Reviews (page 12 of 14)
Definitely the best Yungian recording we've gotten our canals around so far. Real well constructed songs, some beautiful, surreal storytelling, it even gets pretty catchy at points. Big winner. Fave track: See the Sky About to Rain
Good chance this is my favourite Neil Young album. Seamless flow between catchy toe tappers to crushing ballads. In equal parts makes me want to dance around and drive into a river. I have no controversial takes on this one - I think it's a wonder of a record. Glad to listen to it again. Four and a half. Fave track: Ambulance Blues
Another Neil Young album with great atmosphere! That’s the thing which makes for his best albums, I find.
De va nice!
This further adds to my appreciation for Neil Young. Great Lyrics.
Oh shit do I love Neil Young? That was amazing.
One of King Neil's best. There's an ocean of different feelings in this. Could listen over and over and find more every time.
great album! Neil Young is at some of his bets when it's just him and a guitar. This was my first listen ftb.
This style of music really does not do much for me at all. I know it's probably the rawest display of musical talent, but it just feels so bland to me so often. Add on to it that I really do not like Neil Young's voice, and this is the result. Favorite track: Revolution Blues
Probably a 3.7 but I will round up.
Kunde inte lyssna, fanns ej på Spotify
a generally alright album
Finally got around to this one. Lots of blues and very melancholy but I liked it
This was a lovely album. I definitely preferred it to ‘Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere’ which was the first Neil Young album I heard as part of this list.
A high three, but it makes me annoyed that this album falls under the “great at first and then declines” category. Either way, not bad at all.
This such a dark thematically consistent album: slow and brooding, desperate and disillusioned, Neil Young is the friend telling hippies they're pissing in the wind at the end of an era. The upbeat opener 'Walk On' is a nostalgic good-time song about yesterdays, but things get real real quick. The wavering tremelo organ on 'See the Sky About to Rain' is the ominous sound of heavy clouds and the lapsteel is the wind of a dew-point drop; they serves the song perfectly. The chaotic bass and angry guitars on 'Revolution Blues' channel the dark vibes from the up Canyon. Vampire Blues slow mesmerizing groove disolves into a deconstructed guitar solo, scratching and scribbling on the stings as the song fades out. Contrast that with the peircing clean tone through the slow reverby minor-key 'On the Beach' - where the guitar perfectly extends NY's voice - thin, faltering, fragile and introspective, but deeply expressive. 'Motion Pictures' & 'Ambulance Blues' close the album with sparse acoustic songs - the violin and harmonica interplay on AB give it an almost raga-drone feel, while the detuned guitar parts on MP make it feel like watching melting film. Favorites: Revolution Blues, See the Sky About to Rain, On the Beach
Nice to recommend album you can't listen to !
🤢 did not finish
Chilled out and easy to listen to
This may be my favorite Neil Young album I've listened to. I really enjoyed this. I wish it was streaming on Spotify, though.
A groovy, chill release by Young. If you're not already a fan, this might not impress you much unless you're in that specific mood. If you are a fan, this is actually want you want: more Neil Young songs of doing what he does best. Doesn't try to be flashy or loud Continues his rock blend of country, folk, and blues, but has a greater emphasis on jammy instruments, especially in tracks like "Revolution Blues" and "On the Beach." The only two hard songs are "Walk On" and "Revolution Blues" which are placed near the beginning. No bad tracks, and includes some of his best songs.
Not on Spotify, not going looking
Well, now that I've heard Crosby, Stills and Nash without Young and Young without Crosby, Stills and Nash I'm hoping when I get an album where they're all together it actually does something for me because this one really didn't. That being said, although I liked this album more than the first CSN album I really don't have the highest of hopes. This era of folk just isn't for me. On the beach starts off well enough. The first 3 tracks are fine but after revolution blues it really falls off and by the end I was struggling to even stay focused on what I was listening to. I was hoping this would be the album that had heart of gold on it because I kinda like that song. It's a solid 3 stars. Didn't love it. Didn't hate it. The music just did nothing for me to warrant another listen so I won't be giving it one.
The longing of this album is much different when compared to Harvest, as intended. I really appreciate the themes of loneliness and feeling distanced while being around people. I always forget how much I like Neil young, wish his music was back on Spotify
Sounds like these songs should be on the soundtrack of No Country For Old Men or Better Call Saul they just have that vibe to them.
If there’s one thing this list has done, it’s made me a bigger fan of Neil (3.5/5)
I'm a big fan of NY but had really forgotten about this one. Its top tier.
Too...something.
6/10 un peu underwhelm comme neil young. décu
10/10
I liked! Neil Young has a pleasant voice
Revolution Blues holds up, crazy that he actually met Charles Manson? Awesome to recognize Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Graham Nash, and David Crosby's names in the liner notes. Vampire Blues is also great.
Really liked this. Chill but heartfelt and an excellent album cover. High 4 right now but could get to a 5. A shame he isn’t on Spotify.
Neil Young's greatness during the late sixties and seventies doesn't get discussed enough. He is part of a very small group that released a voluminous amount of incredible material for a long time. Without quibbling about which Neil Young releases belong on this list, this is certainly one that would be in the conversation. This may not get as much airplay as other Neil releases from the time, but it is tremendous. Ambulance Blues is a highlight for me.
Never heard this album or any of the songs on it. Read a couple of reviews basically saying it is incredible sad music. I didn't get that at all. I don't think this is up to Neil Young's best work either as a solo artist or with CSNY or Crazy Horse but it still pretty good.
Thundercat is an exceptional musician but not an exceptional songwriter. Some of the tracks did start to sound repetitive and could have been cut in my opinion, but it was an overall enjoyable listen. The guest selection was a lot of fun and the groove in “Them Changes” still slaps.
Fantastic. All of the wit and soul of every Neal Young album, but that mid 70s production makes for silky renderings of Young’s great melodies. “Vampire Blues” is one of the most compelling environmentalist songs I’ve ever heard.
another great neil young album, this one melancholic and political. i only wish this was on spotify so i could listen to it more often.
A masterpiece.
Very good album
Heard before: some Ironically, I listened to this record on the beach this afternoon, and I immediately restarted in when it was done. When I had heard these songs in the past, they seemed overly simplistic, not much there. But I never spent time with the collection, and once I did, the whole project became much richer and more contemplative. The variety is track by track - details in the 12-bar blues, subtle instrumentation shifts, pointed angry narratives, and wild aimless stories. The trick is that each song gives you time to soak in what it brings, so somehow it feels both expansive and concise, a personal statement by someone who doesn't quite know what he wants but it isn't what he has. An excellent bummer record, perfect for sitting and staring at the ocean. Top tracks: Ambulance Blues, For The Turnstiles, Revolution Blues
This was a tough album to review for me because it means I have to restrain a heavy pro Neil Young bias. If this were Harvest I could easily give it a 5 and walk away, a 4-5 for that is indisputable. I really love the tonal shift of the album. From bright, folksy Blues to more stripped down songs that really emphasizes the blue in Blues. That being said, not all of the latter 2/3s of the album hit well for me. I appreciated the super lo fi; For the Turnstiles, but couldn’t really get into it. Really the titular track and Ambulance Blues from this portion of the album. Overall I’m gonna say; bias aside (hopefully), this is a great album. Not Neil’s most accessible but definitely does what it sets out to do very well.
Another banger from Neil. Some of the longer tracks dragged a bit, but overall I thought it was a great album. Love the pedal steel, JJ Cale vibes, cool banjo lo fi stuff. What can I say, Neil rules.
This was a very nice listen, certainly not my favorite Neil album but it’s one I haven’t heard before and quite a few songs really stuck with me on the first listen. Doing some reading this is a record that came from a pretty lonely and difficult place for him as he struggled with the onset of superstardom after his prior record, but it’s a feel that doesn’t resonate with me the same as some of his other work. Overall still a great record and enjoyable listen.
My favorite Neil Young album, I love its mellow, bittersweet melancholy vibe.
I think I'm in love with Neil Young.
Amongst the best melancholic, sad and depressive albums ever made. It blows me away every time I listen to it.
Why is he so angry
I'm glad you have a hobby, man.
Marked down for not being on Spotify
This is Neil’s best album in my opinion. Ambulance Blues is one of the best songs ever done. Pretty somber beach album overall… 5 stars!
Este fue una grata sorpresa. See the Sky about to Rain es una maravilla y Motion Picture también
Entire Neil Young albums were never really my cup of tea. I love lots of his singles, he's got a charming way of singing and songwriting, but I find it really difficult to listen to 60 minutes of his voice with a mediocre backing band.
I like most of Neil Young’s work. This was an interesting album.
I was feeling good so I was going to give this a charitable 3, then that harmonica came in on Ambulance Blues like a stoned K K Slider giving it MEEEE MEEEE OHHHH MEEEE and it soured the whole thing
Decent album. I liked this more than most solo Neil Young. He is good, and my appreciation of him has grown, but I'm still just a moderate fan. 3.25/5
Probably the one peak-era Neil album I don’t own, and that’s mainly because I just haven’t found it for a reasonable price in the wild. It’s good though! Tight, clever songwriting as always, although he definitely has better stuff from this period. Worth looking harder for. B
-1 star from leaving Spotify like a crying baby
What a fantastic, bitter, angry album. This one’s got it all.
Not an artist I have ever listened to before nor would I have thought to, if not generated by 1001 Albums. On one listen, not bad as background music and would grow on me more I think with further listens.
Just cos it’s Neil Young doesn’t mean it has to be on this list.
Not his best one, pretty boring
i know i should dig neil young more than i do but i don’t
Boring
Nice, didn't know Neil young made songs of almost 9 minutes long but didn't bother me at all
Quite beautiful
Lovely
I'm a fan of Neil Young, but the guy has made some many albums over the years, it's hard to keep track. I'd never heard this album before, although the opening track "Walk On" seemed familiar. I liked it.
Last week Harvest, brilliant and emotional. This one just much and much less for me, sorry
I've heard this one twice, but so far nothing memorable. I probably should listen to this one again while reading the lyrics, because I can imagine myself getting more into it that way. Not bad, somber mood. But one thing I love is the cover, that's pretty iconic.
I have always liked and really respected Neil Young while at the same really not liking his voice. Those things are not mutually exclusive. Because of that I have not really explored a ton of his music in depth, and this record is really the only exception. I think it's a phenomenal record. And a really great one to get just a week before seeing Neil perform live.
Wow, what a crazy step up from "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere", and I know that's unfair, as there are albums between the two projects, but the generator gave me this next, and it wanted me to listen to it, goddammit! Anyway, I actually adore this. It has that melancholic vibe a lot of America albums have, but with this grit that make them feel really weighted and like it all means something, and the intimate style of the album, feeling very personal between Young and the listener, all culminates into an album that is extremely enjoyable and that I like a lot. My only nit-pick is the amount of songs labelled "blues" that are hardly such, but that isn't an actual complaint, and would not drag this down to a four alone. This is a lighter five-star, as I'm not head over heels or anything, but I still enjoy this enough for me to finally "get" Neil Young.
ok when i managed to find it on youtube
Should have been called On The Beach Blues
'Walk On' is a decent enough introduction to this album, and 'See the Sky About to Rain' was a pleasant surprise for a second listen. However we peak early as the next few tracks lead to an underwhelming mid-section (especially track 4 'For the Turnstiles'). Things really tail off towards the end, and the result is an album that's a bit boring and uninteresting. 'Ambulance Blues' is sort of an alright ballad to end things off with, but not enough to save the album.
not been a huge neil young fan before now but fuck that was awesome, the two "blues" songs especially were absolutely fucking minted. Only downside is having to listen on youtube and forgetting autoplay was on and getting blasted by black midi when I hadn't realised the album had finished
His voice doesn't get any better by the 140th album. Another 2.
One of the better Neil Young albums we've had (which isn't saying much!) - first track was excellent, then consistently decent until it lost its way a bit with the last track. The songs are written in a way that mask the weaknesses in his singing voice. Solid but never quite spectacular - 3/5.
Dark. Depressing. Moody. Also, fucking brilliant! One of Neil's best works! Ambulance Blues is one of the all time best album closers. Revolution Blues is a flat out banger. Neil can stay in the ditch all he wants if it means he produces gems like this.
When you're sure you're not going to like an assigned album, it's always such a joy to discover something you actually love, despite the anger at yourself for getting it so wrong. I love this album.
I couldn’t have imagined myself being able to listen to a full Neil Young album without covering my ears until this project. This wasn’t bad at all.
Mellow and lovely. Very very nice.
I have not always loved Neil Young’s voice, so I wondered how this would go down. It was better than expected more often than not… and sometimes really lovely. Parts of it still dragged a little but worth hearing again.
Wow. I'm a huge Neil fan, and I've never heard this record. It's definitely got a very strong country influence, and I could see that being off putting to some folks. Not a single track on this album is something that Neil plays anymore, which is interesting. I suspect this record would grow on me if I listened to it more, and reading about how it was essentially a "lost" album i.e. was out of print for a long time explains to me why I hadn't heard it until now. Interesting!
Kan niet alle nummers luisteren
Very good album. Has some great songs and some that are good.3.5/4 Highlights: Revolution Blues, On the Beach
genieten maar het blijft niet zo hangen
Euhm Spotify waarom niet eigenlijk???
Not listened to this one before. Really enjoyed it
MMM?
Now I get Neil Young. Great songwriting.
I like the melancholy hippy folk ones. I don't care for the blues ones. The production on the 2016 Remaster I found on YouTube sounds great.
I read somewhere that Neil wanted Side B to go first so that's how I listened. 3 of the most boring songs I've heard from NY... thankfully saved by Side A, somewhat.
Cover Art is brilliant. First track Walk On is a really fun track with a real funky guitar riff. Closer is great too. Good album, great vibes
I’ve been through a few NY/CH albums and this is one of my faves. Worthwhile entry to the 1001
uskomaton neil young albuni huhhuh ei vituta yhtään mitä ihmettä häh
Neil Young is quite a talent but nothing here that grabbed me and made me want to listen again.
This was nice. Look into this album more if Neil Young ever returns to Spotify. I think On The Beach was my favorite, but that might have just been the song that was on when I was paying the most attention
Life’s a beach
Mh, maybe I was not in the mood for it, but none of the songs caught my ear. I'm not too familiar with Youngs music, but this was skippable for me.
It's okay, nothing really outstanding, but kinda pleasant to listen to
Folk music's hard ceiling with me has been proven once again. Really nice songwriting and performance, but I just can't get myself into the music as much as I want to. Favorite track: Walk On
It's a shame his music isn't on Spotify anymore. Glad I'm able to enjoy his music else where. Kinda gives me wild west vibes which is really calming
3-4
why Neil Young's songs aren't on spoti and i can't add this songs to my playlist?
Prettig wegluisterende Americana (of is het singersongwritermuziek? Canadiana?), met de vertrouwde elementen van gitaar, mondharmonica, raspstem en diepzinnige teksten waar ik vergeet naar te luisteren. Ik kon hem probleemloos een paar keer draaien, zonder verder een idee te krijgen van de eigenlijke betekenis.
Aan het begin deins ik een beetje mee en waardeer ik de manier van zingen. Iets later erger ik mij aan wat valse zang (dieptepunt: de tweestemmige uithaal in For the Turnstiles). En aan het eind raak ik er zelfs depressief van.
Ik kan altijd wel genieten van Ome Neil. Ik heb ook wel eens op de Neil Young archives rondgestruind: heerlijk scrollen door de tijdslijn en allerlei bonusmateriaal beluisteren. En dat terwijl ik mezelf niet eens als een groot fan beschouw, in de zin dat ik het dagelijks luister. Maar eens in de zoveel tijd zet ik wel een album van hem op. En ik heb het idee dat ik nog lang niet alles ken, zo uitgebreid is zijn oeuvre. Dit album komt uit de 70s en dat vind ik misschien wel zijn beste periode. Het haalt niet het niveau van een album als Harvest, maar het is superrelaxt, een soort folky bluesrock. Ik zet dit met groot plezier op 's ochtends op het werk. 4+ sterretjes, maar omdat ik weet dat er nog beter is, haalt het net geen 5 sterren.
This is a really strong album start to finish. It's sad and mostly slow folk/rock music, but still manages to be unique and interesting. The only thing holding it back for me is a lack of standout great songs. Lots of really good songs though and I'm excited to listen to more of his music. (Note: Neil Young removed all of his music from Spotify, so have to listen to this on Youtube). Favorite song: For the Turnstiles Others: Walk On, See the Sky About To Rain, On the Beach, Motion Pictures (for Carrie), Ambulance Blues
Couldn't find it on Spotify🤷🏻♀️
just can't stand this guys voice.
On The Beach surprised me. I think Ambulance Blues is my new favourite Neil Young track! There was a lot of 'heart on his sleeve' stuff in this record, the musicianship was a bit on the sloppy side but in a real and expressive way. I think this is a really good record and a bit of a sleeper. I know a bit of Neil Young's catalog but had literally never heard of this album or any of the songs on it.
Surprisingly great album!
How did this talentless hack fraud become famous?
yay, another offering from Neil Young. that said, this is comfortably the best one we've had. I'd actually go as far as to say i enjoyed it.
Neil Young once told me that a man can eat all the pussy he wants, but at the end of the day, it's the pussy the man came out of that really matters. That struck a chord with me and it's why I started regularly going down on my own mother. She's been dead 14 years and still tastes wonderful.
Old Neil
So many 5s around.... but I found it dull.
Neil young is one of my staple favourite singer-songwriters! And on the beach always hits home, there’s just so much beauty on this record. The guitar melodies, the vocals, harmonica. At first this record may seem somewhat simplistic, but multiple listenings will reveal it’s true beauty! 9 out of 10
Hoe meer platen ik van Neil Young hoor, hoe meer ik me realiseer dat 't eigenlijk soms een wauwelende straatmuzikant is die ik totaal zou negeren. Hoewel sommige nummers dan wel weer net goed vallen...
Toffe plaat!
My first Neil Young album. I liked it but I was not “wowed” by it? I’m reading that this is his melancholy album, so I want to check out the lyrics or re-listen on a gloomy day :)
The follow-up to Harvest is a brooding meditation on alienation, anger, and despair. The album cover seems to indicate that there is something unsettled in Neil Young at this time. The music itself is fantastic folk rock that really takes its time to build a mood and story. I need to listen to this album again before I really give it my rating, but after an initial listen, I’ll give it a four.
Second Neil Young album on my list, much preferred that to Harvest. It's a shame it's not on Spotify as I'll never listen to it again if so, can't even give it a second/third listen to pick up which were my favourite tracks as I've had enough with an ad-riddled YouTube sesh. Enjoyable though, first half was better I think, 3.5*
Love Neil Young. Always liked the folky throwback on For The Turnstiles. Not his strongest work but still good.
2.5
One of my favorite albums of all time. Like Tonight's the Night, On the Beach showcases Neil's disillusioned with the hippie movement he was part of, and expresses a more cynical outlook, while also becoming more introspective on tracks like Motion Pictures and Ambulance Blues. It's an all-time classic in my eyes.
On the Beach was largely unavailable (through legal means) for over 20 years, and that’s a damn shame-it just may be the best entry of the Ditch Trilogy. Though Young still grapples with feelings of alienation and depression, tracks like Walk On indicate that he knows better times are just over the horizon.
An excellent album. One of Neil's best work.
neil young thinks he can pull a fast one on me! i've gotten a handful of young albums so far: solo, csny, and him with crazy horse. i still wouldn't call myself a neil young fan, but thank goodness we have an album of his that was a nice listen. but did neil young think that i wouldn't realize on the beach is a pleasant listen?! where has this neil young been! on this album, young uses folk rock not in a brash way but in more of an easy listening way. his harmonica is not grating. it's a mellow kind of album, which makes sense when he dipped his toe into the blues. i might not be a huge fan of his vocals but i can tolerate it well enough. "vampire blues" is a cute, tongue-in-cheek song, which is an unfamiliar feeling (for me) with neil young. i enjoyed his lyrics here in general. but "motion pictures" was the one, however simple it might appear, was crafted to be simple but grabbing. "see the sky about to rain" was not about actual nature, but rather life's ups and downs for everybody, especially anticipating a negative event. "walk on" must be the most personal song of the album. "i remember the good old days/[...]/but we still did the best we could."
Either this project is breaking me down with the excessive amount of Neil Young, or I actually liked this one. At the very least, this is probably the Neil Young album I have liked most out of what I have received thus far (this is the fourth). This album had some folk aspects, but definitely seemed to implement a lot more psychedelic and rock aspects than I remember hearing from previous albums of his. Either way, the folk rock presence on this album was somehow less grating. Another thing that resonated with me from this album was the darker vibe of the music, obviously a result of this being part of Neil's "Ditch Trilogy". Again, this album somehow resonated more than the other Neil Young entry on this project from the "Ditch Trilogy". I liked "Walk On" enough to want to listen to it multiple times. And for some reason, "Vampire Blues" really stuck with me as well. For me, any level of sticking hasn't happened with Young since "Cinnamon Girl" and "Everybody Knows This is Nowhere". Again, I can't quite put a finger on it, but I liked this Neil Young album more than the others I have heard so far. Leave it to me to me drawn not only to a darker album on the "Ditch Trilogy", but also the album from Young's discography with notoriety for being a lost album and cult favorite. In any case, on a project that is going to force me to listen to a LOT of Neil Young, I'll consider liking this album at all to be a win.
The best Neil Young I have heard to date, only a few songs where his voice was over whiney.
Tasalaatuinen - vai tasapaksu? Meni massana toisesta korvasta sisään, toisesta ulos. Keveitä lauluja, jotka tosin ainakin antavat kuvan, että ovat syvempiä. Vaikea arvioida, kaks tähteä tuntuu vähältä.
Ei tämä PAHALTA kuulosta. Mutta mikä ihmeen kehu se sellainen olisi? Totuus on, että kysymyksessä on Youngin yliarvostetuin levy, jonka nytkin kuuntelin loppuun vain lojaaliudesta artistia itseään kohtaan. Mitä tulisi ajatella, kun yksi historian parhaista koukkujen ja melodioiden säveltäjistä tyytyy puhtaaseen tunnelmointiin?
Wasn't into it at first but it grew on me as I went along. It's an interesting album, at times it's almost like psychedelic country music which is something I can get behind. Not the biggest fan of Neils voice but it is quite soothing at times. Favourite song: Vampire Blues.
Good folk album. Not much I could really get into. 3/5
It got a little boring, but it was pleasant enough. I was hoping to like it a little more. Oh well. I liked the overall tone of the album, but a lot of the songs didn't grab my attention. My favourite song was Revolution Blues.
Not in in your face great album but definitely one that you could sit with for a while and it would grow on you. Starts off with a jam and I was thinking it would be a pretty lively album but it moved into a somber and desolate album about isolation due to the fake fulfillment of fame and loss of youth. Revolution blues is a really interesting one and almost feels like he’s siding with manson’s viewpoint due to his hatred of Hollywood’s general bullshit and lack of substance. I also love the last two songs touching on some of his own personal loneliness with the imagery of sitting in front of your tv with nothing good to do and the recounting of his old 60s folk scene days in ambulance blues. Motion pictures has so many good lines and sums up the vibe of the album really well: having everything you think people would dream of like fame, fortune, and a fancy tv but all you feel is isolated. 👍:motion pictures, ambulance blues, walk on Also, I saw Tim’s guess for my guess already but he would’ve been right I was gonna go around 8-10 range.
Oh brother…a late night listen bc I don’t want a DN. Honestly not too bummed abt this not being in spotify…it’s mid. I’m not into folk and blues so this sound is just lost on me, some of the lyrics are cool I guess but some just make me cringe. On the beach is cool tho. A comment on the YouTube video for “vampire baby”: “ADRENACHROME...a vampire right in your face....I hope i'm wrong...so long hollywood don't let the door hit you on your way out to bad so sad for mr young”
A somber and folky singer:songwriter album. If you didn’t know already, that’s about as right up my alley as it gets. I liked it when I listened to it this morning but I knew it was one of those albums that was more suited for night listening. As expected, it hit different layer on. I don’t really know much about the public opinion of Neil young but I would assume his unique voice can be somewhat polarizing. I personally, am a big fan. Also pretty cool backstory with this one: for a long time it was pretty much was an album of legend because it didn’t sell well and wasn’t re-released. So, for the most part, it was one that people only heard about. Only an exclusive few were able to listen to let alone own. Eventually was remastered in 2003 and, 30 years after release, able to be heard by the masses for the first time. Obviously now it’s pretty acclaimed and the rest is history. Super laid back and mellow listen. This album obviously has a pretty depressing tone. That can make an album pretty hit or miss though, the ones that do it well are able to portray it without having to say “Look at me, I’m sad”. I think Neil young does a great job of that here. Many of the songs were clearly shaped by the political and social climate at the time, and given that its neil young, no surprise there. Revolution blues is all about Charles Manson which was kinda cool, also has a great baseline. Very cohesive and consistent. Back half was a bit stronger for me and contained my favorite tracks. Overall it’s not my favorite Neil Young, but it was a very enjoyable listen for me. This could definitely move up to a 5 for me with more listens but that won’t be happening due to the accessibility issues. So dumb. Best: motion pictures, ambulance blues, for the turnstiles MMM: 🎶Ooh baby, that's hard to change. I can't tell them how to feel Some get stoned, some get strange Sooner or later, it all gets real Walk on, walk on Walk on, walk on🎶 PS: I know I’m not the resident album cover guy but this one is dope 10/10. Guess for peders rating: 10/10 Guess for Tom’s guess of peders rating: 9/10
Perfect starter. If all songs can be so nice. It will be 5. Can be leastened sometimes.
Bonito. Pero no es mi favorito. See the Sky About to Rain se parece a una de Neil Young.
The light at the end of the tunnel after the long hangover of the sixties left friends and loved ones dead from drugs and drinking, this is Neil at his most optimistic. But that doesn’t mean it’s without a touch of darkness and doubt, creaky guitars and anti-solos sowing seeds of discord. By the end it’s as it should be: just him and a guitar, walking on.
Neil Young is a talented writer. IMHO
Hey Jim, if you want Neil Old back on Spotify maybe you should stop supporting Joe Rogan spreading misinformation!
a solid neil old album. still i hate this guy for not being on spotify
Jedan od najboljih starih neilova
Return of the guy who thought he was more popular than joe Rogan in the year of our lord 2022
забыла про биф Нила со спотифаем. вроде хороший)
I really loved this one. Very mellow and an easy listen.
Well I can’t say that album justifies its place on the list, but it was certainly entertaining. He has some really nice songs in there, just not very original or inspiring or having range. 3/5
I am following consensus here and this is one of my top 5 NY albums, together with Harvest, After the Gold Rush, Tonight's the Night and Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere. Some notes: - I might like the straightforwarded but up-tempo cover of On The Beach by the Walkabouts a bit more. - Ambulance Blues is one of the best songs Neil Young has ever written.
Very enjoyable album overall, but no killer songs that give Harvest and Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere their fifth star.
I like the raw and subdued style of this album. The songs really grabbed me, and the first 5* for Neil Young is inevitable.
Maybe my favorite Neil Young album so far? This really does feel like sitting on the beach. Neil Young works best when he goes for simplicity like this - uncomplicated songs that come from a man simply making music for himself. Standouts are the title track and Walk On.
Didn't expect to like it
It's fine. I like Neil Young, but not nearly as much as whoever put this list together. I guess it's a 4? It's pretty good but doesn't feel like some all timer
4.5 stars. Incredible. Much more to Neil Young than meets the eye.
Ekki hans besta verk, en alveg ágætt þó.
Super solid album. I loved Revolution Blues.
I have to listen to this with an open mind. I'm not a fan of Neil Young's vocals, but I thinks there's supposed to be something to the lyrics so I'll be fair in listening to them. Walk On - I like the music, lyrics average, vocals what I expected. 6/10 See the Sky About to Rain - Music average, lyrics average, vocals a bit better. 5/10 Revolution Blues - The music is average with a few high points in the instrumental sections. Lyrics are pretty good, but I don't think I'm getting the intended message. Vocals are ok. 6/10 For the Turnstiles - Starts with a bluegrass sound, lyrics ok, vocals ok. 4/10 Vampire Blues - Starts with an actual blues sound - pretty good, lyrics directed at the oil industry - still an issue today, so I'm getting into this one. Vocals have a more blues-y sound. 8/10 On the Beach - Music is mellow and very pleasant. Lyrics are meaningful and feel the emotions. The vocals are very fitting with the music and tone of the song. Best part of the song is the blues-driven solo. Overall sound is the best I've heard so far. 9/10 Motion Pictures - Nice sound, lyrics ok, vocals ok. 6/10 Ambulance Blues - music is very nice; lyrics appear to have significant meaning, some are clear while others are vague; vocals are nice, I think they are growing on me so that's something. 7/10 The album starts kinda meh. As it progresses, it feels more meaningful. I may listen to a couple of these again, but I don't feel particularly inspired by the album as a whole.
It hits too real
Joe Rogan somehow means I can’t listen
Not particularly interesting
I liked this record a decent amount. I like Neil’s voice even though not every song clicked with me. Want to check out more of his work. AM came in clutch since it wasn’t on Spotify.
J'ai bien aimé le côté un peu plus rock de cet album de Neil Young, je m'y trouve à l'aise comme dans une chambre douillette
Argh. Same as Harvest. Unavailable.
I thought I would Neil Young but his voice grates after a while. Highlight on this album is For the Turnstiles for me for the laid back folky arrangement.
eu não aguento mais receber albums do neil young, ele é bom mas eu tenho que usar youtube toda vez. eu gosto muito do estilo de guitarra dele e das letras. a voz dele por um tempo me irritou por ser muito suave, mas nesse album ela parece mais amadurecida. em musicas como revolution blues da pra ver o lado rock mesmo dele, porque o resto de folk cansa as vezes, por mais que lindo. on the beach tem um solo de guitarra muito incrivel. eu sou mais fã das musicas longas nesse album, elas tem letras mais profundas e um instrumental que progredi e volta durante a musica. ate agora é meu favorito do neil young.
Neil Young is Neil Young, just a solid record.
Heard lots of his albums but not this one. If others are a guide this will be great.
Great listen, would definitely return to the album in the future. 4/10
Fav Tracks: “Walk On,” “Revolution Blues,” “On the Beach,” “Motion Pictures,” “Ambulance Blues.” Least Fav Track: "Vampire Blues." 4.5/5
Good
Could not listen. Not on Spotify. But seeing that it's Neil Young I'll have to give it 2 stars.
I really liked Vampire Blues!! I liked the album a ton! Would listen to again:) thanks Neil Young!
Fabulous album! Start to finish.
Zondagochtend-uit-het-raam-tuur-muziek. Iets van thee erbij. Gewoon English blend, geen gekke smaakjes. Niks mis mee, aangenaam. 3.5
Another Neil Young album, that sounds like Neil Young. While the lyrics might be foreboding and desolate and despairing, the music itself is easy to listen to in his inimitable style. Again though, it isn't enough to really have me coming back for me. When it came to rating this as an album you must hear before you die, I feel as though this one is more one to listen to in order to make you feel depressed. It's fine, but not one I'd have been disappointed with if I had never heard it either.
Similar to Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde - I could easily forget that I listened to this album. It's fine in the background, nothing special.
I suppose it's okay, but I'm really starting to lose my patience for American men with harmonica.
Nice, chill music. Bass gives those songs really good vibe.
I started this whole 1001 albums thing with Nick Drake who I've never heard of before. At least I've heard of Neil Young but this is kinda similar singer-songwriter folk rock stuff at first. Definitely better though, it quickly turns more bluesy and just generally exciting. Except for the 9 minutes long closing track. That was totally uncalled for. Okay, just kidding, it wasn't bad just too long for my taste. Songs I Already Knew: None Songs I Really Liked: Walk On, See the Sky About to Rain, Revolution Blues, On the Beach
not my favourite neil young album but still a great listen regardless, title track is probably my favourite
Neil Young's "On the Beach" is a masterpiece that defies easy categorization. Released in 1974, it's an album that showcases Young's willingness to experiment and push boundaries while still staying true to his roots. From the haunting opener "Walk On" to the melancholic closer "Ambulance Blues," the album is a journey through Young's unique musical landscape. The standout track "Revolution Blues" is a searing commentary on the political climate of the time, while "Vampire Blues" is a dark and brooding meditation on the excesses of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle. But it's not just the lyrics that make "On the Beach" so special. The music itself is a blend of genres, incorporating elements of folk, country, and even jazz. Young's guitar work is at its best here, with each note ringing out with emotion and power. Overall, "On the Beach" is an album that rewards careful listening and reveals new depths with each play. It's a must-listen for any serious music fan and a testament to Neil Young's enduring talent as a songwriter and musician.
My mom loves Crosby, Stills, and Nash and not really the addition of Young so I don't really know a lot about his music. I think my favorite song was Revolution Blues, there was just something about the instrumental that I really liked. I feel like Neil Young is a pretty good singer, I don't love his style but it's obvious there's some kind of talent there whether it's natural or learned. I also really enjoyed Vampire Blues, just the second I heard the guitar intro I was into it.
10 Albums You Actually Need to Hear Before You Die Chapter 2: Neil Young - “On the Beach” Getting this record recommend to me and being able to push a button and listen to it is nothing short of a miracle in my mind. I was a Neil Young fan for over a decade before I was even able to listen to this record. It was so out of print from the 80’s until the early aughts that unless you could find a vinyl copy or a bootleg cd recorded from vinyl, you were out of luck. On the Beach, at that point, had obtained a mythical status, “the greatest Neil Young album”, a “lost masterpiece”. When it was first released on CD in 2003, and I finally got to hear it, it lived up to the hype and then some. It is easily my favorite Neil Young record, a definite candidate for his best album and one of the five best records of the 1970’s. Every song on “On the Beach” is a Neil Young classic. “Walk On” kicks things off with an upbeat (by comparison to the rest of the record) southern rock feeling. The stunning, Wurlitzer driven second track, “See the Sky About to Rain” is one of Young’s most beautiful tunes, a mournful yet psychedelic exercise. Aided by Honey Slides, an edible, highly potent, marijuana/honey amalgamation created by Neil and his band, Neil turns in one of the greatest psychedelic songs in his entire catalog on “See the Sky about to Rain”. Rick Danko and Levon Helm of The Band (along with more honey slides) provide a thundering rhythm section on “Revolution Blues”, a noisy rock stomper about the Manson murders. “Well, I hear that Laurel Canyon is full of famous stars, but I hate them worse than lepers and I’ll kill them in their cars,” Young sings before launching into the second of two blistering guitar solos in the song. Young is at his most aggressive, maybe ever, on Revolution Blues. It’s a track that seethes with white-hot hostility. Even if David Crosby guests on rhythm guitar, Revolution Blues couldn’t be further from the pacifist hippy mentality that CSNY, Young’s side hustle, would typically traffic in. Revolution Blues is a goddamn masterpiece and what I wouldn’t give for a full album the band that recorded it: Young on Lead guitar and vocals, David Crosby on rhythm guitar, Ben Kieth on Wurlitzer, Danko on Bass and Levon on drums…now *that’s* a supergroup. We’ll call them Neil Young and the Honey Slides. I fucking love that song. “For the Turnstiles”, a plucky banjo and dobro duet between Young and Ben Keith, calms the storm a bit, if only temporarily, as “Vampire Blues” (the only one of three songs with “Blues” in the title that actually resembles the blues) lumbers in. It’s a disillusioned meditation on the state of the world in in 1974: a dire warning about our reliance on fossil fuels spurred on by the gas crisis and poor economy…”Good times are coming, but they’re sure coming slow” - if you can’t relate to that in 2023, it’s time to pull your head out of the sand. Neil Young’s world was falling apart in 1973-74, with friends dying of heroin overdoses, a relationship on the rocks and he could see the end coming. “The world is turning, I hope it doesn’t turn away,” he sings on the title track, a slow burning, introspective rumination on fame and his current state of affairs. “Motion Pictures” mines similar territory: Young’s disenchantment with fame and (possibly) his relationship with actress Carrie Snodgress. Sometimes it’s all futile, you can try your best to stop the world from turning, but you just can’t stop the tide: “…there ain’t nothing like a friend who can tell you you’re just pissing in the wind”. We all need that friend who can tell us when we’re wasting our time and energy, and here, on “Ambulance Blues”, Neil Young seems to be acting as that friend not only to himself, but also to the listener. “On the Beach” is the highest of several high watermarks in Young’s impressive 1970’s output: a raw, introspective and often bleak record; a record that is completely authentic and doesn’t hold anything back. It’s a masterpiece from start to finish and is unequivocally my favorite album of all time. If it’s not yours, that’s cool…but it really should be. [Postscript: I just finished watching the season finale of Poker Face, the excellent Natasha Lyonne whodunnit, and what song played at the end of the episode? “Walk On”. The matrix is real, everything is connected, we live in a simulation…What are the odds of that? I spend all day listening to and reviewing On the Beach and the only television show I tune into today ends with an song from On the Beach? Are you fucking kidding me? Holy fuck, unbelievable. Look at the date stamp on my review, then Google the airdate for S1E10 of Poker Face…I’m going to start a religion, The Church of the Honey Slides. We meet on Sundays, imbibe of the holy honey slides and crank Time Fades Away, On the Beach, Tonight’s the Night and Zuma. Long Live Neil Young.]
Wasn't available on spotify
Kinda jangly folk rock
When this lp came out I realized there was more to Neil than Harvest. An album of reality, harsh at times, and musically beautiful
I like Neil Young in small doses apparently. Like the banana taffy of musicians, it's good but nobody wants to chew on 8 pieces at once. Song hilights: Rebel Blues and On the Beach.
Great Album, I liked all the songs! I was a teenager when Neil Young started playing, I learned most of the songs on Harvest on my guitar, this is great music, that I had never heard!
Yawn… Oh hi there. Sorry, I just can’t seem to stay awake today. I have had many friends try to turn me on to Neil Young. My hippy friends love him. My indy rock friends love him. Even some metalheads love this Canadian weirdo. He must be great and I am dumb. I had never heard of this album. To be fair, I haven’t heard many of his records. He REALLY likes to make music. That is one reason I feel a bit bummed out that his music doesn’t do anything for me. Maybe it is his voice that puts me off. Musically, he makes really solid art. I don’t know what to say. It is boring and hard to listen to. Since I am committed to picking a favorite track on every album… Ugg. I guess it is Vampire Blues. I like satire. 2 out of 5 stars
Some nice chill tunes, but overall it doesn't excite me much.
Oh jeez, sorry Neil but I can't listen because you had your music removed from Spotify! So here's a 1/5 just because I think you're an annoying piece of shit.
Ger känslan av en dag på stranden, konstigt nog. Ett riktigt feelgood album, synd att man är en känslokall individ med ett hjärta av sten. Favorit: Motion pictures 7/10 Overall: 6/10 - inte riktigt min stil
There are a couple of alright moments, but mostly pretty dull.
Classic Neil!
Hadn't listened to this before. Started off thinking I wouldn't give it 5/5 but the last track really brought it all together.
Love a bit of Neil
Not my favourite Neil album but still pretty solid. The first couple of songs are great but I do find For the Turnstiles a bit whiney and the second half meanders a bit
3.5
The album was nice but nothing really blew me away. Good easy listening. Four stars.
Own on Vinyl
Lyrically really good but not musically inspiring. Great story telling in vampire blues. No bad songs and definitely re listenable.
Despite him being a pretentious pratt who was smacked out on drugs most of his life, I quite enjoy the sound of Neil Young and his tends toward acoustic arrangements, a lot of which are engrained in my DNA from a childhood of listening to Neil, The Doors, Bowie, Paul Wellar and David Sylvian. Not my favourite album of his, much prefer Harvest or After the Gold Rush. This album wanderingly drifts along in different directions a little bit more than Neil's usual trademark style, to the point where I found a couple of the tracks just plain boring and did hit the skip button halfway through. It's still a good middle of the road album.
Nice album, love Revolution Blues especially.
Wasn’t expecting something quite so melancholy but still very much enjoyed and continue to hear the influence on generations of americana singer songwriters
Yes Neil is holding his breath and not letting us listen in Spotify. YouTube thanks you for the ad revenue.
Dull
Pretty darn good.
I had to be a broken record, but again, this is just a typical Neil Young Album. No idea why it's on the list.
First time listening. I will say that both "Walk On" and "See the Sky About to Rain" are neat tracks. However, for my enjoyment's sake, it was downhill from there. Well...maybe except for "Ambulance Blues." My biggest gripe here is that I wish Neil was more varied and that he would change the blues vibe in at least a few songs. I get that this is a supposed all timer of 70s singer/songwriter musicianship. Ultimately, you're not going to convince me to become a Neil Young fan with this album.
какой-то никакой альбом. слушаешь и внутри не происходит абсолютно ничего. местами есть интересные моменты в гитарных соло. отдельно отмечу трек On the Beach, он и сам по себе поинтереснее звучит (хоть и жутко затянут), и соляки там отличные, несколько раз переслушал технически (кроме стерео старого) докопаться сложно, но эмоций не вызвало, поэтому 2
While it's possible there is an excessive amount of Neil Young on the list, I didn't mind this album. The plonking bass and ragged guitar sits well with his plaintive voice
Че с записью вокала? Почему взрывные гласные так странно сжаты (как будто жутко клиповали))) Какое-то окончание лета накатывает. В целом норм, но я как-то не понял до конца все величие этого альбома . Сейчас есть ассоциация что нил Янг - Боб дилан с электрогитарой)
Эх, Нил Янг, почему же ты воюешь со Spotify, я не хочу покупать ютуб музыку, чтобы слушать твои альбомы в дороге, бебебе. Не знаю, мне чет не понравилось. Голос у него какой-то противный... песни может и гениальные, но мне прям тяжело было слушать альбом. Может, потому что я делал это в 11 вечера, может, потому что я уставший.
Ушкам приятно, к солнышку саундтрек шикарный
I normally don’t like Neil Young but this album is pretty good, I actually enjoyed Vampire Blues enough to add to my music
Come on Neil, get back on Spotify !
I wanted to like this. Opened well, but 'For the Turnstiles' broke me, awful voice. I really don't know what I would have listened to in the late 60's/early 70's. All this country tinged folk with horrible singers.
gotta spend more time with Uncle Neil, he's great
I think he'd been listening to a lot of Dylan when he did this.
surf's down
I knew you all would come around :)
Alright let’s cut to the chase. The music deserves a 5. Neil Young’s voice deserves a 1. We settle at a 3. Happy?
I already know this is gonna be a 3. I don't think it's gonna be something I'll remember, but the instrumentals will be solid and I'm not a flagrant hater of Neil Young's voice like some people (it's max brodsky, the people I am talking about is actually one man and that man is max brodsky, he currently resides on cranberry lane and has somehow roped 3-4 individuals into a 3 year commitment of album listening and we can't escape, if you're reading this, send help. The 3-4 of us have become appreciators of each others' wit and music taste but we can't escape, we can never escape, oh god he's coming, I can already see the texts I'll receive, oh god what have I done. Have mercy on my soul.) it was a 3 I was right (I enjoy being a part of this album review process and was not forced to say this at gunpoint while my future wife is being made to watch a neil young biopic)
If Neil Young started his career in today’s world, he would be the SoundCloud rapper from your high school that everyone makes fun of. His voice is akin to a poorly-circumcised cat. I genuinely think I have a better singing voice than him, and that’s saying something. It pains me to give this a 3, but I gotta be impartial here and it’s pretty good musically. It’s a bottom of the barrel 3, but a 3 nonetheless. Also, I finally met the legendary Woofmeow and it was my greatest achievement as a reviewer. All I can do is try to inspire the next generation like she does.
This album almost rose above the bad will I have toward it since it isn't on Spotify and I have to use YouTube but at the end of the day it was some good but not super memorable folk music. Not quite enough to get above the average 3 for a non-Spotify album
Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: Yeah, it’s really raw yet so delicate and smooth, beautiful across across the board but slows a down a bit quicker than I would have liked, still great though Favourite song: Track 5 - Vampire Blues
Folksy. Would want to revisit again after learning guitar
Not my genre but liked a fair bit of it, best song revolution blues
Enjoyable all around good album
I think this was great, I would like to listen to this on a long drive at sunset
The follow-up album to the wildly successful “Harvest”, Neil Young clearly presents himself here as an alienated individual who didn’t know what to do with himself atop the pedestal
Apparently this is a little-known Neil Young album and one that is not rated by its creator. That is a shame because it is really rather good. I enjoyed the juxtaposition between the relaxed music and angry lyrics. Rating: 3/5 Playlist track: Vampire Blues Date listened: 03/02/23
Stoner heaven.
As far as Neil Young goes, this is good, consistent Neil. Every song on here is pretty good. Even the songs I didn't necessarily love were pretty good (I'm currently listening to 'For the Turnstiles'). I really enjoy ‘See the Sky About to Rain’ and ‘Vampire Blues’. They give a taste of a side of Neil that an album like Harvest does not. ‘On the Beach’ sounds exactly as the title says, with the narrator sharing his reflections with the sand and waves, before jumping to ‘Motion Picture’, taking me into some small, dark club for a live performance confessional. There is a lot of rock n’ roll on here to be enjoyed. With that, I can't say I find any of these songs extraordinary. If I were to make my own hypothetical top 20 favorite Neil Young songs, I don’t know if I would put any of these on there. This is the kind of album I would throw on at a dinner party or at the beach with friends (honestly just using as an example. I thought picnic after the fact). When you’re not paying attention to the lyrics, I think the average listener would enjoy the sound. It doesn’t have any automatic skips on it in the way that Harvest has two in my opinion. On the flip side, Harvest does not lack for hits. Based on this album being featured on the list, I’m putting together mental notes on what I think is some great Neil to come.
“[Harvest] put me in the middle of the road. Traveling there soon became a bore, so I headed for the ditch. A rougher ride but I saw more interesting people there." Admittedly, this is not Young’s best album, but it might just be my favorite. Certainly, it is my most-played. Fully eschewing the commercialism achieved on Harvest, this album might as well be by a different artist than that. But, while bleak, On the Beach is still a far cry from the utter heartbreak and desolation in low fidelity that Young and co. put to record for their follow up to this Tonight’s the Night too. That album (arguably his best) was actually laid down before On the Beach, which means OTB finds Young after having gotten such vivid grief, pessimism, and anger out of his system. It finds Young amongst the rubble and decay—the vast fallout of Harvest’s overwhelming spotlight and the loss of multiple loved ones to overdoses—sorting through the sand as the waves lap. Having grown up near a beach, these themes strike a resonant chord with me. Too often the beach is the subject of tourism, sun-shiny days, sports, beer, sex, and the like. Less often is the beach illustrated on those cloudier days, with rougher waves, silent and empty sands; those days that remind you very much of the surface of this planet, and your no-where place on it. Full of anger and isolation, Young hurtles pessimistic musings at oil companies, fame, 60s “revolutions,” and lost loved ones. However, the album starts on a high note with “Walk On,” and an expressed desire to keep on living. I said yesterday in my note on Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks that I almost fear to play that record on vinyl for fear of degrading the audio fidelity. I feel oppositely about On the Beach. Where Blood on the Tracks’, poetry and intimacy seems to belong to someone else—Dylan—On the Beach’s feels personal to me. Each scratch in the record holding a time, on a rainy day, when I sat and took the record to heart. It has scars for me. Reminders and advice as I go forward. Pretty cool that Levon Helm (The Band) played drums on two songs here. I never knew that. Plus Rick Danko (also The Band) plays bass on one. Of course Crosby (RIP) crops up and Nash too. I had also never heard of these "Honey Slides" Young and his colleagues were consuming throughout the recording—a homemade goop of sautéed marijuana and honey. Pretty groovy. The liner notes for this album are pretty f***ing cryptic. Rusty Kershaw, the “de facto producer” of the album, writes, “On Revolution Blues I turned into a python, then an alligator, I was crawling like one, making noises like one. Plus I was eating up the carpit [sic] and mike stands and such. And in the meanwhile I started to crawl up towards Neil; which is pretty spooky when you’re trying to sing…” He closes, “But what the hell I give you my word there is good music in this album.” Yes, Rusty. What the hell, indeed. A 5-star record to me. And my favorite by my favorite.
I liked it, I had a good time! I heard a vinyl rip of it, as Neil would have wanted. come to think of it, Neil probably doesn’t want me to hear a version of this album that isn’t direct vinyl. Nothing really stood out up re-visiting, but I’m open to putting it on again. His mix of melancholy is always home-y to me. It didn’t have the same effect on me as Harvest. But I had a good time!
I've never heard any songs off this album previously. Overall it was a good folk rock album.
"On the Beach" was the best song. The rest was a very easy listen, but nothing to get excited about.
Since most people use Spotify for this chart you have to be dedicated and turn to Youtube. It really was pretty mellow, low-key and offbeat in a 'NeilYoungsian' kinda way. Nice to chill to. Echoes of country, 70s organ and rock. Sad to say it deserves so much more recognition but it won't get it.
I won't lie, I rolled my eyes when I saw I got another Neil Young album. However, I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't make me want to pack my ear canals with cement. It was actually kind of nice and I didn't mind it.
Love
Really great album and a sort of emotional comedown from "Harvest." This record gets overshadowed a bit by Young's other work, but "See the Sky about to Rain" and "Walk On" are classics. I think this is an album you must hear, as it is a partner album in some ways to "Harvest."
This is probably my favourite album ever. The vibes, musicianship, lyrics, themes all just immaculate. Basking in the darkness of the anti hippie dream and the failed utopia. What an album
Oh so, this is one of the excellent Neil Young records. Upbeat, clean, perfectly produced, and most of the tracks here are bangers. Definitely one of my fave Neil Young albums. I realised with a career as diverse as Neil Young's, I will find records I really dislike and some I really love. This is one of the latter.
Both blues songs and motion pictures is such a vibe
This is lovely. The subtle country blues guitar behind Neil's playing is so tasteful, and the parts on this album where Neil's voice is exposed are magic. There's a lazy, Californian lilt to the whole album that draws you in. Motion Pictures is special
Kind of good, nothing amazing.
Again.. not on Spotify. Decided to listen on YT. Good album. So chill.
Neil Young took his records off of Spotify (for a perfectly good reason) and even though I think I have a copy of this squirrelled away somewhere (Yay, physical media!) I needed to check this out while at the gym and since I don't have a Disc Man these days I had to listen on YouTube with a Progressive Insurance commercial every couple of songs, just like God or Old Neil intended. Despite the commercials, this album is amazing. It doesn't contain any of Young's big radio hits, instead it's an album full of deep tracks that are all the real heads' faves. Neil Young at the top of his game, his best along with it's sister album Tonight's The Night.
Unsurprisingly, I really disliked this album. Unsurprising because it's Neil Young and he's one of, and possibly THE, most overrated artist on this list. Is this the best Neil Young album? I can't tell you. It sounds exactly like all the rest of the Neil Young albums on this list. It's just cardboard and cheap paint held together with bailing wire. The lyrics swing between privileged complaining and disingenuous preaching and Neil's signature whiney voice is grating from track one. It's pretty damn awful. But the production quality is truly top notch so it scrapes out a 2-star rating. Barely.
Nice melodies with a bunch kinda boring lyrics
Very average
Dobar album čika Neila. Jebiga, ne volim preko youtubea puštat cijele albume - pjesmu po pjesmu, ali sam u ovom slučaju morao. Vratit ću se na album još koji put do kraja godine.
Better than I expected. Not a huge fan of Neil Young, especially his voice. But there are some beautiful songs on there. 3,5/5
Nicht Bad aber nicht meins
Dark, brooding and, at times, haunted. One loves the weighty-seeming introspection, like a cold grey day on the beach. There's a resigned acceptance to the tone that sounds like it was freeing in some songs and quite edgy on others. This sense of culmination, and of the need to move on, paid off very nicely for the listener. 4
This fucker wants his music off Spotify and now I have to jump through hoops to try and find his old ass album? No thanks. Just like people who complain about piracy, if you make it difficult for people to find your content, they either won't or they will pirate. I can't even be bothered to pirate this guy. I don't pay for all these music services so you get a 1-star for being a tool.
Very good. Considering getting it on vinyl.
It’s fine.
Stream of consciousness notes: I don't know why but I really don't like Neil Young. It took me almost all day to finally sit down and listen. It's fine so far. None of his extremely annoying songs I already knew were on here so at least it was new to me. For the Turnstiles is physically painful to listen to. Neil's voice just really grates on me.
Not too shabby
I don't listen to this one as much as some of his other music, but it's freaking great, that's for sure. Definitely worthy of being on the list, I'll probably go back for another listen real soon. 😊
Actually great folk music. Fantastic story telling. Definitely saved.
This was really great 4/5
Amazing album, one of his best. particularly like Ambulance Blues and Motion Pictures
Fits well amongst Goldrush and Harvest. Good to hear Neil's sweet early 70s voice.
Harmonica really destroyed this for me
Caught perfectly between perky defiance and world-weary fatigue, "On the Beach" is a considerable level above "Tonight's the Night", the album Neil Young recorded beforehand and released afterward (and also the one I had generated for me just a couple of weeks ago). Recorded in the wake of "Harvest"'s success by a rapidly disillusioned and alienated Young, "On the Beach" is overcast with a growing wistfulness, which fills the second side's final three tracks as Young holds onto hope by a thread. The emotional crux might not be as strong as "Tonight's the Night", but the material Young draws from it feels stronger, more refined and focused. The opener "Walk On" is a strange outlier: one of the most misleading opening tracks I've ever heard. A buoyant guitar line, full-bodied arrangement with lyrics that at first glance seem optimistic and carefree. "Some get stoned, some get strange, sooner or later it all gets real; walk on." I came to view this as a little more nihilistic in the context of the album: everything's falling apart, nothing's what it was, but don't turn around to watch the memories burn. Later, the beach becomes overcast in "See the Sky About to Rain", boasting a slide guitar solo which fits perfectly alongside the electric piano and fragile vocal. The atmosphere at the end, featuring Young's wordless vocal line, is blissful, bittersweet melancholia. "Revolution Blues" is perfectly placed, upping the ante with some serious edge: jagged guitar solos, an "anything-goes" performance drenched in reverb and crunchy distortion. The confession at the end- "I hear that Laurel Canyon is full of famous stars, but I hate them worse than lepers and I'll kill them in their cars"- is a bit of a shock, but it's also one of the most badass statements to come out of music pre gangsta-rap. If there are any songs resembling throwaways here to drag the score down, it's "For the Turnstiles" and "Vampire Blues". The former is some out-of-the-box country-style jamming with a casual, unfussy banjo accompaniment and sounds a bit like a outtake, while the latter is a tired 12-bar blues with a baffling one-note guitar solo. Completing a triptych of "Blues" named songs alongside "Revolution" and "Vampire" is "Ambulance". Almost every song on "On the Beach" is a winner, but this final track would probably win the accolade of my all-time favourite by Young (across the four albums I've heard- admittedly a fraction of his discography). It brings a satisfying level of acoustic folk from Young's previous albums, with a melodic guitar accompaniment I could listen to forever. (Incidentally, I found out Young ripped this from Bert Jansch's "Needle of Death", which I was given recently on the generator… canonised music is a small world.) It's a gorgeous song, overflowing with yearning, nostalgia, and lyrical gems like the below: "An ambulance can only go so fast; it's easy to get buried in the past; when you try to make a good thing last…" Incredible stuff.
After reading the reviews I’m really glad that I know zero Neil Young lore so I could just enjoy this one. Which I did!
Not on Spotify
Marvellous.
Not as inspiring or unique work from Neil as his other releases. The slow tempos and dragged our songs become a bit dull and lifeless by the end of the listen.
Neil is always good for a good album. This one though is just good, it doesn't provide enough to warrant a 5 star rating
I think this is the third Neil Young album that I've gotten. I admire his talents as a singer/songwriter even if I'm not a particular fan of the sound of his voice. A legend!
"On the Beach" is the fifth studio album by Neil Young and right in the midst of an incredible string of albums from the late 60's to late 70's. It was the second album in his ditch trilogy (also including "Times Fades Away" and "Tonight's the Night") and inspired by feelings of retreat and melancholy from the success of his "Harvest" album. I'd say; there might be one positive song. It was recorded looser and more haphazardly than previous albums using a variety of sessions musicians including The Band's Rich Danko and Levon Helm, Stephen Stills and David Crosby....a more raw sound he wanted. Initially, Young wanted sides one and two swapped but stayed with current format. Also, of note, the album was available only on cassette and 8-Track from the early 80's up until 2003. The album begins with maybe the only happy sounding song in "Walk On," more in the standard rock sound category. An interesting guitar solo which sounds like it's in a minor key. Young sees the damage done to the earth, wars and being criticized but you need to keep moving on. I know this is the only song from this album that I've actually heard on the radio. Young sets the tone of "Revolution Blues" with an aggressive guitar. Danko and Helm in the rhythm section. Supposedly inspired by Charles Manson and perhaps told from his perspective. He goes after the Laurel Canyon Rich and Famous, Hollywood stars and his critics. I like angry Neil at times and this is my favorite song on the album. Side two which was supposed to be side one is the strength of this album. Young goes "Cowgirl in the Sand" in "On the Beach." Slow, grinding pace. Stark. Two guitar solos. The theme being the downside of fame; he's reached his pinnacle but it doesn't feel good. "Though my problems are meaningless, that doesn't make them go away." The last and longest song "Ambulace Blues" was unkowingly inspired by Bert Jansch's acoustic guitar playing in "Needle of Death." This song starts kind of in a country -way with the acoustic guitar. Add the harmonica and slide guitar. Young's very low voice tone. Far and away, the the most lyrical verses telling stories of things, events and people where things did not go too well including his criticism, Richard Nixon and CSNY. But, hey all things come to pass. This album is stark but I can't even say it's the most stark album Young has??? Every Neil Young album in this 70's time frame is worth a listen including this one. A high recommendation.
Preferred the songs at the start of the album than the ones at the end
I liked this more than many of Neil Young’s classic rock warbles and a whole lot more than any of his Crazy Horse work. A touch of youth angst looks good on him.
little slow, but the kinda album that would grow on me with time. Admittedly better than Harvest Moon, which has been my favorite Young project to date. First song is a slapper. Annoyed I can't add any of these on Spotify ugh
I love this album. The honesty and sadness in the bluesy title track is a particular stand out.
p331. 1974. 3.5 stars. Classic early 70s singer songwriter fodder. Not his best, but still worth a listen.
solid Neil Young album. don't get to enjoy it as much anymore since he took them all off spotify! thanks neil!
Thanks Neil. Some more solid work.
Never heard this album, it was a really good one with some classic Neil hallmarks.
fast and enjoyable.
Not on Spotify
Couldn't hear it because it
Monotonous and dull. Could have been my mood but nevertheless, not an album I will be revisiting. 2*
Fine. Standard Neil Young stuff really. Enjoyable for a while and then gets a bit samey/grating.
I’m so glad Neil Young isn’t on Spotify because this is now the fourth Neil Young album that this list has generated for me and I do not want him showing up in my Spotify Wrapped as my most listened to artist of the year because he’s trash and I think the only reason that four of his albums could possibly be on this list is simply that the creator of 1001 Albums has a huge crush on him. Should I be expecting more Neil Young in the future? If so, I’m going to need at least 3-5 days notice to prepare my ear holes.
Again, overhyped
ok
I did say I needed to listen to more Neil Young after getting another of his albums a few days ago. Again this is a beautiful album. More of the same but different enough to warm my interest. I feel like I should be laying back and relaxing as these stories unfolded
Track 1: Walk On Track 2: See the Sky About To Rain Track 3: Revolution Blues Track 4: For the Turnstiles Track 5: Vampire Blues Track 6: On the Beach Track 7: Motion Picture (For Carrie) *Track 8: Ambulance Blues
So so good. I love the on-the-edge, could-fall-apart-at-any-minute vibe of this era of his music
I felt a little bit annoyed this morning when I saw this as my album. I thought to myself "they already have Harvest on the list and that's the best Neil gets, why do we need more?" But then I started listening and I think I actually like On The Beach better than Harvest! It might be that I'm listening with a more mature ear, or the songs on Harvest have become a bit overplayed for me, but this has been a pleasant surprise. That Neil Young, he's a sly one. A talented songwriter, never to be underestimated or discredited for his impressive artistry. I was unfairly annoyed and I take it all back. This album deserves to be on the list, it's such a treasure. And I love this album artwork! It's fun, but weirdly maudlin too. It pairs perfectly with the songs you get on this one. Great Monday vibes, really enjoyable listening through and through, a perfect work of art. I will say that Neil is probably still a bit too overrepresented on this list where Canada is concerned, we do have so many other great artists that deserve to be showcased too. But, that's UK ears for you, not as open as I'd like them to be...
Very solemn and awesome album.