After The Gold Rush

- ..... it's Neil ... -

Some of his greatest songs here. This album still holds up among his absolute best.

The second time I've heard "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" in a week! And this version is just as good as the Saint Etienne cover. Maybe Young's best album as well? Bittersweet but kind of hard at the same time.

Neil Youngs drittes Soloalbum After the Gold Rush wurde 1970 veröffentlicht und zeigt ihn als vielseitigen Songwriter zwischen Folk, Rock und Country. Eingespielt wurde das Album in mehreren Studios, darunter Youngs eigenes Heimstudio in Topanga Canyon sowie die berühmten Sound City Studios in Los Angeles. Der kanadische Musiker präsentiert hier eine Mischung aus introspektiven Balladen und raueren Rockstücken. Besonders hervorzuheben sind das titelgebende After the Gold Rush, das mit seinem melancholischen Klavierspiel und surrealen Texten beeindruckt, sowie Southern Man, ein kritischer Song über Rassismus in den Südstaaten der USA. Auch Only Love Can Break Your Heart sticht als gefühlvolle Ballade hervor. Das Album gilt als Meilenstein in Youngs Karriere. Es verbindet persönliche, oft rätselhafte Texte mit abwechslungsreichen Arrangements und einer warmen, organischen Produktion.

Gorgeous with every track.

Great classic album

One of my favorite albums of all time

Neil Young is like a good cup of coffee. You can live without it, right? But why risk it?

That's fine

Was going to say no notes, 10/10, an all-time favorite (although not my favorite NY solo effort), but instead: 1. Hilary, shoutout number 2 in like less than a week to Mr. Kessler and 7th grade language arts class (will explain this more in the group chat tomorrow) 2. Extremely eerie to listen to this record today specifically (looking at you, Southern Man and Don’t Let It Bring You Down) 3. Damn does NY know how to write about love and heartbreak or what 4. Listened two times in a row because how could I not 😍 alright, Brett out

Perfect album, with perfect sequencing. Bonus assignment: listen to the Neil Young tracks from CSNY’s 4 Way Street

Now this is some "album to listen to before you die" shit I can get down with. Like most of Neil Young's best, After The Gold Rush is an album I will never tire of. ATGR delivers an array of what makes Neil a legend - beauty ("Birds"), social commentary ("Southern Man"), love songs ("Only Love Can Break Your Heart") and a stunner of a title track.

Part of what folks miss out on with why Neil Young is all over this list culminates with After the Gold Rush. His solo work is some of the greatest writing that came after hard work. Buffalo Springfield and CSN&Y while entries that are blasé set you up for the masterpieces by Young that will follow, After the Gold Rush being one of them. 4.5/5

one of the best albums of the 70s

One of my favorites.

Awesome classic!

Perfect Neil. No notes.

Loved this. Have heard it so many times. Moody, lovingly crafted and delivered.

My first and favourite Neil Young album.

Brilliant. Only gets better with age.

Huge Neil fan. One of his best. I could see someone not liking his voice but the songwriting is impeccable. Still finding meaning after 30 plus years of listening!

I love this album. The track After the Gold Rush is one of my top songs ever. Lots of bangers on here

Dang, pretty good. A few great moments and overall felt cohesive. A nice variety of instruments and vibes from song to song but they still all fit together nicely. Also: I really enjoy Prelude’s cover of the song After The Gold Rush that I first heard on Rhino’s sci-fi box set Brain In A Box.

Probably my favorite Neil, though it’s tough to say. Can’t say I dislike anything here, though. Pretty much perfect.

Neil released a bunch of 5 star music. Is this the best one?

5/5

It's hard to say no to this. Pure Americana. Or Canadacana.

A stone cold classic. I prefer angry electric Neil to contemplative acoustic Neil, but both are great.

Not as good as "Harvest", but still a great album from one of the masters of Folk Rock.

Great album, stacked with good songs many well-known. Works as a gateway or seasoned listening album. 5 Stars

I am an afficionado. And this one is one of his best.

Heartbreak on every level: personal, interpersonal, political, national. Sad and lovely. And perfect.

I was always going to give this full marks, it’s one of my favourites. The best thing Neil Young has done.

Boy, the Randomizer could barely wait, huh? It was only just a few days when my group got DÉJÀ VU, the seminal and (to put it mildly) commercially successful album by Crosby, Stills, Nash & sometimes Young. Seriously, that thing sold damn **numbers**. From what I've read, to this day it's still the highest selling album of any of the individual member's careers. Which, I mean, hey, from what I've heard about C, S and N, that makes sense. But Y? I coulda sworn Y would've had at least one more popular, given his levels of acclaim. Speaking of Y, album sales and acclaim, DÉJÀ VU was such a hit record, that when each member released a solo album afterwards, they all enjoyed increased success just by proximity and association. And of course, none of them were bigger than good ol' Neil Young's. So, yeah, only three days later my group gets to consider Neil Young's follow-up to the biggest album of his career — and I'm also pretty sure this is his third biggest overall behind HARVEST, although for all I know AMERICAN DREAM could actually be number three. It's not about the sales numbers, anyway; it's about the music. So how does that stand up to me? Honestly, I think it's very lovely. Instrumentally, I mean — putting aside the few songs that rock too much. It's the kind of album where I'm sure if I actually registered the lyrics I'd realize it's too serious or too much of a downer to be considered "lovely," but since I don't normally perceive most lyrics a first go around, and since a first listen is what I nearly always go off of... Yeah, this is just lovely instrumentation. Very pretty stuff. I wanna lean back in my chair and just smile. It's really times like these that I'm glad I'm not bothered by Young's voice. Like, believe me, I can absolutely get it. Young has one of the more... Y'know, unique voices in popular/critically acclaimed music. Like a... High warble with a little bit of frog. But I've never found it annoying. I absolutely know what that sounds like to my ears, and Young's just ain't it. It's — it can be amusing, y'know? One of those voices that can be fun to imitate, though not to the same extent as someone like, say, Dylan's. And, like, if he had a more generic folk singer voice, I don't think this music would land like it does. Shout-outs to "Southern Man", too, for being the other song that pissed Lynyrd Skynyrd off enough to write "Sweet Home Alabama". I like all of these songs, for the record, but it's just funny to me that one of Skynyrd's biggest hits ever is an angry response to Neil Young — and a bad one, I'm sure, if you actually take the time to look at its lyrics. Lucky for them, I haven't yet, so like Neil's voice, it don't bother me at all — which is how they feel about Watergate, funny enough. So, yeah, that's off-topic. Lemme pull it back to the point: honestly, I'm feelin' a... 5 on this? Yeah, a 5. There's a small part of me that feels like I've been too generous lately with the 5's, but honestly, I did like this instrumentation enough to justify that. Plus, hey, I'm sure I'll like the lyrics once I'm actually able to take them in, so I may as well give it that as well. Pretty good for the **fourth** Neil Young album my group has gotten, I'd say. Looks like I'm still living up to my RUST NEVER SLEEPS review: "Well, I hope I'm more into any of the other six Neil Young albums on this list."

Absolutely stunning pieces from a Canadian legend. Solid 5 Stars.

I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. Hell of a rebound from Rust Never Sleeps, huh? In the three albums we’ve gotten since that involve Neil Young, they’ve all been a 5 to my ears. This isn’t quite as good as Harvest or Deja Vu, but this is still really fucking good. I think I’m learning that I like Neil Young the best when his lyricism matches the power of his instrumentals – his voice still feels like it’s punching a little bit above his range, but when he’s managing to pull every bit of emotion from his guitar or piano to compensate, and when the lyrics match that, it all somehow finds a harmony that’s difficult to explain, but easy to feel. I really like feeling that harmony, and that harmony is present throughout most of the tracks on this album. There’s a few tracks that don’t quite find that harmony, namely “I Believe In You”, which just feels… weird for a Neil Young song, I dunno. It needed a little more time to cook, I think. When that harmony is there though, this album just glides really smoothly. There’s some great tracks on this album – the obvious standout here is Southern Man, which just unapologetically rules, and I feel bad that Neil Young felt like he had to apologize for writing it. That man was correct in every single thing he said there, and he did it while rocking out. Past that, between “Only Love Can Break Your Heart”, “Don’t Let It Bring You Down”, “Birds”, and “When You Dance, I Can Really Love”, this just finds a really sweet spot between folk music and rock music. While I think it’s showcased at a bigger and better scale on Deja Vu, this still really worked for me at a smaller, more intimate, and less bombastic level. I do wish that “When You Dance” had a little more going in the back, though. Ultimately, this is just a damn good album – it’s a little bit heavy on the “woe is me” type of track, which sort of skews the album’s balance, which is why I’m at a 4.5, but the album as a whole is just too enjoyable to not give a 5. It really is that good, and I hope people can feel that same harmony that I felt while listening to this. I really hope the rest of Neil Young’s stuff on this list stays at the same quality as these last 3 we’ve gotten.

Another awesome album love Niel big part of growing up

Elegiac brilliance. Sod it, Neil can go into the rare 'two 5s' club.

Chad

What an amazing album, one of the best I've ever heard.

This could be a greatest hits album. Love me some Neil any day.

No notes, perfect album.

Neil Young is a legend and this record is one of his finest, a masterpiece. One of four high profile albums in 1970 that followed the massive success of CSNY's Deja Vu, and the best one in my book. Lyrics cover a wide variety of topics, and overall the album contains more fragile songs and ballads, with the clear exception of southern man. Title track is a perfect song.

-incredible introduction to folk rock

after the GOAT rush

One one hand, I don't think it's his best as so many often claim it is - give me Harvest or Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere any day. On the other hand, it IS a 5-star album, so... 5/5

Perfect album. No notes.

Another Neil Young superclassic - nothing to add.

Classic Neil Young, great album.

Apparently, I have a preference for NY's country/folk-rock side compared to his hard-rock side. This preference is not without exceptions but it does explain why After The Gold Rush ends up receiving full marks.

This was the first Neil Young album I bought. I have my ups and downs with him but I've stayed tuned in all this time and this is still a favourite. Better than its successor Harvest.

A wonderful album with some of Neil's best songwriting and that's saying something. At turns beautiful; (Only Love Can Break your Heart), poignant (After the Gold Rush) and scathing (Southern Man), this album shows all the facets of Neil Youngs songwriting range. It does have some filler but that doesn't keep it from attaining 5 star status

Have on vinyl. Neil Young's second best album, great themes, lyrics, melodies and probably his best voice

I don’t even need to listen to this. It’s about as 5/5 as albums get and one of my all-time favourites. It’s got some of the prettiest folk rock songs of all time on it (title track, only love can break your heart, tell me why, I believe in you). Southern man is one of the best rock songs of all time and pissed off Lynyrd Skynyrd, which inspired them to write Sweet Home Alabama. So win/win really. Best songs: Pretty much all of them Worst song: Cripple Creek Ferry is a bit filler-y, but it’s still pretty af

Outstanding album and probably my favourite by Neil Young. No real duds on it but I'm not a huge fan of I Believe in You. That's the only one that drags for me. Standouts: After the Golf Rush Southern Man Only Love Can Break Your Heart Don't Let It Bring You Down Low Points: I Believe in You Lynyrd Skynyrd thinking they're well hard for calling out NY for his lyrics in Southern Man. The Godfather of Grunge would batter you.

Def in my top ten albums of the seventies. It's so good. This is what an album should be like. Not a wasted moment, okay birds is whatever, but it's got it all

Five stars. One of my favorites. His best!

Perfection

Elsewhere, I've mentioned my disdain for singer/songwriter/guitarist/healtfelt songs.... but this is Neil Young's classic, goddammit. It' one of those albums that just stays with you for (checks year) yep, 50 years. A certified classic.

After the Gold Rush is Neil Young's third studio album, and this and the album that followed, Harvest, are regarded has his best work. Young does not have a "great" voice, in any traditional sense. His voice has a sound of awkward earnestness that makes him a compelling storyteller. This collection includes a few of Young's best known songs. From the contentious "Southern Man," to the nostalgic "After the Gold Rush," Young's songs have transcended their genre - they are something more than just country rock songs.

Neil Young rocks

classic rock and probably Neil Young at his best. I dont even like the man all that much but this was a treat through and through. I just cant get past his voice but that is a very personal mark against it so I'll brush it aside. Plus Southern Man is just so good all on its own.

Wasn’t familiar with this album and was pleasantly surprised to find all the Neil Young songs I knew were on it! What a collection of honest, real and sometimes brutal song writing. Loved it!

Amazing album as usual for Neil Young. Incredible album with incredible individual songs. Will listen again.

another really good neil young album in this collection. his immersive storytelling through his songwriting has some full-fledged soft 70s rock sounds thrown in this time around. this sort of raw, imperfect and... natural rock music could only be made back then, which says a lot. the music is emotional and nostalgic, but also very easy and comfortable to listen to. what a guy.

Over the years Neil young became highly respected cool dude for me.

Neil Young is a major figure in music history, and this album, even though its quiet and folky at times, kicks balls and slaps It perfectly captures the late 60s, Laurel/Topanga Canyon music scene and culture. I first heard this in college and have always loved the opening tracks, but the record is strong from front to back. And it includes the ball kicking classic "Southern Man". Even if you don’t like Neil Young’s voice, its an important album, from an important figure, from an important time in history.

Day 5 of this album a day challenge and this is the first album I've gotten that I've listened to before. Great album. Neil Young is up there on the list of greatest songwriters of all time.

A gorgeous straight to 5 star record. Every track has its place, every track is exquisite. After many Neil Young records (most of them rather good) this was a perfect one.

My wife says he sounds like a goat. I say he IS the G.O.A.T.

Superb

Not only obe of Neil’s best but one of the greatest records of rock music in general. Only hits in 35 minutes.

Very nice! Perfect album!

Another nostalgia album. Age 3, trying to learn to read via the enclosed poster with the lyrics and being freaked out by that 2nd song with "I dreamed I saw the silver spaceships coming...." but listening to it over and over and over and being weirdly mesmirized... I shouldn't like most albums like this ... but it just hits in some fundamental way, and then the piano songs (title track obvs, "Birds") really add in a full color to this record and then we've got the classic "Southern Man" rocker on the other side of the ledger... damn I think this weekend I realized I'd mostly forgotten about this album for about 40 years and hearing it makes me feel like a kid again and that I actually love this freaking record. 9/10 5 stars

Listened a million times

Another 4.5 star album. There’s a few songs I skip but overall this is just a great album.

Brilliant songs, brilliant variety and just brilliant everything.

That was a delight.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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/

Neil machine

Damn. Don't you just wanna give Neil Young a hug? He needs a hug. 5/5

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

Absolutely fantastic after 50+ years

classic

Fan of Neil young since more than 50 years. The great Loner!!!

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.

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.

4.5/5.

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 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

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...

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.

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.

Love me some Neil Young. More like this please!

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!

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.

Beautiful.

Just perfect.

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

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

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.

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.

Instant hit this, bought it on cd as soon as I listened once

Bliss

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.

1970. Country Folk. 8/10. Southern man / oh lonesome me

Love this album!

Really enjoyed this. In my mind Neil Young is firmly dad rock, but I guess that just means I'm a dad now.

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.

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.

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!

What a great album! Hard to beat. "Only Love..." and "After the Gold Rush" are surely the standouts.

Mellowachtig album, zeer laid back. Ieder nummer geeft stof tot nadenken.

The soundtrack of my youth. Not a bad song on the entire album!!

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.

"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.

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.

Wonderful

Classic soft rock

A classic.

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

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)

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

Classic Neil

This is just such a beautiful album. I am unashamedly biased for Neil Young, but that doesn't mean he doesn't issue clunkers from time to time. However, After the Gold Rush is one of his best, showing him alone in his sketchy, poetic, contemplative mode, and also showcasing the best of Crazy Horse. Southern Man rage, Tell Me Why word salads (I think think it's about selling your would to the Devil, even though Neil Young can't remember what he was trying to say!) One of the underappreciated things about Neil Young is his time feel. You think he's a kind of loose, easy-going guitar player, but his sense of rhythm is fantastic, like a metronome and it provides a beautiful foundation for exploration on top. Rare for a singer-songwriter and something many of Young's heirs should study.

That is a record I grew up with, was gifted to me, and that I have thoroughly absorbed. Is there a point for me to say more? It has everything. Storytelling. Social commentary. Some of his best poetry. Nuanced, intentional instrumentation. A look at Mother Nature on the run. A window into a unique mind. A feel for something very old, but also very new. And healing, in many ways. This is comfort music. I have definitely listened to it more than 1001 times already, and yet it is always a good visit.

Album 1 of 1001 Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Rust Never Sleeps Rating : 5 / 5

So good

Perfect!! Love Neil young.

Great album, i know the Annie Lennox cover of don't let it bring you down so hearing the original version was a nice treat!

One of the GOAT's GOAT albums.

Simply a classic! The songs are great! The order is perfect! Almost sounds like best of album! I like exclamation points.

Yay...and he's back on Spotify the miserable old goat. I love the man and this is one of his best. Every track is golden. Straight 5.

It sounds a bit dated now but in its day it acted as my gateway drug to whole vistas of American country music. I still love this album.

LP

Neil Young is and will always be one of my favorite artists, so no surprise that I love this album. Top notch songwriting here

I really love this - but going into summer I wasn’t into this level of moodiness. I remember times when I was though and this hit the spot.

Strong start and then really opens up from Don't Let It Bring You Down onward. Started the year deep in Neil after reading his first book, he'd be very disappointed with my first listen being at streaming level quality

Goat

Top five ever

A Neil classic. A Canada classic. A rock classic. And the only such record to feature a flugelhorn (may be wrong there). The title track remains a haunting, unsettling listen. No less magnificent, though.

Semi-psychedelic lyrics, classic songs I have heard all my life. It never gets old. 5*

It's another great album by Neil Young. What is more to say?

Goddamn. That's some stellar songwriting.

amazing album and not even close to my favorite Neil Young album

I don’t think he was ever better than this. Can’t remember when I first heard the album. I was familiar with Don’t Let It Bring You Down & Southern Man, both of which were featured on the live Crosby, Stills, Marx & Engels album, 4 Way Street (a recording of the band’s 1970 tour, released in 1971). These 2 songs demonstrate the variety on this record - it’s partly very Crazy Horse (with some members of that band) and partly heading directly for the more laid-back Harvest album. Some of my favourite Young lyrics are here. It had me with the opening phrase of Tell Me Why - “Sailing heart-ships (to this day I always thought that word was hardships) through broken harbours”. Southern Man (the song responsible for Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Sweet Home Alabama) gives us : “Southern change gonna come at last/ Now your crosses are burning fast”. The title song : “ 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” & “Look at mother nature on the run in the nineteen seventies” (a reminder that the Woodstock generation was all over climate change more than 50 years ago). And all of the lyrics from Don’t Let It Bring You Down & Birds. The only cover version here is of Don Gibson’s Oh Lonesome Me(1957), which Young slows right down. I was brought up with the original, so the arrangement for Young’s version here was a total surprise. The players on this record are outstanding - most of Crazy Horse, out-of-nowhere a teenage Nils Lofgren, Stills & Young’s producer-of-choice, David Briggs. A great record.

Man, this record rocks.

4.9 - another great album, just classic Neil Young. This is just my wheel house

I think this is my favorite Neil Young album

If I could have one problem in life it would be Neil Young's. Imagine knowing you peaked 54 years ago, but remained bloody brilliant thereafter. This is that peak. There wasn't much of a dip.

Как удачно, что он соу бэк на спотифай. Ультра-альбом. Есть некоторое ощущение фронт-лоудности, но вершины этого альбома, кажется, даже слишком высокие для такого будто бы приземленного жанра. Лучшая песня - Southern Man.

Long live Neil!

Breaking News: turns out I actually like Neil Young! Just listened to this and really enjoyed it. Guess my tastes have changed since high school when I first heard these songs. That’s what I love about this album project.

Absolutely in my top 10 of 1,001 albums. Why? Tell Me Why - 5/5 😊 After the Goldrush - 7/5 😎 Only Love Can Break Your Heart - 5/5 😊 Southern Man - 7/5 😎 Til the Morning Comes - 4/5 Oh, Lonesome Me - 4/5 Don't let it Bring you Down - 8/5 ♠️👍 Birds - 4/5 When You Dance - 7/5 😎 I believe in you - 6/5 👏 Cripple Creek Ferry - 4/5 Neil Young - Songwriter, Musician, Legend, Genius ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Two Neil Young albums in one week. I feel blessed. I may have said this a few days ago, but this is my favorite Neil Young album...at least until I hear the next one. "Southern Man" rocks and it's an even better song knowing it also led to the writing of "Sweet Home Alabama." I can't wait for Neil Young's music to come back to Spotify, as I am too lazy to listen to it on another streaming platform. There is not a bad track here and "Til the Morning Comes" just ends with me wanting to hear more of the song. He is another artist that crosses genres and this album is an example of this. The front half is better than the back half, but that's a small complaint.

Listened to 03/05/25 BL: this is my first album im listening to after getting back into album listening, of which i did lots of in summer 2023, and then intermittently throughout. I am beginning again by clearing out my backlog. The first of which I’ve chosen being “After the Goldrush” by Neil Young. I’m aware of a couple of his songs, from both his band and solo careers, but this will be the first record of his I’m listening to the whole way through. I will give my feedback as follows AL: this album really spoke to me. A portrait of a young, quiet, lonely, yet poetic man. Weird somber country tunes battle politics and historical drama, grapple with religion, and show someone trying to understand their place in the world. The Lo-Fi nature of this really adds to the melancholic quality Young slashes the listener with. There will definitely be subsequent relistens. FTs: “After the Gold Rush”, “Southern Man”, “Birds”, “When You Dance I Can Really Love” 5/5

One of my biggest character flaws is not liking Neil Young as much as many of my friends. Passed on seeing him in concert this year, even - tix just too pricey for what I personally would get out of it. I will qualify that I think he's a brilliant songwriter objectively, and I maybe would have gone for it if it was 70s era Neil, but just subjectively his voice I can never quite get over. I'm still giving this record a 5, shoutout to my dad for passing on the vinyl to me so I can still listen, but yeah I am flawed, ok! Only Love Can Break Your Heart is great, and Southern Man is an all timer (Lynyrd Skynyd wrote Sweet Home Alabama in response to being called out for being unapologetic racists) and Merry Clayton's cover of it gives me chills.

A great solo effort from Neil Young. Didn't know this is the first record he made that involved Nils Lofgren. Several all-time classics here including After the Gold Rush, Only Love Can Bring You Down and, of course, Southern Man. This album really captures the softer side of his work perfectly, with only Southern Man being the outlier. Probably a 4.5, but I'll round up here.

Wonderful in its simplicity and execution. Just a man and his songs. He goes electric when he needs to but keeps everything speed down to its essential elements. Southern man, Don’t Let It Bring You Down, and Only Love Can Break Your Heart are all classics. Fun fact: this album cover is shot in front of one of the NYU Law buildings so I have to give points for that.

I really enjoyed it. The production was very warm and the songs were meaningful

I love Neil Young. I love this record. Is that French horn on "After the Gold Rush"???? I love French horn! I looked it up. It's flugelhorn. Still very cool. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" is so lovely and sad. Love this record. 5 stars.

what can i say about this one? this is already one of my all time favorite albums so i cannot be unbiased here. i love early neil young's songwriting and it is at its best here. i don't think there's a bum song in here, they're all great. the album is mostly stripped down, vulnerable, stark, melancholy. when it is at its loudest it is angry ("southern man") which is probably most peoples' familiarity with anything on this album. but the softer stuff on this album is what makes it shine. i know his voice can be hard to deal with for a lot of people, but his voice has never bothered me and i think gives the music character and uniqueness. it's just an album i adore through and through!

Excellent album. Wish it was on Spotify.

Everybody knows this is awesome

An iconic 79’s rock album by Neil Young! Not a weak track on there! Loved it!

Love

9/10

Such a great record from Neil, easily one of his best. He is more grounded, lowkey, down to earth, whatever you want to say; he took a more personal and intimate approach with these songs and it shows. This album sounds like breakfast with your grandparents, it sounds like cleaning out your parent’s garage, it sounds like the first morning of a camping trip, it sounds like a violent storm outside your window. Every song is a great listen in its own right. Southern Man is a bangerrrrrrrr

Great album!

Very good! I understand why this is recommended

Always going to have this issue with his albums on Spotify (and Joni Mitchell) but worth the extra effort. Wholesome, no-nonsense ballads and rocky/folky songs about, ......well Neil Youngy types of things like environmental concerns, drugs, midwest politics I don't understand. Always good though.

Great stuff throughout. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Yeah it’s great it’s Neil Young

Love this one, definitely among my favorite Neil Young albums.

Contains my favorite song about leaving Earth due to humanity destroying it. As timely as ever in this ever increasingly fucked year of 2024. I too am hoping for replacement when the sun bursts through the sky. Excited to see Neil with Crazy Horse later this year

Southern Man is absolutely cracking. Brilliant album overall, not much more to say. Nice and crisp. I like his voice, I love the style of music, ticked all the boxes for me. Looking forward to Harvest.

One of Neil's classic early albums, a very different proposition to the previous year's rockier effort with Crazy Horse, though 'Southern Man' certainly packs a punch! This is, on the whole, a more laid back affair and is a definite stylistic precursor to its mega-succesful follow up, 'Harvest'. After the Gold Rush contains some of his most admired songs, from the title track itself to 'Tell me why' and 'Don't let it bring you down', but what I particularly like are the charmingly short snippets such a 'Cripple Creek Ferry' and the perfect 'Til the Morning comes' which comes and goes in a flash, is just the right length and is a total joy from start to finish! Needless to say, this is a top ranking collection of songs. Excellent stuff!

I think Neil Young is one of the few artists who has received consistent ratings from me throughout this project, and I mean, can you blame me? There's something to the frequency of his voice on "Birds", when his voice quivers on the final, "It's over," that just hits me. Nothing else really to say. Favorite tracks: "Birds", "When You Dance I Can Really Love", "Southern Man", "Don't Let It Bring You Down"

While not my favorite from him (Harvest, which is a 10/10) this is Young at his finest and most dial-ed in at the early part of his solo career. I find a lot of his early-mid career work to be uneven, but there are many gems throughout that span and this is one of them. Also a great primer for his material 9.4/10

Didn’t you think Neil Young was from the Deep South when you first heard this album? A classic, in every way.

I love the 1970’s folk/singer-songwriter genre! I had never really listened to Neil Young, but I’m not surprised that I loved it. I think Newell’s sentiment of “it makes me nostalgic for a time when I wasn’t even alive” sums this up perfectly! My favorite song was probably Don’t Let It Bring You Down.

Not a neil young addict, his experimental stuff I do not like and if he does one of his guitar wars with the Crazy Horse on concerts, I tend to start sleeping. But in this and e.g. Harvest Neil Young combines the best of Country/Folk, singer songwriter and pop. And his voice would make even the silliest tunes meaningful and deep. So moving this album, how could I listen to the title song without being totally at ease and in peace with the world. Not only one of 1001 best albums but easily in top 50 of all times.

Great!

Almost perfect

Easy 10. Haven't heard this one before (mostly only On the Beach). I see it's high on lists of best Young albums and I was not disappointed

This is what country boys listen to after a break up. This one’s good! A nice sadder themed album to get sad to. The lyricism is great, which cannot be stressed enough. This is so much better than the other Neil Young album I’ve heard so far.. great album!

One of the best

Such a great album! So nuanced in its mood, the lyrics and melodies are so direct yet so precious. I liked this a lot more than I expected to.

One of my favorite albums of all time, one of Neil Young's best. Every track on here is great.

How I resent listening to this on YouTube But 5 star every day

Good stuff

Fine fine album!!!

...ya know Neil's not on spotify, right? Thankfully, he is on YouTube and still watchable, which is great because he is a classic and this is one historic album.

The Best!

Soooooo fucking good

Another neil young so soon, i was worried it would be too similar to harvest. However, super happy to be wrong. This has a rock flair to it that sets it apart from Harvest easily and still is killer. The highlight is Southern Man for me, but the entire thing is fantastic.

Legend

great

Every song tells its own little story, no matter how short. It’s such a goddamn loss to the musical world that Neil Young removed all his music from Spotify, I understand his morals and convictions but making masterpieces like this more inaccessible is criminal. Fuck Joe Rogan.

Great old album

Love this album

it’s not on spotify and couldn’t be bothered to look for it, this is the third one. i will get round to it i guess.

A lovely album, but a touch overrated

Neil! This is right up with Harvest for me. Some of my favorite songs and love the arrangements. Southern Man rocks!

Masterpiece. Amazing solo album immediately after an epic Crosby, Still, Nash, and Young epic.

This is very cool

Great acoustic set. Passionate, heartfelt songs.

Perfect from front to back. 10/10

Enjoy electric Neil far more than acoustic, but this is probably the acoustic Neil I most enjoy. His voice has a quality that I would describe as whiney, especially in an acoustic setting, but this is the album where that either disappears or seems better matched to the content of the lyrics.

Pure brilliance. Favorite track: Southern Man

A classic

love this album. an old favorite. not available on spotify, though

The fifth appearance by Neil Young for me so far in this challenge. Aside from Buffalo Springfield, most of what I've heard by him so far has ranged from mediocre to just ok. This is the first one that I actually felt compelled to go back and listen to a second time. It has some beautiful songs for a broken heart. The title suggests the feeling of melonchony or depression after a period of excitment, which fits the music. Nice to see a bit more of what makes Neil Young a great artist.

lovin it... addictive

Old friends!

A favorite from my teen years!

Full of epic Neil Young songs:

I'm beginning to love Neil Young and I can't explain why but it just fits so well like a comfy jacket that's the right size. Breezed through this album, felt a soft emotional pull here and there but nothing so uncomfortable I ever thought twice about stopping listening.

Perfect album on this cold and dreary day. Always enjoy Neil Young and this album is no exception. Southern Man is a masterpiece musically & lyrically.

The three big songs on this album are truly incredible. After the Gold Rush and Only Love Can Break Your Heart are soft, poetic tear-jerkers while Southern Man is an angry, rocking piece of social commentary that in part helped spawn one of Lynyrd Skynyrd's greatest hits Sweet Home Alabama. Those two songs are forever locked together in rock lore. I think those three songs (tracks 2-4) come so quick and loom so big that I was quick to dismiss the rest of the album as just okay. Tell Me Why and Til the Morning Comes (tracks 1 and 5) might indeed be propped up by how close they are to the big songs. But Oh Lonesome Me (track 6) and Birds (track 8) are two other great sad pieces, while Don't Let It Bring You Down (track 7) and I Believe in You (track 10) are sad in a cleverly twisted way - you think they're about hope but really they're dark and bleak. It shows how good Young is as a lyricist and they're just as emotional as the pure sad songs. When You Dance I Can Really Love (track 10) is another great rocker on this album. I guess in the end it's Cripple Creek Ferry that I don't really like - I wish he had just left that off the album. To me, this album is an easy 4 but when I truly give the lesser known songs a careful listen, it's a 5.

Another great Neil Young album on the 1001. Tons of great songs here, some of which sound like they were probably meant for CSNY, but that's ok (mostly due to CSNY-type harmonies, e.g., Tell Me Why, When You Dance I Can Really Love, I Believe in You). Southern Man is an absolute classic, deservedly so (take that Lynyrd Skynyrd!). If I had to pick one song to play for someone asking, "What does Neil Young sound like?" this is the one I'd pick. Only Love Can Break Your Heart and Birds are both beautiful songs (I'm a big fan of Only Love Can You Break Your Heart - the chorus is perfect). Don't Let It Bring You Down has a great chord progression and When You Dance I Can Really Love is built on great riffs. I could go on and on. Just a great album start to finish and an easy 5.

So, this being album number six, it's been embarrassing to look back on how many times I've stated my feelings about Neil Young, only to have had to revise them with each subsequent album. (The one constant is that voice.) The more I listen to this one the more I settle into its mellow grove and the more I'm enjoying it. These are wonderful songs (as evidenced by some wonderful covers by other artists). It's a great album.

I am not exactly sure how to say this...I really really enjoyed listening to this album.

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

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

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

Brilliant! 5/5

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

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

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

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

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

Great album but not even my favorite Neil Young.

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

One of my top albums for sure

Peak Bruce to peak Neil

4.7 -

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

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

Neil Young at his best

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

Absolute gem, every track brought me back in time.

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

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

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

One of my favs

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

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

good

This album is so right up my alley!

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

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

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

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

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

Beautiful and timeless

Fantastic album.

touchful as always

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

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

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

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

Simply brilliant.

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

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

Classic

Love it, and very childhood memorable.

Neil Young is always good stuff.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Very nice