On The Beach

I get it now. This is music.

I’ve always really enjoyed On The Beach by Neil Young. Aside from Harvest, it’s my favourite of his albums — an easy listen with some truly great songs, the perfect recipe for a timeless record. I was pleased to give it another spin today. On The Beach feels musically laid-back yet carries an undercurrent of anger and frustration in the lyrics, balanced by a faint sense of optimism for the future. It’s a beautifully crafted album, both mellow and meaningful. Favourite track: Walk On and On The Beach Least favourite track: Every song earns its place here. Album artwork: A lovely, evocative cover that perfectly matches the album’s mood.

I love Neil Young. I was in the Young camp during the arbitrary Young vs Dylan battle that went around my high school - now I'd pitch my tent in both. Admittedly this is an album I hadn't listened to much. It has the great characteristic Young tape warp - is this a demo lo-fi feel of 70s Young. Good tunes, it doesn't speak to me like Tonight's the Night and After the Goldrush do but maybe I've forgetten a few of my tent poles. Highlights: The two 'blues' tracks are good, though the questionable practice of white musicians playing the blues or just ripping off blues artists hasn't aged too well. Neil's isn't tooo agregious if that is any consolation. I love the strained, slightly out of tune vocals, guitar and slide guitar on For The Turnstiles. Lowlights: See the sky about rain

I found it hard to rate this album, it’s somewhere between a 3 and a 4. Apart from Mirrorball, I’d not listened to any Neil Young albums before this process, however, this is the 3rd album I’ve been dealt (the other 2 with Crazy Horse). I enjoyed this more than Rust Never Sleeps but not as much as Ragged Glory. Repeated listens would no doubt help here and I’d be open to returning when I get the chance.

3.7 really enjoyed

3.5

Huh, I've never heard of this one before. For an album "On the Beach" there sure are a lot of blues... Opener Walk On is a surprisingly loose and bright sound from Young as despite his melancholy lyrics. He spends the song reminiscing over the good times when the "money wasn't so good" and contrasts that with his current position where people he doesn't know talk about him but never have anything good to say. Ultimately his suggestion is to walk on and ignore it. See the Sky About to Rain finds Young dropping his guitar in favor of a warm electric piano and country twang of a ballad -- fine song. Actually a really big fan of For the Turnstiles. Outside of the subject matter that is evermore valid today in the world of Ticketmaster, the stripped down composition is just lovely -- love me a little stereo banjo / dobro. Vampire Blues is probably my favorite track on here. Speaking to themes of oil addiction and the predatory nature of the industry along a catchy blues progression. On the Beach is a patient trudging song on which Young laments the fact that he's made it to the beach, but still isn't able to break through with a single. All in all, I found this to be an enjoyable listen that grew on me under repeated play. Soft 4.

Not surprising that Neil Young is on this list this many times, but I have been surprised with how much he has grown on me. Just a smooth album.

How'd that car get under the sand like that?

Hadn't heard a single Neil Young song off this before and I enjoyed it. Not his best work but damn solid still. Really enjoyed See the Sky About to Rain.

The way neil was meant to be, loud and original. All I can say is, rock on!

I pretty much only enjoy country/folk rock when it’s closer to rock. This album leans a lot more into its singer-songwriter side and is more calm and relaxed than Harvest, for example. Not my favorite style, but it definitely isn’t bad. When there’s more rock elements, it’s kind of good, otherwise it’s just meh.

Started off so strong with the first few songs but petered out by the end.

Solid. Not my favorite Neil Young.

Ion like how sounds

Not bad to have on in the background.

Really liked it. Should probably listen to some more Neil Young.

It’s aight. We’ll see. It’s nice but we’ll see. It was aight.

It's not bad. Neil Young isn't the most gripping artist, but this one isn't bad. I didn't get to listen as intently as I'd wished, but it's ok. I may try and go back to it.

ok, better than the other one

He just didn't miss. 5 Stars. Will definitely revisit.

Solid 4

I really like Walk On

There's some simplicity here, the image of a Californian beach, in the afternoon, without that much sun actually works here perfectly

On the Beach is a haunting, beautifully weary reflection on disillusionment and solitude. The album drifts between ragged, loose jams and quietly devastating confessionals, carried by Young’s cracked voice and stark honesty. Its hazy production and melancholic tone create a mood that feels both intimate and desolate. Though it’s not immediate or polished, On the Beach rewards patience with emotional depth and understated brilliance.

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.

Clunky, uninspiring, and has done nothing to dispel my dislike of his rather feeble voice. There were one or two brighter moments but then I realised these were the adverts.

Some of this is quite funky (for dad music) and others of it is jingly jangly nasal ennui.

Another Neil Young album...meh. The final track is terrible and drones on for nearly 9 minutes. Thank goodness it's over

As with every classic era neil young album i have listened to, the songwriting is amazing. I am personally a big fan of his voice. It's still not as good as tonight's the night though.

Decent.

Had a little cry on the bus along to this… good stuff

Ok

I didn’t like this at all. I actually dreaded it after about 3 mins in.

Alright. Not my thing

Love Neil, this one is a hidden gem in his discography.

Neil Young in my mind is always mediocre stuff, but when I put it on it’s actually quite incredible! Very balanced songs, pleasant to listen to actively or as background music and decent production

timeless 10/10

Not bad, kind of relaxing. Not really my jam though.

Solid! Liked the music but none really stuck with me

Hoo boy that was a slog. Just such. Slow. Music. And I guess I don't like his voice that much.

When I listen to Neil Young on the radio I am generally annoyed and change the song but somehow listening to his full albums I have a different reaction and enjoy him a bit more. Can't quite explain why but here we are.

3.5/5

Love the trilogy. This was an amazing, reflecting and easy going album.

Cuppa, this is not.

Didn’t know Neil had the slow blues in him. Like the raspy voice and slower tempo to the songs.

I think I like this more than Harvest, which has a few duds on the record. This one is just flawless.

There is so much nesl on the list. It’s frankly outrageous

This sounds like Neil Young. Albeit a bit more chipper, at least at the start. Having heard another of his (or is it two) from this list already, I do feel that if you've heard on, you've heard them all. Seventies rock. Not really my thing.

Wholesome, hearty, worthy. Also rather good.

Fine little album. Some songs though, especially the closer, went on for a little longer than I would have hoped.

something very nostalgic about this. like an ending or a montage theme song.

Iha jeba

Never done Neil Young really before, like robert plant and a more folky Led Zep. Enjoy.

Similar to the first Neil Young album I got in this generator, this one was half good. In this case, however, it was the first half of the album that really shined. Starting at For the Turnstiles it starts to get a bit weak and the tracks either have very pitchy vocals or drag too long. A middle of the road album gets a middle of the road ranking for me.

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

Good album. Feel like some of the songs meandered a bit too much but still made for good accompaniment to my commute home. 3.5/5

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.

I don't know about this one. I like a lot of Neil Youngs shit but this one was kinda meh. It's my 3rd or 4th Neil album so far and he's very hit or miss. I got his greatest hits cd many years back and I'll probably stick with that for the most part.

Enjoyable but kind of boring. Nothing really notable on the album

There is nothing essentially wrong with this album. There’s a few nice blends of different genres that all create a comfortable, unchallenging vibe. Perfectly serviceable background music. A bit unfortunate to have this on the back of Tea For the Tillerman and only 6 albums beyond the previous Neil Young album. I’m not sufficiently clued up to know which Neil Young albums best warranted inclusion but that’s too quick a turnaround!

Again!! I really like the musicians I just find some offence with the vocals. I dont care if the lyrics are profound, artistic, shakespearean or whatever. His voice just pisses all over the musical fire. Can somone just re-do all these albums just without Neil singing. Find someone else please. I mean how much better does a song need to be "Vampire Blues" is great.

Probably the best Neil Young album so far, musically. I liked the slow bluesy vibe. I still find his voice annoying and there is too much Neil Young on this list.

I think his voice is not my favorite. Lots of gems and good turns in the lyrics but not entirely my speed.

Need to listen to more Neil Young, this is good stuff

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

A bit melancholy for me

"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.

Neil Young has better albums than this. It was not that exciting.

I've listened to a bunch of Neil Young and never heard this album. Kinda surprised this one's in here rather than Harvest or one of his all-timers. But then again, at least it got me to check it out, because it's real solid. Not his best, and there's no real classic track on here, but it's a solid all-the-way-through album, which I like. Vampire Blues was kinda lousy though.

Nice

Not his best, but it’s still Neil Young

Hate his voice.

I love Neil Young. I love Buffalo Springfield, and Crosby Stills Nash and Young. That said, Im not sure how I have never heard of this album and I would bet money that Jack White and Violent Femmes love it. I would buy a copy of this record and listen to it regularly. This album is amazing.

I've never been a Neil Young fan, but I liked this album. After reading the Wikipedia about it, maybe I prefer the stripped-down, less produced version of Young this album captures. And normally I wouldn't be psyched for a nine-minute album closer, but "Ambulance Blues" is great. It's a new day, y'all.

Big Neil Young fan here. But his discography is among the most exhausting in all of rock-dom. After the Gold Rush, Harvest, and Freedom are definitely all top 100 albums for me, with After the Gold Rush being top 10. But he's put a whole lot of absolute junk out there. Smart of him to put out Decade to help separate out the wheat from the chaff in the 1970s. Had not listened to this whole album before. It was better than I thought it would be. And it encourages me to go back to some of these deep cut albums. Which I might regret.

"'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." What the actual fuck Neil Listen, I liked three songs here. I also really didn't like five others. I'll admit, I've heard worse music in my life. But I just can't be fucked to look for whatever the hell it is in this album that makes people rate it well. I think Neil Young is whiny and sluggish, and this one did not help with that perception. Fave songs: - Walk On - For the Turnstiles - Motion Pictures (For Carrie)

For an album titled "On the Beach", that was kinda bleak.

Honest gorgeous stuff. Not his best but up there in the 1001 easily.

Great lo-fi, great lyrics, and Neil’s superb voice.

Really enjoyed this. Slightly depressing of course but every track was a banger

A really nice album! I know he's not the best singer but the songs were lovely 4 ⭐️

Slightly depressing, nothing outstanding, vocal is hit and miss. 2.5/5. Raising to 3.

Favourite track(s): Walk On; See The Sky About To Rain; On The Beach Great opener, with anthem potential! Overall, the instrumentals paint the melancholic mood of the album really well, although I could do without the one on Ambulance Blues. For The Turnstiles also sticks out in a negative sense. Youngs vocals can be harsh on that track and a few others but otherwise fit the mood. The texts range from interesting (Revolution Blues) to painfully simple (Vampire Blues - oil, we get it). A clear vibe, a few really strong tracks but in parts a little too meandering (in particular the closing track). An album strongly tied to a particular locale, which may make it hard to identify with.

Starts off a bit dull, but picks up during Revolution Blues. Still a couple of generic moments after that, but also some great stuff, like the title track. Peaks at a four, but because it’s a bit uneven… 3/5

i guess i always thought neil young was for old white men but i enjoyed! the end turned a bit too slow stoner for me but loved motion picture and walk on. honestly didn’t listen to the lyrics too closely but the vibes were very chill to sad which has its time and place

one million dune buggies. The last song was good

Could see it becoming one of my favourites of his with some instant classics Second and third song stand out immediately. Second half of the album slower burn will have to listen again. Enjoyed it a lot though. Think he has one of my favourite voices ever.

Classic Neil with urgent blues.

loved it, some brilliant ryths. Surprised I haven't heard it previously

one of his early masterpieces

Liked more than I thought I would. Vampire Blues was a standout 🧛‍♀️

3.4/was chill

Started out really good, very upbeat jolly music. An total to contrast to yesterday's Nick Cave contribution in every way. It tailed off towards the end unfortunately which was a shame. His voice was more consistent than on his other entries which helped. Hadn't heard any of the the songs before, which sort of begs the question why is it here? As it didn't have the aspect of a landmark album. But I enjoyed it. Is it worth a 4? No, but it is a very high 3.

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.

Sorry Neil, but i will never like you. The Mission did a better version of 'Like a Hurricane', the only song I rate by you. This album compared to the previous efforts is much more competent in every aspect, apart from that weird guitar solo thing where it sounds like your fingers were taped together with Gorilla tape. I liked that bit of originality, but it just wasnt enough to save you from another 1 star. The rest of the album was just a plod. I'd prefer to enter the Longest Walk competition than listen to this again.

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.

Not that anyone reads these, but if they did, I would be chased outta town for saying this: Neil Young is the most overrated singer/songwriter/rocker in history. I do not, for the most part, enjoy his music, regardless of the iteration. This album is no different.

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.

Less spectacular than some of his other albums. Still can’t get enough of his style. Low 4

Much better than I remembered.

If you’ve only heard Neil Young’s most famous albums, there are shades to On The Beach that will surprise you. It’s comforting to hear him in this less momentous mode. He never pushes the performance too hard, you instead lean in and let him whoosh you away with a delicate voice and gorgeous finger picking guitar. He is a great storyteller.

Ungh!

A couple of tracks on this are OK because he doesn't sing much.

Pretty good, but not quite there yet. It does have an intriguing cover though.

MJ Lenderman but 50 years earlier. It is crazy how influential this album is. Love the songs and his voice and the scrappy production. Super super great. 4.5

The way MJ Lenderman is just Neil Young but for Gen Z needs to be studied it’s nuts. Anyways appreciate this album even more than when we heard it for the 70s list. Neil young is an awesome songwriter

Felt a little at times like this was a contractual obligation. Some tunes were better though

This one grew on me a lot the more I listened to it and I really quite liked a lot of it.

Another mixed bag of songs. His vocals were considerably better than the last album we had and he clearly writes some good songs, with the upbeat ones being the best here. However, there are some duds on here and the country twang present throughout really annoyed me.

Nice chilled affair, and for Neil Young it does feel quite happy. Although to be honest, if he’d farted into a microphone for 30mins in the early 70s, I’d probably still like it, he was on it then. I do though struggle with the concept of Neil Young being a beachy kind of person. I see him more of a sit round the campfire in the wilderness kind of chap, guitar in one hand and rifle in the other to take potshots at some bastard corporate loggers. I could be wrong though.

It's a 4.5 for now, higher than "Harvest" but still not "After the gold rush". I have a feeling it can become a 5. It was a beautiful surprise.

I like Neil a lot. I recall Dad playing Harvest a lot when I was young, and I discovered Neil's harder side in college. I've bought a lot of Neil's albums, but I hadn't listened to this one. I enjoyed this, especially the second half. But it's not an album I needed to hear before I die. 3 stars.

Pretty good folk rock album. I grow more convinced that most of CSNY was better than Dylan.

A revelation

It’s really not great, but not bad because it’s Neil young.

This album was almost interesting

great

my last neil young album is not a good experience but this is quite amazing. but quite my thing but still a 4. 4/5

Good, Not my favorite Neil Young

This is a raw & emotive album full of folk rock songs that I largely enjoy. Ultimately though it also feels a little disjointed in parts and folk is never going to be my favourite genre. A good album but not one to remember.

For the picture I have in my mind of Neil Young, the album cover of On the Beach ain’t it. Neil Young is buckskin coats, moccasins, a flannel shirt, standing in the forest in the fall. On the Beach has him, literally, on the beach in white pants and a yellow sweater. It’s weird. The music, though, is Neil Young. Good music with lyrics that mean something, and his patented stop-and-start, weird guitar solos. This album was his attempt at not doing what he had been doing to get big and famous. I can appreciate that, but without knowing what the albums before this sounded like, I’m not sure I’ll get the big deal. There are a lot of blues songs on here, at least blues Neil Young’s way. I liked everything on here, but I’m not sure its impact is something that can be digested in a day’s listening. It seemed critics were like that when it came out in 1972. It’s one of those albums that grows on you with further listening. I listened to it twice, with the lyrics the first time. I must say, it didn’t blow me away. On many of the albums on the 1,001 list, it’s hard to appreciate things that were new in the 1970s when you’ve heard everything since then. I will say, Neil Young has been a blind spot in my music listening life, and I’m looking forward to more albums. Maybe one day, I’ll just start them and listen to them in chronological order. Until then, I think the significance of some of these albums I’m missing.

Not one of my favourites of his, but, you know, it's Neil Young. I still like it a lot.

due palle

è un 3 che tende al 4 ma purtroppo non abbiamo decimali. per me l’ascolto è stato molto liscio e mi piace che lo stile dell’album sia molto vario, così come lo sono i temi

Lo devo riascoltare meglio. Ci sono stati dei brani molto interessanti. Altri invece mi hanno un po’ scocciato. 3.5

Neil è il mio canadese preferito. Quest’album segna una svolta dal momento che inizia a incorporare elementi rock in un suono folk/country e chiaramente all’epoca non fu capito. Numero 1

Allora ad essere bello è bello. Però mi sono anche resa conto che dipende molto dal mood in cui mi trovo quando ascolto musica. Ieri, ad esempio, speravo che quest’album finisse il prima possibile perché mi stava solo facendo innervosire, era troppo lento. Tuttavia è innegabile il fatto che sia fatto bene.

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)

Day 70 First listen- An enjoyable album, the tracks really pulled me in and the melodies in some tracks were soothing and I love his lyricism. (3.5/4)

This was a listenable album. See the Sky About To Rain, For the Turnstiles, and Motion Pictures were the most interesting songs for me. You can enjoy however every song on this album and not feel bored. Neil Young does have better albums, namely After The Gold Rush, which leaves an impression.

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!

I enjoyed this album. Good mix of funk and folk.

🙂👍

Classic voice. Motion pictures, sort of a slow porch song, got me

Cool cover. Songs didn’t do much for me personally.

The thing is, there are actually some decent songs but his voice does them absolutely no favours. They could make some banging cover versions though

“ On the Beach is one of the few from Young's catalog that doesn't land easily on either his country or hard-rock piles. Three song titles with the word "blues" give you an idea of the mood, but hardly prepare you for the bleak anger of "Revolution Blues" or "For the Turnstiles", post-apocalyptic visions as eerie as any of 28 Days Later's scenic pans.” — Rob Mitchum, Pitchfork https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11868-on-the-beach-american-stars-n-bars-hawks-doves-re-ac-tor/

In this album, and ably assisted by his so-called ‘honey slides’, Neil Young captures the difficult to achieve and even more difficult to maintain state of “being body stoned to a biblical degree but still coherent enough in thought to have a pop at Big Oil.” And, as per usual, it’s really good. “See the sky about to rain” is just as sweet and whimsically melancholic as you’d hope from its title, while the various “… Blues” (Revolution, Vampire, Ambulance in order) make for a powerful triptych of attitudes – folk’s own Garden of Earthly Delights. A record that demands you nod along, and for a number of reasons.

I know the guy's a legend, but entire Neil Young albums all the way through kind of bore me. For this one, I feel like if you asked a reasonably robust AI to craft a Neil Young album circa 1973-1974 this is what it'd come up with.

Completely forgot this album 20 minutes after it finished. 1/5

Liked the blues-iness of this and generally enjoyed it musically, but it feels like something I'd need to give closer attention to to really appreciate.

Ugh. I know he is revered and all that but I just can’t past his whiney old man vocals. Do not like.

I've been listening to Neil Young since the early 90s and at almost no point in that run have I been able to get past his voice (give or take a song here or there, e.g. "Cinnamon Girl.") Which is a shame cause there's a ton of good stuff throughout his catalog. His lyrics are profound. The music is urgent and thoughtfully crafted, even in the folksier corners that I'm usually allergic to. I *want* to love him and there are plenty of other lead singers with nasal, kind-of-annoying voices that I love. So what is it about Neil Young that cuts me off at the pass? Anyway, I never got to a point on On The Beach where the music was so good that I didn't focus on his voice. "Revolution Blues" came closest.

I gave it an extra star with the hopes that it is celebrating the last fucking Neil Young album I have to listen to. Used to go to the bridge school show's when they were a thing in the Bay Area. A great thing about Neil Young closing every show was that it was a great way to beat the traffic leaving the shoreline amphitheater.

fav tracks: "Vampire Blues" and "Motion Pictures (For Carrie)"

Another album of Neil Young bangers. Second album of his I’ve reviewed following Harvest. I may even like this album more than that one. Maybe. I gave it a 3.9/5, and I’m going to give this one the exact same rating. It’s really good, still a ton of fun Harmonica riffs, and a solid measure of pretty Rock songs vs jamming Rock songs. As close to a 4 star album as you can possibly get. The song “Revolution Blues” is my favorite song on the album, and it’s really not even close. That song absolutely makes the whole album, and without it I think this would fall to about a 3.4 or a 3.5. That being said, I still don’t think this album has a bad song, I just like that one that much more than the rest. This is something I’m actually likely to return to, and some other songs like “For The Turnstiles” are good enough to make the rotation of songs I frequently listen to. Great job with this one Uncle Neil.

Has rich metaphorical value that I enjoyed. I think it was quite impressive however, i did not enjoy some of the songs

Bien

lovely!

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.

Very 1974

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.

It’s alright. As always, don’t love Young’s voice, but there’s a lot of great guitar work and writing in there.

This is about the same as any other Neil Young album. Pretty boring with a couple solid songs

Not bad

Sparky start. I wanted more grit, less gloom. It's my birthday. How many "blues" songs do we need? Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - Walk On - See The Rain In The Sky - Revolution Blues

Some decent folk melodies with a few tracks I wasn't a fan of. Nothing offensive, nothing truly standout, so a 3 seems about right

Very unforgettable. Honestly don’t remember a single thing about it. I didn’t actively dislike it though

Neil Young seems like a real cupcake but I can get my foot tapping to his music so I’ll keep listening.

I like an album that have have a banjo, dobro, harmonica, and bongo drums all in one. Vibes were good, I just don’t like his voice. It is Willie Nelson-ish and I’m not a fan

Neil young is a silly liberal

Pretty mid but easy listening while I was working on a project 5/10

Though there’s a simplicity on this album, character is in the songwriting, conviction in the composition. There’s a rawness. Musicians just making music. The vocals sound bleak, rugged, emotional—wry and bitter at times. It pulls me in and makes me feel indignant, like maybe there ought to be a chip on my shoulder. Using unique sounds for atmosphere is very effective on this record. Organ on “Vampire Blues,” Wurlitzer piano on “On the Beach,” djembe, slide guitar, harmonica, fiddle create textures that feel intimate and stirring. Guitar solos on “On the Beach” was the best moment on the album for me. The record is kinda a downer, but I enjoyed it. There’s not really any hits, but the longer it went, the more I just felt it. Musicians just making music. I’m torn on what to rate it. I’m not sure how often I’ll revisit it, but I am glad I heard it. 7/10 Standouts: Walk-On On the Beach Ambulance Blues

This is actually unbearable, I could've very easily died without listening to this . "oh no you just don't understand, the dogshit guitar and nursery rhyme lyrics actually signify-" oh my god shut up Date listened: 05/09/25 Favourite song: AT A STRETCH Walk On Rating: 1 star

One of the best.

It's Neil Young! Very good album. 8/10

- "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. -

One of the best written albums I’ve heard. The songwriting is extremely strong throughout and I’m now looking forward to the other Neil Young albums on this list. The different styles on the album, country, blues, and folk, all work very well together. The record has an aesthetic or vibe that I’m not quite sure how to describe but I really like whenever I hear in music. 4/5

A slow smooth rock/country sound with a nice voice to match. New music to me but I enjoyed it a lot. Certain days music like this works so well.

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.

Good for background music; sad, a bit wistful music.

pretty good album i liked it. Not the style i would usually listen to. honestly kinda sad lmao

Cover 6.5 Uh... First heard Neil Young in the 90s when I was in highschool. I hated his voice. FUCKING HATED it. So, after 35 or so years of not even giving him a shot, this comes up, my first Neil Young album. I braced myself and got some tissue in case my ears started to bleed. His voice is not great. When people who can actually sing cover one of his songs, that's basically how I prefer my Neil Young, interpreted through a lesser-grating, non-whiny, non-nasally voice. But listening to this, I actually didn't mind it as much. Granted I'm older and my hearing isn't what it used to be. In the end, Not As Grating on My Ears as I Thought It Would Be.

Now, I really tried, but I just don't like Neil Young, his whining, his lyrics and especially, his voice. The only time it worked for me was on "Deja Vu" with Crosby, Still and Nash, and that's probably because he's not so prominent on that album. So, sorry, but not sorry. 1/1

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.

I like Neil Young, but didn't recognize any tracks on this album. I think I've heard the second track, See the Sky About to Rain, which is good. The opening track, Walk On, is a little underwhelming. Revolution Blues is solid. For the Turnstiles is a great folk track too. Vampire Blues is a good blues track. Other than the first track, the whole album is pretty consistent and good. Even though it doesn't really have any absolute classics, this album is more consistently good than some of the more famous albums. 4/5

I’m more familiar with Neil Young’s Harvest. On the Beach doesn’t reach its heights. On the other hand, there’s nothing here as, well, odd as a couple of Harvest’s tracks (e.g., the orchestra appearing out of nowhere). On the Beach is steady and solid. I still prefer Harvest.

I still just don't particularly care for Neil Young. I wish I saw what so many others seem to. He just doesn't grab me and I guess I'm missing out.

70s folk rock.

you again? I thought I liked Neil. I don't know why but he's starting to annoy me.

Fun cover. Miserable album

It's a great album with a lot of variety, but I don't know it as well as some of the others

I liked it

Dreadful post-hippie dad rock.

Decent

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.

Pre-listening thoughts: it is ABSURD how much Neil young is on this list and we’re like maybe halfway through with his stuff my god Post/during listening thoughts: I mean it’s a good thing I remember I LIKE Neil young when his stuff gets generated and I actually sit down and listen to it. If I was a Neil young hater I would probably have a hard time with this list. I mean I do have a hard time with this list but for other reasons. I love the album cover for this one. I really like the sound of this album. I think there’s a groove here that some of his other stuff doesn’t quite have. It actually suits his singing style quite well. I do think it is unnecessary to have THREE song titles end in the word blues. Who are you, Bob Dylan? 7.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: nah Fav tracks: Walk On, Revolution Blues Least fav tracks: For the Turnstiles, Vampire Blues

Typically, I only like a handful of Neil Young songs. I found this album to be very enjoyable and easy to listen to.

Really good singer-songwriter record. The music is great and the lyrics are sharp. Every detail — the solos, the additional instrumentation — feels in service of the song. This wasn’t a Neil Young record I was familiar with, but I’d love to hear it again. Great album cover too.

I really like Neil Young but this record was just OK for me. It felt a little bit too much of his formulaic singer-songwriter classic rock with the same blues chord progression and after a handful of the songs it became too repetitive. It was hard for me to get past this repetitive composition device, but I could look at it after finishing the album and realize that there are some standout moments in here.

Pretty good

Solid album with a couple of classic tracks.

This broke through my animosity for NY (not musical, for personal reasons). I’m here for this.

Was mainly in the background. I love Neil Young. Album certainly deserves to be on the list.

Don’t know why I don’t listen to more Niel Young. Am going to try and start.

Not sure how I feel this album, certain parts were good, others felt too repetitive and boring. It’s not album that I would replay or add into my playlist.

Nice sounds, listened once to feel it and another to hear the lyrics.

Worth a relisten, I'll play it again. 8/10

Really enjoyed this one, much better than After The Gold Rush

I like Neil Young quite a bit, but mainly Harvest and some of the newer hits. I struggled to get into this, perhaps it's one you need to study the lyrics on. I know it is considered one of his best. I'll keep listening!

I have never really given Neil Young much time. This was enjoyable, but forgettable.

Very folksy, almost blues-like. Overall a great listen.

It's Neil Young

Nice album, not the best Neil Young I have heard

It's Neil Young so its good, but isn't really my jam, still saved a few songs though.

Another Neil Young album... This is good album. Pitchfork: 9.5 Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #311 (2020) Best Songs Walk On See The Sky About To Rain On The Beach Motion Pictures (For Carrie)

Winner! Grumpy Neil Young is fun. He’s fun when being dark. 7.1

2,5/5. Могло быть интереснее, будь я любителем жанра.

Kinda depressing. Like so much of his stuff.

Was ok, not blown away however

Walk On - Nice; very easy-going and sort of nostalgic. I like "Some get stoned, others get strange". See the Sky About to Rain - absolutely gorgeous - so sweet and wistful. Revolution Blues is fun. I like the riff and the contemptuous way he sings "I'm a barrel of LA-AFFS" On the Beach - pretty dull verses, but the instrumental bit is good. Motion Pictures (For Carrie) - very sweet and wistful - love the harmonica. Ambulance Blues - again, very sweet and wistful. Nice end to the album.

Solid album chill and short, rly liked title track and see the sky about to rain

Solid

Classic Neil

Very bluesy and quite melancholy, some cool uses of the guitar Fav: see the sky about to rain. A bit eerie in how it preempts the darkness to come

Country?

Ok

Pretty bland overall, but not bad

Meh

cool and bluesy but im not a huge fan of folk rock

Pretty great album - pretty dynamic range of songs that felt pretty cohesive and nice to listen to.

I kind of struggle with Neil's music. Like I feel that there's something there that could interest me but now a few albums in of his, I'm not sure his stuff is really for me. I can respect it, but I wouldn't say I loved it nor hated it. 6/10

Not s fan !

Album écouté sur la plage, face à la mer, comme il se doit !

Rien à dire, que du bon.

Is that his real voice?

Crisp and happy for a Neil Young album. Enjoyable.

just about a great album very chill but never boring

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.

Great album. Favorites are Walk On and Vampire Blues. Creeps in and out of my rotation of albums. Can't quite give it 5/5 as I kind of go in and out of the longer slower songs but they are still good for what they are.

Very clam and lyrically focused , strange but in a beautiful way ?

This one started off strong, and I thought this would be a 4 star album. It's still a strong album, but to me Neil Young straddles being earnest, soulful, singer / songwriter with coming across whiney. A couple of these songs tipped too far into the whiney to award 4 stars.

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.

His fifth album. Rock / Folk Rock. I'd never been a huge fan of Neil Young. I saw him live at a festival in Western Australia. He performed just before the Arctic Monkeys. This was in 2008 I think. He was good and I got him that day. He had an aura and really nailed his set. As for this album. I really like it. I cant put my finger on it. It's simple yet punchy.

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.

Really strong album - I would give it a 4.5 if possible.

Solin ny fayre

need to listen again more closely to lyrics but I listened to this twice throughout the day for the very beautiful instrumentation. only Neil Young song I knew previously was rockin in the free world I did not know he was this good

The 1001 has made me an early Neil Young fan. That said, I don’t know if this album qualifies as a “must listen”. My imagination suggested that good Ol’ Neil was exhausted after six years of straight touring so he got a kilo of anything off the Cheba Hut menu and went to Jimmy Buffet’s beach, and this album metastasized. It’s a solid mid-level album: not bad, not particularly memorable, just a solid listen in a non-listen way. On the Beach is a great example. It very bluesy and laid back but lacks any specific climactic point. Vampire Blues (one of three songs with ‘blues’ in the title) was tongue-in-check humor that is probably funnier on the beach with Neil. This one is listenable but not a vinyl priority.

Random thoughts: * Another Neil Young album!!! * This was a good listen. It's pretty chill and no hit songs really jump out here. * Vampire Blues and Revolution Blues were fun. * Walk On might be the most upbeat song on this one. * I'd need to listen more and I'm sure there would be more to discover. Someday I might start a Neil Young phase.

Classic Neil Young but nothing special stands out

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.

You know what you’re getting with Neil… it’s the same and yet comforting. I don’t know that I need to listen to seven albums that hit the same notes and frequency but there we go. Not quite Harvest or After the Gold Rush - I might have just stuck to those two. But this is solid fayre!

I have this album on vinyl. It is very typical Neil Young with a some what raw production. None of these songs became "best of" songs for Neil but I think there are a few gems here.

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.

This was rather good, and I'm not the biggest Neil fan. I hadn't heard any of these before and I liked all of them. But holy hell, there are 7 Neil Young albums on here. I mean, come on. The dude's good and all, but it's not like this one is all that different from his others. So, minus a star. It's not his fault, but still.

A real treat to discover a Neil Young album I did not know existed. A perfect songwriter.

Yes, a slow burner I think (though I listenes 1.5 times). The two songs with "blues" on the title plus "On the Beach" my highlights though also the wnd of the disc was nice. 9 songs. Maybe I will listen again. My first Neil Young Album.

Nice and relaxing folk stuff, i liked it

Really Enjoyable. Last song was a bit of a slog, in fact the entire back half felt lacking in energy, but it didn't really affect the experience until the final track. My Standout: For The Turnstiles.

I love Neil. His voice feels comforting and familiar. This was a brand new listen for me, I should put on more of his albums in the background on a casual afternoon.

More warbling from Neil Young. I really liked track 2, but what else will I remember from one casual cursory stroll on the beach? It’s monotonous after awhile.

Neil young is a whiney baby. Best thing he ever did was remove his music from Spotify, too bad it’s back now.

Not my favourite, but surprisingly strong - great melodies & hooks.

It's fine.

Not Neil's strongest work, but still passable. It's his late work that becomes truly unlistenable. Hope that the best albums are also on this list 👍

Grateful deadish, anger, alienation On the beach Motion pictures Ambulance Blues

good sounds, especially when we talk about folk rock, again one song is outstanding bonus for the album cover

BEST SONGS: - Vampire Blues - On The Beach

Really nice blend of folk, country, and blues, with Young’s soft vocals and the sparse production lending a chill vibe.

Quebecois's Review : Moi qui déteste amèrement tout le travail de Niel Young, c'est son album le plus écoutable. Translation : I do hate all the work of Niel Young, but this is his most listenable album.

sounds like an album he put out because the studio needed it. nothing good on this piece of garbage.

4th Neil Young album... But it’s all right. This one was actually good. Not fantastic – I doubt I’ll ever use that word to describe a Neil Young album – but quite enjoyable, at least. I really prefer Neil Young when he does country-blues or country-rock instead of just pure country (or worse, nasal whiny ballads), so this album was right up my alley. All the "blues" track, and especially Revolution Blues and Vampire Blues, were pretty cool, and On The Beach was a superb song. Still not my kind of music, probably won’t listen again, but I had good time reviewing it.

Really fantastic!

This era of Neil Young is my favourite. Listening to this I learnt John K Sampson's Vampire Alberta Blues is an hommage to Vampire Blues off this album.

Would re listen. Curious what the doom trilogy is

Blind spot for me on Neil Young Decent album, nothing stands out as an amazing track like some of his other albums, but also no real bad tracks.

This album was mostly easy-listening background music for me. I like the harmonica, I like the bluesy rock elements mixed with the country elements. There's some sweet guitar on here. Some of the songs I didn't love, like "For the Turnstiles", but others like "On The Beach" I really liked. "Walk On" was a jam. The rest of the album was different from this song. I loved the riffs. The album was very low key in the back two thirds and didn't really keep my attention. It was really nice background music though. I feel like maybe I'm being a bit harsh with a six. Maybe on a day where I'd paid more attention it would be a seven, but today is not that day. 6/10

cool album art but pretty ok overall

Fav song: see the sky about to rain Worst: for the turnstile 8/10 album

Boring, still Neil Young, but boring

Didn’t enjoy the experience of this all the way through

Why are there so many Neil Young albums on this list!!!! I just don’t get it

I like

This has got to be the most boring music of all time.

For the turnstiles is definitely a highlight but this album is just great all the way through no skips

love love love

Had a few tracks that might stick with me but the others were kind of a drag.

Not a bunch of hits but still a great album by Neil Young

good Album, enjoyed it

meh, einziges lied das ich mochte war walk on. ansonsten eher mittelmäßiger 70s rock was nicht schlecht ist aber auch nichts was man unbedingt hören muss

2.5/5

Leuk!

young's best

Whiny folk singing interrupted by moments of boomer rock brilliance.

Hadn’t heard this one straight through before, but of course had a song or two. Neil Young is always Neal Young… just is what he is. Some bluesy numbers. Solid, but not the pinnacle of Neil Young.

Ikke min smak

I thought this album was good, though it didn’t blow me away. Again the rating system on this website is too limited, so I’d maybe say it’s a strong 7 on a first listen. I think the magic of Neil Young’s music is usually in the lyrics, and for whatever reason his lyrical stuff doesn’t hit me until subsequent listens. Maybe this will improve in my mind as time goes on.

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."

Better than the last one

Typical Neil Young. Not bad . 3 stars

Has its place. No stand out tracks and as an album hangs together well.

Probably my favourite Neil album. It's just so cracked and vulnerable as if the whole thing could collapse at any moment.