slavers will never answer.
This is my second Neil Young album for this project, and another one I haven't heard before. I think the only ones I knew before were Harvest and Harvest Moon, then On the Beach and now this. He's a helluva songwriter, and I find his music very comforting.
Það er eitthvað svo gott við þetta. Hrátt, flutningslega og tilfinningalega.
Every song hits very well, I love the melancholy, his fragile voice and the raw acoustics. First 5/5 so far!
Sickly sweet singing Poetically stunning Soul igniting rock
an old favorite such a beautiful album
Just his 3rd studio album. Not a bad song to be found. Such a unique force and special talent: piano, guitar, harmonica, poetic songwriting, and arrangements. Some may not like his voice, I find it compelling. He shows such range on this album from gentle ballads to shredding savage guitar and vocals.
I love his voice and the cadence of the album. Timeless/
Songs. So many great songs. Some would become classics and continue to grow for years to come. Others capture a moment in time.
This album sounds like the intermediate step between folk-rock and what Neil Young's music eventually became, so it's neither here nor there. Many of the tracks are basically acoustic, and no one can pull off having piano on every other track. It sounds a bit like a very minimalistic version of those symphonic covers of rock songs, and again, the folk charm that would make this type of arrangement work isn't there. Best track: "Southern Man".
Recognized it as early '70s pretty early on
Very solid, but the title track’s vocals are very annoying which lost it a star.
Solid.
Neil young is great, a few bangers on here but ultimately won’t be listening to the whole thing again
Neil Young. Ennit. 4.4
This album is perhaps the most definitive evidence that despite the naysayers, Neil Young can absolutely sing, he just has a unique cadence as well as a roundabout way of getting across his emotions. This album is mostly just pretty, with hints of that regular ol' rock 'n' roll edge sprinkled throughout its short runtime, but I would call this album mostly a ballads album. Now, Young is talented when it comes to making those types of songs, and it is why I prefer his solo works over those with Crazy Horse, but I'll admit I was a tad fatigued by the sound, and was happy it ended pretty quickly. Otherwise, I could've seen this album not sitting with me quite as well, but instead I was happily whisked away into a somber lullaby, and when everything swelled into a climactic piano paring or even a rock song, it was all the more mesmerizing. I think it could just stand to cut some of the fat, such as the oddball finale, and I'd say the ballad after ballad approach can lead to the idea well feeling a tad dry, but this album still earns its title as one of Young's best, even if it isn't my favorite.
Superbe album, Nowhere Man est une piste incroyable ! Ça fait du bien de découvrir autre chose de Neil Young que l’incontournable Harvest, quelle énergie ; ça c’est du bon rock ! Noté 4 ici mais plus proche d’un 4.5.
Neil machine
Lmao I don’t understand why Neil Young deserves every second of music he’s ever put out on this list. I continue to stand by the fact that he’s fine, but genuinely all of his music sounds the same to me. And his voice gets real old after a while.
Damn. Don't you just wanna give Neil Young a hug? He needs a hug. 5/5
I still don't like this voice very much, but the harmonies largely make up for that.
solid album, good voice, can’t complain, good country rock album
What is it people see in this guy? I don’t get it. He can’t sing. He doesn’t do anything spectacular on the guitar. Am I missing something?
In my opinion, his best album. Tip to tail, I love this thing, know all the lyrics, and would spin it weekly on full blast so I could sing along and not hear myself. One year at summer camp back in the early 70’s, I had a tent leader who played a 12 string acoustic with harmonic neck holder, and he just crushed Neil Young songs. It sounded so damn sweet, and I was hooked forever. Many great songs on this album, but my favorite is Cripple Creek Ferry, mostly because I loved singing it, and it made no sense.
Feels like re-watching a nostalgic film from childhood which is a lot darker and sadder than you remembered. Great Tracks: Southern Man, Don't Let It Bring You Down, I Believe in You, Only Love Can Break Your Heart, After The Golf Rush, Tell Me Why, Oh, Lonesome Me, Cripple Creek Ferry, When You Dance, I Can Really Love Mid Tracks: Birds 9/10 Cover: 7/10
First song absolutely had me jaw-dropped from its quality in the melodies, harmonies and pure emotion. It couldn't quite keep up but wow I fell in love with Neil Young.
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.
Absolutely fantastic after 50+ years
4.5/5
Really opens up on the second side, becomes something special.
classic
Easy to listen to, not to many stand out songs other than Southern Man which is fantastic. 3.5
An enjoyable listen although quite slow moving in parts
Fan of Neil young since more than 50 years. The great Loner!!!
Meh.
Not an unpleasant listening experience. Feel like I can hear influence on later artists. Not my thing.
This list has made me a fan of Neil Young. Didn't have too strong of an opinion beforehand. But now I really like him.
There are too many Neil Young albums on this list, please eliminate three I am not a crackpot.
I’m not a massive alternative rock fan (or a Neil young fan at that) but this was a nice listen, although I thought it was a bit whiny, I still enjoyed it
Ok vibes; annoying vocals
Good
I feel like Neil Young is a 'love him or hate him' kind of musician. I love his voice, always have. Super unique. And while the whole acoustic singer/songwriter, vaguely county, vaguely folk genre isn't really my cup of tea, I do really like most of his music, particularly the more rock-oriented stuff. Oddly, I've always hated Crosby Stills Nash & Young. Anyway, for this album specifically, there's a lot to like if you can get on with the vocals. And I know that not everyone can. But the songs are pretty brilliant. Neil Young has always been a great lyricist and this album has some of his best. Great guitar work too, particularly on Southern Man. Funny how Lynyrd Skynyrd totally missed the point of that song. Or maybe they didn't and were just like 'fuck off this is how we like it' which seems a little more likely. I'm totally in Camp Neil on that one.... But this album is super short which is kind of a bummer, would be nice to have just another two or three songs. 3.5/5 rounding up because 3 seems too low.
oh i know this album already and i love it:)
Kind of lame and way too mopey. Could have used a few more months before getting another Neil Young album on this list.
Would be better with a less annoying vocalist.
I really feel like I have been missing out by not listening to Neil Young sooner. I don't think there is a bad song on this album! His voice is definitely unique to me but it just blends with the vibe of his music so well. Somewhere I heard or read someone describe his music as the perfect camping music, and I think that is probably true even if I am not a camper. I'd love to listen to it on a hike instead or by the beach maybe. Something about it lends to a relaxed feeling I tend to associate with being out in nature. I also feel like I hear the seeds of some of the sound of "On the Beach" in the song "Southern Man". I haven't heard "Harvest" yet which I know was released between this album and "On the Beach", so wondering is there are any bridges there as well. Anyway, I loved this album am excited for the rest of the Neil Young albums on this list.
Кантри для любителей кантри. Ничего особенного. Обычная деревенская музыка для реднеков.
4.5/5.
Vaikka folk-rock ja country-rock ovatkin noin yleisesti ihan ok musiikkia, ei Neil Young oikein innosta.
Интересный голос, но именно этот альбом не сильно попал в меня
++: Southern Man, Don't Let It Bring You Down +: Tell Me Why, After the Goldrush, Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Till the Morning Comes, Oh, Lonesome Me, When You Dance I Can Really Love, Cripple Creek Ferry +-: I Believe in You 7,6/10
Fuck Neil Young.
This is one of my favorite albums of all time and this listen only reinforced what I love about it so much. The songs are simple and direct. While the subject matter is often insular, there is a worldliness and a weariness all throughout this album that makes it a classic to me.
Fantastic. I wonder if this will be my highest rated Neil Young, or if Harvest will pip it. Let me tell you, it's hard to think of a better opening quartet of songs. I've been singing OLCBYH ever since listening to it (I'm quite an annoying person to be fair).
this album was good but i don’t think that i would listen to it again. there are some good songs on here though, such as; southern man, birds and i believe in you. overall this album was good, it’s just not my style!
Maybe because it leans into his folk side more but this is a neil young album i'm finally okay with.
I like this better than the other CSNY solo albums we’ve seen here. Some powerful songs included here, but I find I like Till the Morning Comes best.
This is a solid album and “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” is one of my favorite songs. Wish I could give it 3.5.
Well, I dreamed I saw the knights in armor coming Sayin' something about a queen There were peasants singin' and drummers drumming And the archer split the tree There was a fanfare blowin' to the sun That was floating on the breeze Look at mother nature on the run in the nineteen seventies I was lyin' in a burned-out basement With a full moon in my eyes I was hopin' for replacement When the sun burst through the sky There was a band playin' in my head And I felt like getting high I was thinkin' about what a friend had said I was hopin' it was a lie Thinkin' about what a friend had said I was hopin' it was a lie Well, I dreamed I saw the silver spaceships lying In the yellow haze of the sun There were children crying and colors flying All around the chosen ones All in a dream, all in a dream The loading had begun Flyin' mother nature's silver seed To a new home in the sun Flyin' mother nature's silver seed To a new home Fucking hippies, man. Anyway, its a pretty good album. 4/5
This used to be my favorite album as a teenager, but today I found it super annoying. His voice grated on my nerves.
OK. Bit spare, almost spartan. 3
could i write poetry to this? n
There's a good run of songs starting with Only Love Can Break Your Heart through Don't Let it Bring You Down - Southern Man being the standout - but Neil Young is definitely a Greatest Hits artist.
I am not a fan of Neil Youngs voice I guess. Southern Man is a powerful song but When You Dance I Can Really Love You is probably the song I most liked and was surprised about. The songwriting and musicianship is there, I just cannot get past the voice.
I had to stop at "After the Gold Rush." I'm certain that this album is good if you like Neil Young. The days that a Young album shows up are basically vacation days. I know I'm in for a two or three out of five and I know I'm not going to enjoy it.
In my first Neil Young review, I wrote that even though I didn’t particularly like that album, it showed me that there was probably a Neil Young album that I would like. I think that is this album.
Not one of my favourite NY albums.
It has taken me 44 years but I finally get it.
It was ok. Never a NY fan but it was not bad.
I love Neil Young but his high pitched singing on a few of these songs was almost nursery rhymish, I still liked most of it but he lost a few cool points on that.
Now I have never listened to a full Neil young record so this was the first time diving into one of his complete works. I respect the song craft, the intention and the urgency but many of the tunes did not land with me! I could chalk it up to a different sociopolitical context of folk music or maybe just from a taste perspective I was not too big of a fan of his voice, I am not sure. Either way I connected more with the songs that had some tempo and a drummer, the slow folk songs while beautiful did not grab me as much as I thought they might. It did make me interested in the rest of his catalog though!
This right here is a banger country-folk album. Not that crappy country pop that plays on the radio nowadays. This album has some great songwriting, beautiful tunes throughout its' entirety, and superb production. Neil Young paints colorful and deep paintings with these tracks, and I'm here to stay and enjoy all of them. Best - Only Love Can Break Your Heart (MPF), Southern Man, Oh, Lonesome Me, I Believe In You, and literally most if not all of this album. Worst - NOT A SINGLE MISS 4.50-4.75/5
无感
His best one by a considerable margin, in my opinion. The first half of this is really good. Trails off in the second half, but even that's still listenable. Should be the final Neil Young album, I think? Can't believe I had to listen to 8 of these, fucking hell.
One of those albums where it’s a delight to sing along or whistle along to. This is a weird one for me, because I never thought it would become a five-star album for me, but it has. I mean, the dude sings like a muppet. I’m kinda sitting here scratching my thick monkey cranium and trying to figure out why I like Neil Young but dislike Bruce Springsteen.
Never been a huge fan of Neil. I don't mind this, but I'm not sure i'm a convert
Yep, sounds like Neil Young. Some stuff I recognize from the radio or something. Voice is acquired taste, but harmonies are wonderful.
I was bored + didn’t finish it
It's beautiful, Neil Young isn't for everyone, but it's for me.
Neil Young’s voice is a bit whiny for me. I know it’s what makes him unique, but sometimes it doesn’t work, like in After the Gold Rush. Other times it really does and he makes something beautiful like I Believe in You. I think having harmonies behind him really helps. Of course the best song on this album is Southern Man.
Ehh it's fine. Beyond Southern Man I think it's just fine. It's no Harvest.
Was kind of busy working while listening to this one so I didn't write up any notes on it but I thought it was really enjoyable. My impression was that it was a 4 but I'm guessing if I actually paid more attention to the lyrics and songwriting that it would probably be a 5.
Neil Young is a treasure. His song writing is always poignant, his voice is somber but never sad. He always feels authentic. This album always feels like a turning point for Neil, where he really starts to become well rounded in his writing. Songs about love and social issues. I also love how he breaks away from just folk or acoustic songs to start incorporating more electric guitar. Some songs really rock and get loud. This is a great album. Some of my favorite Neil Young songs.
Had my Frank Reynolds “I get it” gif moment listening to this in the shower today after soliciting tons of Neil Young recommendations from Sameen over the past year… not that I didn’t already really like this but quite simply, the way that Neil Young’s voice hit my ears today (especially on those first three tracks) shook me. The way that he sings alone is extremely moving, and that’s not even accounting for the stunningly sad lyrics and the gorgeous instrumentation. Thumbs up from me!
I’ve been on a Neil listening spree since we saw him on Sameen’s bday. He has so much output and it’s not consistent in its quality or style which I absolutely adore because I see him as a truly fearless creator who accidentally fell into celebrity. This album is so consistent in quality even though it is quite dynamic. Some of the Young lyrics that I have connected with the deepest and some really fun songs!
By my accounts the practical pick for Neil's best album, it kicks off maybe the most productive and prolific half decade any musician has ever had... my connection to Neil (my favourite artist) is kinda bizarre as I always liked him but his music never connected until I decided to put on Harvest when we were first renovating the garage that Hearth opened in October 2019... my motivation was actually to try and 'impress' or 'relate to' Rowan's dad who was helping us insulate the walls and rewire the lights... In retrospect it was kind of silly but it was the first time I actually listened to a Neil album and i was hooked right away... The timing was funny because once pandemic lockdowns started I was basically listening to Neil Young every day, other than my friends on discord his music was the most consistent 'relationship' I had in lockdown and I was often listening to him when I felt down and he always helped me feel better. I have become very endeared to this old ass man and I am very proud to call him my favourite artist. This album is one of two that never leaves my phone (with The Blue Album) and it is endlessly relistenable... the music on here was famously inspired by a screenplay that Dean Stockwell wrote with a guy who wrote lyrics for Captain Beefheart which is really cool cuz at times you can kinda tell its a soundtrack for a movie that doesnt exist... anyways, every track here is perfection for me and its the last neil album that Danny Whitten played on before he died (see: The Needle and the Damage Done) I'm sure I'll be playing this game for every neil album that comes up here but I do think this is ultimately his best album, but im sure I'll be saying something different when we listen to Rust Never Sleeps and On The Beach...
The Americana/country rock music that emerged in the early 1970s sounded equally new and old (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Band, the Laurel Canyon artists, etc), and Neil Young fit right in. I get it, his voice can be a deal breaker, but if you like Neil at all, this is probably right in your wheelhouse. I happen to like the music enough to get past his voice. This is probably the best example of Neil Young from this era.
Wistful and blissful country tinged rock. His voice is so frail it really sells the tender heartbroken songs. He dials in the Americana sound perfectly with that combination of acoustic guitars, piano, harmonica, and vocal harmonies - everything very simple and understated but just right. My favorite Neil Young is live over studio and the harder rocking stuff - the rockers on this aren't his best, but "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" "Don't Let it Bring You Down" "Oh Lonesome Me" & "I Believe in You" are the pinnacle of soft rock intimate NY.
I really enjoyed this album. It has that slow feel like Elliott Smith but a lot more pop-ish, which I feel might get tiring after a while. But there were a few standouts like Birds that I think I'll be adding to my playlist. Overall enjoyed this a lot and will definitely revisit some songs.
Absolute genius, now thankfully back on Spotify. One of the best to ever do it, and this is probably his (solo) masterwork. Not a note out of place, and unimprovable in my view. What a man; what an album.
This was okay 3/5
Not my favourite
Love me some Neil Young. More like this please!
Fantastic set of songs. The opening sequence ending with “Southern Man” is really strong. And “Southern Man” in particular is tremendous. Very powerful and rocks hard. “Don’t Let It Bring You Down” is another great song. The piano has a sort of cinematic sound to it. Love that riff on “When You Dance I Can Really Love.” And the jamming in the back half of the song is great. I wouldn’t mind even more jamming on this album. The band is great. 4.5
No one plays a minor chord quite like Neil Young. I don't know why, but sometimes he'll have a song with a chord progression in it and instead of an expected major chord, he'll throw a minor chord right at you and make you feel things. It happens pretty quickly on this album (7 seconds in) and his beautiful vocal melody on top really makes your ears focus on the speakers of whatever device you are listening too. I love this first track, it gets going right away, and then blossoms beautifully with more and more volume and voices. I'm so into the saturation/distortion on his voice on "Southern Man" that cuts right through the buttery smooth vocal harmonies beside it. Such a cool sound. Now that I think of it, halfway into this album I'm realizing that the vocal parts are really the highlight. Solid release, with many memorable moments.
Enjoyed.
5/10
6/10
I have mixed feelings about this album. It’s got some really good songs, and there’s not really anything on here I dislike. At the same time, for an album with 11 tracks and a runtime of only 34 minutes, it somehow manages to drag a little. Maybe that’s because most of the songs are slower tempo. There are also times where Young’s higher pitch gets a bit grating. It grew on me after a second listen, but it’s not my favorite Neil Young album. It definitely has a more mellow vibe than some of his other stuff, which isn’t bad but requires a certain mood to enjoy. The only song I knew from this album going in was “Southern Man.” Before his feud with Spotify, Young was famous for his feud with Lynrd Skynrd, who did not take kindly to this song (resulting in the famous anti-Neil Young lyrics in “Sweet Home Alabama”). With its multiple long electric guitar solos and relatively uptempo feeling compared to most of the songs on this album, it feels kind of out of place. It’s probably my favorite song on the album and is a classic for a reason. My other favorites are “Don’t Let It Bring You Down,” which in addition to really interesting lyrics has a crazy good bass line, and “When You Dance I Can Really Love,” the only other uptempo song. Am I the only one who feels like Ben Folds ripped off “After the Gold Rush” for “Brick” after hearing this album? Or that Bread kind of ripped off “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” when they did “Everything I Own”? I think I initially would’ve given this a 3, but after another listen I’ll give it a 4/5.
A quiet, raw, and honest album, laying the groundwork for who knows how many earnest singer-songwriters. The songs are pretty excellent and the focus and vision are clear. I hate to be prissy about this, but the number one issue is that Neil’s shrieky singing voice is just never going to be my cup of tea… I got over that issue with Bob Dylan, but I can’t get all the way there with him. I also think Neil’s hard rock side isn’t perfectly integrated—Southern Man is great, but When You Dance is a mismatch. Summing up, it’s a well-written and sometimes beautiful album, even if the performances aren’t always my favorite. Best song: Southern Man
Good grief!
One of my favourite albums of all time. Such a consistently quality record - I like many others keep a playlist of a track I'd like to remember from each album on the list, and I'd find it impossible to pick one from this, because they're all great (other than Cripple Creek Ferry). Maybe I just won't bother because I know them all so well anyway. The title track is an obvious highlight - one of the most poignant and beautiful rock songs ever, and 54 years later the idea of needing spaceships to extract humanity from earth in the face of ecological breakdown looks eerily prophetic. Southern Man is also incredible, a great example of Young's ability to write biting and satirical music. It's not just grander themes that he deals with so well though as he also covers love, loneliness and resilience, the whole time his voice evoking such strong feeling that he almost sounds on the verge of cracking with sadness at times. 5* for sure!
non mi piace per nulla
Not a fan. I’m sure that comment is sacrilegious.
I love this album. More diverse than expected, all to the good. I think it’s the ballads that resonate with me, all uniquely Neil. “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” is beautiful, and reminds me in the chorus a bit like a Motown ‘60s cut. At first that may have you go “huh?” until you learn that Neil started his career in a band signed to Motown that included Rick James… which blows my mind. Thinking of those two in the same band…crazy! And just when you think he’s gonna lull you into a mellow mood with the ballads, he hits with “Southern Man” which is just so damn good. Apparently Lynard Skynard was so butt-hurt that their beloved South was being called out for entrenched racism by Neil, they wrote “Sweet Home Alabama” as a retort. Great art pushing and challenging us, helping to create more great art. 🤔🤔🤔Overall, I think this is one of Neil’s best albums, right up there with Harvest and his other gems. Also picked up an original vinyl copy at Goodwill for $2 that sounds fantastic. Nice!!! 😎😎😎
An ok album ***
Typical whiny Neil Young. I don't like preachy music. Not a fan. Waaaaaaay too many albums related to him on this list. I really struggled to get through this album. Few gems on this album, and when they turn up they just remind you how someone else has covered them so much better than the original songwriter. Definitely won't be revisiting this album anytime soon.
Easy 5. I am yet to find a Folk Rock album I don’t like. The combination of complex solos and a classic, strong sound with the tenderness and beautiful melodies of folk give this album a well earned appraisal. This record is wonderfully placed in that you get the somber songs that make you genuinely feel things, but not without getting too monotonous, making sure to throw in some louder, energized tracks. Yes, Neil Young’s voice can be a bit corny at times, but the words are strong and clear. This album is a classic and a great part of Neil Young’s already terrific discography.
Best Neil Young, classic after classic all in a row. Would be a 5 if there was any justice in the world.
Nicht meins, die Falsettstimme und das Folk-Geschrummel. Ein Album resp. Titel für die 2nd-Choice-Liste.
Ich mag seine Stimme. Aber das Album bleibt tief in den 70er stecken und es fehlen mir die Highlights.
Beautiful.
Classic Neil young 4*
First three songs did nothing for me. BUT wow Southern Man is a great song. The rest of this album is pretty solid too. Birds is really a beautiful song. Overall although it’s not my thing,I like this album and will revisit some songs.
I do not like Neil Young, but this one is good. Opening track, After the Gold Rush, Southern Man, all excellent... But the in-between is very hit-or-miss, and they missed for me. 4/5 because I want to be true to myself, but I can see why others would rate it as perfect.
Young has grown on me over the years that i've been randomly listening to him in spots. It's a great concise folk-rock album,one of the better ones i can remember from him.
Muy soso
Maybe the best Neil Young?
Fantastic Neil.
Really enjoyed it
Just perfect.
Neil Young can get away with doing this kind of boring stuff because he's got a weird distinctive voice
This one might need another dozen or so listens
0 stars is probably more appropriate
absolute offkey nonsense
4.4
YUCK Was there more than one song on this album? I kept hearing the same whiny drivel on a loop. The lyrics seemed to be intended to strike a chord...or was that just my tympanic membrane being bludgeoned?
My second Neil Young album on this list. This one is a bit more rock than the last one, heading towards that grungier style that he did later that I prefer. This is a solid album though.
A monumental singer songwriter album that sounds so vibrant and urgent even now over 50 years after its release. Got to love Neil Young, and this is up there with his absolute best
Excellent
Not bad
Decent easy listening. I felt like this album was fine, definitely preferred the slower songs to the poppier ones. Also not a huge fan of Neil Young's voice. Overall a fine and musically safe album. Probably not something I'd come back to, but okay enough for one listen. Top tracks: Birds, I Believe in You
I am finding that I do like Neil Young kinda.
Not bad, but I don't love the tambre of his voice. 3 ish. Definitely a 2 star actually. I feel like his voice reminds me of a cat in heat. Hard to resist the urge to turn him off, except when he's not singing it doesn't bug me as much.
5/5 Fantastic album. Brilliant tracklist. Tell Me Why 5/5 After the Gold Rush 5/5 (FAV) Only Love Can Break Your Heart 5/5 Southern Man 4.5/5 Till the Morning Comes 4.5/5 Oh, Lonesome Me 3.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Don't Let It Bring You Down 5/5 Birds 5/5 When You Dance I Can Really Love 4/5 I Believe in You 5/5 Cripple Creek Ferry 4/5
Strange vibes from it. 5/5
Vocals are still hit-or-miss for me, but I enjoyed the more experimental production on this.
Uncle Neil has a lot of records. Some are great, some decidedly less so. After the Gold Rush is one of the great ones. Neil ain't for everybody but man that 5 album run from 'Everybody Knows This is Knowhere' to 'Tonight's the Night' is legendary. God-tier.
Did not really do it for me. Neil Young's voice was kind of annoying on most of the songs and it did not have the guitar that I want from Neil. I enjoy some of his other folky albums more than this. Not really bad but I don't think I'm revisiting
Didn't blow me away, he can write a good song he can't necessarily sing it
Gute Aufnahme. Ich mag die Stimme nicht.
Absolutely perfect album. Transcends time. Such a vunerable voice and such a balance between acoustic and electric instruments with incredible song writing on top of it.
Too much neil young over the past week
Excellent. Already in my library.
Hadn't heard this album before; listened to it a couple of times, but these are definitely first impressions: I'm really glad Neil Young found fame and success; he's anathema to today's talent show driven perfect voices; but like Dylan, he's not about sing star perfection; there's so much soul in his stories, and like so many albums of this era - there's so much to uncover in the mix alone. These songs have a weight to them, even when he's singing about Fairies. Oh. Ferries. Still, I've made my point.
Solid Neil album.
Oh my gods, is this whole thing sung in this godawful falsetto? Hey! I know "Only love can break your heart" - unfortunately I know it from the infinitely superior St Etienne version. The best thing I can say about listening to this album is that it is mercifully short. The best thing that I can say about this album is that there's tracks on here that have inspired other people to make better music.
Country folk rock de Young. Un 4.
Instant hit this, bought it on cd as soon as I listened once
Beautiful album. Not quite a 5 for me but v close
Bliss
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
Neil Young sold out constantly and tried to hide it. He's a fake and his music sounds like it. I will not listen to Neil Young.
neil young sucks
Another Neil Young album... I am honestly starting to get really tired of him. Granted, he has made some good songs, and some albums of his are definitely good (like 'Harvest Moon'), and perhaps he has been more influential over the years than I recognize, but I think he is criminally overrated. This album is a perfect example of that. I don't even know what it's doing on this list. It's extremely beige - even below mediocre. No songs stands out. His singing is sub-par for what I'd consider professional. The only good thing is that it's fairly short. Weak 2.
I've lost count of how many Neil Young album we have gotten by now but it's really become too many. I have, due to them not being on Spotify since quite recently, skipped a few. Was needless to say not expecting much of this album after all the others, I did think it was ok though. I don't really see the greatness of these songs but I think "Southern Man" stood out as the best. I'll give it a weak 3 and hope there are not that many more Neil Young albums left.
I've heard of Neil Young before but never listened one of his albums. This one is actually pretty great. The use of acoustic and electric guitar is nice and his vocals are great. For me, there are some duds keeping it away from a 5/5.
Always got time for Neil Young, this is an excellent album. Although I do prefer the Saint Etienne version of Only Love Can Break Your Heart.
I can respect Young as a songwriter but this just wasn't for me!
I really enjoyed this album, more than I thought I would. And more than some of his other work from the late 80s.
This is a truly excellent album. There's not a bad track on it. Southern Man and After the Gold Rush are among the best of his long amazing career. The non-hits are interesting too.
It's not Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, but it's still peak Neil Young.
southern man has stereo stuff going on . guitar solo only on left. that was interesting. i donot really like anything else abt this album. bt it was acoustic guitar, piano, electric guitar and was cool to notice how the song is not just one strum on an acoustic guitar. different instrument are doing their own stufs
1970. Country Folk. 8/10. Southern man / oh lonesome me
I don't have much to say about this album other than it's calm country folk music, I enjoyed listening to it. 3/5
Oh great. Another whiny Neil Young album.
Another good album by Neil Young. The more I listen to his discography (which appears aplenty on this list), the more I like his voice, which is very specific and unique. I love Southern Man, there's a really good cover of it by Inter Arma, but original is just an insanely good song. Really enjoyable, I think I should have a closer look at other records by Neil soon.
3.5, fitted to the activity whilst listening but not my usual vibe
Love this album!
It's a beautiful album tbh, but I don't think anything special about it
Really enjoyed this. In my mind Neil Young is firmly dad rock, but I guess that just means I'm a dad now.
4.5
Neil's best album
Classic after classic. Although I bet Eeyore has this album on repeat .
-I definitely like the rock elements best -Another good album for pondering and yearning -Imma be real I can’t stand his voice in some of these songs but it’s cool in some others -Favorites are Southern Man and When You Dance I Can Really Love
Melancholy, a bit tedious in parts. Overall not bad! 5/10
Ganz ok
It's the combination of folk production mixed with poetic lyrics that is quintessential Neil Young. Perhaps his best.
this album, in my opinion, is fine. just fine. it’s not really my cup of tea. i can see why people adore this record, but i just can’t enjoy it the same, which is disappointing. sometimes the twang of young’s voice was pleasant, but when stripped back bare, it could be most unpleasant. i wish i liked this more because of how hyped this album is. :(
Was skeptical of his voice when the song After the Gold Rush came on, but the album grew on me.
I previously wrote that Neil Young recorded a shit ton of albums throughout his long and very prolific career and though he recorded many great albums, two of them stand out as his best. I gave five stars to Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere and rightfully so, definitely the great album credited to Neil and his band Crazy Horse that highlighted Neil's rocking side. A close second would be, After The Gold Rush, a well rounded and solid record that showcases Young's brilliant songwriting and craftsmanship, with a collection of strong tracks. Both albums are essential to anyone's cool record collection and a must-hear for aspiring Neil Young fans. Skip Trans, Everybody's Rockin' and Old Ways and go straight to the classics.
The GOAT
Not something I would listen to again
I enjoyed this album more than I thought I would. Not sure if this makes me an official Neil Young fan, but I enjoyed this a lot.
Classic in every way, meditative and reckless. Untouchable
Young's introspective side at its peak
A perfect record and one of the most beautiful albums ever made.
Unbelievably beautiful. Another great addition to the How-to-Make-Me-Shed-A-Tear list.
I know Neil Young gets a lot of hate here, and I can see why people are annoyed he has so many albums on the list. However, he's not that bad. I don't think he's brilliant either but this is a solid record with some nice songs and a good atmosphere. Not a huge fan of his voice but apart from that it's solid. Fav songs: - Tell Me Why - Only Love Can Break Your Heart
Seems I really quite like Neil Young, I had suspected so.
I'm so glad I can listen to this on Spotify. Also I really wasn't familiar with any of the songs, which was a surprise. It's great!
Our 7th(!) Neil Young album on this list. Come on. For me, the entire purpose of this project was expanding my horizons. Not listening to the same artists over and over, however influential that artist may have been. The title track is in my opinions one of the very best Neil Young ever wrote. That track aside, the album is possibly the worst out of his 7 I've now listened to start to finish.
no pienso escuchar country
Perushyvää Neil Youngia. Sitä perus countrya mitä siltä oottaakin. Parhaat: Southern Man
This man is amazing.
1. tell me uuhy - 1 2. gold ruzh - 1 3. heart - 0 4. mqn - 1.5 5. morning - 0 6. lonezome - 0 7. douun - 1 8. birdz - 0 9. love - 0 10. believe - 1 11. ferry - 0
Not my favorite of his but a few really great songs.
Solid album by Neil, not as deep as some of his other tunes, but overall an enjoyable listen
classic neil young
Neil Young. An icon and someone who always does things his own way. Giving this 5 stars as anything less would simply not do this album justice. "Tell Me Why", "After.thr Gold Rush", "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" and "Southern Man" kick off this album and the remainder, while not the same level, are still classic Neil and rock you gently to the end.
Amazing!
Decent album. Southern Man is the song I like most off this one.
Pretty great, even if not the biggest fan of Neil's voice. The instrumental are very good.
What a great album! Hard to beat. "Only Love..." and "After the Gold Rush" are surely the standouts.
Amazing album, an all-time classic! I wasn't aware that I would like this album that much.
Mellowachtig album, zeer laid back. Ieder nummer geeft stof tot nadenken.
The soundtrack of my youth. Not a bad song on the entire album!!
Some very great hits on this one.
Gotta love Neil. His albums are never quite 5 star for me, but usually worthy of 4. Southern Man is a classic.
Listened to it on a long drive and it was good vibes
One of the Important Neil Young Albums and often popped up on top of his "best albums" lists (I'll put Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere up there, but this one is close). This is the Neil Young archetype album, and it's perfect.
Listened to this while playing Glass Road solo. I lost pretty hard. Great soundtrack to my defeat...would recommend others lose to this album as well.
Brilliant album. I really loved this and can listen to it on repeat. Favourite song: Only love can break your heart and Southern Man Least favourite: everything is worth a listen Album artwork: Great cover
Enjoyed it
This is my fourth Neil Young album to review (not counting one with Crazy Horse and one with CSNY). So far, I’ve been found the albums of his that I’ve reviewed to be pretty middle of the road, but I had really high hopes for this one, since it’s so well-reviewed. Unfortunately, this was yet another Neil Young album that landed middle-of-the-road with me. Neil Young is a talented songwriter, and those skills really shine on this album, just like plenty of his other works. The lyrics on this album cover so many topics, and a lot of them still feel relevant today. I think my favorite lyrics though are on “Southern Man.” Living in Texas, these lyrics really hit home, as the war on “critical race theory” rages on. When Neil isn’t singing about the political landscape of the late seventies, his songs of heartache and lost love convey emotional pain and loneliness in his unique way. The music on this album supplements the songwriting well; there’s nothing too crazy here, but the simple arrangements are pleasant to listen to. The title track was probably my favorite off the album when it comes to the music. I loved the piano melody, and the flugelhorn coming in towards the end of the song added some great depth. I really enjoyed the vocal harmonies throughout the album as well. I wrote this review the day after having been assigned the album, and as I wrote this, I skipped back through the album, and since yesterday, it’s grown on me quite a bit. Yesterday, I just didn’t really enjoy listening to it much, even though I could appreciate it, but today, it’s really hitting home with me. I was going to give this three stars, but I think it deserves four stars.
Wasn't really doing it for me
No surprises here, it was about as Neil Young as Neil Young can get.
"After the Gold Rush" is the third solo album by Neil Young, originally released in 1970. This was released at pretty much the height of CSNY's popularity. I think they actually all released solo albums in 1970 though I could be wrong (David Crosby might've been the only one not to). The raw production on here really caught my attention. It makes songs like "Southern Man" so much more powerful. The songwriting is consistently good throughout, with a mix of political tracks and more introspective ones. Musical themes stick to folk and rock roots as was popular at the time. There is a bit of country twang I can hear in there as well. His vocal style will undoubtedly be divisive amongst the masses, but I kinda find it charming? Like I actually enjoy his odd vocal style in a way similar to why I enjoy Bob Dylan.
I liked it but didn't think it was amazing
I really enjoyed “After the Gold Rush” and “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” but the rest of the album was just alright.
Feels like a classic Neil Young album. A little sporadic for me, but just a little.
Neil Young-After the Gold Rush [#186/#90] ☆☆☆ Voice is an acquired taste. Mainly folk pop (besides "Southern Man" and "When You Dance..."). This is early Neil who's still working out the kinks of his sound. Highlights: "After the Gold Rush" (piano-based ballad, mournful French horn solo), "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" (slow and strummy, a bit ramshackle when the backup vocals come in), "Birds" (piano ballad, verses sung in a bit of a deeper register, gospel-like backup vocals (double-tracked vocals?))
Not a Neil Young fan, but I thought this one was better than the later album I already listened to. It just gets to sound repetitive and whiny after a while.
The music's good, albeit folk-rock is not my thing. But the voice! I can't stand it.
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.
Nice listening, thought I find his voice to be a little thin.
Top notch folk rock. Love it :)
Increíble disco de folk, lo disfruté muchísimo
Neil Young's best. After the Gold Rush may be his best song, and the rest of the album is just magic. I'm not a fan of a lot of his work, but this album captured something special.
Excellent folk rock music
Wonderful
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.
This album has songs with very pretty, rich lyrics, but the sound itself it's not very good, especially in the track that named the album. My favorite tracks are Southern Man and I Believe in You.
Not really my genre I don’t love his voice
Classic soft rock
2/5 - Never been my cup of tea but it's pleasant
A frail earnestness towards life and music. Almost naive, but at least it feels genuine. Harvest is better though.
2 - Super hueva
Best falsetto in the land
Good songs. I just wish someone else sang them. Favorite song: Don't let it bring you down.
Strong album. Personal Standouts are Southern Man, Don't Let It Bring You Down, and When You Dance You Can Really Love.
A classic.
It was good
I found this very dull and kept zoning out even when giving it my full attention. Favourite track: Southern Man.
This is probably my first full Neil Young album. He's not really known where I'm from (Eastern Europe) and his music seems very American to me (ok, North American since he's obviously Canadian). I like it but seeing such enthusiastic reviews here I realized I probably don't get the full context. That's fine, I think we have a lot of amazing sung poetry music here in my country so this album doesn't really stand out that much to me. The things I enjoyed the most: - the minimalist production on the first three tracks where you only get like two-three instruments per track and no bass or drums and then suddenly there's this little horn part on the title track. It's just lovely. You wish it'd come back more, but the fact that it's so brief makes it special; - Only Love Can Break Your Heart - prior to today I've only heard the St Etienne version and always loved it - this one is great too and I'll appreciate the St Etienne cover even more now; - the roughness of the Southern Man - I've read that Neil Young was later trying to say that he went too far but I just love how he poured his heart out in this one. Especially the part with the distorted vocals and then the guitar solo is just nasty and feels so grungy. I love how towards the end it's just one dissonant chord on repeat - perfection; - The rest of the album is much lighter which is good I guess since it really pushes out the roughness of the Southern Man into the spotlight. I Believe in You is also very pretty and helps with keeping things interesting until the end of the album. Overall, it's a 4 from me but I can totally understand how it might be a 5 for some people. I'm really thankful for this challenge that it exposes me to such interesting music I probably would have never picked up on my own.
Folky
A couple thoughts on this album. Firstly, it has very pleasant melodies, many songs give the vibe of smiles in the sunshine. That being said, most of the vocals sound like Carl from that Jimmy Newton show. So not the most pleasant
Love Neil Young
Worst song is the title track. Really good from start to finish
Love this one. Tasteful, fun, positive, well-written. I really don't have anything bad to say. Maybe his voice is a little wacky (especially when it isn't joined by any harmonising), but it definitely doesn't overstay its 35-minute welcome. But the songs themselves are superb and performed exactly as they should be. Great instrumentation, particularly with the acoustic guitars. The guitar solos are also worth mentioning: they're easygoing and expressive, without using too many notes. Sort of the folk-rock equivalent of David Gilmour. Nice variety of moods throughout the album too. Nothing revolutionary, but the perfect (standard) album experience. Wahoo! 5/5 Key tracks: Tell Me Why, After the Gold Rush, Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Don't Let It Bring You Down, Birds
Didn't get it at the start but some great tracks at the end. Would probably go 3.5 stars in truth but if I must, I'd have to round down to 3
Neil Young Top demais
Neil Young has been my favorite discovery of this project. Tom Waits was also pretty revelatory and there's been some interesting discoveries about the evolution of music, but Young just consistently impresses me with every new album I find. This is my fourth album from Young. Harvest and Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere from this project and then Ragged Glory on my own. While I was busy thinking about how I didn't connect with this album as much as the previous ones, I realized that I'd already listened to it 4 times today, listened to multiple covers of After the Gold Rush (Dolly with Trio is particularly good) and detuned my guitar to start working up Don't Let It Bring You Down. Don't Let It Bring You Down and Birds are my favorite tracks with After the Gold Rush, Only Love Can Break You Down, and Oh, Lonesome Me very close behind. I have learned that I prefer Young with Crazy Horse over the solo tracks. The 9+ minute tracks spoiled me, but I'm not going to complain. 5 stars.
I’ve had a hard time gathering my thoughts on this album. It’s easily the one I’ve had the hardest time digesting quickly enough to share an opinion on it, at least so far. In some ways, it’s masterful. I was built to love Neil Young, and I’m shocked I’ve never dipped my toes until now. Sure, his harder rock songs and off-kilter solos are 100% my jam, but even slowed down to acoustic folk tracks or piano ballads, his poetic lyrics and heart-on-his-sleeve sentimentality boost these tiny tunes into monuments. After the Gold Rush is an album that’s hard to listen to one-by-one; it begs a full listen. It’s a summer sunrise album to listen to over a cup of coffee, a late night spring album to listen to while you cry over an ex-lover, and a cozy fall/winter afternoon listen you spin while you read. It all washes over me as a singular statement, one that cannot be pulled apart, an album that only makes sense in a single sitting, and an easy argument for a masterpiece. And yet, the fact that After the Gold Rush *only* works as a whole has been exactly what’s throwing me off. As an album, it certainly has a time and place, and while it can work well in multiple contexts, it also isn’t a “constant obsession” listen; I wouldn’t listen to this on my commute to work, while I write, while I eat dinner, while I work out, at a party, etc. And there are very few songs I would listen to on their own, except “Southern Man,” which is so rattlingly unlike anything else here, purposefully so, even, that its inclusion feels strange in the first place. Everything else is great, but it’s not something I always want to hear, because it’s too muted, too quaint, too understated. Ironically, it’s this low key nature that can also make a full listen a bit underwhelming, and make some songs blend together to the point where it no longer sounds all that inspiring, all that standout, all that special. I think that’s a pump fake, in a way, but it only makes it harder to process. And when everyone tells you this is the peak of Young’s entire career, it makes me a bit confused, because even though I really, really like this album, it’s not perfect, and almost feels overhyped. Yet, at the end of the day, I’ve kept coming back to this album. Not obsessively, not driven by the feeling that it’s an instant favorite, but more as a casual new comfort, a “peaked curiosity,” a sense that I want to get to know Neil Young more, like texting a bookish introvert after a first date to the movies . It’s an album meant to grow, meant to be cultivated as the seasons change, and one that might be a standout, but also might end up just being a gateway to Young for me. I may grow much fonder of this record with time, and I may regret giving it a 4 now, but I think it’s unfair to validate a higher review until I am fully comfortable with the man’s discography. And unfortunately, I am now in a situation where I can’t access most of his work until the generator gods hand it to me, so, let’s see how the next 3 years go. *EDIT*: It's been just over a year, and I've had a few more Neil Young albums under my belt thanks to this challenge, so I can now safely say that this has really grown on me and become one of my favorite discoveries from this challenge. A huge part of that is because I found it for pretty cheap on vinyl, and spinning it that way really solidified that even the weirder, more piano-driven tracks work for me. I also really overplayed this in the fall, and that helped because it's a perfect autumn album. It's also a great spring record, so revisiting it now felt right since this is the time of year when I feel both cozy and emotionally open, like this record. It's kind of like a nice cup of high-quality tea. Like, if you're not typically a tea drinker, you might need some time with this, but you still know it's high-quality, so then after your taste buds adapt, you get more into it, to the point where it sometimes replaces your normal morning coffee. It's got emotion, it's got heart, it's cozy, but it also rocks and can be weird and noisy and off-kilter. Still not my favorite Neil Young album, but it's grown on me so much that it might be my second favorite. (Re-rated from 4/5 to 5/5 on June 2nd, 2025)
Being forced to listen to Neil Young has changed my opinion. Do I think a lot of his songs are annoying as hell? Yes. Do I think he overdoes the nasal singing? Yes. But some of his music is pretty solid, and I like it. 3.5 stars.
If I'm going to sit down and listen to Neil Young, I prefer his later stuff with Crazy Horse. But his folkier stuff is alright too.
I know this one. Great album.
Love it. Neil Young really has music and lyrics coming together perfectly here.
Way better than I thought it would be
There's a good reason *After The Gold Rush* is one of the most popular Neil Young albums. It's that perfect string of songs on the first side, plus the gems on the second. That string starts with "Tell Me Why", a folk tune whose arcane lyrics are easily transcended by the emotional performance here ; "After The Gold Rush", another very emotive number about ecological concerns where Young is not afraid to sound frail and vulnerable (and, I think, the first time he sang a song solo on the piano in the studio) ; then, there's the timeless ballad "Only Love Can Break Your Heart", written to console Graham nash after his break-up with Joni Mitchell. I have to admit I found the title of this song a little daft before (duh!), but it's a moving tune and one Young's most recognizable songs ; and so is "Southern Man", a raging scorcher of a rock song denouncing slavery and segregation - awesome guitar adlibs at the end, in the vein of Young's previous LP " Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" ; and to conclude the perfect string, you have "Til The Morning Comes" with its infectious chorus and good-natured spirit on a purely musical level. Side B is great as well, without any single dud to complain of. My personal favourites are "When You Dance, I Can Really Love" and "Cripple Creek Ferry". The first was another single for the album, and the other rocker in it (guess " Southern Man" was too polemical to be released as a single) - and it's a great song, lively and moving at the same time. And the second is an incredibly short track, and yet one that is both endearing and cinematic as hell. Too bad the film that inspired this tune (plus the rest of this record) never got made. 5 stars. Number of albums left to review: more than 200, approximately - I've temporarily lost count here. Number of albums I'll include in my own list: half so far, approximately (including this one). Number of albums I *might* include: a quarter, approximately Number of albums I'll never include: another quarter, or just a little more (many other albums are more important to me
folk totale, piacevole ma non da ascoltare intero dopo un po mi ha scocciaot
Obvious quality and many of my friends are fans but not my cup of tea.
Neil young created a formula for his music to always kind of work. He uses his higher pitched voice and songs about some introspective things at a low or medium tempo. It’s really how most of his music goes but he executes it quite well. This album may not be as upbeat as others but it’s still great to listen to. 7.8/10