After The Gold Rush

This album highlights Young's songcraft, which is strong enough to counterbalance his thin (but distinctive) voice and his at-times primitive guitar playing (a Neil Young guitar solo sounds like absolutely no one else's). His melodic and harmonic sensibilities infuse these songs with moments of drama; in Young's hands here a single melodic phrase or chord change can be gripping. The production on this record is somewhat stripped-down (especially on the more acoustic numbers) but that actually complements the emotionally bare nature of these songs. A couple of weak tunes (like "Cripple Creek Ferry") keep this album from being a complete masterpiece but the majority of these songs are among the best of Young's career.

I’m a fan of Neil young but have to be in the mood

Great album with only 1 or 2 stinkers. Melancholy is a decent description of the overall tone but it's still awesome.

This is a great album. I always forget how much I like Neil Young’s solo work.

Solos rip. A classic

Listen to again

Got it already

8/10 Don't let it bring you down and southern man and a whole bunch of neil young songs. all around a good day. 11-25-2025

chill morning listen

Full disclosure, didn’t actually listen to the full album today BUT I am still writing a review because I’ve listened to this album before and just want to rave about it. Every track feels so emotionally charged, you feel the deep sadness in “After the Gold Rush” and “Birds” and the absolute anger in “Southern Man.” On top of that, the harmonies elevate this album to another level. Personally “Harvest” is my favorite Neil Young record but this might be a close second. Favorite Tracks: After the Gold Rush, Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Southern Man, Birds, When You Dance I Can Really Love, Cripple Creek Ferry Sidenote: Neil Young took all of his music off of Amazon Music to protest against big ole Bezos and while it’s understandable, it means he’s kind of exited my rotation a little, visiting these songs on YouTube reminded me what I was missing out on.

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Det mest fascineranes med Neil Young e nok vokalen, tenk at den blei verdensstjerne. Fascineranes greier. Helt ok album sånn ellers.

Great song writing and wonderful district vocals with message

The titular song made me cry, 55 years later

I still can't stand Neil Young's shitty falsetto, but this is one of his better albums.

Nothing as visceral as “Southern Man” but that’s not bad.

I couldn’t find this album on Amazon music, but I was able to listen to it on YouTube, but had to put up with the ads between songs. Anyway, I get how Neil Young’s voice might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for me it works with these songs. I was already familiar with the songs After the Gold Rush, Only Love Can Break Your Heart, and Southern Man. This is between 3 and four stars for me. I will call it a four.

a very unlevel record. several tracks are asking for a skip, some are ok and then there is Southern Man which is only the reason for giving this 4 stars and not 3

Brilliant album, lovely voice. Really enjoyable and nice to listen to. After the gold rush being a particular highlight of the album.

7/10. Although the first half had simple melodies and grating vocals, the second half was pretty fun beginning with Oh, lonesome me. The harmonica was a nice touch!

Täitsa hea kuulamine. Neil Youngi vokaal võib üksikutel lugudel sutsuke tüütu olla ja siis ta tõmbab lambist välja ülihea rokkvokaali. Heliloojana on ta ka intrigeeriv ja ükski lugu siin polnud selline filler taustamuusika. Tugev plaat ja julgeks soovitada.

I sometimes struggle with Neil's warrble-y voice and generally prefer his rockers. A classic nonetheless.

Classic. Just so good, front to back.

Picked up this LP for a dollar recently. Not one of my favorites at this point, but still really great.

Undeniably excellent. I'm not always in the mood for this kind of music but when it hits it hits. Any time the Crazy Horse lineup is most of the musicians on the album it's a lock I'm going to like it.

Some timeless tracks on the first half, peters out a little

Not a big fan of Neil Young's music, but this album was surprisingly pleasant to listen to. Some very sharp commentary as expected from Young, but accompanied by above expectations music. I however remain not a big fan of his singing style, which for me drags this album down quite a lot. I was doubting a lot between giving this album 3 or 4 stars, but ended up giving it the benefit of the doubt. 4/5

Love Neil❤️

Great!! Always love some Neil Young! Great album, will need to add it to the rotation.

The album didn’t wow me as much as Rust Never Sleeps, but there were still a number of songs that I liked on the album

Only criticism here is that one track generated a southern anthem that continues to inspire generations of ignorance. Guess the cultural impact of this one is bonafide. The rest is quite listenable, pretty chill for Neil

Not quite a 5 star, but a good album. If I felt a little more melancholy, I'm sure this would hit harder. Favorite Songs: Southern Man, Tell Me Why

Love Neil Young!

My favorite of our Neil albums so far!

Tough to beat tracks 2-4.

Definitely one of my favorite Neil Young albums. Southern Man is the obvious standout. Although I have to admit to being annoyed by Young’s voice every once in a while, but the music is good.

Neil Young shouldn't work, thin falsetto, plinkly plonky songs and that weird round bass sound. His sound is as flat as an uncooked pancake, dropped on the floor. But music isn't just about perfection, the art is in what's wrong, what's weird. If you want perfection, listen to some A.I music. If you want some strange, lonely music that will make you feel tired, old and depressed, listen to Neil Young. Specifically Harvest, but this album is good as well

Very Dreamy and Harmonic yet still quite Real Feeling, Very Idea based songwriting If a bit repetitive, 8/10.

3.5/5

Favorite tracks: Southern Man, Tell Me Why, Till The Morning Comes, Birds

3-4

Another NY slay - knew most of the songs from Bruce Seymour assimilation

Southern Man is easily the standout track, but the album as a whole is still very good. I’d rate it immediately below Everybody Knows and Rust Never Sleeps

I really enjoyed this record. I was a bit weirded out by Only Love Can Break Your Heart until I realised that I recognised it from Saint Etienne's cover. Favourite tracks: Tell Me Why, After the Gold Rush, Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Southern Man, Don't Let It Bring You Down (check out Everything Everything's cover, it's ace).

Neil Young one of those artists, comes on and you just feel level. Easy listening and so good songwriting. Great album.

Beautiful album…perhaps a no skip. Not immediately an all time favorite but I want to revisit it.

Enjoyed this one. Lot of good lyrics and music and makes sense why he's considered one of the great songwriters

Good solid folky album, title track is a classic, the rest are pleasant

Another solid outing from Young. It's a great folk album, and easily 4 star material.

What a soothing album to listen to on a crisp October morning

A classic! I come back to Neil often, and I adore the first half of this album. It’s beautiful stuff. The latter half is a small climb down, but everything on offer hits. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

His voice was a bit off at first, but it grew on me. I recognized Southern Man and enjoyed the piano in the Birds. I see why this was on the list of classics.

-pretty good and chill

Pretty good. Some very good compositions some a bit less so, but sure they could grow on me. I do like it. Sounds really good

Not a note of pretension or artifice here.

Reminded me of the good old days back in high school!

Classic !

The middle of the road at its softest, the fierce Southern Man aside. A tender entry in Young's discography, but not as satisfyingly ragged as where he's about to go! Favourite tracks: After The Gold Rush, Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Southern Man, Birds

Lots of classics on this one. "Southern Man", "After the Gold Rush", and "Till the Morning Comes" are some favorites.

Love this one! Probably my favorite Neil Young record. Highlights: “Only Love Can Break Your Heart”, “After the Gold Rush” and “Southern Man”

Great songs, I’d never appreciated how good they were. Neil Young has a talent for writing but singing has never been his strong point. Don’t let it put you off, it’s a great album.

Finally got my first Neil Young solo album. CSNY was my first album I got generated and soon had Buffalo Springfield with NY. Listened to his first two solo albums before this one as I haven't really listened to much NY yet. This is pretty good with some recognizable tracks. There are still better albums from NY (he has too many) but I'd rate it highly.

I expected to like this more than I did, just something about it didn’t fully click with me. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still good, and I liked the themes and storytelling, I just had expectations that weren’t met because all I’ve ever heard was that this album was awesome and I didn’t think it quite got there. Another one where I wish that there were half-ratings because I want to give it a 3.5/5 (I’ll probably give it a low-end 4 on the actual page because I have to pick 3 or 4)

Jeg er ikke egentlig noen Neil Young fan (dog har jeg respekt for ham både som person og artist), men på denne skiva traff han noe. Tittelsporet kan jeg begynne å synge på til helt merkelige tidspunkt, som om det er noe trascendentalt og tidløst (i sin mest bokstavelige form) over det. Absolute perfection. A-siden er helt extremt sterk, selv Till the Morning Comes funker fjell i kontext som en outro. Nest best er nok Southern Man, som er det mest elektriske kuttet. Hver gang soloen og outroen kommer, lager jeg en henrykt grimase og ytrer et lydord fra en tegneserie jeg leste en gang. Markant drop på B-siden, nok til å trekke den fra perfekt score. Det er noen sterke sport der og, men også noen dips. Cripple Creek Ferry feks., hvorfor kommer det en tullelåt på slutten av et melancholsk album? Joda, den er litt catchy, men den er også ganske irriterende. Det er i grunn bare B-siden som kommer etter gullrushet, for A-siden er en gullgruve som aldri kan bli spilt ihjel.

🥰

A classic if you like Neil's music.

Rolling stone 500 albums -90 One of the most Neil Young of Neil Yooung’s albums. No filler and some great songs. No notes.

my fav of Neil Young! love the lyrics, I feel like it influenced so many contemporary artists

First 5 songs are all classics. Rest of the album sounds good. 4+ stars.

very happy cherry vibe, and nice melody

Easy listening with soft yet powerful instrumentals.

It’s been a while since I’ve listened to this whole album and I really think it’s as good now as it was back then.

Nunca dei muita atenção para o Neil Young, então eu realmente fui surpreendida por esse álbum; com certeza é o meu tipo de música. As que eu mais gostei foram: "Only Love Can Break Your heart", "Southern Man", "Till the Morning Comes", "Don't Let It Bring You Down". (Acabei de descobrir, fazendo uma pesquisa rápida, que eu já tinha uma versão de "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" na minha playlist. O cover é da Saint Etienne e, honestamente, eu preferi essa versão.)

хороший альбом но не мой фаворит от нила саузерн ман топ трек

so so good i love you neil young

I had no idea what Neil young sounded like and after 5 seconds I thought I might hate this… after 45 seconds I was in and didn’t doubt that again throughout. It sounds lovely and I now just have it on repeat because it is cozy in a way I don’t want to end

Been years since I listened to this one.

When it’s good it’s really good, but there were a few songs that kept it out of 5 star territory for me. Only love can break your heart, Til the morning comes and Oh, Lonesome Me were standouts

Gostei!

This is an example of an album that makes me love this project! I’ve never given Neil Young the time of day but know he’s beloved by many. What a surprisingly beautiful album. The song writing is so lovely, with some beautiful imagery. Can’t wait to be exposed to more Neil!

𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘙𝘶𝘴𝘩 is one of the great masterpieces of the Laurel Canyon scene. Neil Young’s fragile, high-pitched voice fits beautifully with the album’s mix of folk, country, and rock — never perfect, but always emotionally direct. Songs like 𝘖𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘯 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 and the apocalyptic title track capture both intimacy and urgency, while 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘯 adds political bite. The whole record feels raw yet timeless, a reminder that imperfection can be its own kind of perfection.

Probably one of the most influential musicians across many genres that followed. An amazing album that I wish I had more time to review.

Songwriting! Many understated but lovely introspectives put to simplistic acoustic unremarkable piano. Anchored by a legendary classic rock staple southern man remembered for its sharp cultural/social critique of the American South with crisp guitar solos and soaring/haunting vocals. Other highlights gritty harmonica on oh lonesome one. 3.6

4*

Classy sound of 60s

4/5. One of my top 3 NY albums. Always a quick and lovely listen.

Another excellent Neil Young album. Honestly he had one of the best decades of music an artist could have.

There are certain moods where this music truly resonates with me. It’s not something I reach for every day, but when I feel the need to immerse myself in a sound and shut out the world, it becomes the perfect escape. His voice has a soothing quality, and the songs carry a warmhearted sincerity that’s easy to sink into. On my first listen, Harvest Moon immediately stood out as a favorite — gentle, timeless, and deeply comforting.

Ja to po prostu lubię Neila Younga. Nawet kiedy wydaje mi się, że fałszuje i głos ma słabszy niż teksty to jest w tym tyle prawdy, że i tak wychodzę oczarowana. 8/10

Mid 8/10 má hodnotu vracet se Je to taková trošku kotlikovina po vetsinu casu klidnejsi ale chvilema i ne. hodilo by se mi to treba kdyz sedis a koukas na zapad slunicka nebo u taboraku or sum

delightful album, very heartfelt. not usually my speed but today it was.

Love it but my problem with the albums generally considered to be Neil Young's best are that they are kinda all over the place in terms of mood and sound which FOR ME makes it hard to place them as 5/5 even if I do like all the songs, which in this case I do. For me Zuma and On the Beach are the 5/5 in his catalog though I kinda doubt they are on this list Fav song: Tell Me Why which is either my first or second fav song by him (other contender is Cortez the Killer just fyi)

I feel for you Neil haters. They could at least spread these out a little more. Love this record. I've thought about or sung to myself "I dreamed I saw the silver spaceships flying in the yellow haze of the sun" at least once a week for the last 20 years.

First time listening to this whole album, and that's a mistake. This is where Southern Man happened. What an album.

Pretty good not the kinda Rick I was expecting but still still really good

Fun moments, very enjoyable. 4.

Bonita, embora muito simples secção de metais na After the Gold Rush. Aterra muito bem o caos que a envolve, dá certa forma

Neil Young när han är riktigt bra. Senare på 70-talet och 80-talet (undantag Rust Never Sleeps) låter han inte bra, men här... nära 5*

I think this is a really good album, even though it's not my favorite flavor of Neil. Parts of it I really like, but it occasionally sounds too much like Crosby, Stills, and Nash, which isn't a sound I'm that high on. Highlights for me are the title track, "Don't Let it Bring You Down", the "Oh Lonesome Me" cover and "When You Dance, I Can Really Love". The title track is possibly my favorite Neil song. Top 5 anyway. Strong 4 stars.

Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good album. Very prime Neil and his main essential one along with Déjà Vu with Crosby, Stills & Nash.

A réécouter pour mo

Hubby- When I was 21 I did acid and couldn't read my ipod screen to turn this off so it kept playing in my brain and hasn't really stopped. The chair in my dorm was huge from the bottom but small when I stood up 👍 4/5 because Neil has at least 2 better albums and I need to appear objective

I can't believe I've never listened to this full album, I disgust myself.

Great album overall, but the vocals sometimes are a bit grating.

Neil Young was big in my life as a kid, and I love his music, but as time goes on, his voice really becomes less tolerable. There's still a lot of good stuff here, so I'd recommend giving it a listen.

This is a good album. I can see why it's on the list, but it's not my jam. Pitchfork: n/a Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #90 Best Songs Tell Me Why After The Gold Rush Only Love Can Break Your Heart Southern Man Don't Let It Bring You Down

Pretty good. Really getting to see why he's so highly rated. He's miles clear of Dylan

Quite enjoyable! I love the small parts of brass instruments. Not a fan of his vocals though. 4/5

Super solid all the way through. Especially love his more politically charged writing.

Good but bland. Distorted guitar tone in When You Dance I Can Really Love is so yucky and great; iconic sound. The mix is so clear, it sounds like you're in the recording studio.

Early Neil Young album, hitting that folk sound pretty hard. Has the giant hit "Southern Man" on it, but most of these songs are at least somewhat familiar to me. Good record for sure.

Very good album. Some classic songs, but the less-known songs are great too. Neil Young is interesting in that I can understand listeners who think he sucks AND those who think he’s a genius.

Neil Young osaa kyllä puhutella. Hyvää folkkista. 4/5

A solid, often solemn singer-songwriter album. Thoughtful, tender, sometimes pained. Feels longer than its runtime in the good, hearty sense. Laying on the floor on a rainy day music.

Really pleasantly surprised cuz If I didn’t know any better I would’ve thought that this was an early Flaming Lips album I had never listened to

Not my favorite NY album, but pretty solid all the way through. I prefer the Crazy Horse tracks.

the good one

Very good. Matches my vibe

I loved this album, I love Young’s brand of country rock and folk rock and this is among the better examples of it. Opener “Tell me Why”, is excellent and his voice sounds great. The title track is also pretty good. I really liked “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” and the great and biting lyrics of “Southern Man” compliment the excellent arrangement and sound. “Till The Morning Comes” is a nice little interlude before we go to a cover of “Oh, Lonesome Me” a well done cover that I enjoyed, my grandmother did not like it. “Don’t Let It Bring You Down” was ok but I found his voice a little annoying in it. “Birds” was awesome I loved the way the backing vocals came in on the chorus it was gorgeous. “When You Dance I Can Really Love” was excellent as well an absolutely amazing arrangement going with excellent vocals again. “I Believe In You” may have been my favorite on the record his vocals are superb again and the way the vocals come in is sublime. “Cripple Creek Ferry” was a very good short closer kinda an epilogue to an excellent album

It's good? Singer songwriter stuff, but nothing really great on it... Still enjoyable

some good tunes

Neil Young doing Neil Young stuff. Some classics on here and I love the sound. What would have made it truly great would be to have CSN involved

This is a great album with great songwriting and some memorable melodies. It’s one of Neil Young’s best! His voice can be a bit trying on a few tracks though.

Solid, clear and poignant lyrics. Truly a great songwriter.

The first half of this albums is a clear 5 star. But the second half drops off a little, it's still good but it's not the same level as those initial 5 or so tracks. Perhaps with a few more listens this would become a 5. Very enjoyable though!

Strong 3* didn't enjoy it as much as the other album I got from him but still enjoyable

It's an easy listen without lacking bite. I enjoy his voice more on On the Beach, it sounds more refinef and less shaky, especially on the slower tracks. The more sensitive and bright sounding voice goes well together with the music, but while I enjoyed every song on On the Beach here I don't think his voice is my cup of tea when it's supposed to sound sensitive on those songs. Reqlly enjoy the more rocky songs though, as well as some of the slower ones.

The adage, attributed to Victor Hugo, deems that there’s nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come. A whole history of music could be written – has been written, really – from the perspective of the myriad ideas within “Southern Man” whose time eventually came. We’re talking about a song that, on release, inspired Lynyrd Skynyrd to jump to the defensive and write “Sweet Home Alabama”; a song whose distorted vocal effects, social conscience and distorted bluesy rock dynamics put it among the earliest examples of proto-grunge; a song with a guitar solo that devolves steadily into weirdo experimentation and drilling single stabs, precisely the sort of thing you’d imagine Thurston, Lee et al stayed up all night studying in their own sonic youths. And just as the story of “Southern Man” might just be the that of rock music (post-Elvis at least) in the 20th century, we can lean on “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” as a potted history of the 60s/70s counterculture’s romantic schisms. A person could drive themselves half mad looking for the subtext and portents in Neil Young’s music, so suffice it to say that as “central figures” go … Neil’s a centripetal force all of his own. “After The Gold Rush” is a superb record, full of ideas that we’ll likely be unpacking for longer still. (The opening guitar on “When you dance I can really love” sounds so much like a bit of music used on Friends, yet I see no evidence of others having noticed yet. Make of that what you will.)

8/10 Favourite: Tell Me Why Least Favourite: Till the Morning Comes

This one has a lot of hits.

Makes me think of Shoresy. Approved.

Sehr angenehm anzuhören, ich mag den Stil und den Sound, werd ich mir noch öfter anhören Lieblinge: Tell me why Till the Morning Comes

This is pretty great Neil. There are some standout tracks like Only Love Can Break Your Heart and Southern Man but I think the whole thing is an effective folk rock album. There's a lot to like here as a sort of soothing front porch album. I enjoyed the instrumentation which means maybe I'm not a crazy horse guy. Either way, this is a good example of the great musician Neil Young is that doesn't always shine through

solid album, surprised that it doesnt have more songs that got famous

Pretty good album. For some reason I wasn't expecting to like it this much actually, and it made me want to listen to more Neil Young. I feel like I've heard here and there that most people who are fans of CSN don't really like CSNY because they don't like Young. As far as I can tell, I really like his music. I would probably give it a 3.5 if we could do half-ratings, but since I was pleasantly surprised and it left me wanting more, I'll give it a 4.

Beautiful album. The title track is one of my favourite songs in the world. It's just a beautiful melody harmonised in a really interesting way. Previously I had thought that the rest of the album fell short, but today I learned to appreciate it a little more. There's some really good stuff in the same songwriting vein as the title track. I still think maybe I prefer harvest, but it doesn't have to be either/or!

3.5 stars, I don’t think he’s a particularly great singer, but I like the rest of it enough to make up for it

I have to be in the mood for it, and give it a good active listen (meaning pay attention) but then his genius shines

I enjoy Neil Young. His music is very soothing.

Kaity and I both think his singing isn’t great. I was happy this album was in the 30-40 minute range since I’ve had so many long records recently. The guitar is good. The lyrics are clear and crisp, unlike other records I’ve listened to from the same time period

Now known as the Topanga Canyon sound, music inspired by the musical (and somewhat magical) conclave including various members of CSN&Y/Buffalo Springfield, The Eagles, Joni Mitchel. Linda Ronstadt, and members of Canned Heat, the Byrds and more who passed through or visited the communities there, whose interactions fueled a great deal of music created in the late 60's and early 70's. Not every song is a hit taken individually, but as a unit, they all work to guide you on a beautiful journey.

Near perfect

chill music while cycling the fastest I've ever cycled🔥🔥

solid rhythms and lyrics if you can handle the voice

This website has made me realize how much I fuck with Neil Young

Lovely little album, feel like i would like to listen to again and kinda break down

A lovely laid back folk record

Really solid album. Had a couple tracks that I didn't really feel but when it hit damn did it hit hard 8/10

Reminds me of an earlier time in America. Great casual listening, and need to listen to it more and learn the lyrics.

I have been a Neil Young fan for some time, and I particularly enjoy this era of his. Plenty of familiar favourites here, and those that I haven't listened to much over the years still bring that familiar Neil Young joy to the ears. A fine listen!

Very nice album for the moment. Chilling in the sailboat and waiting for rain to pass

solid. great voice 4/5

Not Neil's best work, some ragged singing with a few high notes.

Oh shit my stuffs gone. I’m enjoying this a lot. it’s a cozy experience. Sort of churchy. GOD DAMN. Piano. Good job Neal. I did not listen to this twice lmao

Two Canadian classics in a row hell yeah!!! I love this one in theory more than I do in practice though... 35 minutes straight of Neil Young is a bit much for me, like the album is cohesive and the songs are all great but his voice wears on you after a while, y'know? You have to be in a very specific mood to listen to it.

Never heard this one before. Really wonderful singer/songwriter stuff. Reminds me of sitting around making music with my friends. Simple, catchy, insightful. My biggest issue is the flow. I would have picked a different track listing.

Think this is trying to teach me that Neil Young is one of the greatest artists of all time, and I definitely get it.

I like Neil Young

4,1/5

Wow. Great one . 4.4

Great album!

I've always found Neil Young's voice to have a sort of ethereal beauty. It's very soothing. The music is simple, for the most part, and has a lot of country influence. Which I don't like as much. But it's unique and easy to listen to.

Historically I'm not much of a Neil Young fan. I connect a lot with vocals and his usually turn me away...I'd rather have his acoustics. However, I've never listened to his music from the 70s and I actually like it much better. Totally different feel. I still won't say that I loved it, but it was actually for the most part tolerable (I still don't like his falsetto). A fine album.

very good . yes.

Pre-listening thoughts: here we go man we avoided Bob Dylan and Neil Young for like almost 300 albums and now they’re starting to steadily trickle in as we’ve gotten two of each Post/during listening thoughts: I know people have beef with Neil Young (as a person and musician) but there’s something about this stacked harmony minimalistic instrumental folk that feels so cozy to me. It’s why I love Tapestry so much. This is the kind of album I would sit on a porch swing during sunset and read a book to. Although sometimes this has a little edge to it which I appreciate. Sometimes his voice doesn’t quite do it for me when he doesn’t have an army of harmonies behind him but nonetheless this was really good. 7.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: nah Fav tracks: Tell Me Why, Don’t Let it Bring You Down, I Believe In You Least fav tracks: After the Gold Rush

What happened to Silver? Bronze? Were they not rushing fast enough???

Early Neil always hits so good. I’m kinda unfamiliar with it, tbh, but whenever I listen to one I realize how influential it is on music I really love.

This was a nice relaxing album to listen to on a rainy day. I was never a Neil Young fan before starting this 1001 albums journey but I feel like I enjoy his music a bit more every album I get. The voice and style was weird at first but is growing on me. 7/10

To preface this, I like Neil Young. With that out of the way, envision a scene for me. A child sings in a movie. He has a beautiful voice. Slowly time passes around him while he sings. He is now an old child - not an adult, but an old child, and still he sings. That is how Neil Young sounds on the first few songs of this album. A child with an angel's voice now saddled with wrinkles. Though his bones now creak, his child's spirit remains unbroken. Also Southern Man is the song that made Skynyrd write Sweet Home Alabama in response. I'd always heard that story, but never the song. It rips. Album cover: (B-)

I guess I like Neil Young? Every one of his album's I'm like damn I like this a lot more than I expected.

I enjoyed this album a lot considering I’m not the biggest folk man - ‘Only love can break your heart’ and the guitar in ‘Southern Man’ were the highlights. I would say Side A was significantly better than B as I lost interest towards the end and I think Harvest Moon is a better album. All things considered, a solid album. 7.3/10

This stands up. Some songs are great. Other sound the same.

This is my favorite Neil Young I've heard so far. Beautiful.

Throughly enjoyed this album but then it’s Neil Young! The album blends acoustic folk, country, and rock, showcasing his distinctive voice and introspective songwriting. The album has a melancholic and reflective tone, addressing themes like environmentalism, disillusionment, love, and loss and I think is still very relevant today.

Melancholic and not too grating

Great stuff. Liked it more than I expected.

This is a really good album, I was already a fan of CSNY but I hadn't listened to much of any of their solo stuff before. It's not quite all bangers but it's pretty close, favorites are Southern Man and Don't Let It Bring You Down

Avant d'être un boomer un peu relou, Neil Young écrivait des trucs plutôt sympathiques en fait.

After the buffalo Springfield I was really looking forward, because his songs were some of my favourites on there. This is also amazing mostly, there are some more classic/pop rock type songs which I think are less good, but the melancholy sad/happiness which is in his singing voice is the best part, probably what makes him such and iconic singer and songwriter. Not really too much else to say, instrumentals are standard but good still. Favourite songs: after the gold rush, only love can break your heart, oh, lonesome me, birds and probably some others I missed. Overall around 7/10

This was a good listen.

Decent

Not really my genre - perhaps less so than the earlier Young - but definitely pretty good - this grew on me and worked its way from a 3 to 4 over its duration.

Favorite Track: Southern Man

Songs are well written and his guitar playing is adequate enough for the style. His voice does start to sound grating, but the album is filled with great songs. This is one of Young’s best works. 3.5/5 Probably will listen again

Good album

4/5 I appreciate the varied genre of songs

Young Neil shows why he deserves a spot in the band The folk rock artist provides a very gentle experience and presents surprisingly hopeful, despite sounding like that

Very good

When I saw Neil Young on the cover I was expecting hard rock, not soft country ballads. I usually don't like country but this one was enjoyable. There was some guitar noodling as to be expected from Neil Young. But it didn't happen often enough for it to be annoying. Only 4 stars because its still absolutely not my kind of music. Still another record I'd add to my collection. Fav tracks: Southern Man, Till the Morning Comes, When You Dance You Can Really Love Least fav tracks: After the Gold Rush

****

Classic 4

Love Neil Young and love this classic album!

Not as good as Harvest or Rust Never Sleeps but still really good.

Didn’t know so much material from Neil Young, only his hits. it’s actually pretty great. Good vibes and his high pitchy voice is strangely soothing

heaviest album oat

After being converted to Neil Young by listening to “Harvest”, I wanted more. “After The Gold Rush” is his other famous album, but it doesn’t quite reach the same heights. Nearly, but not quite. It’s a 4.5 star album I think. Having said that, I enjoyed it a lot more than I remembered! And there are some classic songs on here.

Muppet voiced poet for a generation.

Great Album.

Edellisestä kuuntelusta ainakin 10 vuotta. Olipa kiva muistutus, todella hyvä levy. Tullut kuunneltua enimmäkseen Harvestia.

A very relaxing but also at times melancholy album. I like the melodies and production, and Neil’s unique vocals. Would listen again.

Neil Young does it right

Great album. Don't know about all-timer, but great album.

Just wish it was longer

Simple, spare melodies and moving lyrics - just a beautiful album.

Some of these songs are among the most beautiful on this entire list. But some of them set your teeth on edge, and that's what loses a star.

This is my first Neil Young album that I've listened to. This album was an easy listen...especially if you're just cruising down a winding highway.

4 - good album all the way through

This album was probably mind-blowing in 1970. In 2025, it's still really solid. Neil Young's voice takes some getting used to. Great guitar solos. Really enjoyed "Don't Let It Bring You Down" and "When You Dance I Can Really Love."

Excellent songwriting. Neil's falsetto can get to be a bit much after a while, especially without harmonies. Southern Man Only Love Can Break Your Heart I Believe In You

This is my favorite version of Neil. Say what you will about his guitar playing (I think I called him incompetent in another review) but the man can write a haunting melody that makes even the most abstract and, by his own admission, meaningless lyrics sound haunting and profound. Reading the wikipedia where he makes fun of his own lyrics was very entertaining.

Nice and chill.

Regret not listening to this whole thing earlier in life.

Prime Neil Young. I like the down-tempo songs more than the upbeat ones here (Southern Man doesn't really do it for me). I'd happily listen to this any time.

I wasn't familiar with your game Neil Young. First half of the album is very strong.

Really decent. It flew by and I enjoyed quite a few of the songs.

Solid

knie jung najaaa risstmi na nüt misini falsetto erinneret mich ad flaming lips es bizli hahahaha OHHHHH HUERE SCHÖN isch das 1 oboe? (obö) ahh nei es flüghorn hahahaha funny ja de rest hani ener langwilig gfunde ahh only love can break your heart kenntmer ja so mega! sehrsehr schön southern man isch ja en INSANE BANGER hans scho auscho ghört aber scho laang nümme hmm sither laufts echli. ischmer alles chli zu ruhig und langsam ja s isch für mich ähnlich wie crosby nash etc., eig scho schön aber für min gschmack rchli z wenig sputhern man und only love ziehnds ufes knapps 4i.

Great album! I forgot how many good songs were on this one! I do like harvest moon best but this is still great! And it's good little album just runs through it but in a good way!

The vocalist's tone doesn't suit my taste, but I definitely liked the lyrics.

A pleasant, slightly melancholic album, 7 out of 10.

Neil Young is one of those artists I really don’t like as a person, and I honestly want to hate his music just as much, but I have to admit, a lot of his albums I’ve heard so far have been pretty good. Throughout his career, he’s jumped all over the place musically, from country to folk to rock to hard rock, and believe it or not, he even released a synth-pop album in the ‘80s. This one, though, is much calmer, with lots of fingerpicked acoustic guitar, but what really stood out to me was the piano work. Another thing that caught my attention was just how young his voice sounds here compared to how it evolved later in his career and all the way up until now.

Probably Neil Young's most famous solo album - just good folk rock/country rock, the songwriting really stands out. I'm not very fond of his voice, though (but the backing vocals are great). I love Don't Let It Bring You Down, so I'll round it up to 4 but it's a 7/10 album for me.

1970, l’année de ma naissance. Le point zéro de mon existence, et accessoirement, l'année où Neil Young a décidé de poser ses couilles sur la table avec « After the Gold Rush ». On est dans le cadre du projet « 1001 Albums », et là, on s’attaque à un monument. Pas un truc qu’on écoute distraitement en faisant ses courses chez l’épicier du coin. Non, on parle d’un disque qui se respire, qui se vit, et qui te hante. Enregistré en grande partie dans le sous-sol de sa maison à Topanga Canyon, Neil Young, le "Loner", s’est affranchi des productions léchées pour nous livrer un truc brut, presque lo-fi avant l’heure. Pour un mec comme moi qui vibre sur des textures abrasives ou des expérimentations bruitistes, ce côté « bricolé dans une cave » me parle énormément. On sent l'humidité des murs, on entend le craquement du bois et le souffle de l'ampli. C’est une prod’ qui ne triche pas. Young a même poussé le vice jusqu’à demander à Nils Lofgren, alors gamin de 18 ans et guitariste de génie, de se mettre au piano... juste parce qu'il voulait ce jeu un peu maladroit, peu conventionnel, qui colle parfaitement à l'humeur du disque. C’est ce genre de choix qui sépare les artistes des artisans de la soupe radiophonique. Musicalement, c’est un mélange de folk éthéré, de country terreuse et de rock bien nerveux. Mais attention, on n'est pas chez les cow-boys de fête foraine car ici, la country est mélancolique, hantée. La voix de Neil, ce fausset fragile qui semble toujours sur le point de se briser, est l’instrument ultime. Sur des morceaux comme le titre éponyme, il nous balance des visions énigmatiques de vaisseaux spatiaux emportant les élus loin d’une Terre dévastée. En 1970, il parlait déjà de la perte, de l’environnement qui part en vrille et de la condition humaine. On est en 2026, et bordel, rien n'a changé. Ses paroles sont d’une actualité qui fout la trouille, surtout quand on regarde ce qui se passe de l'autre côté de l'Atlantique. Et puis, il y a la hargne et on ne peut pas parler d'« After the Gold Rush » sans évoquer la morsure électrique de « Southern Man ». C’est Neil qui pose ses couilles sur la table et qui dénonce le racisme crasse du Sud des États-Unis. C’est violent, c’est viscéral, et ça grince comme une porte de grange mal huilée. C’est ce Neil-là que j’aime, celui qui préfigure le grunge, celui qui influencera Kurt Cobain et toute la bande de Seattle. C’est du rock qui a des choses à dire, qui ne se contente pas de remplir l’espace sonore entre deux pubs. C’est cette dualité entre la douceur acoustique la plus totale et l'agression électrique qui rend cet album indispensable. « After the Gold Rush » est un album intemporel et on y revient toujours, que ce soit pour se rassurer ou pour se mettre un coup de pied au cul. C’est un disque de transition, le pont parfait entre les sixties utopiques et les seventies qui commençaient déjà à puer la désillusion. C’est le constat d’un monde qui change, pour le meilleur et surtout pour le pire. Neil regarde les ruines de la « Gold Rush » et il nous dit : « Voilà ce qu'il reste quand la fête est finie ». C’est triste, c’est beau, et c’est d’une puissance émotionnelle que peu d’artistes ont réussi à égaler depuis. C’est le genre d’album qui justifie à lui seul l’existence de cette liste des « 1001 albums ». Je lui donne un solide 4 sur 5 - c’est un chef-d'œuvre, aucun doute là-dessus - si je ne lui mets pas 5, c’est peut-être parce que mon cœur de disquaire aigri garde toujours une place pour les trucs encore plus radicaux, plus sales. Mais ne vous y trompez pas : c'est une note de patron. C'est un disque que tout être humain doté d'une paire d'oreilles fonctionnelle et d'un minimum de sensibilité devrait posséder. Neil Young a réussi ici le tour de force de créer un album qui semble avoir été enregistré hier soir dans ta cuisine. C’est intime, c’est brut, c’est imparfait, et c’est pour ça que c’est parfait. C’est le paradoxe Neil Young. « After the Gold Rush », c'est la bande-son idéale pour regarder le monde brûler tout en buvant un vieux whisky au fond d'un garage. C'est l'album de ma naissance, et je ne pouvais pas rêver mieux comme héritage musical.

Classic feel good record here. Neil Young is a treasure. Favorites: Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Don’t Let It Bring You Down, When You Dance I Can Really Love

It took a second listen for the first couple of songs to click with me but after that I really enjoyed this one. It was nice to learn what Lynyrd Skynyrd were referring to in regards to Southern Man.

As a kid, I used to roll my eyes every time Dad would put on this album. Us siblings would all join in complaining about Neil's wobbly whiny voice. But I'll be damned, I think my Dad was on to something. Just a great collection of moving, lyrical songs. Southern Man is such a tune.

Very happy here. I've heard the radio Neil young plenty over the years and I never really got it. But now I do. I love his voice. It's very unique and they way it's layered is perfect. I got half th album saved. So much good stuff. A couple hit hits but some great more b side type stuff. It's very simple but honestly the sonics of his voice are plenty great for me

Not my favorite Neil, but he’s the man!

I really enjoyed this! Looking at the track list before listening I felt like I only knew a few songs, but that turned out to be wrong. I ended up knowing almost every track on this record. As a Canadian, I am a little biased but I think Neil Young is excellent. His voice can be a little grating, but he often has great backup singers and he writes great lyrics. A highlight for me was actually the song "Birds" which made me really emotional, it had me almost shedding tears while making dinner.

The more Neil I get here the more his music grows on me. The vocals are still the weak spot for me but I felt this album was better, and great songwriting.

Classic rock is classic. Some of it is also heartbreaking.

I don’t know why it took me so long to figure out this was Neil Young, the young of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young because I have listened to their music for much of my life. 70s music was such a vibe, very chilled and I’ve added a few to my playlist

I’m not the biggest Neil Young fan but there are plenty of his songs which I would put on my greatest hits top 200 compilation. Two of these, Only Love Can Break Your Heart and the title track are on this album. So by that metric this is probably my favourite of his albums. Apart from these two songs there is also a lot to like on this album and listening today I concluded that there was not one duff track on it. 4/5 2/3/25

Easy listen, nice sound

No doubt that Southern Man is a powerful song. I like "Birds" too and "Only Love Can Break Your Heart", and "When You Dance I Can Really Love". Overall a good 4 album, I'm just not a huge fan of his vocals but appreciate the song writing for sure.

This would be a 5 star album if it wasn't for Neil Young's cartoonish voice. It's hard to believe that's someone's real voice. Beyond that, the songwriting is great and the performances (with the exception of the aforementioned vocals) are fantastic. 4 stars

Kurt cobain cited Neil as inspiration and now I see why

This one really surprised me. Great album, breezy. Left me wanting more. Some tracks feel a bit Bowie inspired but that’s me being nit picky if I wanted to criticize this album. Loved the first track Tell Me Why and Southern Man. Started the album just repeating track one over and over.

4/5

Fínn Njáll.

I know that Neil Young has lots (perhaps the most?) entries on this list. I have said many times that I don’t believe artists should have multiple entries on the list unless the entry depicts a different sound/structure/aspect to their music. I’m not sure After the gold rush qualifies as a change of style/sound, but I love it all the same!

good album, enjoyed the country folk sound and Southern Man

Probably the best Neil album I’ve heard on the list so far. God knows I’ve had a bunch.

This was excellent. Many great songs.

Sweet

Another banger from Neil, he can't stop

Didn’t realise before now how distinctive his voice was. Enjoyed this a lot more than the crazy horse one. Again, feel like with proper listening over time could become a fave but avoiding this pre Glasto.

For now, this is the best Young album I got. Still don't like his voice, but this album is quite enjoyable.

Seminal early Young. Evocative of a loss of innocence and the instrumental embellishments of horn and piano throughout are very welcome and add texture and some complexity. 4⭐️

Needed to listen to more Neil Young all my life.. love his bittersweet folk style

NY just bringing the jams. This one is no exception. Good stuff. 4/5

wow - really liked this, didn't expect to

- To be blunt, Young's tenor is simply beautiful--melodic, but raw, it always pops. - Thought-provoking, often borderline confusing (some illicit substances definitely pushed some of these lyric), and typically engrossing. - It did not steal me away the whole time, but there are moments when you can just forget yourself and flow with it.

Look I like Neil Young and I will die on this hill. His voice is fine, sounds best on the tracks with the harmonies. The instruments sound great, it really does sound like an album some dudes just kinda recorded in someone's house which I dig. The lyrics are solid, good storytelling. He's quite the character and I like that. This album does a solid job of showing that.

With this being my second Neil Young album, I've come to the conclusion that he's a bit like Bob Dylan. Brilliant song writer but his voice can be kind of annoying. He sounds good on some songs but not so much on others. Overall, a good album that occassionally was let down by Neil's voice being a bit annoying

Don’t mind the voice.

Great album. Sitting on a porch in the rain type beat. Delish.

Folksy Neil. I tend to lean more towards the crunchy electric guitar, melancholy-side. But I like this too.

Half dozen tracks were recognizable if not singable.

Хороший такой, акустический, много гитары, голос мне не очень понравился, но парочка хороших песен есть.

Nog meer vintage Neil. Wederom quasi-diepzinnige teksten met precies genoeg begeleiding bij 's mans kenmerkende stem. En opnieuw kan ik deze folkrock weer goed hebben. Geen uitschieters maar wel een sfeervolle bedoening.

Wat valt er nog over de beste man te zeggen na zoveel albums? Dit vind ik samen met Harvest zijn beste periode. Kleine liedjes, die hij vaak zonder (al te veel) ondersteuning van anderen brengt, waardoor ze misschien nog wel krachtiger zijn als dat er een hele begeleidende band achter zou staan. En als er dan een begeleidende band bij is, zoals bij Southern Man, dan rockt het zoals de beste nummers op latere platen. Aangezien er teveel platen van Neil Young in staan, kan er maar 1 album de 5 sterren krijgen en dat kreeg Harvest al. Dus houden we het op een keurige 4.

Neil Young shows off his range with the folksy rock ballads here while also foreshadowing the "grunge" rock he became more known for. I like it all and really enjoyed this album. Southern Man is such a jam and a cool way to break through from the folksy/melancholy start. The guitar solo towards the end just slaps. Other than that song, there weren't many standouts that could push this to a 5 for me. I'll list Tell Me Why and When You Dance I Can Really Love as honorable mentions. Solid 4.

surprisingly lit af like i didn’t think id like country stuff at all but this kinda felt like soft rock a bit. felt quite emotional definitely went hard

One of my fave Neil albums, I think this whole album is solid and has several of his best on it

Def getting heavy on Neil Young… I like this and rated it 4 previously so I’m sticking with it. No much else to say. It’s Neil! 3.75/5

While Crosby, Stills and Nash were on their own separate rolls, Neil Young decided he would rather not be upstaged and crafted his rendition of a sweeping mini-epic that gathered together subjects such as love, heartbreak, segregation, eventual disillusionment and nostalgia. After the Gold Rush sees Neil once again improving upon where he left off and leaving behind crumbs that showcased a glimmer of where he would go; a road that would give him further despair, confusion and revelation that will ultimately change him. Favorites: Tell Me Why, After the Gold Rush, Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Southern Man, Don't Let It Bring You Down, When You Dance I Can Really Love, I Believe in You.

Definitely one of Neil Young's better albums, short and sweet. Mid 4.

Tough one for me. Has a couple of standouts, but as with anything with Neil...you take the good with the bad. I'm a love and follower of his entire catalog, but this album seems to go in different directions at times. Squeaking in to a four star at 3.59.

Eerily beautiful. The break for silence is fascinating and thoughtful. Lyrics are poetic and profound.

Het algoritme smakt voor de verandering maar weer eens een Nelis Jeugdig plaatje op m'n bord. Het was immers alweer zo'n 24 dagen geleden. Maargoed, we weten dat het zo is dus we accepteren het maar. Zo weet ik ook dat er nog drie Elvis Costello's in het duister op me liggen te wachten. Onze vaste vriend van de show lijkt op dit album wat te experimenteren met z'n kopstem, haast beegeeësque. Het maakt me inmiddels weinig meer uit, ome Nelis krijgt tot nu toe steevast voldoendes en ook deze keer komt het wel goed zo te horen. Zo'n track als 'Southern Man' is smullen geblazen, net als 'Don't Let It Bring You Down'. Ondanks die stem dus. Knap eigenlijk. Qua sfeer (zo werd 'vibe' vroeger genoemd, toen een meeting nog gewoon een vergadering was en een workshop nog een cursus) zit het op dit album echt helemaal goed en mede daardoor is dit misschien wel m'n favoriete Cornelis tot nu toe. Goed geluid, sfeervolle nummers en dat de stem wat typisch is verrast me al lang niet meer. Een speeltijd van 35 minuten is bovendien meer dan keurig. Ik verbaas mezelf, maar ik moet zeggen dat ik zelfs even twijfel over een 5. Ik denk dat de 4 het meest realistisch is, maar het is me inmiddels in ieder geval duidelijk dat je ze een stuk slechter kunt treffen op deze lijst.

cool

Det er neil young

Easy to see why he is so reveared

One of my favorite voices in music Title track 😍 and Birds 😭

Classic. Beautiful melodies and poignant but don’t Neil’s voice on most songs

As opposed to Tonight's The Night, which was mostly crusty garage rock, this one is much more folksy and reserved. Featuring more stripped down ballad-esq compositions with lots of support from pianos, horns, etc. Only real outliers are Southern Man and When You Dance I Can Really Love, which tap into some of the crustier rock tendencies that I love so much from Young. Southern Man is a standout in its own right -- all time classic jam. I'd say, while I prefer the crustier Young with the distorted guitar tone that you can slice with a knife, this album shows some serious range. Solid compositions and storytelling. I'd give this a soft 4 in my personal taste.

4 stars. Solid quick album. Love me some neil young

Not my favorite of the Neil Young albums we've had, but still really, really solid. This project has made me a Neil Young fan. Don't Let It Bring You Down is a favorite I never knew about.

Neil's voice is famously thin and whiny, his guitar ability is overrated and second-rate, plus he's fairly self-obsessed and self-righteous (based on what I've read). But I'll easily grant that he's got a strong songwriting ability, and I've grown to like his music quite a bit. This album is a high 4 for me. Could grow to be a 5 for me someday, maybe.

Suprised me would listen to again definetly, I like the vibe of the album 4/5

Neil Young just kept getting better & better album by album. One of my favorites. Feels handmade. Just did want he wanted with his music and didn’t care what anyone else thought…maybe.

Would like to listen to this one again. A few great songs on this that I had never heard before.

Oh my god, I never expected to enjoy a folk rock record that much.

Wow. This kinda blew me away. As a Neil Young rookie, I've heard some of his greatest hits in passing, but haven't been an active listener thus far. After a couple listens to the LP today, I'm really struck by this album as an body of work. It's clear that the 60/70's had some all timers. Neil's voice is raw and almost fragile, but so well accompanied by the piano, guitars and other instruments that show up here. "Birds" is a song I might need to be played at my funeral... Lots of emotion on this one.

First actual 4 stars (first few were skewed I think). The voice is good, will have to check out the most popular tracks of all albums.

Good

Solid songwriting and a delight to listen to.

He whines a lot doesn’t he?

Another Neil Young album. Good stuff. The second half of the album was the best part. Standouts: Everything but After The Gold Rush, Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Till The Morning Comes, and Cripple Creek Ferry.

Great, classic album

Very enjoyable! Great easy-listening.

Thoroughly enjoyed this album.

Very mellow compared to some later works, but you can hear influences that have stayed with him from the beginning here too.

This all sounds so good. I mean sonically, production wise, the mixing. It’s like butter. Beautiful working together of all the instruments and his voice. Lyrics and writing are great. A few spots are questionable. He’s got two songs on here that are only a minute and a half. What’s up with that? Couldn’t come up with any way to make those longer? On the one hand, I respect the idea of having your song sung and not stretching it, but on the other hand, at that length, just scrap it. Also, “Oh, Lonesome Me” kinda felt out of place. Might just be on that one, though. I loved every other song. Great shit. 4/5

While I am as a general rule ideologically opposed to the American impulse toward post-colonial self-mythologisation, to pull it off you've got to either lean into the mythopoeic bombast of it and anchor it in existing stories (hi, Dark Tower), or else deliver it with this kind of understated grace and surprising bitterness.

Sorry Lynyrd Skynyrd, I liked it. Simpsons: Yes

Pleasant album, might listen to again.

Really enjoyable

Very solid Neil but far from my favorites from him. Just a little 'less' somehow. 4.5