Reviews (page 2 of 13)
Great fucking album. The Crazy Horse guitar play should make you happy not sad.
My favorite Neil album. From paranoid, to melancholic, to heartbroken, he's really laying it all out there. I don't know why, but For The Turnstiles has been one of my favorite songs for a long time. There's something about the simplicity of the melody paired with the lyrical poetry that really draws a strong emotion out of me. Same with Motion Picture (For Carrie). Just absolutely devastating stuff. 5/5
I love every note of this album. Such a great work. Bare bones, underproduced and wonderfully sloppy.
Look. I am going give On The Beach a 5. The is almost all because of Ambulance Blues.
Will bookmark this one for the next time I'm sitting in the dark and need some lyrics to focus on.
4.8/5 great neil album def top 5
My favorite Neil Young Album, very contemplative but also kinda just a good hang.
Don’t like young’s voice but can’t deny how good the musicality and lyricism is here
I got back-to-back Neil Young albums. Hell yeah. Is this one of the greatest albums ever made? Yes.
not one skip. this will be my new rainy day essential until further notice. ♪( ´▽｀)
Album incredibile, la pace e la confusione, i momenti grigi tra due attimi, ció che rende un esperienza ricordo.
Possibly my favorite Neil Young album
I love this album so much
One of my faves
And there ain't nothin' like a friend Who can tell you you're just pissin' in the wind
Every single song is great!
See The Sky About To Rain // For The Turnstiles // On The Beach // Ambulance Blues 4.5/5
Lofi banger.
Some of Neil's finest. A haunting and raw album.
An album deserves a 5star when you listened to it all day and still can’t get enough.
A classic.
Clasic
Very relaxing and chill album, really nice to hear, im glad this album CAME to me lmao
j'aime trop neil young...
Neil Young is one of my favorite artists. I have 75 songs liked by him on Spotify - which puts him in my top 10 based on song count. I already have 3 songs liked on this album - "Walk On", "For The Turnstiles", and "On The Beach". So, I'm excited to do a deep dive on this one. Thoughts after listening 3 times... I realize now that I heard "Vampire Blues" when I saw him in concert last year (2025) on the "Love Earth" tour. And - I ended up liking all of the songs on this one. Great job Neil! Liked songs on Spotify: 8/8 Rating: 5/5 (perfect album)
He has many great albums, but for me this is possibly his best. There is isn’t a bad track on it and it gets a great balance between his folk side and rock side. There is some nice variety in pace and texture, with a nice pace to it.
Always love a Neil Young album. I like the aesthetic too
There's a reason why Neil Young is considered so influential. His ability to mix musical styles, blues and folk, in particular, is practically peerless. Every song on this album is a gem.
god i fucking love this album. idk what combo of drug he was on during this era, but there's a joy in this album that i think influenced so much of the alt-country / y'allternative of the 90s and 2000s, unknowingly if nothing else. perfect album cover perfect album. nothing else matters when you're on the beach
I don't think anybody's ever had as good a run as Tonight's The Night into On The Beach in less than a year.
1 Artist You Must Hear Several Albums By Before You Die (It’s Neil Young)
I’m vampire baby) I’m suck blood ))
I genuinely enjoyed this album. Every song stood out and I listened to a few on repeat because I wanted to enjoy it a bit more before I moved on to the next one. Neil Young surprised me with another side of his music, but his unique voice and mark is iconic as always.
Very nice. I liked it a lot, and despite being. Neil Young fan I didn’t know any of these songs.
Pedazo de álbum, me gustó mucho, tiene algo en las guitarras de sus canciones que me atrapan.
Part of the ditch trilogy, music was a bit peppier but lyrics were definitely darker a bit more disenchanted as it was during this time. Period the many layers of Neil Young.
Badass record. Heard it before just as good this time
Fantastique!
An album to kick back with
It's dreary as hell, sure, but it makes for great listening. I still haven't figure out what Ambulance Blues means but it hits my emotions with full force every time. Revolution Blues and the guitar work on the title track also stand out as highlights for me.
“I’m deep inside myself / but I’ll get out somehow / and I’ll stand before you / and I’ll bring a smile / to your eyes”
I believe this is Neil’s most melancholy album. Both sides start with catchy chords and lyrics and are followed by tracks that weave from pensive reflection to mopey sadness. Motion Pictures is such a beautiful song. This is my favorite Neil Young album so my bias is hard to ignore.
Vibe was cool I enjoyed it
5 - One of my all time favs, Neil Young is actually the blueprint. Vampire Blues???? Are you kidding??? Fav songs: Walk On // Vampire blues // On the Beach // Motion Pictures
Приятный альбом. Я бы не назвал его мрачным, как критики, хороший звук чтоб подумать о красоте жизни. Может сдобрен небольшими нотками меланхолии. Но по мне почти попса. В избранное
5/5
What a great Neil Young album. Really surprised to see that I don’t own this. Something I plan to rectify. Sublime
It all sounded the same to me
Not Neil's best. But it's a collection of songs most other artists can only dream of. The shift from Harvest to a more bitter and edgy tone lands brilliantly. 5*
Better than expected
Outstanding stuff from the legend that is Neil Young. Arguably his best (but let's not start that...). Lyrics to really make you think on our historical sins
Can't believe I wasn't familiar with Neil Young before starting the list. Every album is fantastic
Neil Young is undoubtedly one of the outstanding artists of the 20th century, and many of his albums are certainly worth listening to. However, in my opinion, it is by no means a given that seven of them belong on this list, and “On The Beach” does not provide any compelling arguments for this. Yes, it is a pretty good blues rock album, but no, it does not feature any groundbreaking innovations compared to his other recordings. With its erratic selection, this project has already disenchanted me with David Bowie, and there is a significant chance that this effect will affect others as well—in addition to the Beatles, I now see Neil Young as being at risk as well. Edit: turns out for me, "On The Beach" is the perfect chill-out album. Still not too special but I really like it.
Favorite Track: See the Sky About to Rain
A classic, with a catalog so large some albums don't get the attention they deserve, this is one of them
Sounds a bit like Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. Very acoustic, with a nice touch of harmonica. Definitely one of Neil Young's best album's
No big hits, but a variety of styles, mainly slightly maudlin. I liked it, not as much as other albums by Neil Young, but enough to give it four stars for sure. After three play throughs this short album, I figured I liked all of it, but no one track really stood out, apart from possibly the title track. I then boosted the score to a full five stars after reading about "Honey Sliders".
Always enjoyed this album l, never really listened to it with absolute attention. What a masterpiece. Young sounds so simple and sparce but it's so unique.
An all time great. The thin, reedy vocals and filtered overall sound might not be everyone's cup of tea, but to me it matches the lyrical themes of depression, loss, anxiety, and moving on perfectly. Truly an album that everyone, especially people who make music themselves, should listen to at least once before they die.
thank you neil young for another great album. 5/5 as always
Of the three Neil Young albums I've heard from this challenge, this one is easily the most brilliant. The mood in the music presented is painfully honest. The second side alone stands out with three songs that slow down yet force you to look deeper. They're meditations or reflections on fame, lost love and overall feeling confused in a world where shit happens. Unlike Harvest, there isn't a push towards more obvious commercial folk with a star-studded cast. Harvest is good, but I like the more confrontational Neil Young. Despite some weaker tracks at the end of side one, On The Beach is a majority winner in this league (10/10, 5/5 on this scale)
5/9
Burned-out sunlight and beautiful emotional exhaustion. Rating: 4.8/5 Short Review: This album feels like staring at the ocean after everything already happened. Detached but wounded, slow but sharp. It doesn’t try to be hopeful. It just tries to be honest. Favorite Track: Ambulance Blues. Long, bitter, reflective. A quiet spiral you somehow don’t want to leave.
When this was generated for me to listen to, I decided to go through Neil’s entire discography up to this point, and while I won’t go into too much detail about my opinions on his larger discography, in case another one of them gets generated for me later down the line, what I will say is that this was by far the best one and is a certifiably tremendous musical accomplishment. Every song is beautiful, awesome, and adds something great to the greater experience of the album. Literally every song is a favorite of mine, though the best song must be Ambulance Blues, at least for me. Currently my favorite album that this site has recommended me. 10/10.
My favorite Neil Young album. A very special s/o to Rusty Kershaw and his liner notes.
Unbelieveable to me that this one was such a rarity for so many years. It is an essential album to me, one of the greatest albums of the 1970s. It's so mellow & sour, it's so evocative of a particular mood that pervaded the decade. This sort of hazy sixties revolutionary burnout. It's pretty explicit about this but Young's lyrics paint a vivid picture of a scattered and confused people looking for hope and safe harbor as ten thousand dune buggies whip up sands just over the next mountain. Really beautiful stuff. Outside of Journey to the Past, has his voice ever sounded this rich? I know everyone's a Harvest and After the Gold Rush fan & far be it from me to besmirch them - they're excellent too - but the sparser production on here lets the songwriting and performances settle into really deep, affecting grooves. There's plenty of catchy hooks but it never indulges in pop singer-songwriteriness. I give a lot of similar albums a lot of shit for doing the stuff that this one does but what can I say, Neil Young was born better than most of us. Favorite Tracks: Walk On, Revolution Blues, On The Beach, Ambulance Blues,
The house I grew up in had Neil's early records on regular rotation. I remember not liking his voice, until suddenly I did, and it became part of life's soundtrack. But somehow not On the Beach, a really nice surprise. I find the spareness and emotion on this one gorgeous, a different palette than I can think of in any other of his albums, which is one of the reasons I love Neil - some of his albums are awful, some are great, but he doesn't repeat himself, he always finds another direction to try, always worth checking. I think I'm going to be playing this one a lot.
Love me some Neil Young. First time listening to this album and I am a fan. His singing voice is contentious, but I really like it.
This was a great experience to listen to
"Heart of Gold’ put me in the middle of the road. Travelling there soon became a bore, so I headed for the ditch. A rougher ride, but I saw more interesting people there." Following this mantra, Neil Young released a trio of albums now famously known as the "Ditch Trilogy": Time Fades Away (1973), Tonight’s the Night (recorded in 1973 but released in 1975), and On the Beach (1974). Whenever there is a debate regarding Neil Young’s finest work, "On the Beach" is always central to the conversation. This record, along with its two companions in the trilogy, stands as the antithesis to his multi-million selling masterpiece, "Harvest". While the other "Ditch" entries have their own distinct charms, "On the Beach" is arguably the most accomplished; it is smoother, more cohesive, and features a less abrasive vocal performance than its peers. Fundamentally, "On the Beach" is a record about the death of the 1960s and the subsequent disillusionment. It explores how stardom left Young feeling hollow and documents his search for authenticity in an increasingly superficial world. It is a theme that resonates just as strongly today, explaining why the album remains so influential for modern artists. For an album released over 50 years ago, the production and mix hold up remarkably well. The first side offers a run of excellent tracks, including "Walk On", "See the Sky About to Rain", "Revolution Blues", and "For the Turnstiles". However, it is the second side that is truly faultless. Opening with the haunting title track and the intimate "Motion Pictures", it concludes with the album’s standout epic, "Ambulance Blues". Moving from recollections of the Yorkville folk scene to a sharp critique of the Nixon administration, it is a superb finale to a five-star album. Side one 1 "Walk On" (5/5) 2 "See the Sky About to Rain" (5/5) 3 "Revolution Blues" (5/5) 4 "For the Turnstiles" (5/5) 5 "Vampire Blues" (4/5) Side two 1 "On the Beach" (5/5) 2 "Motion Pictures" (5/5) 3 "Ambulance Blues" (5/5) Total - 39 Average - 4.88 241/1001 133/241 albums reviewed were new to me.
Kneitermooi. Tijdloze folkrock, misschien zelfs beter dan Harvest.
Ett perfekt album.
Me gustó el sonido al iniciar, chévere la guitarra, las voces. No he escuchado mucho de Neil young pero promete. El segundo tema me suena conocido, buenas guitarras también. Todo inesperadamente melancólico, muy chevere. Nuevo fan de Neil Young.
I didn’t expect to love this so much but it struck me exactly right. I would’ve ignored this album for the rest of eternity, which is why I love doing this project.
That was easily my favorite of his. It was great from front to back, awesome album cover, guest appearances by the Band. Couldn’t want much more Rating: 4.8
Generally likable but nothing special. I’m a long time hater of Neil Young, but this is fine. The second half is boring, but the first is good enough for a thumbs up.
Ful mam rada Harvest Moon album in me zarad tega kr irrationally skrbi, da mi ta ne bo všeč? Anyway, najbol, da se kar lotim. Kr zabavna naslovnica. Nism ljubitelj sicer tega odtenka rumene. Ok, začetek je čist neki druzga, kar sm pričakovala - in a good way. Fletn komad ("Walk On"). Naslednja mi ma že bl ta poznani Neil Young vajb ("See the Sky About to Rain"). Ok, moji strahovi so bli neutemeljeni, I am loving it so far. "Revolution Blues" mi je dbest. Fak, redko se mi zgodi, da k poslušam album prvič, da mi je vse vsaj mal všeč. Velikrat rabim večkrat poslušat. To bi mogoč mogla upoštevat pri moji oceni. Komad "On the Beach" - ma, sam da se je začel - I loved it. "Throughout the recording process, Young and his colleagues consumed a homemade concoction dubbed "honey slides", a goop of sauteed marijuana and honey that "felt like heroin", at the behest of session musician and de facto producer Rusty Kershaw. This may account for the mellow mood of the album, particularly on its second half." - lol, jap. Ok, če je Harvest Moon mi tak quintessential jesenski album, bo tale znal postat to za poletje.
I’m only 20 albums into the project, but this album cover for On The Beach is my favorite so far. There’s details like the newspaper headline and the vehicle (?) in the sand, but I really am simply drawn to the 70s yellow floral prints on the seating. I want to hang out there and listen to this album! Neil Young is so easy to listen to. There’s not a track on here that I felt like I wanted to skip. This is going straight into my rotation of albums that I actually can put on without babysitting the skip button. Without relistening to it again, I don’t have much else to say, it’s a damn fine album.
Folk rock, country rock, blues rock.
9/10 Favourite: On the Beach Least Favourite: None
This is great from start to finish. Vampire Blues especially caught hold of me.
This was great! I've listened to my share of Neil Young, but never heard this one. Thoughtful lyrics, wonderful guitar. Happy to learn about this album many years too late.
One of his best. Walk On, See the Sky About to Rain and then the last three masterclasses. Ambulance blues in particular, but title track too. Few do it better. Bought the CD second-hand right after - had left the same copy behind a few days previously, but then it came up here, I listened to it a few times today, and I was convinced. Neil Young!
Perfect!
Probably my favorite Neil album. An almost perfect Side A and a perfect Side B. And I like the weakest link here ("For The Turnstyles")! Not the best song on the album (for others), but I absolutely love "Vampire Blues". Also I was obsessed with "Walk On" for two months straight. Also the ironic juxtaposition of "On The Beach" as a theme for the album is my favorite type of thing. "On the Beach" sounds like a happy idea, but it's also the name of a famous 1957 novel and 1959 film that depicts the aftermath of nuclear war. The album cover, a literal image of Neil on the beach facing the ocean, even though his outfit is bright and the furniture is (an iconic) cheerful pastel yellow, the weather is dreary and the water looks cold. Inexplicably a 1959 Cadillac is buried under the sand. In the sand, as if dropped by a disgusted reader, is a newspaper which somehow hasn't been carried away by the wind.
Short and sweet. No complaints, this album made me feel like I should be relaxing on the beach. There's something so charming about Neil Young that while it is slow, it's still interesting and hits deeply.
Love it
excellent8
i liked this one a lot
Fantastic album. Love Neil Young
I do think this is like the ... deep cut neil album even tho its on of his best regarded albums. it just rocks my fuckin world... and i got to see him play ambulance blues twice this year in toronto ... holy moly
BIG step up from after the gold rush, no whininess and good sound this is what i was looking for ty neil young i knew you could do it
Amazon album
I don't want to christen this the King of the Entropy Albums without some serious thought, but it's definitely a strong contender. The strung-out compositions feel apocalyptic, and Young may be at his lyrical best here (which is to say he's at his lowest). So many great lines about the feeling of everything falling apart: "Sooner or later it all gets real." "Good times are comin' but they sure are comin' slow." "Though my problems are meaningless, that don't make 'em go away." "I'm deep inside myself but I'll get out somehow." "An ambulance can only go so fast." "You're all just pissin' in the wind / You don't know it but you are." And "Revolution Blues" is the epitaph the hippie era deserves - the Manson murders in aural form, long before Trent Reznor set up shop at 10050 Cielo Drive.
Oh me oh my this is awesome. I think I need to listen to it way more to fully understand and put my finger on what I find so captivating about it, but for sure the first 5 star for me of the project and an album that will be in rotation for a fair while
Not only one of my favorite Neil Young albums, but one of my favorite albums period.
Neil Young's best album, hands down. It has it all about the world you need to know. We're all suffering so be nice to each other. Cooperate, don't compete.
Vibes are there
What can I say? I love Neil. The guitar, the voice, the melodies all hit me right in the chest. Added to the playlist: Walk On See the Sky About To Rain On The Beach Motion Pictures (For Carrie) Ambulance Blues
Another classic album from Neil. Know this album well - my parents are huge fans and they played this record constantly. It’s not just nostalgia. This album is seriously good.
I’m a Neil Young fan, but I’d never heard this album. Glad to hear it. The album has a different feel and tonal quality to his other albums, especially Harvest which this came after. It feels stripped down, garage, raw. It reminds me of the Basement Tapes from Bob Dylan. Great guitar tones of course. Notable songs include Walk On, See The Sky About to Rain, Revolution Blues, Vampire Blues, On The Beach, Motion Pictures, Ambulance Blues. Basically the entire album - every song is good.
Aw man
My life is based on this album, maybe.
I like Neil Young. I love his laid back vide and the country twang of the guitar. His music is not complicated but it speaks to me
It feels odd to describe an album as a minor masterpiece but that’s what On the Beach feels like. I’ve listened to every Neil Young album and most of his stuff from the 70s are 5 star albums, On the Beach included. He has some all time classic albums from this era, so although this one may pale in comparison, it still stands on its own as a great bluesy album. Not exactly feeling like a summer day on the beach but a nice break from the rest of the world anyway
This is Neil Young’s best work and some of the stories around its’ recording are incredible.
Very good shit, need to listen to more Neil Young have never really listened to him before.
Wow! Nice! Lovely!
Good lord. The title track is soooooo good
Just one of my favourites, dark. 1960’s hangover album.
5/5
Maybe the best NY.
Top 10
Love it. Own it.
Good
neil
Scene: It's the summer of 1974. Richard Nixon is not having a good year. The 1960s are finally starting to feel like a memory and punk is around the corner. The parties at Laurel Canyon are ending earlier and earlier each night- some nights the ladies no longer come. Some nights still feel like a revolution but mostly they don't. This album feels like a hangover. This is the sound of Neil Young paying in blood for his recently found success. This is the sound of how acceptance feels like to someone who has long been on a first name basis with alienation. It's a mellow, druggy, fucked up, resigned valentine that is saying goodbye to a disintegrating relationship and in many ways to the Neil Young of old. It's a birth. It's a death. It's a phoenix on honey slides* If not Neil Young's best album it's certainly his most vulnerable- never would the mask be off for this long again nor would Young be this emotionally raw, nihilistic & artistically speaking - on such solid ground. * a homemade concoction dubbed "honey slides", a goop of sauteed marijuana and honey that "felt like heroin" according to Neil Young & company.
This was great, no notes Neil
King
Neil was DEPRESSED & extremely talented. Lana Del Rey, eat your heart out. Beautiful album. 4.5 outta 5
I get it now. This is music.
The way neil was meant to be, loud and original. All I can say is, rock on!
He just didn't miss. 5 Stars. Will definitely revisit.
There's some simplicity here, the image of a Californian beach, in the afternoon, without that much sun actually works here perfectly
The opening notes of Walk On open this album perfectly and it never lets up. See the Sky About to Rain is the highlight, something about the wavering organ and his wavering voice is incredibly evocative. 114 albums in and I'm not sure I have enjoyed an album more than this one.
I have become a Neil Young fan through this journey. For ages I wasn’t a fan of his voice but I get it now and can’t wait to listen to another album of his.
timeless 10/10
I think I like this more than Harvest, which has a few duds on the record. This one is just flawless.
My second favorite Neil Young album after "Harvest". It doesn't have the hits like that album does but it makes up for it in raw emotion. Also probably my favorite Neil Young album cover. Favorite track: Motion Pictures 4.5/5
I’d rank this #3 in his Ditch Trilogy, but it’s still getting a 5. This is my favorite era of one of my all time favorite artists. Raw and vulnerable, Neil is on the edge of losing it. Absolutely vital.
very pleasant to listen to!
Good color scheme, but nothing notable. Still good though, and I don’t think Neil Young was at maximum whininess
"Some get stoned, some get strange, but sooner or later it all gets real, walk on." Takes of disillusionment, depression, breakups, death and vampires, fueled by drugs, alcohol and honey slides, written and recorded at times in bursts of instant creativity, it's an absolute classic. Raw and sometimes polished, minimalist and sometimes full-on, bleak with snippets of hope, bluesy and sometimes folky, it's a difficult album to describe. But Neil heading for the ditch is a compelling and brilliant listening experience.
Great lo-fi, great lyrics, and Neil’s superb voice.
Classic Neil with urgent blues.
loved it, some brilliant ryths. Surprised I haven't heard it previously
one of his early masterpieces
There’s so many brilliant tracks from Uncle Neil to enjoy in his set list, but a delve into his huge back catalogue is a mixed bag. I’d not tried this one before, and it’s an absolute beauty. His vocal performance is right up there, without any of the expected weaker tracks to bring it down. This was just stunning, great guitar work, supporting musicians and story telling throughout. Standout track is the title track.
Five stars for the title track alone, one of my favorite songs of all time, on one of Neil Young's best albums. Love this bleak album.
I don’t know if this is still underrated, it’s kind of had its moment, but I do know that this is my favorite Neil Young album. There’s something different about Neil Young’s folk rock compared to other artists of the time that I can’t entirely pin down. It may be the cool factor? There’s something effortlessly stylish, and subtly dark about much of his best music, and his songwriting is good enough to hold it together. I really think his best is some of the best music ever, like I’m pretty sure this is how Dylan fans feel when listening to Dylan. Anyways, on On The Beach, the x-factor is ratcheted up to 11. This is very much a mysterious, dark, deeply sad album. And a lot of the music doesn’t always seem it, which honestly kind of brings these attributes into clearer focus. And there are a few songs that really play into the darkness: Revolution Blues, On The Beach, Ambulance Blues. These tracks are all breathtaking centerpieces. But frankly, this whole album is just about perfect to me. It’s just 8 immaculately crafted songs in a row. Walk On is groovy and relatively upbeat, still with some of this album’s magic. See The Sky About To Rain is a good summation of the melancholy here, fantastic song. Revolution Blues may be the most chilling song about Charles Manson ever recorded, it’s just got a feeling, and the lyrics are absolutely arresting, “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”. The banjo work on For The Turnstyles is a nice change of pace, with some airier banjo and a rawer vocal performance from Young. Vampire Blues is a great example of the fantastic guitar work across this album. And the final run of On The Beach, Motion Pictures, and Ambulance Blues, is haunting. Ambulance Blues just sucks the air out of any room it’s played in, it’s impossible to not pay attention to. This really is a work of genius, and I think it may be Young’s finest, from the beautiful cover art to the strange, dark atmosphere of the songs. I absolutely adore this album.
Ungh!
A revelation
H: this album had good story telling, long beautiful instrumentals and an overall calmness to it. You can tell how this album shaped folk music from the tone and almost raspiness quality of his voice. This was the perfect thing to listen to while calculating the required section modulus of piles. 8/10 H fav song: Vampire Blues Z: I have a completely different perspective on Neil Young after this album. Damn near perfect in every way— the instrumentation, the storytelling and lyricism, thematically. From the handful of songs I’ve heard from him I was expecting a somewhat repetitive and boring mix of folk and country, but what I got instead was a harrowing yet inspiring look into an artist at a crossroads in life, an artist battling with fame and the depression that too often comes with it. Just a beautiful, touching album. 9/10 Z fav song: Revolution Blues (so tough to choose)
One of my new favourite Neil Young albums. I have long been aware that this album existed but had never say down to listen to it start to finish. I took the time to do that twice today and will definitely be digging this out again soon. Niel Young takes the simplest and subtlest approach to song writing but does it with such much raw emotion and intensity you can't help but hang on every note. I felt like this album covered a range of different styles. The opening track Walk On has an almost reggae like up tempo beat to it but by the end of the album Ambulance Blues is just about as raw and emotional as any Neil Young track. Yet somehow the two don't feel out of place on this album that still beautifully comes together as whole and compete.
On the Beach is one of the top 3 of Neil Young’s solo albums for me; I would honestly be hard pressed to pick a favourite between On the Beach, Tonight’s the Night, and Harvest. There’s really not a bad song on On the Beach, but For the Turnstiles and Ambulance Blues are the stand out tracks for me. I’m incredibly happy I got to catch him on his current tour with the Chrome Hearts where he actually opened with Ambulance Blues and he’s absolutely still rocking at 79 years old!
🙂👍
Wasn’t sure what is think going in to this, especially as the wiki page makes a lot of him being depressed at the time, but I really liked it. Fairly stripped back sound.
Pour l'instant incroyable, album de blues / rock alternatif / jsp trop vrm trop cool. J'aime beaucoup l'intro, je pense que Neil Young a été une inspiration pour plusieurs groupes de rock indie des années 2000 / 2010.
One of the best.
- "On the Beach" .... for many, this is a lost masterpiece and, for a while, it really was; it was out of print and very difficult to get (at least before the advent of the internet, y'all have NO idea). Anyway, for me it was never lost. In high school I ran across an 8-track copy and played the shit out this release in my brothers 1969 Chrysler Newport. Before you accuse me of nostalgia, my point is I had this record and recognized at an early age how great it was but, also, that it was probably not everyone's cup o tea. If, at first blush, it's not yours, do yourself a favor and really listen to it. Give it some time, go back, listen again later. This is Neil at is absolute best. It's fuckin' high art, a true masterwork. It's inspiration at play in real time and THAT'S why you're having a hard time with it: it's something you never heard before so your brain can't grapple with it. This is one that absolutely belongs on this list. -
On the Beach is one of Neil Young’s darkest and most powerful records, an album that sounds worn down yet strangely comforting at the same time. From the weary resignation of “On the Beach” itself to the raw, unsteady sprawl of “Ambulance Blues,” it feels like Neil laying everything bare without worrying about polish. The production is loose, the performances sometimes shaky, but that is what gives it so much character. It feels lived-in, like a late-night confession set to music. What makes it so affecting is the balance between despair and beauty. “See the Sky About to Rain” and “Revolution Blues” both carry a sense of unease, while “Walk On” offers a rare flicker of light at the start. It is not an easy album, but it is deeply honest, and that honesty makes it unforgettable. On the Beach is Neil Young at his most vulnerable, capturing the feeling of staring into the void and somehow finding a kind of peace there.
The ditch trilogy is Neil Young harnessing his grief to a brilliant trio of albums that are all very different, all very dark and all Neil Young. He bares himself in ways unimaginable to most. Simple great stuff.
Listens: 2 Standout Tracks: Vampire Blues, Motion Pictures (For Carrie) This is my third Neil Young album on the List, but I've consistently enjoyed everything I've heard so far. Not blow-me-out-of-the-water good (save for the odd track here and there), but just easy listening, interesting lyrics, rarely (if ever) grating music and instrumentation. This album is no different. I understand that this album came after Harvest, and is more muted and melancholy that its predecessor. I recognize that. I think it works just as well, even if there are no instantly recognizable tracks (to me). Edit: Two months later, this is an album I keep coming back to. Its sublime and worthy of being bumped to a 5 given the number of plays its gotten from me since I first listened.
My favourite Neil Young album. I've been listening to Old Shakey for years now. He rarely disappoints and on this album there are no filler tracks. A superb listen.
Really enjoyed this one, much better than After The Gold Rush
Classic Neil
Rien à dire, que du bon.
yes, another one of my taste. Probably one of my favs there, maybe eliot before was slightly more my style? idk, but this is really good and i love the meanings...like how to cope with the hard things and this rock sounds.
Is a great place to live.
A great album. Where is all the angry music these days? If Neil can sound this pissed with the Nixon administration, imagine the field day a musician with a social conscience could have with the current administration.
Jam forward. Good for a moody drive or a morose dinner party. Long songs, aside from everyone's favorite with Cisco Kid. Probably going to take a few more listens to really hear the lyrics.
Alright hard for me to separate individual Neil productions from the general obsessive devotion I harbor. You can hear him mastering his genius, not succumbing to it. The car that drove him to this point has crashed into the sand and he's just chilling looking out to the future, toes in the sand. One person left the table, two cans of beer remain? Brilliant.
Well, based on the song titles, I would have imagined not liking this (three songs with the word "blues" in them had me wondering). But damn, this might be my favorite Neil Young album I've listened to front to back. He seems free and almost whimsical in spots, which is not a word I'd typically associate with Neil Young. This was excellent.
Really fantastic!
For the turnstiles is definitely a highlight but this album is just great all the way through no skips
love love love
Great. Loved every track on first sode
A great album... but once again... Neil has better ones... that will come up on this list... is every song good? yes... it's Neil... he rarely, if ever, misses... "Walk On" opens it up... and is a great song to open with... then comes "See The Sky Above"... classic Neil melody... on the electric piano no less... "Revolution Blues" is this album's "Southern Man" or "Down By The River" rocker... Neil growls it out ala Bob Dylan... then comes a masterpiece unto itself... "For The Turnstiles"... for me, one of the greatest songs of his career... or anyone's... it made me have goosebumps back in the day, when i first heard it, and i've recorded it myself, multiple times (shameless self plug)... "Vampire Blues" is just bad ass... "On The Beach" is another blues song with a lil Neill twist... "Motion Pictures For Carrie" is a folk/country, romantic pine... "Ambulance Blues" closes this album out... a bit of a "downer" feel ending, but classic Neil... he never gives you exactly what you expect... FIVE STARS. and he's done even better... stay tuned."
Probably my favourite Neil album. It's just so cracked and vulnerable as if the whole thing could collapse at any moment.
Rusty Kershaw’s infamous Honey Slides dripping all over this
Hadn't heard this album before
This is a good album. Revolution Blues is particularly good. This is very different from Harvest in a good way. After not loving Ragged Glory recently, this is a really welcome change. I think the angrier Neil Young gets, the less I like him. Laid back Neil is awesome. Motion Pictures (For Carrie) is immediately one of my favorite Neil Young songs, it's very personal.
All time favorite
Incredible album, great guitar work, cool songs
One of my faves
An underrated and neglected gem. Yes, I have it, but I could only buy it long after my Neil Young-era. It simply wasn't released on CD until 2003. And that's bizarre, because this is possibly one of the best if not the best - consistent - album in Young's catalogue. It's truly beautiful and extremely depressing to listen to. But there are such gems on this album: 'See the sky about to rain' with that wonderful arrangement of Wurlitzer e-piano and steel guitar, astonishing title track and the utterly painful 'Ambulance blues' - it's truly fantastic music. 5 stars and a welldeserved 10/10
One of the greatest album of all the time.
Great stuff even if I usuallly can’t stand Mr young’s singing
I like Neil young 98/100
Finally, a 5 for a Neil Young album. This one really just works.
Great mix between country and rock, i can see the grunge influence in his work
4.6 - Nice
Instant 5. Very much my thing.
Det är något med Niel alltså. Det här är Americana så det skriker om det.
My favorite Neil Young album. Easy 5.
In the course of this project, I have gone from being someone who didn't think much of Neil Young, to a listener able to appreciate his music, and with this album, his appeal has grown even further. While I liked Rust Never Sleeps quite a lot, and Harvest slightly less, this is the first of his albums that I really enjoy throughout. I just love the way it chugs along, making it ideal for afternoons on my terrace. I'm giving it five stars and adding it to my Tidal library.
A true gem from one of the greats!
Another phenomenal Neil Young album. 2/2 on this list so far, maybe I never gave him enough credit before this list.
hermoso
Heerlijk album. Moest ik geen nier moeten verkopen om hem deze zomer live te zien, zou ik geen moment aarzelen. 4.6
Maybe it's the hot, sunny day talking, but the beach sounds like a good time - and so is this album. I haven't been the biggest fan of Neil Young's solo work, but this one hits like a cold drink on a midsummer day. Favorite track: "On The Beach"
This album in all its groovy rock glory, has no misses. It’s Neil at his best for me. With settled jams, hard hitting poetry and a vibe to beat all others.
The Neil You music I listened to as a child was whatever albums my older sister had. Unfortunately this wasn’t one of them. Love the lyrics.
A classic. I hadn't heard all the tracks. I love it
Great
Et av mine favoritt album of all time. Musikk å cover art, i en egen klasse. «And I still can hear him say: You're all just pissin' in the wind You don't know it but you are. And there ain't nothin' like a friend Who can tell you you're just pissin' in the wind.»
Folk rock mellowness, with catchy songs containing more troubling lyrics. Loved it
One of Neil's more haunting records, no major hits in this one, but the songs are captivating. Pretty much a blues record, his voice is shakey, the production raw, has a live feel to it. Part of Neil's peak era and a 5 star for me
Album 774 of 1089 Neil Young - On The Beach (1974) Rating : 4 / 5 My enjoyment of Neil Young has been established and this one doesn't do anything to change that. A bit more gritty.
I never bothered with Mr Young prior to this list, but he's become my favorite discovery. I was not expecting much from this album because it wasn't on any of the best of Young lists I was going through but it might be my favorite after Everybody Knows This is Nowhere. Neil has taste above all else. This album is dripping with a melancholy that could get old even on the short runtime but the blues is used so effectively and the instrumentation is so great. Vampire Blues and the title track were the standouts to me. I know Young went through a string of awful albums but I'm grateful I haven't found them yet.
Piękna płytą. Warstwa liryczna genialna, muzycznie też niczego sobie. Głos przeszywa mnie jak szpilka. A See the sky is about to rain chwyta mnie za bebechy i serce jednocześnie. Niektórzy się pewnie nudzą, ale nie ja. Mnie to zachwyca. 9/10 (głównie ze względu na ten jeden utwór).
You can hear the roots of so much current indie folk in this album. A wonderful Listen in its own right. Warm and full of peace.
An album that is one of the peaks of Young's career. It was so emotionally painful for him he didn't even allow its release on CD for decades after its initial run. It was worth the wait for those of us who weren't around to get the original run. The hippy dream is dead in a fug of murders and drug abuse. Young laments this with a collection of dark, maudlin songs with an occasional country lilt. I love this album and it's one of the best from one of the 20th century's greats. Best Tracks: Walk On; Revolution Blues; Ambulance Blues
Here's an album that I've actually already listened to many times all the way through. easy 5 for me just because of that. The title track is one of my favorite NY songs.
Though my problems are meaningless That don't make them go away
Ihan huippu Neil tuotannossa!
Super cool to see this one early on in this journey, and I'm really glad and almost a bit surprised it was included on this list. I feel like it is one of the more underrated albums of Neil's classic era, but it is easily my favorite of his, and absolutely deserving of the recognition. The songs and album flow are very strong and overall it has a very relaxed, late night kind of vibe to it. Reading about the album certainly supports this, as Neil has frequently mentioned the influence of "honey slides" on the sound...a marijuana and honey treat the band was constantly consuming during the recording, which certainly helped bring a more mellowed out and hazy sound. My favorite track is probably between "On The Beach" and "Ambulance Blues", but I feel like I could almost make the argument for any of the tracks to be a favorite. Just a wonderful album for which my love grows on each and every listen.
The best side A
Nice
4.5
Absolutely lovely!
Really good. Ain’t no pissin in the wind. Five.
Depression
top tier Neil for me
Ever since this site sent me a Neil Young album for the first time, I've been exploring his work more and more and becoming more and more addicted to it. This must be the fourth album that has arrived here on the site, but I've listened to practically everything he released between 1969 and 1992 (I stopped at Harvest Moon because I've been listening to that album on repeat every day for a few weeks). So, I credit this site for giving me my newest addiction. Thank you. On The Beach has a much more bluesy aura, without abandoning the folk aesthetic that characterizes many of his songs. The big difference on this album is in the percussions. They give a more relaxing dynamic to the album. It really makes you think you're listening to this on a beach. 5 stars, no secrets!
I’m torn on this album between a 4 and 5 Their are a couple tracks “For The Turnstiles” and “Vampire Blues” which I think are only decent enough However every other track is Magic and the Last 3 tracks are the HIGHLIGHT. “On The Beach” and “Motion Pictures” in particular As far as Neil Young goes I’ve always considered this record his best and my personal favourite It’s probably a 4.5/5. However I’m gonna bump it up to 5/5 because of my Canadian pride
Chill vibes, loved it
Crunty
Pretty good album, easy listening and fun songs
Greatest album of all time Second side absolutely perfect
One of my favourites, love this so much
Excellent Neil Young era.
bib
another enjoyable Neal Young tune.
I’ve had this album at 4.5 stars for a while and I have no idea why. It’s a 5 star album, I love every single song. Pretty sure Harvest and Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere are still my top 2, but this may surpass After the Gold Rush as my third favorite Neil. 5/5
Such a melancholic trip! this album is perfect for peaceful moments when memories don't hurt that much anymore
Love the smoothness of the album. Easy listening and calm ambiance.
Despite the name this is not a summer album. This is an album that expresses the feeling of being on the beach in autumn and all the melancholy that comes with it. It doesn’t have the hits, but every song here is great. Something about Neil’s music just really works for me.
Goldrush, Harvest, One the Beach, Tonight's the Night. What a run; and in the words of the now disgraced portly pervert Andy Gray: "He had no right to do that. Take a boo son!". The real heart of the album are the triptych of lonely-man-on-the-road folk numbers. 'See the Sky' one of those effortless, bittersweet songs that can get you in the feels, especially the whole feeling of the lap steel and 'rolling down the track again'. Motion Pictures not far behind, again effortlessly melancholy. Finishing with the epic, Bert Jansch inspired fingerpicking of Ambulance Blues, one of his epics, packed with perfect lines (the riverboat was rocking in the rain), great fingerpicking and not a care for fret buzz. The perfect follow up to Harvest. Avoiding any doubt he could be pigeonholed.
Solid Neil Young effort. When you listen to his songs, you've got to get past his singing. The key is the songwriting backed by solid players and this album consistently delivers this. For The Turnstiles, though understated, is one of my favourite Neil Young songs. Liked Songs Added: Walk On See The Sky About To Rain For The Turnstiles Vampire Blues
Brilliant
This was a surprisingly enjoyable album. I appreciate Neil Young's talent but he usually isn't someone I would regularly listen to but I like this.
It's tough deciding my favorite songs of this album. "Revolution Blues" "Motion Pictures (For Carrie)" and "Ambulance Blues" are all great- especially the violin on the last track. Pretty laid back album with a melancholy / turning out of depression feel. Listening to this now after a lot of Bob Dylan, the last three tracks feel a lot like Dylan lyrically which is interesting because I always though of Neil Young's lyrics as being more straightforward than Bob.
Some of Neil's songs are just like a direct line to my heart, I don't know how he does it. The rest are all excellent. Happy to discover this album, the vibe is quite similar to another of my favourites 'Silver and Gold'.
Really, really strong from Rev Blues on!
Very nice album, very good songs, very Neil Young !
neillllll
Love it
Classique des classiques. Quel grand disque, quel grand auteur-compositeur !!! Rien à redire de plus 😊🙆♂️❤️😎 Vite à la plage !
This one has always been my personal favorite Young solo project. The authentic feel and production really lends itself to Neil's style of playing. I think I've said this before, but I enjoy albums that make you feel like you're in the room with the band as they're playing.
Between honey slides and midnight tides, Young found a raw truth that flows through every note of this blearily beautiful seaside symphony.
a marvelous album probably my fav of mr. young’s
One of my favorite Neil Young albums. This is just right in my wheelhouse. Downtempo folk rock with stretched out psych-ish jams. I can listen to this one over and over again.
4.5
My favourite Neil Young album, and I am certainly a big fan of Young. Listened a lot to this when I first got hold of the cd, when it was rereleased back in 2003. I pretty much love every song, but the title track is my absolute favourite. 5 stars
I think this, along with Harvest, is the best Neil Young record. My favorite for sure. On The Beach begins with a catchy banger yet features some of Neil’s darkest and most intense blues dirges throughout. 9+/10
4.5
Classic.
Amazing, I basically knew every song, perfect length, great album
Absolute brilliant album, probably Neil’s best.
Immaculate album. No skips. All delight
yet another album from neil young. i've yet to have this man let me down with his music. his sound continues to stay consistent after all this time, with a voice and with a musical skill nobody can match. this blues album. this album certainly came out at a moody time in his life, so what better way to express it with a blues rock collection? i just can't ever be mad at neil. truly, truly timeless music.
A lovely, charming album. I'm now a big Neil Young fan. Revolution Blues, Vampire Blues, and On The Beach were my favourite songs. The album is very well-crafted - it seems simple, but I don't think it is really. And he can write nice lyrics.
Maybe his best album. Like every song on here.
Eines der besten Alben. Ich höre es immer wieder gerne.
This is my revisiting of the record for the group after I already had this rolled as my first album. I understand this record much better after experiencing Harvest and seeing Neil Young's character in more detail. A picture could not be any clearer: a loner, a rebel with a cause, brought down by depression and looming existential fears. The fact that he wrote music like this in his twenties makes both Harvest and On the Beach much more relatable to me. Even though I'm definitely not as famous as he was, I know what existential dread is like. His progressive politics also resonate with me quite a lot. Young's style of lyricism is also much clearer to me now. His writing is best perceived as short poetry, something that doesn't take up much space, yet entertains the thoughts and subtly yields the emotions out of the listener. It helps that Young's singing is very passionate and sells the emotional moments very well. Repost of the original review in case it gets overwritten: Immediate impression is that the album is quite well-named, even if it might be for the title track. Its vibe, despite it being rather downer and melancholic for most of the runtime, is quite beachy, and I think the dissonance works really well. The album cover illustrates this dissonance pretty well, depicting the weather on the beach Neil is standing on as rather gray and overcast. The instrumentation is masterfully crafted, and speaks a lot of the talent and coordination of all the musicians involved. The lyricism, however, is something rather jarring to me as someone who's not very familiar with this era of music. It's simplistic but a bit opaque at times, and it takes some extra commitment to understand the meaning of some of the short passages that permeate through the album. I typically think of great lyrics as something with many layers that has a lot to digest, but manages accessibility without compromising the core, so this rather sparse writing caught me by surprise. When I heard that Young is an acclaimed lyricist, I did not expect to hear the songs I could easily summarize with a single sentence. Not to say that I hate it, though. The lack of understanding of certain moments that got me to google more it's kind of a "me" problem, as events he touches on, such as Watergate and the presence of Charles Manson in popular culture, are not something that's ever been contemporary to me. Moreover, when I accepted the songs for what they are, their intricacies did show up on me, especially on the more emotionally charged moments like Walk On, where he brazenly states that he cannot appease the shit talkers, and the final three-track song run, where Neil laments on his self-perception of waning relevancy and the world being in such a continuous movement it feels like it is leaving him behind. What prevails in the lyricism isn't so much the substance itself as it is the tone it's delivered in. The emotion leaves a more lasting experience than the lyrics themselves. I had a great time with this album overall, and it did raise my appetite both for the folk and country music, as well as other albums in Neil Young's discography. Actual rating is 9/10, or 4.5/5.
Classic, so much emotion on this record probably right up there with my favorite records not just by Neil but all time
Before today, I'm not sure I knew this album even existed. Man, I'm glad I know now. A little of the acoustic stuff and a little of the heavier stuff, this album works from start to end.
This is an amazing album, for so long unavailable but I think it is Neil Young’s finest
My favourite Neil Young album. His best album. An all time favourite. It’s getting 5 Best track - Walk On
An unanticipated masterpiece. Just when my mind starts to wander, he brings me back. Loved the whole album, even the cover artwork is mesmerising.
If Neil Young didn't have such a ridiculously large catalogue I would dive in deeper, because everything we have done by him slaps, this included.
One of my favourite albums.
I'm just finding out that this is part of Neil's "Ditch Trilogy", so I decided to listen to this (already one of my favorite Neil Young albums) in sequence with the other two: Time Fades Away > On The Beach > Tonight's The Night. I'm so happy I did. What a follow-up to the comparatively schmaltzy Harvest! (Harvest is still a great album, but one of my least favorite of his from that era) Don't let the album's title fool you, for even a short glance at the album art will clue you in on what's to come. On The Beach has it all: a catchy rock tune to start it all off followed by seven tunes that drag you through the ditch with him, three of which are titled "___ Blues". I love that he essentially did all of this just to shake off the the expectation that came with the success of Heart of Gold.
he might be a bit of an acquired taste for some people but when you get it, it's so so good
Top 10 material
I've literally never listened to Neil Young before, and man what a good introduction. This album rocks. I wanted to give this a 4, but on reflection, this album has no skips, no bad points, no downsides, and at no point was I uninterested or felt like this could be better. Honestly, this album is fucking good and I can't wait to listen to more Neil Young in the future if this is what's in store for me. Highlights: Revolution Blues, Vampire Blues, On the Beach, Motion Pictures, Ambulance Blues. Basically the whole album. Light 5.
So I really liked everything about this album. I don’t know if this list gave me some kind of Stockholm about Neil Young or what, but I didn’t mind his voice at all, either. Short and sweet. I don’t have anything to criticize.
Impossible to overstate how golden a period was the early to mid 70s for Young. So good.
Thinking fondly about when Neil Young released the Pono, a $400 FLAC device shaped like a prism to listen to his music at the highest possible fidelity as I rock this album on my iPhone speaker in a loaner beater that’s vibrating so hard that it can travel across dimensions. Five stars.
I love Neil Young. It just works.
Lovely follow up to Harvest. Witty, soulful and well crafted country rock tunes.
**On the Beach** is Neil Young’s fifth studio album, released in July 1974. This album represents a critical point in Young’s career, offering a stark, intimate look into his psyche during a turbulent period marked by personal loss, disillusionment, and reflection. It is often hailed as one of his most uncompromising and powerful works, balancing raw emotion with experimental production techniques. Below is an in-depth analysis of the album, focusing on its lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with a balanced overview of its strengths and weaknesses. ### Lyrics The lyrics of **On the Beach** are some of Young’s most personal and introspective. Each song delves into themes of alienation, loss, despair, and the quest for meaning amidst chaos. The album opens with "Walk On," a deceptively upbeat track that addresses critics and the aftermath of Young’s recent turmoil, including the deaths of bandmates Danny Whitten and Bruce Berry. Here, Young blends his characteristic honesty with a sense of defiance, suggesting resilience against the judgment and criticism he faced. In "See the Sky About to Rain," Young's poetic imagery comes to the fore. He uses weather metaphors to convey feelings of impending sadness and melancholy. The line "See the sky about to rain, broken clouds and rain" evokes a sense of foreboding, mirroring Young's inner emotional landscape. "For the Turnstiles" is a more cryptic piece, featuring a stark, almost minimalist folk arrangement with banjo and dobro. The lyrics explore themes of betrayal and survival in the music industry, encapsulated in lines like "All the sailors with their seasick mamas / Hear the sirens on the shore." The song captures Young’s cynicism about fame and the pressures of the entertainment business. The title track, "On the Beach," is one of the album's emotional peaks. Its lyrics are a mix of self-pity, sarcasm, and brutal honesty: "I need a crowd of people, but I can't face them day to day." Young reflects on his loneliness and detachment from society, offering no clear resolution, only a stark acknowledgment of his emotional reality. "Motion Pictures (For Carrie)" serves as a love letter to Young's then-girlfriend Carrie Snodgress, but even here, the tone is tinged with regret and a sense of fleeting happiness. "Ambulance Blues," the album’s final track, is a sprawling, nine-minute reflection on the cultural and political disillusionment of the early 1970s. It's a song that weaves personal narrative with biting social commentary, targeting figures like Richard Nixon while lamenting the fading ideals of the 1960s counterculture. ### Music Musically, **On the Beach** is diverse yet cohesive. The album moves fluidly between different styles, from the raw, bluesy rock of "Walk On" to the country-folk simplicity of "For the Turnstiles" and the languid, melancholic tones of "See the Sky About to Rain." Young's use of unconventional song structures and his willingness to let songs breathe and evolve over extended lengths are crucial to the album’s impact. The use of sparse instrumentation allows the lyrics and mood to take center stage. "Revolution Blues" features a menacing guitar riff, with a rhythmic intensity that mirrors the paranoid undertones of the lyrics. This track, inspired by Charles Manson, has a relentless, almost claustrophobic feel, enhanced by the propulsive bass and tight drum patterns. "On the Beach" and "Ambulance Blues" are characterized by their mellow, hypnotic grooves, created by the interplay of guitars, bass, and drums. Young’s lead guitar work, often drenched in reverb, adds an ethereal quality to these tracks, creating a dreamlike, contemplative atmosphere. The banjo and dobro on "For the Turnstiles" lend a rustic, old-time feel, contrasting sharply with the electric guitar-heavy tracks. The minimalist production approach allows the music’s raw emotional core to come through. Young’s voice, often described as high-pitched and vulnerable, becomes a central instrument in conveying the album’s themes. His delivery ranges from mournful and contemplative in "On the Beach" to almost detached and observational in "Walk On." ### Production The production of **On the Beach** was handled by Neil Young, David Briggs, Mark Harman, and Al Schmidt. The album was recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders in Los Angeles and Young's Broken Arrow Ranch in California. The production is deliberately unpolished, embracing a "lo-fi" aesthetic that emphasizes rawness and immediacy. This approach aligns with the album's themes, providing a stark, intimate listening experience. One of the standout production choices is the use of natural reverb and echo, particularly on Young's vocals and lead guitar. This creates a spacious, almost haunting atmosphere, particularly noticeable on tracks like "On the Beach" and "Ambulance Blues." The mix is sparse but balanced, allowing each instrument room to breathe, and enhancing the album's introspective, melancholic feel. The production also utilizes a range of unconventional recording techniques. For instance, on "Ambulance Blues," Young’s voice was recorded in a single take, capturing a sense of immediacy and emotional rawness that might have been lost with multiple takes or overdubs. The use of vintage microphones and analog equipment gives the album a warm, organic sound that contrasts sharply with the more polished, overproduced records of the time. ### Themes **On the Beach** is rich with themes of disillusionment, isolation, and existential reflection. The album reflects Young's state of mind in the early 1970s, a period marked by personal loss, political turmoil, and the fading ideals of the 1960s. There is a pervasive sense of disillusionment with the counterculture movement, particularly evident in "Ambulance Blues," where Young reflects on the failure of the movement to bring about meaningful change. Alienation is another dominant theme. Throughout the album, Young grapples with his sense of detachment from the world around him. In "On the Beach," he admits, "Though my problems are meaningless, that don't make them go away." This line captures the tension between personal suffering and the larger socio-political disillusionment that characterized the post-60s era. There is also an undercurrent of survival and resilience. Despite the melancholic tone, songs like "Walk On" suggest a determination to move forward, to "walk on" despite the pain and criticism. This theme of endurance in the face of hardship is woven throughout the album, providing a counterbalance to its darker elements. ### Influence **On the Beach** was not a commercial success upon its release, and it received mixed reviews from critics. However, over time, it has been reassessed and is now considered one of Young's greatest works, a masterpiece of 1970s rock. Its raw emotional honesty and unorthodox production have influenced countless artists across genres. The album's influence can be seen in the work of alternative and indie rock musicians who value authenticity and emotional directness over commercial appeal. Artists such as Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes, and Kurt Vile have cited **On the Beach** as a significant influence. Its minimalist, lo-fi production style and its blending of folk, rock, and blues elements laid the groundwork for the Americana and alt-country movements of the 1980s and 1990s. ### Pros 1. **Emotional Depth**: The album is one of Neil Young’s most introspective works, offering an unflinching look into his psyche. This emotional honesty has a powerful impact on listeners. 2. **Lyricism**: Young’s lyrics are poetic and evocative, using vivid imagery and metaphors to convey complex emotions and themes. The songs resonate deeply on both a personal and universal level. 3. **Diverse Musical Styles**: The album seamlessly blends rock, folk, country, and blues, showcasing Young’s versatility as a musician and songwriter. This diversity keeps the listener engaged throughout. 4. **Atmospheric Production**: The lo-fi, raw production enhances the album's mood, creating a sense of intimacy and immediacy. The use of natural reverb and echo adds to the haunting quality of the music. 5. **Influence and Legacy**: Despite its initial commercial underperformance, **On the Beach** has become a seminal album, influencing a wide range of artists and contributing significantly to the development of alternative and indie rock. ### Cons 1. **Bleakness**: The album’s pervasive sense of melancholy and disillusionment can be overwhelming for some listeners. Its themes of isolation and despair may not appeal to those looking for more uplifting music. 2. **Unconventional Production Choices**: The raw, unpolished production may come across as too rough or amateurish to listeners accustomed to more polished recordings. The lo-fi aesthetic, while artistically effective, might detract from the listening experience for some. 3. **Inconsistent Pacing**: The album’s pacing can feel uneven, with slower, more contemplative tracks like "See the Sky About to Rain" and "Motion Pictures" potentially dragging for listeners who prefer more dynamic compositions. 4. **Lyrical Obscurity**: Some of the lyrics are cryptic and open to interpretation, which may frustrate listeners looking for clearer narratives or messages. Songs like "For the Turnstiles" and "Ambulance Blues" can be enigmatic and challenging to decode. ### Conclusion **On the Beach** is a complex, emotionally rich album that showcases Neil Young at his most vulnerable and introspective. Its raw production, diverse musical styles, and powerful lyricism make it a standout in his discography. While the album's bleakness and unconventional production choices may not appeal to all listeners, its emotional honesty and influence on subsequent generations of musicians are undeniable. Ultimately, **On the Beach** remains a compelling exploration of personal and societal disillusionment, and a testament to Young's willingness to push artistic boundaries in pursuit of authenticity.
neil young fucking rules
Ah, the first of SEVEN Neil Young albums, nine when counting his memberships in other bands. Well, I like this. The whole concept of Neil Young, sort of. But whenever I dug into his oeuvre after say, Old Man, Needle And The Damage Done or this album's title song, I found a lot of country and blues rock with capital Rock that I, at this point of life, probably will never really get into. Some of that present here. Young's is on the good side of that, however. If music can sound honest, it's his. But there's the melancholic, folksy Young: ❤, usually. So this album? A 4 for sure, 2nd side, the honey slides one, is beautiful. Might sit down with the lyrics and give it another listen later.
Блюзовый, спокойный и мелодичный, песни Motion Picture и Ambulance Blues заставили меня задуматься о проблеме и всё об думать, песня Vampire blues шикарная как и Walk On , Альбом прекрасный 9/10
A very good album throughout. 5 stars or A-.
May be my favourite of all Neil young so far.
Ist ein echter Klassiker von Neil Young im Stile von Harvest. Jeder Song eine Perle, erzeugt eine entspannte Stimmung, zum mitsummen und mitsingen.
Another good album by Neil Young. I liked See The Sky About To Rain and On The Beach.
All time.
Rusty’s violin on ambulance blues is a 5 by itself. The rest of this honeyslide-infused depression album only makes it better
My favourite Neil Young record!
Enjoyed my Neil young day
The weather was just right, my feelings were just right, everything was just right - 5/5
Really great album. Not sure how I missed this one before. Listened to it a couple times and it got better as it went along.
This might be his best work, its so warm and beautiful, i dont know how to describe it other than i love it
I'm entering my Dad rock phase for giving this 5 stars. Oh well, off to grill something, I guess.
Neil Young may not be the greatest singer, but he's one of the best songwriters and nobody can play guitar like him. The vulnerability and rawness in his music pulls me in every time.
I liked this better than Harvest? That was very unexpected for me. I think I actually loved every song on here except “For the Turnstiles” and “Vampire Blues.” But everything else? Stunning and moody in the best way. I was expecting to be ambivalent about this album, but it truly blew me away.
Really enjoyed this one 5/5
Cool
Probably my favourite Neil Young album, and many other people's. Sometimes I prefer After The Goldrush. The easiest star rating so far. I choose to believe that car's still there.
Went in blind for this one. I spent the first few songs thinking this might be a 4 star for me because I was digging the sound. As the album went on I just was more and more into it. By the end I just sat in silence for a bit and then went in for the second listen. Definitely 5 star...wow.
Amazing album
i like a lot of neil young's stuff and have always enjoyed this album, but it's not quite to the level of some of his other work, particularly the two or three albums that precede this one. half of this album is songs i love (like the title track, 'revolution blues,' and 'vampire blues') but the other half doesn't quite do it for me. just feel like the crop of songs is not as strong as on some of his other efforts. it's not that i think the album is bad, i just think it could have been workshopped a bit more.
Neil Young records are always perfect. Nothing more to say
New to me; very cool vibe
One of the fun (?) aspects of digging in the ditch is, presumably, finding nuggets of gold. Which wasn't a problem for Neil Young as he would come up with gold constantly during that time but it would become a problem for fans as this particular nugget would prove elusive to seek over the coming decades. Listening to the music on On the Beach ensures that such a thought comes as no surprise. This album is chock full of venom and contemplation, the kind one would have while having seen the desolation atop the mountain. It is little to no wonder why On the Beach has the mythos that it has, for the amount of time spent in the ditch makes someone see and think ferocious things. Alas, all one has to do is move forward and walk on.
I loved this album. It was imperfect in such a charming way. The music was light and fun, super enjoyable, instrumentation was great, totally would listen again.