Reviews (page 2 of 13)
Solid outing but nothing extraordinarily special
oh please, stop with all the Neil Young albums. I like Neil Young but this list doesn't need so many by him on it. That is just poor list making.
appreciated the brevity
Why is there so much Neil Young on this list?
A pleasant listen, as my experience with Neil Young usual is. Wild that he broke his writers block by reading a screenplay for a movie that was never made
Neil Young blijft zeikmuziek. Wel beter dan het vorige album. 2,5
Ik vond het leuk, maar het is me niet bij gebleven. Leuk om een keertje te horen, maar zou het zelf niet zo snel aan zetten. 0 bangers, maar niet omdat ze slecht zijn
Legendary
Now, we are talking - one of my fav albums of all time
Terceiro disco desse cara, não aguento mais não.
as expected.
I like some of Neil Young's songs. I just don't like that he sings them! I prefer the version of After The Gold Rush that Dolly, Linda and Emmylene sang on their Trio II album, and although I like the tune and compositions of songs like Tell Me Why and Don't Let It Bring You Down, his voice is too whiny for me, and I Believe In You, in particular, sounds more like a dirge due to this. Voice aside though, this isn't so bad, with upbeat moments in other songs such as When You Dance I Can't Really Love. Songs like Southern Man still remain socially important, and After The Gold Rush makes me picture the rockets our morally unconscious billionaires are building to plan their escape. 3 stars.
Still waiting for a rock Neil Young album. This was very folksy. Not my thing. Better than some of the others I've heard of his.
Hate is a strong word. I don't care for Neil Young's voice.
Kinda essential, kinda beautiful.
Man, the harmonies on Tell Me Why are just one of the best things ever. Also, that voice is just undeniable. Great stuff, totally soothing.
meh, 2 stars. But I didn't know that St. Etienne covered his song Only Love Can Break Your Heart
Neil Young has great albums and terrible albums. This one's just a dull
bonito
I could get into this under the right circumstances
Neil being Neil
Classic Neil
The playing on this is tremendous. Such lovely melodies. However Neil then starts singing. Oh no oh no no no
This did nothing to improve my opinion of Neil Young. There is no pleasure in listening to his wining voice. St Etienne have proven that there might be good songs in there but I just can't spot them!
It's hard for me to decide between a 4 and 5 for this album, because upon first listen, I do hear the same thing critics did when they first heard this album, which is something that seems subtle, somewhat predictable, and just passes by. However, digging deeper and thinking of the influence this album has had since it was released in 1970, I feel good about bumping it up to a 5. This is an album that was monumental in helping form grunge, mixing the distorted guitars with melody and simpler rock music that wasn't in the prog rock or glam rock or heavy metal previous to this album, in the same way.
I just don't like Neil Young. Sorry.
Whilst Neil Young is undoubtedly a great song writer, i struggle to fall in love with his work due to the thinness of his voice. There are beautifully crafted songs here with some evocative lyrics and stand out piano and guitar lines that show its quality. He is also a foundation to a lot of modern indie that i love so his legacy is strong. This may be sacrilege, but much like Joni Mitchell, the voice just kills it for me. It is too shrill and thin and lacking an appealing timbre.
Straight off the bat I didn’t love it and that vibe kinda kept throughout. The title track made me want to crash my car just to shut it up. I realise this is probably really profound if I dig Deep into to the lyrics but I just find it boring and in some cases really annoying. The highlighted songs actually aren’t terrible, just overall I don’t love it . Is worth noting on a second listen I enjoyed it more. It’s very bluesy so maybe in a different mood I’d be on it Highlights: When you Dance I really can love Cripple creek ferry Only love can break your heart
After the gold rush Neil Young Not a particularly exciting or inspiring album. I may have enjoyed more if I was depressed. When you dance you can really love is my favourite track since it has a more uptone vibe than others on the album which is more my style.
Great album!
This one is an automatic 5 stars, since I already like all of the songs on this one - so it's a perfect album. Neil Young is one of my favorite artists. I have 78 songs liked by him on Spotify - which puts him in my top 6 based on song count. I saw him once in concert in the 90s in a solo acoustic show and then last year (2025) with the Chrome Hearts. Great shows each time. I've already reviewed 3 of his albums on here: 1 5 star: On the Beach 2 4 stars: Rust Never Sleeps, Ragged Glory Funny - was just looking at this - I have the song "After the Gold Rush" liked 4 times - the original on this album, and then 3 covers: one by Thom Yorke (of Radiohead), one by The Flaming Lips and also one by Dolly Parton/Linda Ronstadt/Emmylou Harris. It's such a great song. That and the song "Southern Man" are the ones that I originally knew from the radio - that led me to discover this album and I ended up liking all of it. I've had the CD since sometime in the late 80s but I'm pretty sure I taped it from someone's LP before that. So, I've known this for a really long time. Love that Nils Lofgren is on a lot of these songs. He's played extensively with 2 of my favorite artists - Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen. Relistening to this in full today was like revisiting an old friend you haven't seen in a while, but pick up right where you left off. I was just grooving with it and singing along. It's mostly his folky style, but also a bit of his jammy side - particularly on "Southern Man". Good stuff Neil! I went and looked at some of the other reviews and see some (not all) people complaining about his voice. I don't get it, I think his voice is great. Maybe I've just been so used to it since I was a little kid. I have a problem with a lot of the voices I've heard through this project - but definitely not Neil. Liked songs on Spotify: 11/11 (perfect album) Rating: 5/5
Mystically Melancholic, a masterclass in solo singer songwriting, every song is crafted and delivered with heart and authenticity. Southern man being timeless stand out track. Heartwarming southern comfort folk rock at its finest.
Not worth my time. Fav tracks: Birds
Mangler revidering
Whiner than usial
Meh
embarrassed to admit that I didn't realise Only Love Can Break Your Heart wasn't a Saint Etienne original some truly lovely songs, others a bit warbly another strong 3/5 from Neil - may need to reassess my rating of ektik
I think this is the 3rd or 4th Neil Young addition to the list. This album had southern man and only love can break your heart which are important classics
incredible always hell yeah
actually nice
Very whimsical
Kult det her.
didn't like. voice sounded like instabren
За время этого "челленджа" Нил Янг стал для меня комфортной музыкой. Я слушаю его в грустные моменты, и он меня успокаивает, как будто его музыка говорит "да, чувак, дерьмо случается, но жизнь продолжается". Этот альбом более акустический, чем некоторые другие, и этим он создает еще более теплое ощущение дома, покоя и единения с миром.
Cool album. Appears to be significant for future song writers. Feeds off the folkish Bob Dylan esque style but transforms it with a more electric style.
While I prefer the CSNY, CSN, and Stephen Stills work, this is a great album. Southern Man is phenomenal.
man i love neil young
Unfortunately I don’t really like this album. It’s hard to put to words outside of “I don’t like his high whiney voice”. Which isn’t a problem on some of his other albums, but it is a problem for this one. I found his voice very grating on this album, and despite the brilliant songwriting and composing as always, I just didn’t connect with this album. I can appreciate the subject matter, especially with the song about Mother Nature. But as a whole it just didn’t work for me. I’m glad that Neil young has such a large and diverse music catalog so something like this doesn’t turn me off to his music, but if all his music sounded like this, I’d hate his music unfortunately. But if you are like me, and you hated this album, there is good news! Go listen to his album called “Ragged glory” so far from what I’ve heard that is his best album. Much more rock focused, which works for me, might work for you as well.
It’s not often that’s I will listen to an album I know as well as this one when the list gives it to me. But for this album, I’ll look for any excuse to listen to it. Beyond prefect. One of many Neil Young masterpieces.
Classic Neil Young at the height of his songwriting.
Great record but I need Neil’s voice in smaller doses.
Very good album. I like it a lot. This was the second time I listened to it.
Would take a long drive with this album.
Relisten. I remember enjoying this album on previous listens, but I REALLY enjoyed it this time. Maybe it has to do with learning that some of these songs were inspired by an unproduced screenplay. It adds a mistique to every song. Even the unrelated ones. Fav Tracks: "Tell Me Why", "Till the Morning Comes" and "Don't Let It Bring You Down".
It's crazy Neil Young's vocals sound like this
Not his best album but still enjoyable, with a soft sense of nostalgia.
I must have missed the earlier Neil Young stuff as this was surprisingly good!
There’s definitely too many Neil Young record’s on the 1001 but yet to find a bad one. This is maybe his biggest? Great mix of roots, soulful folk rock. Favourite track: Southern Man
Has many brilliant songs but musically monotone
Cannot overstate enough how much I hate this genre.
Could listen to this every day
Oh Neil, our national treasure. I haven’t dig enough his discography. Glad the challenge gave me a chance to listen to After the Gold Rush. I’ve listened to it twice before giving may rating, because I wasn’t sure if I paid enough attention the first time. And I didn’t, in a good way. I changed a couple of ratings up, and told I love a bit more a rock/folk Young than a stripped down Young like on Harvest. 4/5. Definitely an album I need to have in physical. Tell Me Why : 4 After the Gold Rush : 4 Only Love Can Break Your Heart : 5 Southern Man : 4 Till the Morning Comes : 3 Oh, Lonesome Me : 5 Don’t Let it Bring You Down : 4 Birds : 5 When You Dance I Can Really Love : 4 I Believe in You : 3 Cripple Creek Ferry : 3
been needing an excuse to hear some more Neil Young cause I know 2 albums of his and they are SO GOOD this one has some good and some okay, could be better
Omg this album is so MID
His voice is just annoying to me.
Wednesday, 9 September, 2026 Great album. Not my favorite in the Neil Young extended universe, but a great one, none the less.
Calm, soft but sometimes squeaky vocals. A bit boring
I like his voice but this really isn't my thing at all.
Back in the day this would have been a five without question. But now I'm not so sure - It's leans into melancholy a bit heavily. However it still gets a four - if only to keep past me happy
It's fine. I don't care for Neil Young, but he caught me on a good day
I like it, some very good songs and solid throughout.
Didn't realise that Only Love was an NY OG.
4.5 technically because I find Neil’s voice quite whiny on occasion but it’s still a masterpiece.
Beautiful album overall and I do feel bad for docking a point for him having kind of an annoying singing voice, but I must speak my truth.
Hooray. Another boring folk album. I'm sorry that this is good and that I don't really like it, just blame the creators of this list and the RNG gods for having probably about a sixth of my albums so far be folk music or psychedelic rock or something else of the like from the late 60s or early 70s. Also Neil Young's voice is kind of annoying. Favorite Song: Southern Man
I kept having to restart this album because I was losing my place but I'm not mad because its a banger???
Bra, upplever det något tråkigt. Dock rätt lungt / skönt album med sina höjdpunkter. Men upplever att det saknas viss variation och Neils röst är alltid lite speciell.
Good, did some reading about it. Based on a film that was never made. I think I prefer Harvest, but it's all still Neil Young.
Southern Man is pretty good. I was kind of a Neil Young hater until I saw him live last year. He's a really good songwriter, I don't exactly like his delivery.
Não achei nada extraordinário, o auge foi Southern Man pra mim
Neil’s best. Pure folk rock gold. Not a bad track on the album.
I still don't like the falsetto, but you have to hand it to Neil Young for great songwriting and musicianship.
i didn't listen hard enough maybe, was busy at work - might be better than what I'm scoring it
He only flips the "whoopass" switch on his amp once (Southern Man solo) but it's a doozy. First harmonica on a Neil record! Baby Nils Lofgren! Finally, while Sweet Home Alabama may be a catchier song, it sure is a lame response to Neil's statement, "Slavery/racism is bad."
Quiet album that sounds timeless. I will find a vinyl copy to play on Sunday afternoons.
Before all his good albums in my opinion. Way less interesting.
Great stuff, not my favorite of Neil's, still great
Couple of decent songs from the whiny voiced yank
I have really overlooked this, such a nice vibe. Definitely not my thing on immediate listen (looks like i gave it a 6 on RYM LOL), but so beautiful and so obviously influential. One of those records that leaves you wanting even more once it ends. Rating: 8/10
Hvis alle Neil Young albums var så gode som den her ville jeg ikke brokke mig så meget over ham
Endnu en kæmpe banger fra the man himself, største problem med listen er klart at der ikke er nok Neil Young plader på
Great album - Loved Don't Let It Bring You Down
I feel like others have had the opposite experience, but this project has made me love Neil Young.
One of his better albums IMHO...
Tell me why: I like this, it's relaxing and I like the layered vocals After the gold rush: This one is a skip for me, nice lyrics though Only love can break your heart: I really like this one, adding it to my 70s playlist, very beautiful Southern man: Wow, these lyrics are incredible. I like the instrumental Till the morning comes: Nice and simple, a little boring but needed after the intensity of the previous track Oh, lonesome me: This is awfully relatable, I feel like this is an incredible sad song Don't let it bring you down: I like how melancholic it sounds despite the title sounding uplifting Birds: Not a song I'd probably choose to listen to again When you dance I can really love: This one is actually kinda groovy and I really enjoy it. I like the blend between bluesy rock and country. Added to 70s playlist I believe in you: I like this but I'm struggling to read into the lyrics Cripple creek ferry: This is very folk sounding, I think it sounds distinctively late 60s/early 70s Overall notes: I don't know if I'm a huge fan of his voice, and I think it's the kind of music I'd have to be in a certain mood to listen to. I can appreciate how beautiful the lyrics are along with the music. Added two songs to my playlist.
Me encantó, disfruto mucho su voz y musicalmente me genera mucha paz y tranquilidad. Lo puedo definir como divertido y entretenido aunque por momentos serio y emotivo.
可以
First two songs I couldn’t stand his voice, it sounded off pitch. From “Only love can break your heart” on it was a nice album. Liked “Southern Man” the most.
This is a pretty fun album! The songwriting is pretty good and the instrumentation is great. A tad bit forgettable, but apart from that, really solid! 8.5/10
It's ok. Will never love his voice though.
Another enjoyable album from Neil Young. Brilliant songwriting as to be expected and a scathing attack on the racism of the Deep South in Southern Man a highlight
A good album, but maybe a bit one note? There were at least three songs I was disappointed in because they had the same rhythm and chords as another song I wanted to listen to and I kept getting mixed up.
Bom disco de Young, mas ele fez melhores.
Good album. Neil Young makes great music. Very peaceful. Easy listen. 7.4/10
6/10, i definitely enjoyed the album but i’m just not a big fan of country. he’s got a really nice voice and this is definitely the best country album i’ve heard (though it’s not a genre i’m familiar with) and completely understand why Young is seen as such an icon just not my kinda thing
ok
okay 3rd track is lwk good bcs of I resonate with it also the first one so far so good, it's a decent listen
Ugh, good god. Another Neil Young album. This is my third in one week. Enough already! His voice is like nails on a chalkboard for me, and his voice is prominent on this album. I just can’t. I’ll give an additional star because musically it’s somewhat decent but I just can’t get over his voice. DNF (2)
Good Young
No me gustó mucho el estilo contry balada
Hearing “Mr. Soul” by Buffalo Springfield was my official introduction to Neil Young, and I've been a die-hard fan ever since. I’ve lined up for every new release through the years. Confused by some of them? Absolutely. Disappointed? Never. After the Gold Rush is still one of my absolute favorite comfort albums; it's the perfect record to put on, tune out the world, and just let my cares melt away.
3.5+
An album of screechy vocals on great songs. As much as I dislike Neil Young, I have to admit this album is filled with a bounty of well written songs, but the vocals are horrendous.
Good but not bad
Correct mais je suis tanné de Neil Young, le beach étais nice harvest un peut mid mais ya des classique pis celui la étais mid ok
Highlights: Tell Me Why, After the Gold Rush, Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Southern Man, Don’t Let It Bring You Down. 4.6
Average at best album, couple of hits, not much substance.
My only complaint is that it’s only 35 minutes.
aconchegante.
Southern Man is the standout, and I’d previously been exposed to this artist growing up. But outside of that this album struck me as somewhat unremarkable.
I didn't like this one as much as the other Neil Young albums on this list that I've gotten so far. I don't know why because I can't remember exactly why I liked those, just that this one never captured my ear in the same way.
Warm, worn-in, and comforting; not the place to throw a wild party. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions - After the Gold Rush - Only Love Can Break Your Heart - Southern Man - Don't Let It Bring You Down
favorite(s): tell me why, i believe in you least favorite(s): after the gold rush
p204. 1970. 4 stars. Gorgeous collection of songs from possibly the finest early 70s male singer-songwriter. This set the bar for all the wannabees that followed. Point deducted for his voice, which is what you imagine a straggling weed in a dahlia patch would sound like, but otherwise this is fine.
One of my favorite Neil albums. The imagery is so unique here. This record was actually partially inspired by a post apocalyptic film that never saw the light of day. All that remains of the film are Neil’s loose interpretations of that. I think what’s most captivating to me about Neil Young is that regardless if he’s making a love ballad, a political statement, or a blues rocker, they all sound cohesive together and send me into the same scene in my mind. On the surface, you’d think mixing all those types of songs would be slop, but Neil knows how to craft a vibe without directly narrating it and telling you how to feel. I say that here for After the Gold Rush, because to me, this is one that’s a little more scattered with ideas than say Harvest or on the Beach. At the end of the day, Neil Young’s music has always been about the imperfections. This is a perfect example of that.
What an amazing journey this is! Set in a futuristic world that was created for a film never released Neil Young deals with all aspects of the universe and the futility of it all. He delves in the nuances of Racism. He speaks on love and the way of seeing the world and all the hatred how are you supposed to go. How are you supposed to love yourself and this internal battle you have us one that matters to only yourself and you live the life you choose. Songs like birds and I believe in you are these reminders that you have to go forward and do the things you love and belief in others only happens with belief in yourself. So when Cripple Creek Ferey comes it’s both an escape and to get out of it all you have to get on. Neil young is a genius I need this CD asap.
Que se yo Nota: 2.7
Good music, but I really can't stand Neil Young's voice.
Interesting vibe, all the songs felt quite similar, but I enjoyed the journey
Good and consistent folksy album from the great Neil Young. Great vocal harmonies and acoustic guitar performances. Some songs are slightly haunting. 4.1/5.0
Wonderful
not bad. after awful harvest that was on the list this LP feels quite ok. just ok.
his songwriting is so good highlights: tell me why after the gold rush only love can break your heart southern man till the morning comes when you dance i can really love i believe in you
Lots of love here for this album. For me, it isn't my style. I do not dislike it though so 3/5.
Sometimes I think I don't like Neil Young then I listen to Neil Young and I'm reminded I love Neil Young. 4/5
pretty solid Will I listen to again: 40%
I listen to this classic again and again. Brilliant from start to finish.
A very good album that features some genuine classics. It’s best songs are it’s rockiest for me, headlined by Southern Man (despite what Neil says, it probably is better than Sweet Home Alabama) and When You Dance I Can Really Love. The majority of the album is slower and folkier though. The quality of these is still great, but I’m not sure they gripped me quite as much as my other Young album I’ve had so far, Rust Never Sleeps. Still very good though.
One of Neil Young’s greatest albums, showcasing the full flourishing of his abilities as both a songwriter and performer, across several different styles. Predominantly a folk/folk-rock album, we have great songs in that vein (‘Tell Me Why’, ‘Only Love Can Break Your Heart’, ‘Oh, Lonesome Me’, ‘Don’t Let It Bring You Down’, ‘I Believe In You’), but also beautiful piano-based ballads (‘After the Gold Rush’, ‘Birds’), and brilliant heavy rockers (‘Southern Man’, ‘When You Dance I Can Really Love’). For me, every track is brilliant, even the two little ditties that end each side. A classic 5 star album.
Fab
Ok typical Neil Young
This was another good album by Neil young. I enjoyed it thoroufhly and I could hear the brewings of his later famous tunes in this album. Overall solid.
Great album - well worth a listen
My favorite early Neil record. Everything he does well is on display at some point here. The album is an all-time great songwriter finding his lane.
He kinda sounds like elmo. Not for me.
I can see how people rate him as a musician, but I'm not a big fan of the style / sound
Okay bruh I had notes here which I wrote while listening to the songs live AND individual ratings for each... wszystko zostalo skasowane kurwa... spoko So basically overall, I did like this album quite a bit, 7 out of 10 songs were added to the liked songs album! Not my first pick of an album which I'd listen to for sure, but I did enjoy it. I think I wouldn't be opposed to listening to it again, and I would recommend some songs from it to other people. Solid 7/10
One of my favorites
truly amazing every song has something unique to them
liked only love can break your heart pretty nice overall
I love this album. It was the first record I bought.
the lyrics writing and presentation are typically good, and the songwriting overall is solid, but there's just something missing from these studio recordings that's present in live ones of the same songs. some of it is perhaps the vocal harmonies and the mixing, and some of it is certainly the immeasurable energy that comes from a live performance, but i think some of it is that his voice is at its best when it feels fragile and vulnerable and nigh-broken, but multiple studio takes reinforce it out of that area
Tell me why - 4 After the gold rush - 3 Only love can break your heart - 4 Southern man - 5 Till the morning comes - 3 Oh, lonesome me - 4 Don't let it bring you down - 4 Birds - 3 When you dance i can really love - 3 I believe in you - 4 Cripple creek ferry - 3
Vraiment sympa
More Neil. Come on, Randomizer; you're not converting me by overwhelming me.
Good songs, just not my favorite sound or voice.
Pas mal, Harvest reste meilleurs globalement.
Not entirely my thing, but there are a few nuggets I really like.
I guess I like Neil Young now. Don't Let It Bring You Down unexpectedly brought me to tears and I don't cry at music. I expect I'll wish I'd given this 5 stars after a few more listens.
Didn't hate it but I guess his voice just splits opinion right down the middle.
It was ok, could get better with more listens so hedging my bets with a 3
84
I don't enjoy Mr Young's voice at all but this is packaged nicely enough
Another enjoyable album from Neil Young. Brilliant songwriting as to be expected and a scathing attack on the racism of the Deep South in Southern Man a highlight
Deja vu fortíssimo. Aquela sensação que já estive aqui antes, que já ouvi esse disco antes. Impossível de escapar. Mas isso é culpa da lista e não do artista, então relevo! Neil Young é bom. Ele faz música boa. Não sei mais o que dizer. Som legal. Nota quatro. Gostei. Ouvirei mais vezes. Obrigado. Tenham um ótimo dia. Boas canções, e uma canção estupenda (Southern Man). Definição de um grande 4/5. 4/5
Esto es el rock. de ahora en mas seré un hombre del sur solo para poder tener tan gran canción a mi nombre. No soy un amante ni del folck ni del country rock, pero cuando algo es bueno es bueno.
One of my favorite albums of all time. Fine writing skills on this one as one song seamlessly flows into the next. The songs are anchored by the classic Southern Man.
Doesn’t sound half bad at all, even without Crosby, Stills and Nash 😁 Three stars…
would not listen to most of this in my free time. but i can see myself liking a few other songs by him
Its the voice for me, the album wasnt bad but neil young and his childish kermit the frog like voice throws it off
Damn, hearing Southern Man made me realize that Sweet Home Alabama is way more racist than I initially thought.
this made me sad i miss my man
his voice infuriates me
A wonderful Neil record. Equal parts sweet & kind and political & fierce. Classic Neil Young.
It seems like I must have heard this album before, somewhere. Hearing it feels like finding a t-shirt you didn't know that you had stuffed in the back of your childhood dresser. I'm glad to have found it but it's always been mine, hasn't it? I also didn't know that "Oh, Lonesome Me" could be made more plaintive. "Tell Me Why" has lyrics that my high school self would have ballpointed into a notebook.
A great, poignant album! This is by far my favourite of Young's repertoire.
I just figured out freedom isn't on this list. A pity. When I think of Neil Young I think rocking in the free world. And apparently songs like that are only a small part of his work. Case in point, only 2 songs on this album pick up the electric guitar to really deliver some drive. The rest is well written but often anemic in its delivery.
Love this album
Hey hey cripple creek ferry do do doooo do do dooo. I like this one better than Harvest tbh. Perfect.
For this group, I know this is blasphemous but, Neil Young just isn't for me. I know this is 'good' and I know why people like it. It just doesn't make my world turn, ya know?
Don't Let It Bring You Down is an all timer.
Might be my favorite Neil Young album.
I really liked this. The range of sounds and Youngs beautiful vocals make for a compelling, emotional ride.
Good songs but can't get on with the falsetto voice. St Etienne's version of love will break your heart is much better.
Algunas canciones míticas y otras buenas pero que no me llegan. Probablemente más culpa mía que de Neil Young
irriterande röst
Review - had never listened to this album before. I think I might actually prefer it to Harvest. Truly lovely collection of songs. Neil Young has had his share of misses through his career but when he's in the pocket it's just perfect. Score - 9/10 Need to listen? YES
Another 'classic' that's just a really inconsistent record. Side A is really quite remarkable, with a solid run of quality songs with a lot of variation. Side B is a complete flop for me. I have not enjoyed a Neil Young album yet, but this is the best so far. 6/10
First time listening to this one. I think I've heard good things about it and while I did like some songs it's the weakest Neil album I've heard so far. The first two songs really annoyed me. It got better later but somehow I genuinely enjoyed his random 90s album from the list more 2/5
Liked: 4,5,6,7,8,9,10 Disliked: 1,2,3,11 Total Songs: 11 Ratio: 8/11 Converted Score: 3.64/5 Top 3 1. Southern Man 2. Don't Let It Bring You Down 3. Till The Morning Comes
8.4/10
Probably my favorite of the Neil Young albums so far but still more solid than great, basically a 3.5. Title track and Lonesome Me the best on here
I came into this album expecting not to like it because I've never been a big Neil Young fan. His voice has always been the biggest hurdle for me, and that didn't change. However, I was surprised by how much I appreciated his songwriting. More than once I found myself thinking, "This would be an incredible song if someone else were singing it." As the album progressed, it slowly won me over. The lyrics were thoughtful, the harmonies were beautiful, and several songs really stood out. My favorite discovery was "When You Dance I Can Really Love," followed closely by "I Believe in You," "Birds," and "Only Love Can Break Your Heart." "Southern Man" was also a powerful listen, especially hearing it in its original context. This album started as what I thought would be a 2-star experience, but the strength of the songwriting gradually raised it to a solid 3 stars. I finished with a much greater appreciation for Neil Young as a songwriter than I had before, even if I still don't connect with his distinctive vocal style.
Good album I like it a lot
Easy 5 star album. Some of Neil Young's best work. Southern Man and Only Love Can Break Your Heart are two of the best written songs ever. Tell Me Why, After The Gold Rush, When You Dance, Oh, Lonesome Me. Iconic.
Really liked this one, embarrassing that I've listened to so little Neil Young before this.
...meh. I mean, it was FINE. Just not terribly interesting.
Well, now it's three Neil Young albums in less than three weeks. Again, a great one. After the Gold Rush easily has the best A side of any Neil Young release, it's an unbelievable set of classics. The B side is slightly less consistent, but still has a lot of great moments in it. Favourite track: Tell Me Why
Great album. Tons of hits, really in a high period at this point in his career. His classic guitar tone comes through here as it develops even further through the decade and comes to define the sound of grunge and alt rock in the late 80’s and through the 90’s.
Finally, a "fully listenable" Neil Young record. But still a little janky. 3.5/5.
I love this album so much!!! Neil’s voice gets a bit getting used to but soon you’ll have the line “Mother Nature on the run in 1970s” stuck in ur head
I'm grateful I had some extra time today because my first run-through of the album wasn't great. As is almost literally always the case, Neil's voice annoyed me, and it wasn't until track #9 ("When You Dance I Can Really Love") that I found myself so locked into the groove that I wanted to go back and relisten. What a revelation the second listen was; just track after track of steady grooves and heartfelt, thoughtful lyrics. Can't wait to listen to his other albums twice.
This was pretty good for a Neil Young album. I enjoyed it and listened to it twice, but it didn't knock my socks off. Four stars.
After the Gold Rush isn’t trying to impress you. It whispers instead of shouts, asks instead of answers, and often ends before you’ve fully understood what you’ve heard. That’s precisely why it has remained so enduring. It feels less like an album you master than one you keep returning to, finding new meanings each time.
Neil Young 2 of?? Really liked this! Even more dad approved
3 stars This is the first NY album I ever listened to and it’s kind of the reason I never got strongly into him. Because it’s just fine. There are good moments, but it’s just fine. No need to dive into a gigantic discography. But I don’t know that I really need to go back.
Started off pretty weird - but came around towards the end. Neil has such a unique and interesting way of singing. Not sure if it like it or not though…
I had to get to this one on YouTube, since Neil Young's albums aren't on Amazon Music Unlimited, my usual streaming service. I was surprised how many songs that I know separately from the album live in my brain already. I enjoyed hearing them all together.
My second go round with Neil on the generator, what did I think? I thought this album was really good. Going in, this was a Neil album that I’d really not heard anything off of, so I was going in basically blind. After hearing it, I definitely feel like Neil is two for two so far. It’s more ballad driven than some of his other rock or even country-rock albums, but I think that works well on this one. A decent chunk of songs on the album and even a lot of Neil songs in general rely heavily on acoustic guitar, but it’s nice to see him show off his piano playing, especially on tracks like the beautiful Birds, and the title track, two of my standouts. Neil’s backing band, Crazy Horse, doesn’t appear on most of the album, but when they do show up on Southern Man, another standout, they really blow down the door with two guitar solos, giving the album one of, if not its only heavy rocker. Neil’s songwriting is on point this album, with his talent being shown on the abstract lyrics of the title track, and the deeply personal I Believe In You, my final standout track. Overall? I think this is definitely a solid Neil experience that fans of him should check out. Now, I’m gonna go search for the gold of the next good album.
Didn't "schtick"...
I don't really like Neil Young's voice and also think most of this album was pretty but pretty meh. But Southern Man was good
Every time I listen to Neil Young albums, I get more engrossed. This is just a great album and his vocals and lyrics are amazing.
I was irritated that I got ANOTHER Neil Young album but this album is very good
I hope Neil young gets to go and live in the stars one day and has a happy beautiful forever and I love him and his voice so much so much
4.4 Like Neil young. Need to consider the album individually, not his entire catalog. It’s a good album. But as a solo piece it is kind of boring and bland, while still being a showcase of talent
3.7/5
After The Gold Rush Neil Young 1970 Genres: Rock, Folk Styles: Singer Songwriter, Country Rock 1. Tell Me Why (★★★★☆) -Contexto: Una confesión de vulnerabilidad e inseguridad emocional. El narrador intenta comprender sus propias contradicciones y su necesidad de amor y aceptación mientras reflexiona sobre las dificultades de las relaciones. 2. After the Gold Rush (★★★⯨☆) -Contexto: Una visión onírica y apocalíptica que viaja entre pasado, presente y futuro. Habla del deterioro del planeta, la guerra, la pérdida de la armonía con la naturaleza y la esperanza de encontrar un nuevo hogar para la humanidad. 3. Only Love Can Break Your Heart (★★★☆☆) -Contexto: Una balada sobre el dolor que provoca una ruptura amorosa. Reflexiona sobre cómo el amor puede brindar la mayor felicidad, pero también las heridas emocionales más profundas. 4. Southern Man (★★★★★) -Contexto: Una denuncia directa contra el racismo, la segregación y la herencia de la esclavitud en el sur de Estados Unidos. Reclama justicia y un cambio social profundo. -Fav 5. Till the Morning Comes (★★★★★) -Contexto: Un breve respiro optimista que invita a dejar atrás las preocupaciones y disfrutar del presente junto a la persona amada hasta la llegada de un nuevo día. -Fav 6. Oh, Lonesome Me (★★★★☆) -Contexto: Versión del clásico de Don Gibson. Retrata la tristeza y la soledad de alguien que intenta seguir adelante después de perder al amor de su vida. 7. Don't Let It Bring You Down (★★★★★) -Contexto: Una sucesión de imágenes sombrías sobre decadencia, sufrimiento y desesperanza. A pesar de ese panorama, transmite la idea de resistir y no dejar que la oscuridad del mundo destruya el ánimo. -Fav 8. Birds (★★★⯨☆) -Contexto: Una despedida melancólica entre dos personas que aceptan que su relación ha terminado. Los pájaros simbolizan la libertad, el cambio y la inevitabilidad de seguir caminos distintos. 9. When You Dance I Can Really Love (★★★★☆) -Contexto: Una celebración del deseo, la atracción y la alegría de estar con alguien cuya energía transforma por completo al narrador. 10. I Believe in You (★★★☆☆) -Contexto: Una declaración de confianza, compromiso y esperanza. El narrador reconoce sus defectos, pero afirma seguir creyendo en la otra persona y en la fuerza del vínculo que comparten. 11. Cripple Creek Ferry (★★★★☆) -Contexto: Un cierre simbólico sobre emprender un viaje hacia un nuevo comienzo. La travesía representa dejar atrás el pasado con la esperanza de encontrar un futuro mejor. -TOTAL = ★★★★☆ (4)
(3/5) Neil's paper thin voice just isn't my jam. I appreciate the musicianship, the songwriting, and the arrangements. It's perfectly fine, mid-70s soft(-er) rock, but like the others from CSN&Y, I think they're all much better together than apart. We had "Deja Vu" just a few days ago and that was far more my speed and I enjoyed it much more. Keep the band together, man! (I add a few decades TOO late, lol..)
I am a fan of Neil Young, but only casually, which means that I own and am familiar with this album and Harvest, with the other being the stronger of the two, imo. Dialing this one up just a couple of days after CSNY's Deja Vu is absolutely diabolical, though, particularly after my comment there about the sum of the parts being better than the parts themselves, which I have to say still played out. This one is a solid outing with a bevy of really good material, but it lacks some of the stylistic range and drones on a bit monotonously in the middle. It's still a solid 4/5, but didn't convince me to reach for this over either of the other mentioned albums.
155. After The Gold Rush - Neil Young (1970) 7.27.26 Variety: 4 Adequacy: 5 Listenability: 5 Uniqueness: 4 Emotionality: 5 = 4.6 rounded up to a 5 "I have a friend I've never seen/ He hides his head inside a dream" I have some thoughts about Neil Young. I love a lot of his stuff, and he's one of those guys who has a more or less perfect career ( the occasional massive commercial flop notwithstanding) in that he continued to evolve and grow, and make stuff of a general good quality, all the while not seeming to compromise his politics and maintaining respect from a variety of musicians and delivering very approachable content. In this respect he sort of built the scaffolding for an artist like the more or less universally beloved Tom Petty to work from. Where he differs though is in his true mainstream appeal. I think most people know who Neil Young is, could pick him out of a lineup and eve rattle off a handful of his songs. But not that many of them. I generally find that his albums are often more than the sum of their parts. Like he can construct a very damn fine album, without many big hits - this one for example. Willing to bet most people ( even those over the age of 40) would probably recognize maybe one song off this by name. And anyone under 30 would just be completely at a loss. It's been a while, but I can say this is not my favorite of his, but I do love it quite a bit. That one is on the list ( no spoilers!), along with probably all his best - though still thing maybe they could have done without two of those. And it's telling that all of them save one don't go past the 70s. Looking forward to this one, but I can't imagine my opinion has changed too much. This might be a bit colored by having just heard Deja Vu by CSNY, where I referred to his song "Helpless" as "simple and unflashy, but very pleasant." I think this might serve as a description of this whole album, but let's see. THE TRACKS "Tell Me Why" - A very pretty look at loneliness and self doubt. The thing that immediately strikes me here is that Young is so good at zigging with his vocal melodies where you expect him to zag - look at how he delivers that "sell" at the end of the chorus. I know a lot of people might describe his voice as weedy or pained even, but it does a lot of lifting in getting you to buy into the vulnerability in so many of his songs, which to me seem like conversations with himself more than anything. In this respect I'm reminded a bit of Roy Wood's similarly high and wobbly vocals. Wood leans into his a bit more, and there's a baroque sort of mask he's wearing though, where this just sounds like Young being Young. Also, if you've ever heard the man speak, you know this is no put on. "After the Gold Rush" - While not as stunningly theatrical as something like "Five Years" by David Bowie, this story of apocalypse and a dying earth are maybe just as effective, coming at similar materiel from a much more zoomed in, personal point of view. We get a lovely, sad piano ballad instead of a driving, operatic glam rock anthem. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" - One of his best melodies, this one is another piano-driven number, this time in waltz time, and looking at the failed love, and seeming to feel like a warm comfort despite the mantra of the chorus. This is downright beautiful and belongs up there with the best stuff from any of the other singer-songwriter folkies of the era. Even though Young is for sure influenced by, and running around in the playground that Bob Dylan built, this kind of thing is what separates him. As much as I love a ton of stuff, Dylan could never be authentically sweet as this. He's too wry and self aware, where Young has got that heart pinned down tightly to the sleeve. One other thing worth noting about this song ( and a lot of Young songs) is how foundationally solid they are. I've heard a bunch of covers of his stuff, by all sorts of bands in all sorts of genres, and the quality of the songwriting shines through in that it's robust enough to hold up to being stretched and pulled into all these various shapes. To see an example of this, check out these three very different takes on this one: Notable covers: - by Saint Etienne: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZAajrxvDs4 - by Rickeu Lee Jones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IzFM4XYKw8 - Anne Kirkpatrick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYBtb5EmUKw "Southern Man" - I think this, along with "Alabama" off of Harvest are two of the songs that may have gotten the most ink over the years, due mainly to the fact that the Lynyrd Skynyrd song “Sweet Home Alabama” was partly a response to them, and not a good-natured one. The content is pretty self explanatory and doesn't need to be subjected to another autopsy, but I will say it feels just as scathing now as it must have then, and I don't see it so much as condescending as it is plainly stating some ugly facts, and very effectively, all over top of some determined and serious sounding playing and singing. The fuzzed out and distorted vocals on the verses get across the kind of raw open wound feel I think Young is going for. "Till the Morning Comes" - This light and pretty little interlude felt like a much needed gasp of air after the intensity and tension the last track was bubbling in. It's throwaway but entertaining, and as such I don't really have much else to say about it. A welcome digestif of a track. Side two "Oh, Lonesome Me" - Young even manages to make self pity a bit attractive here with his gospel-lite take on a break up song. The only cover on the album I think, with the original Don Gibson version being a jaunty, kind of funny cowboy song ( also with a bunch of great cover versions including one from Lorretta Lynn and the Muppets!). Young takes the song as written at face value and doesn't play up the "well, gosh darn it" winky humor that Gibson rubs into his delivery. The mournful harmonica does a lot of the heavy lifting here, but Young's voice and the rising harmonies from the Crazyhorse guys lends it the genuine emotional note. Love the single note distorted electric guitar that accents the ends of lines. Other Notable Covers: Johnny Cash: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKXtF7WDPZo&list=RDdKXtF7WDPZo&start_radio=1 Ray Charles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J23gHznhaVo "Don't Let It Bring You Down" - The delivery of the opening line of this immediately makes me think of the "old man" from the eponymous track on Harvest, but I don't think they have much else in common. There's a lot of dark imagery here, possibly some commentary on urban homelessness and abandonment and how awful things are, but viewed at a bit of a remove. Not an uplifting song by any means, but anther fine entry. Strong simple piano work here is the base, with the acoustic guitar and the metronomic cymbals feeling like a countdown to something. What it is I'm not sure, but the turn at the end feels weirdly like a note of hope. "Birds" - More directly gospel inspired with both the piano and the chorus and the austereness of only the piano accompaniment making this one feel even more bittersweet than even the already bittersweet stuff that's come before. Another break up song on the surface, but this one from the point of view of the one doing the leaving. And there doesn't seem to be a note of regret, but again one of hope for better days. Very pretty, and if people had divorce ceremonies like they do weddings, this would be perfect for the bride when the bride walks back down the aisle, away from the altar. "When You Dance I Can Really Love" - As much of a rocker as can be found on this album I think, with the crunchy rhythm guitar giving this a sexier feel ( or as sexy as a Neil Young song can get - at the very least passionate) as befits a song about attraction and connection through music. The opening here rings out with a very power pop ( see the below cover) feel which I really dug, and the bass on this is pretty enormous, In a different world I can see this being arranged as a very cool psychedelic groove. Notable Covers: by Shakane: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7GRgev894M "I Believe in You" - Maybe it's me but that opening riff sounds like a... ug, riff on the one from "Crimson and Clover" by Tommy James and the Shondells, with the last two notes going in different directions. Maybe the best harmonies on the album, and Young working through the tough middle part of a relationship as opposed to the end of one like on previous tracks. This had an almost John Lennon-ish feel at points. "Cripple Creek Ferry" - Another real short one that's kind of an odd duck, as it seems a bit too whimsical and bouncy compared to everything around it, and so remains the one track that does not entirely land with me. Damn. So close. I kind of wish they had gone with "Wonderin'" as the closer but it was left off and not released until '83 on his rockabilly album "Everybody's Rockin'" ( no way NEAR as bad as people would have you think btw - it's actually quite fun) by which time it had morphed into an arrangement appropriate for that. Check it out the original version if you get a chance. It's a cute little romantic ditty with fun old west saloon vibes, and cool backing vocals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCGV2I9kyWE&list=OLAK5uy_l61knFHCT9-JvA88E172MSuaGZupcQwSc&index=13 HIGHLIGHTS - "Tell Me Why" - "After the Gold Rush" - "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" - "Southern Man" - "Till the Morning Comes" - "Oh, Lonesome Me" - "Don't Let It Bring You Down" - "Birds" - "When You Dance I Can Really Love" - "I Believe in You" MIDLIGHTS - "Cripple Creek Ferry" LOWLIGHTS - FINAL THOUGHTS If there's anything that stood out to me on this listen, it's that Young's songwriting ability might just be his best quality. He's got a unique voice which helps make him distinct, and his stuff is all of a certain quality, but he doesn't really ever go for the big swing that would have made him more of a chart topper. His stuff is thoughtful, well constructed, interesting, and full of texture but it he doesn't seem interested in focusing on killer melodies of the sort that make you want to sing along in your car. That's perfectly fine, and his career didn't suffer for it, maybe that's even part of his appeal amongst the more artistically "credible" musicians who seemed to idolize him. He didn't take the route of courting the mainstream radio audience, but his stuff is good enough to skirt through without that polished, more canny take. While I'm sure anyone at his level of success has to be a LOT more focused and career savvy than that, he at least seems to have as much artistic integrity as someone at his level can. All told, this album was a great re-listen and served as a reminder than some of the best music doesn't necessarily need slot into the pop model ( regardless of genre) to still be full of great moments. And that's not to say there wasn't plenty of catchy stuff on here. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" and "Don't Let It Bring You Down" are more than enough proof that the dude can write an earworm with the best of them. He's just not craning them out like Paul McCartney. Guy is building modest, Craftsman style houses with strong bones that will last 100 years, as opposed to McCartney's Victorian style with it's multi-colored paint schemes, intense floral wallpaper, towers, turrets, and full of interesting and oddly beautiful touches. Both are fine, but sometimes all those intense colors can be exhausting. ( by the way here's some not great concert footage of them duetting on "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" which is what made me think of the comparison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndEqu50MHdE) Maybe a better comparison would be with the band America, who took Young's style and too it exactly in that direction of sewing together super-catchy numbers out of similar cloth. I love America and I don't think they "stole his essence", but the vibe is very close, with the melody knob cranked up, and the thoughtfulness turned down by a good half. And that's not to call this music boring. It's just more staid, and internal. And the great trick is that it never comes off as repetitive or as polemic, despite touching ( if even in a round about way) environmental stuff, and the nasty legacy of racism. It feels natural and honestly biographical, and like most of his stuff tends towards introspection and believable emotional truth. This feels like a dude working through his feelings, who is confident enough to share them, and still deliver a great time. PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - Nope FURTHER LISTENING - John Wesley Harding by Bob Dylan - White Light by Gene Clark - Harvest by Neil Young - Homecoming by America - Wildflowers by Tom Petty - Where You Been by Dinosaur Jr. - Viva Last Blues by Palace Music - Merkin Ball by Pearl Jam ( with Neil Young) - Live by Built to Spill
This album was surprisingly more on the softer rock side than I expected. My main introduction to Neil Young was first as the guy Lynyrd Skynyrd was singing about and later as the 70s rocker that Pearl Jam kept hanging out with who sang “Keep On Rockin in the Free World.” Even on this project, we just had CSN&Y’s “Deja Vu” a few days ago now and that had more rocking on it. I guess I’m saying I expected more “Southern Man” type tracks than “Til the Morning Comes” type tracks. So color me also surprised that I enjoyed it as much as I did. We’re in the middle of a family funeral for a great grandparent the day this generated and it fit the mood. Not tragic, for they lived a long life, but respectfully somber. I’ll return to Neil Young another time and in different headspace and see how he takes then. For now, 4/5.
Kind of boring to be honest.
I personally don't really like his voice, I don't think it fits most of the songs he makes. I found at least 4 songs that are listenable and enjoyed a bit but overall it's not a great album.
no me agrado tanto el album
Great Neil Young album, wonderful songs, deserves to be here. But I do think it’s a tad overrated compared to some of his other work. And when am I supposed to listen to this?
Not really what I was expecting, and enjoyed this more than I thought I would.
a genuine classic artist with a unique voice and massive amount of lyrical and musical talent. This album is a must listen for any age and genre preference.
Me gusta descubrir su música.
I’ve only listened to Southern Man before since it inspired one of the greatest diss tracks of all time, and yeah that song goes hard. Awesome solo and tempo speedups and stuff, but Young is too free to make a consistently exciting album top to bottom. Only really enjoyed When You Dance besides that.
Very very good. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this album. I see it growing on me overtime.
this app loves this guy we've had him like 3 times already
Nah not enough
not for me
Well this is not how I thought it was going to sound from the album art. I don't love his voice. Is it a falsetto? Why does he sound like this?? It's... okay I guess. He sometimes doesn't sound like he's trying to sing while someone squeezes his balls.
not bad, pretty dreary. always liked "southern man"
It's so hard for me to grade Neil Young. It is so unique, so I don't know what to compare it to. His cat-stuck-in-a-vice-grip voice either sounds terrible or fascinating depending on the mood I am in. His loose, minimal studio takes style either sounds amateur or authentic depending on what I'm in the mood for. His songs go from piano to ripping guitar, to soft whispers with acoustic guitar, sometimes effortlessly, sometimes jarring. He's either a lyrical genius or Bob Dylan like depending on the song. He's a conundrum. I can take him in small doses. This was an interesting album. Southern Man is a major highlight for me, always loved the sound. The rest of the album borders on intriguing country or loose sort rock.
Always have been a Niel Young fan. However this is the first alblum I listen to in entirety. Did not disappoint.
Täähän oli jopa ihan kelpo soitantaa ja laulantaa
Kassien heilutteluks jäi.
Neilikka on itelle mieleinen. Tätäkin levyä on tullut kuunneltua. Periaatteessa nelkku kun ehkä liikaa jollotusta mut kuitenkin vitku.
Hieno levy. Aikanaan tuli kuunneltua varsin paljonkin Neil Youngia ja myös tätä levyä. Jotenkin ilmavan ja hengittävän kuuloista ja oloista musaa. Hienoja biisejä, ja välillä taustalta iskevä Neilin sähkökitarasoolo osuu aina kuin miljoona volttia. Tykkään tosi paljon, neljä ja puoli tähteä ja ihan noppaa heittämällä että onko vitska vai nelkku. Ehkä kuitenkin nelkku, vaikka levy on hieno niin Nipan parhaat biisit on sitten kuitenkin muilla levyillä.
Every time I listen to Neil Young, I realize why he's called the Grandpappy of Grunge. There's ton more Neil.
Great songwriting. I don’t love Neil’s voice, but no question that he has lyrics that stick with you.
my fav Neil Young album
It’s a classic for a reason. Some of Neil’s best and clearest vocal performances with the typically great songwriting. Not my favorite by him but how can you choose?
Classic Neil.
It's okay, his voice is a bit whiny and annoying. The first two tracks are a bit of a cloying non starter for me. Track 3 is great, very enjoyable and chill, his voice works on this one. Track 4 very good. Most of this album is kind of boring. There isn't a lot to it musically, it's average in that regard. The vocals are an acquired taste. I'm not feeling the country, folky vibe. It's like the basic settings of music. You have to be pretty special to wring any individuality and intrigue from this style, and on this album he does it around 30% of the time. It's such a meh album, but I can see it affecting people. It's schmaltzy enough in parts to make you feel comforted, like a lullaby, and the lyrical content is so bland that you can ascribe whatever meaning you want onto it, like a rorschach test.
bless him, his voice sounds like that and he isn't letting it stop him for even a second (I quite like his voice once you get used to it and can look past how it sounds to appreciate how it sounds) The album list's insistence on overrepresenting certain artists hurts this album though. This is my third Neil Young album in less than two weeks. All that's done is make me fatigued and less likely to appreciate what's good here. After The Gold Rush I think had a dark horse chance at a five, and very comfortably a four, but my initial response was "there are 1089 albums on this list, how do I keep getting the same guy" instead of any kind of enthusiasm. And that's for an artist I'm discovering I actually like! It's only made me hate David Bowie or Iggy Pop more, made me more critical of how overrated The Beatles are, and I can only imagine how bad it's going to be when I get to the mediocreocalypse of a hundred Elvis Costello albums. So After The Gold Rush. I think it works better when it's angry, kinda like Neil in general, and I'm less on board with the love songs. Not sure it's going in my regular rotation but I have discovered I like Neil Young better than I thought and if I had any kind of spacing between these albums I'd probably be more excited.
lindas canciones, cero mi estilo. notas: daryl hannah
solid, some great songs. the guitar solo on southern man is horrendous
Sad tone country.Really interesting lirycs but the beat is too much dead to me
Its pretty good, solid 3/5.
3.5
already like this better than the last neil young album i got (everybody knows...). much more consistent, much better production quality. lyrics are generally less cringey (when you dance, i can really love is a notable exception but the song is still good). truly lovely harmonies throughout -- i could take or leave young's voice on its own but it really shines with others. southern man rules. highlights: only love can break your heart, southern man, don't let it bring you down, birds, when you dance still too many forgettable tracks to justify a 4 star rating but it's a much more solid 3. maybe 3.5. bonus points for pissing off lynyrd skynyrd. #first time listening
3/5 Favorite Songs: Tell Me Why Southern Man When You Dance You Can Really Love
An absolute classic. No missteps here.
Fucking hell, back to back Neil Young albums! Anyway, this is a definite improvement over yesterday's offering with regards to songwriting craft, and even vocally, although they still aren't anywhere near my absolute favourite. I just struggle to imagine when I'd ever sit down and think "you know, I really should listen to some Neil Young today".
Neil Young in the glory of his fully resplendent falsetto. Sometimes that really works for me, but the subdued accompaniment on the title track really doesn't serve him well (in my opinion). Overall, a solid record though. Anyways, he really pissed off Lynyrd Skynyrd with this one, which is fun. I spend part of my youth on their side because I hadn't yet learned to appreciate Neil Young's superior songwriting and social consciousness. "Southern Man" is a banger and I'd probably be salty if someone dropped a blistering diss track like that on me in the 70s too. Go get 'em, Neil.
Raw Pure Emotional
Really enjoyed this one. Almost 5 stars! Great songwriter, some great stories and pretty Melodie’s too.
No todos los grandes discos son para todo el mundo, y After the Gold Rush es uno de esos álbumes que no hace ningún esfuerzo por caer bien. Tiene la autoestima de un gato: si te gusta, estupendo; si no, sigue durmiendo sobre el amplificador. Es un disco introspectivo, no busca melodías explosivas, austero, y su clima emocional es uniforme, especial para una noche calurosa donde no puedes dormir y lo único que tienes es el disco, un trago y unos cigarrillos
was ok
cute pero no sé,,, no me encantó. 3/5.
#194/1001 🇨🇦 The best album by one of my all time favourites. This one means so much, I've loved it for years but it took on special meaning when we were visiting our house as it was being renovated and one of the builders was sitting outside cleaning uo the reclaimed bricks listening to it in the sun. I honestly think this is a perfect album. The first side is absolutely outstanding, whilst the high point of side 2 is Birds. Best Tracks: After The Goldrush, Southern Man, Tell Me Why, Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Birds.
For my personal tastes, I give this a 2.5/5 on the first listen. Neil's style might just not be for me, but I did enjoy parts of the album. I found the opening track "Tell Me Why," "Only Love Can Break Your Heart," and, of course, "Southern Man" to be the best tracks of the album, musically. Neil has more variation and well-developed musical elements in these tracks that create more musical depth, emotional range, and momentum that I feel are lacking across much of the other tracks, particularly the last half. "Tell Me Why," was a strong opener. It has playful melodies across the vocals and guitars that I think are some of his strongest on the album. I'll be honest, I don't really know what Neil is trying to say in those lyrics though lol. On "Only Love Can Break Your Heart," it's really the chorus that carries the track. I don't enjoy the verses, sonically speaking, and thankfully they're short. The swell of vocals in the chorus creates melancholic yet romantic emotions that conveys the heartache in his story-telling. "Southern Man" is, of course, a standout with a lot of emotion, percussive elements, and impassioned guitar solos. Lyrically, I have thoughts on how Neil Young addresses the topic of racism, but that's more than I can tackle in this review. Honorable mention to the french horn solo in "After the Gold Rush."
A superb album. The second from Neil in this list and they couldn’t be more diverse… this highlights the gentler side of his music, less crazy feedback and more laid back, until you realise the songs have teeth. Full of depth and emotion. Love it.
I started writing a horror story today about toxic overreliance on others for your own health, full of body horror and viscera. When I needed to take a break from typing, I listened to this album. The first thing which struck me about Neil Young was his one-of-a-kind vocal tone, high pitched and fragile. It almost sounds like Carl Wheezer from Jimmy Neutron singing a folk album, but I genuinely do not mean that as an insult; I find his voice uniquely emotive and compelling. This voice is paired with a strong knack for socially aware songwriting, with Young sounding particularly tapped into this tired, downtrodden folk sound. Or at least, sometimes he does. There are other songs here, typically those which lean more into a heavier rock sound or more typical heartbreak lyricism, which simply do not grab me nearly as much as the others. Evaluating this album was a back and forth process, as I really clicked with the songs I liked, but just could not get into the others. An album leaning entirely into the societal folk sound would have easily stood out more in my mind, but as it stands, After The Gold Rush feels split between two different identities, and I personally find one of them to be significantly less engaging. However, this does leave me intrigued at the prospect of hearing more Neil Young down the road, and particularly hearing what he brings to the table as the fourth member of CSNY. Highlights: Tell Me Why, After The Gold Rush, Till The Morning Comes, Don't Let It Bring You Down, Cripple Creek Ferry
100
i don't really like this, that's all. not so many intricate works going around.
All time top 10 album
Another 5 star from Neil. An amazing song writer and guitarist.
A little torn on this rating. It’s a great Neil album showcasing so early on his use of folk, piano ballad, and rock. Some of his best songwriting, and the first 4 in particular are just phenomenal. And then side B is mostly just… it kinda hurts more when Neil is mediocre, because you know how amazing his songwriting and poetry can be. But it’s mostly great, and a total classic, so 4 stars
I've never been really sure on which album I prefer out of this or Harvest. My conclusion is ...they are both awesome
Not my thing.
I like the length of all the songs so far Pretty chill and mellow Objectively good
Er zijn betere platen...
I'm not a Young fan, but this is a album I would definitely listen to again.
Mr. Young brings the Topanga Canyon-Dean Stockwell-magic in spades on this must hear 1970 folk rock masterpiece!
6/10 - nice and inoffensive
This one's fine. I'm not sure the list needs so many Neil Young albums, but 1001 is a lot. "Southern Man" is a strong song that still feels accurate despite some other bands' remarks. It's not just the message that is strong, it's the music as well. Between this track and "Ohio," Neil Young should have written more music while he was angry. There's some good tracks on this album but also a few which seem to go on a bit too long, which is not a typical complaint I have had on this project. Favorite track: either "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" or "Southern Man"
I like Neil Young but can see how his voice my grate on some people. Enjoyed listening to this on a blazing hot summers day. The day fitted the laid back folk/country
Favourite Songs: Southern Man
It was a great experience calming I like some song it's a 7/10 from me I will listen it again if mood feels right It's like my favourite song piano man
Not into it
Beautiful collection of songs, especially for a debut. Favorite track: Only Love Can Break Your Heart
uma coletânea de clássicos incontestáveis
Not hugely a fan of his voice and the songs feel pretty bland
This feels like normal young. Doesn't overstay its welcome, Southern Man as a highlight, but the Young voice I don't prefer with slow folky things (this is to my mind the majority of Young's work). Comfy 4 stars, could see it being 3 on a bad day or a 5 if you like Young more.
If I had to choose one thing this list has given me, it would be rediscovering my love for Neil Young. This album is a masterclass in musicianship, taste, and emotional songwriting.
We are not yet far enough from The Brown Album that we can avoid comparison with it. Indeed, seeing the title Cripple Creek Ferry here suggests a humiliation fetish on the part of Young and listening almost confirms it. Cripple Creek Ferry is a leaden slog that mistakenly believes it is buoyed by whimsey. This is far removed from the actual bounce of the song by his co-patriots and the bearable twee of its lyric. Young goes too much on both counts and leaves himself open to death by comparison. And I get that Young exists mostly in comparison. He is understood to have peers and contemporaries in the great of the 60s and 70s. He is part of a pantheon. And, while it is easy to tell where he differs to those others - nowhere need as poetic as Mitchell, not as intelligent as Dylan, not so mature as Cohen - it is hard to tell exactly how it is that Young distinguishes himself. Of the Young albums we've listened to so far, After the Goldrush is certainly the best. In comparison with himself, then, we can discern something of his gift. There are some lovely musical passages here, sweetened where, on other records, they would be scuffed up with Young's developing attitude of off-handedness. I presume what we get on After the Goldrush was shaped to some extent by Young's co-producer or as a concession to the times - you can add a nice flugelhorn and it will emphasis the simple pleasantness of your melodies. They can be pleasing in essence and are, here, sometimes pleasing in execution. As we've learned across his catalogue, that is not a given. But what cannot be dressed up or sweetened is something now clear to me: Neil Young is a simpleton. Compare the whimsey of Cripple Creek Ferry, not with the band, but with the surrealist sailing imagery of Bob Dylan's 115th Dream - I've acknowledged not liking Dylan's song, but it is much richer and thoughtful than what Young achieves. When it comes to comes to philosophy, Only Love Can Break Your Heart (better, in my opinion, performed by St. Etienne) is a reduction rather than a distillation. And, even when Young is moral right, as on Southern Man or prescient as on the title track, it feels like dumb luck rather than clear-sightedness. I love UFOs as much as anyone, but the way Young introduces them into his story of environmental collapse makes him sound like a bumpkin. Perhaps that is what Neil Young has to offer. 2.5 We’re 5 Neil Young albums deep now and this is the first of his that I am familiar with. I suspect a little more familiarity might have helped On the Beach… to an extra half mark. I am sure it would have made no difference to the Crazy Horse albums; irredeemable nonsense. With After the Gold Rush familiarity, however, has bred contempt over the years. I will give it this - I do think this album explicates the general appeal of Neil Young for many people better than those other records. There is so much of Naive Art about the songs and recordings here; nursery rhymes for grown-ups. Young’s voice, surely powerfully sympathetic to those many among his listeners who are poor singers and especially those who are only starting on the oboe, drives the point home. ‘Listen to me everyone, I’m an idiot, but hath God not chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise?’ He hath, well done Neil. 2/5
4.8/5 stripped back early neil young can’t go wrong
I like it but not in love with it
An OK album, some good songs, typical of Neil Young but I prefer Tom Petty and I lump both of them in with Dylan, CSNY, Travelling Wilburys and the more rocky country music.
RATING: 10/10 HIGHLIGHT: I Believe in You LOWLIGHT: Til the Morning Comes
Good, not mind blowing
Sound amazing 56 years later It’s a perfect folk rock record, and is one of those that normally gets put on when I’m making a Sunday roast. The production is incredible and so many folk albums I love that cues from it. Favourite track: after the gold rush
More Neil Young. I still don't like Neil Young. First couple of tracks, I thought "this is ok, maybe this is the album where I understand what it is people hear". But then it went back to his whiny norm. Probably his best I've got - I said that about the last one too, maybe I'm just accepting it now
This is a good album. After the goldrush and only love can break your heart are great. Not a single dud track, and even if none of the others truly broke though I'd happily give it another spin.
An interesting listen, really makes you pay attention to the lyrics, the guitar in southern man is soo good imo. A lot of the reviews seem to suggest this artist is in the list a lot (6 times??), but if they're all around this vibe or quality I don't think I'll mind (this is my 3rd suggested album), and this isn't even what I would typically listen to either
1001 has helped me appreciate Neil Young. I have had a bias for a long time because he is a polarizing personality, but the quality of the songs and his approach to being an artist is uncompromising.