Reviews (page 7 of 12)
I really enjoyed “After the Gold Rush” and “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” but the rest of the album was just alright.
Excellent folk rock music
Best falsetto in the land
Good songs. I just wish someone else sang them. Favorite song: Don't let it bring you down.
Strong album. Personal Standouts are Southern Man, Don't Let It Bring You Down, and When You Dance You Can Really Love.
This is probably my first full Neil Young album. He's not really known where I'm from (Eastern Europe) and his music seems very American to me (ok, North American since he's obviously Canadian). I like it but seeing such enthusiastic reviews here I realized I probably don't get the full context. That's fine, I think we have a lot of amazing sung poetry music here in my country so this album doesn't really stand out that much to me. The things I enjoyed the most: - the minimalist production on the first three tracks where you only get like two-three instruments per track and no bass or drums and then suddenly there's this little horn part on the title track. It's just lovely. You wish it'd come back more, but the fact that it's so brief makes it special; - Only Love Can Break Your Heart - prior to today I've only heard the St Etienne version and always loved it - this one is great too and I'll appreciate the St Etienne cover even more now; - the roughness of the Southern Man - I've read that Neil Young was later trying to say that he went too far but I just love how he poured his heart out in this one. Especially the part with the distorted vocals and then the guitar solo is just nasty and feels so grungy. I love how towards the end it's just one dissonant chord on repeat - perfection; - The rest of the album is much lighter which is good I guess since it really pushes out the roughness of the Southern Man into the spotlight. I Believe in You is also very pretty and helps with keeping things interesting until the end of the album. Overall, it's a 4 from me but I can totally understand how it might be a 5 for some people. I'm really thankful for this challenge that it exposes me to such interesting music I probably would have never picked up on my own.
Neil Young Top demais
Being forced to listen to Neil Young has changed my opinion. Do I think a lot of his songs are annoying as hell? Yes. Do I think he overdoes the nasal singing? Yes. But some of his music is pretty solid, and I like it. 3.5 stars.
I know this one. Great album.
Love it. Neil Young really has music and lyrics coming together perfectly here.
Way better than I thought it would be
Neil young created a formula for his music to always kind of work. He uses his higher pitched voice and songs about some introspective things at a low or medium tempo. It’s really how most of his music goes but he executes it quite well. This album may not be as upbeat as others but it’s still great to listen to. 7.8/10
Ein typisches FolkRockAlbum von Neil Young im Stile von "Harvest". Sehr melodisch, keine Experimente, aber sehr genau arrangiert und produziert. Ein in sich stimmiges Album. Manchmal findet man einige Anleihen von seinen Songs, aber das stört nicht. "Only Love can Break your Heart" ist sowohl gesanglich als auch kompositorisch ein Meisterwerk.
Almost a 5
Not my favorite Neil Young, but some complete bangers here. I'm partial to Neil in 80s and 90s, but the early stuff is iconic.
Neil Young is always a solid pick for me. And "After The Gold Rush" is a very well crafted round album without fails. Favourite songs: "Southern Man", "When You Dance I Can Really Love"
Neil Young ain't bad.
If all this 1001 Albums project gave me was a better understanding of Neil Young I'd be grateful. Neil Young is a yin yang. The more exposure I get the more I'm blown away by his ability to drift between soft and heavy. I can see more and more why he's up there with Dylan.
4.49
Extremely good with a huge variety of high-quality cuts, with a range that reaches from the lovely to the outraged, from the edgy to the authentically mellow and therapeutically serene. NY"s putting it all out there / wearing heart on sleeve works very well here, largely a result of the control he seems to exude and the clear purpose of every song. His voices makes the despair and heartbreak sound somehow triumphant, the confronting and moving past it. One wants to say "minor masterpiece" but the qualifier may not be necessary.
listened 3x. 3.6/5 a few solid ones.
The turning point from the hippy 60s into the cynical 70s produced a lot of great music and this album is no exception. I was more familiar with Dolly Parton’s version of the title track than the original, but it’s still as bafflingly obtuse as ever. “Oh, Lonesome Me” is a masterpiece of self pity and staying in, but the highlight is “Southern Man” - a blistering attack on racism in the Deep South with some rocking guitar work.
Another solid album from Neil Young. I always like how he navigates between stripped down folk and more "high voltage" rock, even though the former is more present than the later. Southern Man is a banger!
Great album!
Tell Me Why 3.5 After the Gold Rush 3.7 Only Love Can Break Your Heart 4 Southern Man 4.5 Till the Morning Comes 3.3 Oh, Lonesome Me 3.5 Don't Let It Bring You Down 3.6 Birds 3.4 When You Dance I Can Really Love 3.7 I Believe In You 3.5 Cripple Creek Ferry 3.4 Score: 3.645454545
I’ve always had a bit of a blind spot for Neil for some reason. Glad to jump in with this one. Really good.
Some absolute gems, but forgot how many odd filler songs were in here.
I’m glad he’s back on Spotify I can now Appreciate this album today than having to use YouTube. Personally I prefer harvest but this is still a great album, deserves to be on the list, and one of his best.
4/5
"Birds" is a forgotten favorite of mine -- I'm glad this album helped me rediscover it!
I'm happy that Neil Young read my review of Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere and decided to put his music back on Spotify. I didn't know it was because of Joe Rogan and now I respect him more. I thought he just wanted to get paid more from Spotify. Anyway, I can listen to this on Spotify now! Neil Young has one of the most unique male singing voices. It sometimes sounds like he's putting it on, like it could be a joke, but he's dead serious. Of course he comes from a musical time in which it was fashionable for men to sing falsetto. Anyway it's in full force on this album and I actually love it. Damn Southern Man... I wish the lyrics to this were different because it's a damn good song! Not that I don't like the lyrics, but I almost wish this one had lyrics that I wanted to sing along with. The message is strong though and the music is great. The guitar solos in this song are delicious. Till the morning comessssssss flugelhorn solo.
Surprised so much of one artist in this list. I keep discovering more Neil Young here. Purely to describe what it does for this one listener, it feels intimate and personal , it dies a kind of soothing thing like his other albums. Good song writing and the first time he's reminded me of Horse With No Name. There are very recognisable oft-covered songs here which means others like the lyrics and lyricism of his stories and they are in the eternal themes, with languor and longing, (to my Mars Attacks tuned ear that sensitive to irony and humour readily) some self aware humour mixed with patios, I think. Either that or it's easy to take the piss with his songs, and I like taking it lightly and letting it put a smirk on my face while it chills me out. Cause we need to laugh and Neil Young stokes a funny bone for me at times. Enjoyed. Ok some slow songs to skip. But good
I've been teetering on the 4/5 edge here for a while. I'm a big fan of NY, and I have a feeling this maybe my favourite of his albums, but something keeps me from confidently giving this a 5. Don't Let It Bring You Down is transcendently brilliant, and the rest of the album is solid, but doesn't really come close to that level. Fave Tracks: Tell Me Why, Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Don't Let It Bring You Down 4.4/5
Neil Young's work benefits so much from the musical input of CSN, but this is still a solid album, mainly for its poetry.
Paljon parempi albumi Youngia
My most commonly written things....'not what I expected' and '1 I missed'. Both apply to this. Straight up folky, political rock. Unmissable. 'After the Goldrush', 'Only love can break your heart' and the exceptional and scathing'Southern Man' are sublime.
Great album. Thank God they never made this movie. Sounds like the worst screenplay ever. But if it inspired Neil to write these songs, Amen.
Neil Young - After the Gold Rush An album inspired by an unpublished screenplay written by Al (Dean Stockwell) from Quantum Leap. 4/5
4 stars, classic stuff here.
Good
And just like that...weird to get these all in a row, and just as I was writing him off a bit, I realize he had another album akin to Harvest in him.
Ryan Adams would do a great cover of this album.
Quite sweet and poignant. I'd never normally listen to stuff like this but I enjoyed it. The lyrics to Southern Man stuck out in particular.
Twas a good one
‘Only Love Can Break Your Heart’, ‘Southern Man’, ‘Don’t Let It Bring You Down’, ‘When You Dance I Can Really Love’ and so on. If you can get past Neil Young’s voice, there is a lot to enjoy here.
This was strange and I liked it. I’m excited to spend more time with Mr. Young when he comes back to Spotify. Title track was the standout but this seems like one to listen to in full. Liked the pared down sound.
Great lyrics and song writing. Never really been the biggest fan of Young’s voice but you gotta hand it to him he wrote great songs
Classic Neil, was surprised how many tracks I knew already :)
Wow, what deep and meaningful songs. Neil Young expresses emotion and storytelling through all aspects of his musicianship. I really enjoyed the worlds each song built. Not one bad song on the album.
Not available on Spotify Canada, Neil Young is Canadian, so maybe it's assumed that if you don't already own it, then you don't deserve it. Canadians are very proud of one-of-their-own who does good. Some things are sacred in Canada: Hockey, The Camp fires at the lake, that we can no longer have due to forest fire risk, Neil Young and The Tragically Hip. Dust off those CD's baby - Spotify no bueno
Like it
One week later and I get the next album in Neil Young's discography. I've dragged my feet on writing this review, and I think it's because after 3 albums now I think I really like Neil Young but don't love him. He's clearly super talented, his albums are consistently solid for me, the music style is right up my alley, but I feel like there's something missing that holds it back from really hitting for me. I think this was probably my favorite album of the 3 of his that I've listened to, but I can't push myself to give it a 5. It's really good, pretty much the entire album is consistently solid, something just is holding me back. I feel like this review is overly negative for an album that I really enjoyed. The first three songs are all really strong, "Southern Man" comes out of nowhere with a heavy-hitter about racism, "Till the Morning Comes" follows it up with a really short light song to pick things back up. The back half is a little weaker but it's pretty consistent quality top to bottom. I really did like this, I promise. Also apparently the cover image was shot in front of the NYU Law School (and then they did the weird solarizing the image thing since it was blurry). Favorite song: Only Love Can Break Your Heart Other: Tell Me Why, After the Gold Rush, Southern Man, Till the Morning Comes, Don't Let It Bring You Down, Birds, When You Dance You Can Really Love, I Believe in You 3/8/24
I really like Neil Young. This wasn't as good as harvest but still some great tracks here.
Enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Not as big a fan of his voice but I love the lyrics and instrumentation.
Enjoyed most of the songs. His voice is a bit too high to find enjoyable in some songs though. 4/5
I really enjoyed this album and I know there is more to it if I dissected it. Easy to pick it as a 4 but it doesn't meet my 5 criteria, perhaps I should investigate more early 70's folk
I liked it. It quite sounded like CSNY, so no surprise I liked it. "Southern Man" might be my recommendation. And how can a Canadian sound more like "USA" than some musicians from the States?
I am so pleased to listen to Neil Young finally. This grew on me, and I found after three listens I enjoyed it a lot more. I will be returning.
Great songwriting and tunes that either take you down memory lane or provoke deep thought about our future on earth.
Neil Young is great. Only Love Can Break Your Heart.
Really liked this album. Good blend of Folk and Rock including some absolute classics.
I have not heard this album but I do know Neil Young by name. I thought he was a country singer but I’m not sure how I would describe the genre that he does. Nevertheless his voice shocked me but I found the album somewhat enjoyable. I liked: Southern man, When you dance I can really love, and Tell me why. I recognized Don’t let it bring you down from Greta van fleet using the audio. I will listen again.
Really liked this. I know some find Neil’s voice grating but I’m not one of them. There’s a few bangers on this record. I can see myself returning to this. 4.5/5
Had to listen around ads on YouTube, so maybe I would give it higher if I could get the full experience.
first song was ok but then the second song....my god. why is his voice so fAWKING annoying what the fck girl nice easy listening album. just wish he had a slightly nicer voice
I preferred Tonights the Night, but this has some absolute corkers on it. It’s a bit more straightforward for me compared to the latter, but the lyrics are a lot more refined here. I forget how incredible his lyrics are until I listen to him. I guess that’s my downfall with Neil Young: I never go ‘I really fancy a bit of Neil Young today’. Whenever I do hear him, I think he’s great, I just dont love him like others do and I dont think I ever properly will. After The Goldrush / Only Love / Dont Let it Bring You Down were my highlights. Also just realised Dont Let it Bring You Down by Q and not U was a cover.
Not heard this album before.... I assume harvest will pop up eventually! He's got a really distinctive gentle sounding voice. Selfishly annoyed I can't add any of it to a Spotify playlist! Think the first half Is stronger than the latter but some really nice sounding songs here: Tell me why After the gold rush Only love can break your heart Southern man I'll be back
4 per track. Everything on the album is good to great except Till the Morning Comes
First thing to get out of the way - Neil Young's voice. I like Neil Young, but there is no denying that sometimes his voice sounds not unlike Richard Dreyfuss doing a Kermit impression, but most of the time it works. Second thing - Neil Young's principles meaning that his work is not available on Spotify, making me fuck around with YouTube and it's shitty ads. OK, beyond that this is a really good album. Some great stuff such as Southern Man, but also some less good, like Cripple Creek Ferry. The good hugely outweighs the leas good, and this is going to be one I keep coming back to. I do think Harvest is better, though.
Lög til 2 til 4 eru svakaleg þrenna, hin 8 eru fín. Mér finnst Harvest betri, en þessi er vel áheyrileg.
Solid record!
Such a great album, and the ones that are the best here are some of his best in his whole catalogue, including my all-time favourite NY song 'Don't Let It Bring You Down'. A timeless album.
Great Neil Young album.
It’s Neil, and I’ve already talked about how great he is several times throughout this project. He’s great, he’s prolific, he’s our man! This album is essential listening. I just wish the list maker knew that Canada’s music scene and contribution to the world is more than just Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, and Leonard Cohen. We have Bryan Adams too y’know? Hello! Hahaha omg j/k. He sux. But The Hip, BNL, The Guess Who, Bruce Cockburn, BTO, Blue Rodeo, Sloan… I could go on and on. I just want anyone who reads this to do a bit more Canadian musical discovery than what’s been selected to represent us on this list. We love Neil, we live for Neil, but there’s so much more than Neil. BTW - this isn’t my favourite of his, but there’s lots of staple songs to enjoy here. It’s been a pleasant revisit for a Friday listen; it has wrought the existential paradigm shift I didn’t know I needed today.
Maybe it's because I grew up with the children's movies he sung on but I just can't take this seriously. When I picture the scenarios he is singing about I see Woody and other characters from Toy Story.
This album made me nostalgic for an era I never lived in and although I didn't find certain tracks more or less appealing than others, I felt like it all flowed seamlessly together.
to me it’s inspiring that he‘s doesn‘t sound like the best vocalist but his singing still sounds confident and great
This was actually pretty good and quite enjoyable. I'd revisit this more if it was available on my streaming platform of choice. 4/5
Big Neil Young fan
Pleasantly surprised. Young’s voice isn’t as “strange” as people made it out to be.
Jesus, this wonderful album! Young's first recording with harmonica. He's bringing "Helpless" to CSN&Y at the same time he's recording this. Nils just pounding the piano on Southern Man. When you Dance needs to be played louder that I did first listen
The title track is good. Southern Man is like a better Alabama. I don't understand why I liked this so much. but I really enjoyed this.
Relaxing
Solid album so far. Feel like I need to pay more attention to the lyrics, like it has a powerful message that I’m totally missing on this listen through.
Side 1 was five starts all the way. I was excited to have found the Neil Young solo album I could point to and claim as a triumph. I’ve always had an appreciation for him, yet a solo album that is five star worthy has alluded me. I thought tonight was the night. Then side 2 happened and while it was good, none of the tracks lived up to side 1. And I’m left wondering when I’ll find the Neil Young solo album that knocks my socks off from start to finish. Hopefully it’s coming soon.
Simply one of the best examples of folk and pop rock blended into a heartfelt, anthemic album. Neil is a personal favorite of mine and I have strong familiar roots to his music. I'll admit he's not of the best folk artists or pop artist and some of his songs fall flat on this albo. But I still consider it an amazing album.
Heart of fart
Only Love Can Break Your Heart is a masterpiece
I had been meaning to listen to Neil Young for a long time, and I was not disappointed. A cool mix of folk and rock, just didn't particularly amaze me at any point. Solid 4 stars.
Melancholy with a bit of a burn and some beautiful guitar work. A stellar, total mood of an album featuring some of the best songs of Neil Young's career. Really, this is a genre and era-defining album, in all the best ways. "Southern Man" doesn't quite fit tonally with the other songs, but it's so, so brutally good. Fave Songs: Birds; Southern Man; Only Love Can Break Your Heart; Don't Let It Bring You Down; After the Gold Rush; I Believe in You; Tell Me Why
Good body of work by 'Neil the Whiner'. I prefer his songs done as a cover by other artists instead of his nasally voice, but the song writing is solid.
Love it
A beautiful album with his classic sound, a number of known songs and would be happy to listen again.
Probably be 5 stars if Neil Young didn’t have such a weird voice (sorry Neil)
Neil Young is outstanding and I love the way he keeps evolving. This album is from early in his journey yet it reflects a maturity and clarity he brought to his music from the beginning. I love this album. So many memorable, beautiful, and superbly performed songs. And what a writer. I love when artists truly have their own voice.
The title track is one of my favourite songs of all time. I've no idea what it's about, but it seems sad and gives me the feels. The other big singles, Only Love Can Break Your Heart, and Southern Man are also great. I'd never heard the album tracks before. They're all good, but only Don't Let It Bring You Down stood out from the crowd. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: After The Gold Rush Date listened: 09/01/24
I really liked "Birds," the rest of the album was okay. Chill music to listen to, but I didn't love his voice in some of the songs...too high!
After The Gold Rush // Only Love Can Break Your Heart // Southern Man //
this motherfucker can not sing.. aina on epäilyjä youngmanin albumeista... onko kakkosta kolmosta tulossa... ei saisi epäillä.. aina tulee taattua laattua vaikka muutama laulu pettäisi..mahtava albumi.. pojanvinkuna.. apinankiekuna .... hei hei.. Cripple Creekin lautta Juosta läpi Ulkonevat puut Mene Cripple Creek -lautalle... unfarmathobable lyricism... southern man
*Listening Note* It's not currently available on Spotify, but you can easily find playlists of the whole album on youtube. I had previously eschewed Neil Young because I find his nasal singing voice offputting. However, this album from singing to songwriting is a real treat.
I've always like Neil Young - listening to After The Gold Rush completely just reinforces that view. I especially liked Birds (don't remember that one) and Cripple Creek Ferry. And backups from Nils Lofgren and CSN add to the overall strong album.
OK, this is the Neil Young I can appreciate. This album is filled with songs I enjoy and when you consider the album as a whole it's a great listen. I was hypercritical of Neil last time, and now maybe I'm a little overly generous with 4 stars but it's a 3 star average so it works out.
I listened to this when I was younger but it had been a while. I couldn't listen on Spotify because of political Neil young boycotting them. I love Neil but wouldn't it make more sense to make your music available to get your message out to more people? Also, this album has a lot of slower songs that are solid but the whole album is worth it for Southern Man. That's a banger.
I listened to this a few years ago for the first time and it didn’t do much for me. I just gave it another listen because this website asked me to. I get it now
I would've rated this a 5 because the music is spectacular, but every once in a while I need to pause and rub my ears a little as Neil's voice can sometimes grate in large quantities.
Not what I expected. never actually listen to Neil young that much. alot more sad.
I went to this one after listening to an album which (at least to me) felt like Neil Young wannabes. I love Neil Young, I really do. There are so many great songs on this album. Ones that will make your hair stand on end: "Southern Man," "After The Gold Rush" "Don't Let It Bring You Down" But with it are some songs that are... okay. "I Believe In You" has probably one of the weakest singing Neil has done in his early years. He really needed the backing of at least Stills, but maybe more on that one. "When You Dance I Can Really Love" is one with some weaker lyrics, too. "I've got something to tell you, you make it show. Let me come over, I know you know..." What? Neil Young has a body of work that is just stunning, and "Harvest" maybe would be the early album I would turn to. This one has... a couple of clunkers that make the album really good, but just not (in my eyes) a classic. Sorry, Neil. Not a 5-star recommendation for me. The weaker songs just pull it down.
Whenever I listen to this, I think of many things, the beauty of the music and lyrics and how unfortunate it is that Neil Young did both, how mad Lynard Skynyrd were about one song, and how the Jimmy Fallon skit where he, as Neil Young, sings a cover of Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair" on his Late Night show still lives rent free in my head 13 years later... Oh well, time to hop up out the bed, turn my swag on.
A really great album Southern Man feels like one of the most powerful songs ever recorded just perfection in sound and execution. Kinda wish the second half had another anchor but this is a great one.
Well what can I say that about this man that I haven't already? Not a lot. The album, on the other hand I can comment anew on. Its much more polished than the other one and has several superb tracks including the title track. A truly beautiful song (though if you struggle with his voice, you would do well to check out the Renaissance cover version). I think its the lyrics that do it for me. (That's why I'm such a fan of Roy Harper.) Don't let it bring you down they sound so deep but when you really listen to them they don't quite make sense, and I love that in a lyric. Anyway, down to business. Even with all its good points, I don't think it is quite a 5. So mid to high 4 it is. ps If there is not anything by Mr Harper in this list then I shall consider the whole process null and void.
I love this album
Very good but loses marks for inaccessibility. I'm not made of money.
Kind of a timeless sound, very easy listen. There is a reason Neil Young is quoted as a major influence to so many modern artists. Very much enjoyed this!
When we had Harvest I think I labelled that as my favourite NY album. Now that I listen to this one I'm wondering if I need to revisit that. I still have the vinyl copies of both. The title song, and Southern Man are two of my favourite NY songs overall. Interestingly, the two singles, "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" and "When You Dance I Can Really Love", are probably the two songs I care for least. On balance Harvest still gets the nod for fave.
Side One is full of signature Neil young songs but side two isn't as strong. It's interesting this was released a year after the rocker "Everybody Knows This is Nowhere", starting a pattern of swinging from acoustic to rock and back again that is one of his hallmarks.
I really don't like country and folk, but my oh my, nobody does it quite like Neil Young. His music and especially his song-writing transcends all other mere mortals and so called superstar musicians. He legitimately can claim to be one of the all-time GOATS and this is also one of his best albums. This record starts out swinging and the first four songs are killers, culminating with the epic Southern Man. It lags a bit in the middle but finishes strong with Don't let it Bring you down and When you dance and I believe in you. There's a tiny bit of filler here so it gets dinged a bit in my rating for that.
I like Neil Young’s voice, but really can’t stand too much of his lead guitar playing. I like the folky and altcountry vibes. Kinda stripped down and minimal. Couple of the songs had cool CSNY style harmonies. 3.5
Finally got around to it lol. This was tough cause I love his songwriting but it’s just really hard for me to get past his voice sometimes. Birds is pretty. The rock moments are cool like when you dance. Idk 3.5-4
first listen good album
This album on a rainy day after a breakup feels like an automatic 72-hour hold.
Easy listening - but lyrics interesting. Like some of the minor key changes. Had on while working.
There are some seriously strong songs on this album. A pretty pared back production. Not keen on his vocals but they do work well on the biting social commentaries and the harmonies.
Rock. Folk. Country.
Like it
One of Neil’s best! Very sensitive and sentimental in the way Neil does best
shwäg
Really good
The highs are high, but there are some forgettable songs.
Back to back Hemmer Hall of Fame albums.
Not on spotify
i like this dude. cheers neil young
I'm not much of a Neil Young fan, but this was solid.
It would not play so I found other music by him and it was good
Listened Before? N This is a great album! I'm not really partial to Young's voice, but the lyricism and tone are top-notch. It's just a shame you can't listen to it on Spotify right now. I hope they get their issues worked out because I'd love to add it to my library. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Southern Man (hopefully in the future)
11/21/23 10:00 S Tier————————— Only Love Can Break Your Heart Southern Man Tell Me Why After The Gold Rush A Tier————————— When You Dance I Can Really Love Don’t Let It Bring You Down Birds I believe In You Oh, Lonesome Me B Tier————————— Till The Morning Comes Cripple Creek Ferry
Neil does it well
Lots of pretty songs.
Country folk rock de Young. Un 4.
Like an old friend
👍 was pretty entertaining
Great album, though his voice is sometimes hard to listen to
3.9
Rob and i bought the CD and played it in the car on our way too Saxon mill
Lots of pretty acoustic numbers on here. Is it Neil's least rocking album? Mostly deserves its reputation, but I listen to this one the least of all his classic period. Docked a point as the reach of his voice exceeds its grasp a bit on occasion.
Quite good, I like Neil Young. Some songs a bit boring.
Good songs but Neil’s voice is grating.
Excellent album, classic Neil Young, memorable.
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Only love can break your heart
Second to Harvest Moon
Lots of Neil Young on this list and it’s not all gold, but it’s been more good than bad so far. I wouldn’t say I’m a fully-fledged fan yet, but I’ve certainly become a well-wisher of his. Some very immediate, sing-song melodies on this one, with occasional injections of energy and bite. Would happily listen through again in future. I was racking my brains to remember where I’d heard Don’t Let It Bring You Down before, and I think it must be from Everything Everything’s version. Great song. It’s nice when the generator helps me link a cover I know to its source.
This album hits the spot for me. Very smooth and thoughtful country folk at its best. My only gripe is that the mixing and production could have made this album so much better. The vocals are mixed too much on top and they can feel overbearing at times. The instruments feel a little flat as well. I feel like there’s so much sonic richness hiding underneath the surface that could have been revealed to great effect. The lead guitar work is also sloppy at best, which is just what you get with Neil Young. Thankfully the songs themselves are so well crafted that one can get past the nitpicks to enjoy the album as a whole.
I liked this album a lot better than I liked the last album of Neil’s I listened to. This makes me more exciting about listening to his other albums. My 2 favorite songs were After the Goldrush and Birds.
I just discovered I like Neil Young. It would be a 3.5+ The jewell for me "Don't let it bring you down". On a second "Southern Man". Yes, atypic voice, very intimate. I will get back to this album.
Felt a little like Harvest. A bit slower. Seemed fitting for a grey fall day.
I enjoyed this. A couple of classic songs but the whole album works. I didn't know I liked Neil Young as much as I do before doing this whole thing!
Have to listen on YouTube, not avail on Spotify. I believe in you is a banger very much a Neil young album. Point of view and sound with no apologies, love it for that reason. Seems like a straight forward 70s situation. Don’t let it bring you down holds up. Listened to twice and felt the same second time around
A lot to love here, country meets rock. You either love or hate his tone and I love it. Southern Man is a great song. 4.5/5
I want to hate Neil Young so bad because is voice is objectively annoying. But, it's also oddly endearing. This album in particular was so simple and clean. The songs just felt honest somehow - even though I have no idea what's he's singing about most of the time. This one pulled me in, and I dig that.
Solide album d'americana/folk. 8/10
Really nice, folky, warm. His voice was not my favourite on some tracks especially in the beginning, but overall I really enjoyed the album.
Overall not Young's strongest album to me - much as I don't dispute its ideas, Southern Man is Young at his most holier than thou preaching, despite being a bit of a banger. A lot of the rest is weirdly subdued low energy. But it is redeemed and then some by the presence of the title track, possibly my favorite Neil Young solo song, and When You Dance... which is certainly in my top 10.
wait I like this
4/5. It's definitely a very quiet album, more singer-songwriter than anything. It's chill and there are some great lyrics and rhythms, but there is a sense of throwaway songs, like a lot of them don't feel finished or they could be better. Overall, it is a beautiful album but not perfect.
This is hard to rate; it has just a few songs that don't shine quite so bright. But the ones that do are straight up supernova. I think this will fall juuuuuuust shy of a 5.
Neil Young is an artist where I always love when I hear him but still have not taken the initiative to explore on my own. I really need to. 4/5
Great singer songwriter essential album, although there's only so much Neil Young I can handle in one sitting.
neil’s all about the vibe, sometimes his boomer worldview spoils it for me
2nd best Neil Young album
An amazing songwriter and story teller, his music is timeless. I’m not a huge fan of his voice but I can overlook that with how awesome his music is.
It's a great album but it isn't Neil's best. I like other albums from him more but this is still an excellent listen. The title track, Don't Let it Bring You Down and When You Dance I Can Really Love are stand out tracks.
favorite tracks: "southern man" and "don't let it bring you down"
I love Neil Young, although his voice whines in that nasal, grating way. Southern Man is an excellent track, although with a baffling narrative turn midway that I can't quite interpret.
Another one I'm surprised I haven't heard before. I've never delved into Neil Young outside of Buffalo Springfield and CSNY so this was a great introduction to his catalogue.
This was my favorite Neil Young album so far, enjoyed the groove
It was good.
Neil Young was an artist I vaguely knew of, but had never listened to before and therefore didn’t know what to expect. This was such a treat, I’ll definitely be checking out more.
For most of my life, I thought Young, like Dylan, was a great songwriter who should have other people sing his songs. Now I listen to this and hear the brittleness in his voice on Only Love Can Break Your Heart, and I can't imagine anyone else singing it. (I've since come around to the same thing with Dylan too). It's a raw, beautiful record.
Very good - not all the songs are the very best, but most of them are.
I think this is my third favorite Neil Young album, after Harvest and Rust Never Sleeps. As with many of his albums, After the Gold Rush sits between musical styles, with folk songs like After the Gold Rush and rough rockers like Southern Man.
8/10. Love these Neil Young albums where he actually sounds good.
I wish I liked Neil Young's voice better because I think he could have some great songs. As it stands, this was decent. 7/10
Not at all bad
Southern Man is an awesome song, great guitar stuff. Also some other great songs on here. Love the lyrics and stuff, the group vocals aren't really my thing but I don't mind it too much here.
Ému par ce dernier album, la messe est dite.
listened directly after an album i didn't like and this was a breath of fresh air, never listened to any neil young before. title track, "southern man", "when you dance i can really love", and "i believe in you" are great and the rest is pretty good too. i'd give this a 3.5/5 but i can't give half stars so i'll round it up since it's quite enjoyable and it might just grow on me
A fantastic folk rock album and as equally good an entry point to Young's fine music as Harvest.
Solid folk album. Nothing really else to add, this album kinda speaks for itself.
I really really liked it. I can't believe how little of Neil Young I knew, especially cause I can see so much of his music in Elliott Smith, one of my favourite artists ever!
High 7. His voice is kind of weird, but the songs are all very well written and arranged
Very beautiful album.
Introspective, wistful, patient at times, definitely a pretty compelling album. Though the energy turns up on Southern Man, the album is pretty intimate with Neil's unique voice telling a story. Very engaging.
Not a bad album, but also definitely not his best. I could see myself rediscovering this album later in life and loving it. Until then, it’s just pretty good.
Straight to the heart.
Oh Neil Young. Just finger yourself in front of me. Come on.
The title track and 'I Believe In You' are absolutely heart-wrenching. Beautiful album, wish I discovered it sooner.
Following the success of Deja vu, Neil Young shifts from blues rock to all sorts of folky styles. And it really works out for him. For some reason, indieheads considers the first two tracks to be his best songs. I thought "Tell Me Why" lacked anything special, while "After the Gold Rush" was a boring ballad, and after three listens, I still didn't get the appeal. The tracks after that, however, really impressed me. We got some sick fingerpicking and some catchy pop tracks. Thought it got weaker near the end, especially hated "Birds." It's a versatile short listen that's great for introducing Neil Young to people.
I dig it, makes me wish I weren’t pot-committed to Spotify as far as playlist building goes, a lot of these make for great road trip songs but Neil Young has pulled his music from that platform. I thought I’d hate it but I didn’t find his voice annoying like I thought off the first track, and the horn on After the Gold Rush sort of won me over early.
Only love can break your heart is a truly great song. I like this Neil Young a lot. Not the biggest fan of his voice, but it hits a groove after a while.
Some good songs, quintessential Young. Still doesn't quite jive with me.
One of Neil Young's great 70s albums!
I appreciate that it puts me on the wrong side of history but… Sweet Home Alabama is a much better song than Southern Man, right? There are some beautiful moments on this album but it’s also pretty whiny and nasal. Also, Spotify.
Ateh que foi legal, nao sabia que eu gostava de Neil Young
This was a pleasant folk, country and rock album. While I don't think this was really my favourite of any of those genres, it was a nice album to spend half an hour of the evening enjoying. It was also kept interesting by breaking up the country and folk tracks with some more energetic rock. Overall a good album. Favourite: When You Dance I Can Really Love
Southern change gonna come at last. Best track: Southern Man
8/10 folk / country / rock. solide album. dommage pas sur spotify
excellent album with neil young’s signature voice and folk/rock stylings. rock solid. highlights: “southern man”, “oh, lonesome me”, “birds”.
Now this was a good Neil Young record. Bunch of early 70’s southern folky rock.
Very mellow, almost Dylan with a different voice.
Second Neil Young in a row, and it was perfect to demonstrate my comment yesterday about his versatility. Yesterday an album that was meh in the best case, and today one that is classic and almost perfect.
Niet geluisterd, maar ken dit album zeer goed. Ik hou ervan.
A great album overall. You can feel Young growing as a songwriter, with songs such as Southern Man being particular standouts. That said, I don't think it can compete with his next album, Harvest, which stands as an outright masterpiece.
Grew on me toward the end
Solid neil
It's fine. I don't care for Neil Young, but he caught me on a good day
Bra, upplever det något tråkigt. Dock rätt lungt / skönt album med sina höjdpunkter. Men upplever att det saknas viss variation och Neils röst är alltid lite speciell.
Southern Man is pretty good. I was kind of a Neil Young hater until I saw him live last year. He's a really good songwriter, I don't exactly like his delivery.
i didn't listen hard enough maybe, was busy at work - might be better than what I'm scoring it
Before all his good albums in my opinion. Way less interesting.
Great stuff, not my favorite of Neil's, still great
Tell me why: I like this, it's relaxing and I like the layered vocals After the gold rush: This one is a skip for me, nice lyrics though Only love can break your heart: I really like this one, adding it to my 70s playlist, very beautiful Southern man: Wow, these lyrics are incredible. I like the instrumental Till the morning comes: Nice and simple, a little boring but needed after the intensity of the previous track Oh, lonesome me: This is awfully relatable, I feel like this is an incredible sad song Don't let it bring you down: I like how melancholic it sounds despite the title sounding uplifting Birds: Not a song I'd probably choose to listen to again When you dance I can really love: This one is actually kinda groovy and I really enjoy it. I like the blend between bluesy rock and country. Added to 70s playlist I believe in you: I like this but I'm struggling to read into the lyrics Cripple creek ferry: This is very folk sounding, I think it sounds distinctively late 60s/early 70s Overall notes: I don't know if I'm a huge fan of his voice, and I think it's the kind of music I'd have to be in a certain mood to listen to. I can appreciate how beautiful the lyrics are along with the music. Added two songs to my playlist.
可以
It's ok. Will never love his voice though.
Bom disco de Young, mas ele fez melhores.
6/10, i definitely enjoyed the album but i’m just not a big fan of country. he’s got a really nice voice and this is definitely the best country album i’ve heard (though it’s not a genre i’m familiar with) and completely understand why Young is seen as such an icon just not my kinda thing
ok
okay 3rd track is lwk good bcs of I resonate with it also the first one so far so good, it's a decent listen
3.5+
An album of screechy vocals on great songs. As much as I dislike Neil Young, I have to admit this album is filled with a bounty of well written songs, but the vocals are horrendous.
Good but not bad
Correct mais je suis tanné de Neil Young, le beach étais nice harvest un peut mid mais ya des classique pis celui la étais mid ok
Average at best album, couple of hits, not much substance.
Southern Man is the standout, and I’d previously been exposed to this artist growing up. But outside of that this album struck me as somewhat unremarkable.
Que se yo Nota: 2.7
Good music, but I really can't stand Neil Young's voice.
Interesting vibe, all the songs felt quite similar, but I enjoyed the journey
not bad. after awful harvest that was on the list this LP feels quite ok. just ok.
Lots of love here for this album. For me, it isn't my style. I do not dislike it though so 3/5.
pretty solid Will I listen to again: 40%
This was another good album by Neil young. I enjoyed it thoroufhly and I could hear the brewings of his later famous tunes in this album. Overall solid.
He kinda sounds like elmo. Not for me.
Okay bruh I had notes here which I wrote while listening to the songs live AND individual ratings for each... wszystko zostalo skasowane kurwa... spoko So basically overall, I did like this album quite a bit, 7 out of 10 songs were added to the liked songs album! Not my first pick of an album which I'd listen to for sure, but I did enjoy it. I think I wouldn't be opposed to listening to it again, and I would recommend some songs from it to other people. Solid 7/10
liked only love can break your heart pretty nice overall
More Neil. Come on, Randomizer; you're not converting me by overwhelming me.
Good songs, just not my favorite sound or voice.
Pas mal, Harvest reste meilleurs globalement.
Not entirely my thing, but there are a few nuggets I really like.
It was ok, could get better with more listens so hedging my bets with a 3
I don't enjoy Mr Young's voice at all but this is packaged nicely enough
Doesn’t sound half bad at all, even without Crosby, Stills and Nash 😁 Three stars…
Its the voice for me, the album wasnt bad but neil young and his childish kermit the frog like voice throws it off
I just figured out freedom isn't on this list. A pity. When I think of Neil Young I think rocking in the free world. And apparently songs like that are only a small part of his work. Case in point, only 2 songs on this album pick up the electric guitar to really deliver some drive. The rest is well written but often anemic in its delivery.
For this group, I know this is blasphemous but, Neil Young just isn't for me. I know this is 'good' and I know why people like it. It just doesn't make my world turn, ya know?
Good songs but can't get on with the falsetto voice. St Etienne's version of love will break your heart is much better.
Algunas canciones míticas y otras buenas pero que no me llegan. Probablemente más culpa mía que de Neil Young
Another 'classic' that's just a really inconsistent record. Side A is really quite remarkable, with a solid run of quality songs with a lot of variation. Side B is a complete flop for me. I have not enjoyed a Neil Young album yet, but this is the best so far. 6/10
Liked: 4,5,6,7,8,9,10 Disliked: 1,2,3,11 Total Songs: 11 Ratio: 8/11 Converted Score: 3.64/5 Top 3 1. Southern Man 2. Don't Let It Bring You Down 3. Till The Morning Comes
Probably my favorite of the Neil Young albums so far but still more solid than great, basically a 3.5. Title track and Lonesome Me the best on here
I came into this album expecting not to like it because I've never been a big Neil Young fan. His voice has always been the biggest hurdle for me, and that didn't change. However, I was surprised by how much I appreciated his songwriting. More than once I found myself thinking, "This would be an incredible song if someone else were singing it." As the album progressed, it slowly won me over. The lyrics were thoughtful, the harmonies were beautiful, and several songs really stood out. My favorite discovery was "When You Dance I Can Really Love," followed closely by "I Believe in You," "Birds," and "Only Love Can Break Your Heart." "Southern Man" was also a powerful listen, especially hearing it in its original context. This album started as what I thought would be a 2-star experience, but the strength of the songwriting gradually raised it to a solid 3 stars. I finished with a much greater appreciation for Neil Young as a songwriter than I had before, even if I still don't connect with his distinctive vocal style.
Finally, a "fully listenable" Neil Young record. But still a little janky. 3.5/5.
After the Gold Rush isn’t trying to impress you. It whispers instead of shouts, asks instead of answers, and often ends before you’ve fully understood what you’ve heard. That’s precisely why it has remained so enduring. It feels less like an album you master than one you keep returning to, finding new meanings each time.
3 stars This is the first NY album I ever listened to and it’s kind of the reason I never got strongly into him. Because it’s just fine. There are good moments, but it’s just fine. No need to dive into a gigantic discography. But I don’t know that I really need to go back.
Started off pretty weird - but came around towards the end. Neil has such a unique and interesting way of singing. Not sure if it like it or not though…
I had to get to this one on YouTube, since Neil Young's albums aren't on Amazon Music Unlimited, my usual streaming service. I was surprised how many songs that I know separately from the album live in my brain already. I enjoyed hearing them all together.
3.7/5
Kind of boring to be honest.
I personally don't really like his voice, I don't think it fits most of the songs he makes. I found at least 4 songs that are listenable and enjoyed a bit but overall it's not a great album.
no me agrado tanto el album
Great Neil Young album, wonderful songs, deserves to be here. But I do think it’s a tad overrated compared to some of his other work. And when am I supposed to listen to this?
Not really what I was expecting, and enjoyed this more than I thought I would.
Me gusta descubrir su música.
not bad, pretty dreary. always liked "southern man"
It's so hard for me to grade Neil Young. It is so unique, so I don't know what to compare it to. His cat-stuck-in-a-vice-grip voice either sounds terrible or fascinating depending on the mood I am in. His loose, minimal studio takes style either sounds amateur or authentic depending on what I'm in the mood for. His songs go from piano to ripping guitar, to soft whispers with acoustic guitar, sometimes effortlessly, sometimes jarring. He's either a lyrical genius or Bob Dylan like depending on the song. He's a conundrum. I can take him in small doses. This was an interesting album. Southern Man is a major highlight for me, always loved the sound. The rest of the album borders on intriguing country or loose sort rock.
It's okay, his voice is a bit whiny and annoying. The first two tracks are a bit of a cloying non starter for me. Track 3 is great, very enjoyable and chill, his voice works on this one. Track 4 very good. Most of this album is kind of boring. There isn't a lot to it musically, it's average in that regard. The vocals are an acquired taste. I'm not feeling the country, folky vibe. It's like the basic settings of music. You have to be pretty special to wring any individuality and intrigue from this style, and on this album he does it around 30% of the time. It's such a meh album, but I can see it affecting people. It's schmaltzy enough in parts to make you feel comforted, like a lullaby, and the lyrical content is so bland that you can ascribe whatever meaning you want onto it, like a rorschach test.
Its pretty good, solid 3/5.
already like this better than the last neil young album i got (everybody knows...). much more consistent, much better production quality. lyrics are generally less cringey (when you dance, i can really love is a notable exception but the song is still good). truly lovely harmonies throughout -- i could take or leave young's voice on its own but it really shines with others. southern man rules. highlights: only love can break your heart, southern man, don't let it bring you down, birds, when you dance still too many forgettable tracks to justify a 4 star rating but it's a much more solid 3. maybe 3.5. bonus points for pissing off lynyrd skynyrd. #first time listening
3/5 Favorite Songs: Tell Me Why Southern Man When You Dance You Can Really Love
Fucking hell, back to back Neil Young albums! Anyway, this is a definite improvement over yesterday's offering with regards to songwriting craft, and even vocally, although they still aren't anywhere near my absolute favourite. I just struggle to imagine when I'd ever sit down and think "you know, I really should listen to some Neil Young today".
was ok
cute pero no sé,,, no me encantó. 3/5.
For my personal tastes, I give this a 2.5/5 on the first listen. Neil's style might just not be for me, but I did enjoy parts of the album. I found the opening track "Tell Me Why," "Only Love Can Break Your Heart," and, of course, "Southern Man" to be the best tracks of the album, musically. Neil has more variation and well-developed musical elements in these tracks that create more musical depth, emotional range, and momentum that I feel are lacking across much of the other tracks, particularly the last half. "Tell Me Why," was a strong opener. It has playful melodies across the vocals and guitars that I think are some of his strongest on the album. I'll be honest, I don't really know what Neil is trying to say in those lyrics though lol. On "Only Love Can Break Your Heart," it's really the chorus that carries the track. I don't enjoy the verses, sonically speaking, and thankfully they're short. The swell of vocals in the chorus creates melancholic yet romantic emotions that conveys the heartache in his story-telling. "Southern Man" is, of course, a standout with a lot of emotion, percussive elements, and impassioned guitar solos. Lyrically, I have thoughts on how Neil Young addresses the topic of racism, but that's more than I can tackle in this review. Honorable mention to the french horn solo in "After the Gold Rush."
I started writing a horror story today about toxic overreliance on others for your own health, full of body horror and viscera. When I needed to take a break from typing, I listened to this album. The first thing which struck me about Neil Young was his one-of-a-kind vocal tone, high pitched and fragile. It almost sounds like Carl Wheezer from Jimmy Neutron singing a folk album, but I genuinely do not mean that as an insult; I find his voice uniquely emotive and compelling. This voice is paired with a strong knack for socially aware songwriting, with Young sounding particularly tapped into this tired, downtrodden folk sound. Or at least, sometimes he does. There are other songs here, typically those which lean more into a heavier rock sound or more typical heartbreak lyricism, which simply do not grab me nearly as much as the others. Evaluating this album was a back and forth process, as I really clicked with the songs I liked, but just could not get into the others. An album leaning entirely into the societal folk sound would have easily stood out more in my mind, but as it stands, After The Gold Rush feels split between two different identities, and I personally find one of them to be significantly less engaging. However, this does leave me intrigued at the prospect of hearing more Neil Young down the road, and particularly hearing what he brings to the table as the fourth member of CSNY. Highlights: Tell Me Why, After The Gold Rush, Till The Morning Comes, Don't Let It Bring You Down, Cripple Creek Ferry
I like the length of all the songs so far Pretty chill and mellow Objectively good
Er zijn betere platen...
6/10 - nice and inoffensive
This one's fine. I'm not sure the list needs so many Neil Young albums, but 1001 is a lot. "Southern Man" is a strong song that still feels accurate despite some other bands' remarks. It's not just the message that is strong, it's the music as well. Between this track and "Ohio," Neil Young should have written more music while he was angry. There's some good tracks on this album but also a few which seem to go on a bit too long, which is not a typical complaint I have had on this project. Favorite track: either "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" or "Southern Man"
Favourite Songs: Southern Man
Not into it
Good, not mind blowing
was a good country album i didn’t pay too much attention to it though but from the songs i did hear i enjoyed it and probably would listen again in more detail
Okay
This was probably my least favorite Neil Young record so far, and it was by no means bad. There's still some amazing and beautiful songwriting in here that is certainly inspirational, but I just didn't like his voice as much on this one. There could have been a bit more variety in the overall sound of this record as well. But it's still better than a lot of other albums! Favorites: Tell Me Why, Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Birds, I Believe in You
Ballad Neil is still not entirely for me, even though the strength of songwriting is apparent. I guess his voice just bothers me more when he's the focus more than the music. Southern Man is fine, if reductive, and I do find it funny that so many people on here misread the lyrics/meaning of Sweet Home Alabama and the supposed "feud". They both liked each other's music! Would have loved to see Skynyrd's version of Powderfinger. Anyway, this is a fine record, maybe would have liked to see some more changes in tempo but it's alright. I see the appeal if I do not yet have the outright devotion.
Despite it's popularity, never really been a highlight of young's work for me.
I would rather listen to Crosby Stills and Nash
The day I’m flying home from a trip to America and Canada I get an American-Canadian artist that’s pretty neat ! As for the music... the music … so he has a really terrible voice…but I honestly kind of admire that about him ??? Like he’s still made a banger album despite that ???? I loved a lot of the songs - Southern Man is obviously great - I can’t give it more than three stars because I really do not like his voice - but I am excited to hear more from him ??? None of this really makes sense but yeah. Lots to unpack here.
a lotta love songs on this one, I liked it butttt def not his best work
Clásico Neil Young. Muy lindo.
Ok
There's an explosive energy to Neil Young live, where his amp is on the verge of bursting into flames and he himself is not far off either. Every time with his records I expect to find that, and tantalisingly, it peeks out of numerous songs; but the laid back folk wins out most times, and leaves me wanting more.
Mmmmm, ¿y esa voz?