Rust Never Sleeps

Really liked this one. Good listening in the background as I worked. Can't really articulate it, but the vibe just hit right. Like the sort of echoing, live, full bodied nature of the recording. Would listen again.

I have heard of Neil Young but never sat down and listened before. It was pretty great! I do think the songs had all the same vibe and wasn’t particularly blown away by one, so I rated 4. I would listen again.

Proto-grunge protest music with thought provoking lyrics. Neil Young is a legend for a reason.

Day 12: Best tracks: Powderfinger, My My Hey Hey, Thrasher, Pocahontas WOW. What an album, and exquisitely produced. 9/10 for sure. Possibly a no-skip 10/10 - I'll need more time to determine. Does it belong on the list? 100% Yes.

Rust was actually the nickname Neil Young has for Len Houmous. He was of course referencing one of Len’s famous acid trips when he made this album. 4.3 7/9 Welfare Mothers

I think I might officially have Neil Young fatigue from this list. I have one more album from him, but I'm over it at this point. I really loved him in the beginning, and to be fair he does have some fantastic albums, but the last couple I got I haven't been super impressed with. This one was okay. I loved "My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)," "Thrasher," "Powderfinger," and "Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)" but some of the other songs were a mess. I guess "Pocahontas" is beloved by his fans, but it didn't work for me. And what the fuck was "Welfare Mothers"!? Not only did it ruin the flow of the album, but the lyrics were ridiculous. There's a Dana Carvey special from the 90s where he parodies Neil Young songs, and this album really felt like that parody in many spots. Earlier in his career I think he was really on the mark lyrically, but the later I get into his discography, the less impressed I am. He really does sound like a parody of himself at times. There are still some gems, but they are less profound and less frequent. I'd give this album a 3.5 if I could, but I think I have to round up because, while I found many faults with this album, the good songs here are so strong that it carries the album.

8.5 / 10

4/5

Neil Young with Crazy Horse just hits different.

I was annoyed that it was an acoustic live album at first, but it honestly started to grow on me and by the end I was looking at the past 40 mins like it flew by.

Decent folk

pretty good album, some songs are VERY strong, some are not so much. but i have my favourites, and some of the tracks are definitely entering my rotation. 7.5/10 favourite tracks: my my, hey hey (out of the blue), welfare mothers, sedan delivery, hey hey, my my (into the black)

4* but only just. I found the acoustic side weak (with the exception of hey hey my my) and it was rescued by Powderfinger et al.

Rv/g

Solid, enjoyable, great guitar.

«My my, hey hey, rock and roll is here to stay.» Vil Neil Young egentlig ligge med Pocahontas? Og har han tenkt å invitere Marlon Brando med på det? Han synger mye om å bo i tipi og ri på lamaer, «Ride My Llama» høres jo nesten ut som parodi. Tekstene er tidvis ganske cringe, og det preger egentlig mye av det Young har gjort etter denne plata også. At store deler av grunnarbeidet er gjort live, redder mye. Det låter rått, både den akustiske og den elektriske siden, på hver sin måte. Naturligvis best illustrert gjennom de to versjonene av «My My, Hey Hey». Jeg tenker på Dylans go electric-periode, da han kombinerte akustisk og elektrisk, hvor The Band (da The Hawks) kom inn i del to. Selv om Dylans akustiske sett har en nerve og intensitet, så sitter jeg ofte bare og venter på at The Band skal slå seg på, fordi jeg vet at det er så innmari mye bedre. Det samme skjer på Rust Never Sleeps. Men hos Young sin akustiske del føles det som han står og tripper og venter på at Crazy Horse skal entre scenen. Den delen mangler retningen og intensiteten Dylan hadde alene, og tekstene blir mer utsatt uten støyveggen bak. Da merker man lettere hvor klønete noen av linjene faktisk er. Når Crazy Horse først smeller til, er det derimot helt magisk. Det føles som rocken får nytt liv og jeg glemmer nesten all ventingen. Kanskje det er all vrengen som overdøver de kleine tekstene, og takk og pris for det.

Neil old

Classic

Neil Young, for me a neglected saint of the old folk pantheon. I can tell from My My, Hey Hey that I need to slow down and listen to this one. I sense great depths. I see a young man surveying a landscape of bloodsoaked Americana, singing songs of mourning, and of foreboding, of wheat before the thrasher, a gunship on the shore, the encroach of modernity. I know from his political comments, almost 50 years later, that he remained an empathetic American and ineluctable prophet of doom. The ship still looms, blood still runs. He must be tired.

It erased my review I wrote as I listened but the basics I remember are: His affinity/obsession/idk with Indians is weird. Welfare Mothers sounds good but the lyrics are not it. Sedan Delivery may be my favorite. I know Neil Young was in like 57 bands so his style sounds so much like those other bands but he has a lasting sound. There are contemporary bands I listen to that definitely are influenced by him. I enjoy his overall sound. I think the guitar parts are cool. I like his voice.

Lowlight: thrasher, ride my llama, welfare mothers Highlights: everything else Neil Young was someone I never listened to much until my mid 30s, so was happy to hear something I hadn’t heard from him yet. I loved this album and its messages of trying to reclaim yourself and violence that’s just imbedded in American culture. Splitting it between acoustic and electric is probably just a hold out from the record flipping days of one side being acoustic and the other electric. My my hey hey, is a song I have heard and I liked the wise but not tired message of trying to maintain your fire and if not, better to burn out then fade. Thrasher is just a bit too long and ramble and as much as I like Neil young, space music is not his forte and ride my llama is proof Pochhonfas was interesting in the sense that he’s of two spaces in time, being a Native American time during American expansion and talking to Marlon Brando. Sail away is a bit more fun, which is a nice break between all of the heaviness. Powderfinger blasts in with the guitar and the unfortunate story of a young boy being forced to war. Welfare mothers honestly, got kinda boring and reparative Sedan delivery was fast and hard and rocking that you need before the last proto grunge track of hey hey my my. It’s not my favorite Neil young album(Harvest, everybody knows, and on the beach juggle for the top spot) but this was a great continuation of his work and showed that despair being like a decade on the music business he could still make meaningful, striking, melodic and loud bangers 4/5

Not too bad

need to listen again

Solid album

Relaxing yeehaw Nice vocals and instrumentals A pleasant listening experience

So good. Powderfinger sounds like proto-MJ Lenderman

Favourite songs: My My Hey Hey, Thrasher, Sail Away, Powderfinger, Hey Hey My My Least favourite songs: Ride My Llama, Welfare Mothers Rating 7.5/10

Really like Neil Young

Neil Young...he just keeps on Neil Younging...and that is a good thing. Hard to find nits in the Youngster. 4/5

if only i have become rust. then i can stay up and exchange information with people on the other side of the earth all night long. i have very bad postures and i'm so ugly. that is ok because so are you. do you want to burn out or fade away? you ask, i keep silent because i am afraid. i don't want to walk out of the blue because i have always been descending into the black. sex pistols broke up. johnny rotten was reborn as john lydon. john lydon formed PiL. the king is dead. long live the king. 4/5

The first half was incredible. Powderfinger is also fantastic. Didn't rate the second half as much but that's a mood thing for me. A strong 4.

Very mellow music. Solid

This sounds more like a late career post-grunge renaissance than from the actual real life 70's. Really good

I love Neil Young and even I'm feeling, "Enough with the Neil young already"

The godfather of grunge. Great album.

Good album haven't listen in a long time

Wonderful album! I really felt it ended on a high with the last couple of songs! I'd give it a 4.5 if possible.

è live!?!?!!?!?!

Очень хороший альбом, вокал не выделяется, отличный инструментал кроме губной гормошки на которой то ли играть не научились то ли не поняои как она звучит со всем остальным, есть еще несколько косяков но альбом очень хорош 4.4

Good album with some classic song. I’m not the biggest fan of Young’s vocals but he’s a legend.

Excited for this one out of the gate. I love Neil Young and his annoying voice. My My Hey Hey versions opening and closing...chef's kiss. Didn't love all the tracks but will listen again. Given how prolific Neil was, these aren't his best tracks, but I love the feeling of this album. Better to burn than to rust! Listened before? N Saved to library? N Favorite track(s): My My, Hey Hey ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Loved it. Saved some tracks

awesome except for the song where he is totally out of tune with his vocal

Classic Neil stuff. I’ve heard most (if not all) of these tunes before. Great stuff. Hey Hey bookends fucking killer.

Neil Young sabe lo que se hace. Me ha encantado la apertura y cierre con la misma canción pero distinto color. Abre en acústico y cierra a tope.

Love Neil Young although this album is a mixed bag with some great songs and a few average ones. Still a great listen overall.

Realised I don't know that much about Neil Young. Really got in to this, caught me off- guard for sure. Hells yeah, get that fuzz.

Reinforces my comment on previous album. Exceptional guitarist, great song writer, barely mediocre vocalist. I understand vocals are very much down to personal taste so this is just an opinion. Despite the above observations I did enjoy

Nice variety of Neil in one place, good listen, good length before the sound wears me down

Have always liked Neil Young. Voice is not classically the best but the rawness of the melody makes it work well.

If Neil Young actually had a Crazy Horse this would be a 5 Star for sure.

Slaps

Raw grunge, a great look into Crazy Horse and Neil Young. Some real classics on here. -Thrasher -Powderfinger

Sorprendentemente me ha gustado. Tengo que profundizar más en la música de Neil Young

Pleasantly surprised at this one. Not a Neil Young fan, but enjoyed this album.

I haven’t had an album below a 4 in so long please give me something awful to enjoy

This feels like the missing link for me. It's a solid step between the thought out lyric/vocal combo of folk oriented beginnings of rock, and the freedom of amplified electric technology. I'm impressed with what I've heard, and I'm still feeling like I need more listens to digest this properly. My rating may fluctuate with time. My mental image of Neil Young was a variety of Hollywood Neils before today. There's a lot more respect now. 3.6/5

I’ve always enjoyed Neil’s songwriting, though I’ve never listened to a full album before and I’m not sure a live album counts. I enjoyed this, and I'm aware he’s got other albums on this list so I look forward to listening when they come up.

My My

I preferred the acoustic first half, but still lots to love in the back half. Great listen.

Started out with my favorite Neil Young song and everything else was ok. His work with Crazy Horse is def his best.

A decent album, better than I expected. This album was a lot more popular in the 70s/80s but for some reason it’s fallen in the ranks in recent years. Is Harvest better than this? I’m not 100% certain it is.

Was already familiar with Young's work. Knew three of these songs already. Clean, well-executed album with lots of lyric creativity on Young's part. What's really fun is listening to the B-side... you can hear grungy guitar licks that seem 15 years ahead of their time. Young and Crazy Horse were always inspirations.

Нил Янг никогда не разочаровывает. Отличный альбом, начинающийся с хита, вначале блюзовый и мелодичный, к концу становится бодрым и роковым. Классный, кайфовый, американский альбом, приближающий своим звучанием к земле и природе. Rock'n'Roll will never die.

Neil, es Neil y eso es suficiente

Really good, he has a very nice voice

sympa

It's not my favorite Neil Young, but any Neil Young is pretty great.

Just good-ass American music.

Good, very listenable album.

Great album. Proto-grunge is a cool name for a genre and can hear the early influences here.

Cool album. I enjoy the acoustic and electric halves of it. Is it supposed to be live? I can’t totally tell.

This is my 3rd or 4th Neil Young album so I knew what I was getting coming into this. That being said, surprised by how heavy the second half was. 7/10

Hey hey

This influenced so much

Lovely stuff! Saw a lot of this live, which was tasty. Simpsons: Yes

Solid album.

blast from the past for me

Really enjoyed it, never heard of the album specifically but knew the first song. Very cohesive, gave my The Who vibes at times. Listened at work so didn't have my full attention... But definitely worth another listen through. Can I come back and edit these reviews later? Testing...

Good

Neil has never completely clicked with me, but this is a great record. The last half is better than the first half, and the distortion on the closing track is great.

My My Hey Hey and vice versa, along with Thrasher, Pocahontas, Sail Away and Powderfinger are great. But I tend to lose focus on the other tracks, making this a 4 star instead of a 5.

Nice stuff. Loved songwriting. Didn't liked structure. Probably would work better if acoustic and electric songs followed each other, not divided by sides. Fav song: Pacahontas.

A solid summer backyard album. I'm not the biggest fan of listening to live recordings, but the live tracks blended in well with the studio recordings.

Back to "new to me" albums today, or at least "I've been meaning to spin that one" albums. I'm familiar with Neil Young, obviously (both through CSNY and Harvest), but I haven't investigated any of the later stuff, and certainly not anything from the Crazy Horse years. Favorites: Powderfinger, Thrasher, Sedan Delivery. A "sorta live" album - side A is much more acoustic and folk-ish than side B, interesting way to structure the album. Love the bookend tracks in both styles.

Bookended by one of the greatest songs of all time, can't go wrong. The rest isn't jazz is great folk moving toward out there jam rock. Big fan.

Classic Neil Young sticking it to the disco era.

Dürfte ein sehr gutes "Autobahn"-Album sein. Gute Riffs und nie langweilig

I love Neil Young

Zuhause, Heidenheim, Deutschland. Sehr fein.

The mix of live tracks and studio ones is a bit confusing, but the album overall showcases solid guitar work with Neil Young's signature vocal style. Overall pretty solid, though not world changing.

Nice album of the godfather of grunge who shows why he is called like that. If you don't like his voice you will give this a 1 start, otherwise you cannot deny his capability of writing great songs.

I like the first half of the album with just Niel more than the last half. The last part is interesting but with the clear comparison to the first part I find that the fist part connects more with me Standouts My My, Hey Hey (Out Of The Blue) Pocahontas 4/5

Enjoyed this quite a bit

Neil Young finally got me tonight. Especially loved the repeating intro and outro tracks. The outro is pleasantly heavy.

This was actually quite the surprise and very enjoyable, despite my fears when I took note of this being a mixture of studio and live tracks. The end result is a well-assembled package which sailed by pleasantly in my ears. The stripped back, gentle acoustics combined with infrequent, reflective bursts of harmonica really do provide for some heartstring-tugging moments throughout, with the album coming out of its cave and taking on more optimistic, hard rock tones as it advances. Wikipedia describes Rust Never Sleeps as "proto-grunge", but I'm not sure I'm getting much of that from it (thankfully) - rather, it feels like a precursor to the exploits of bands such as Built to Spill, Dinosaur Jr, Pavement, Sebadoh et al. The opening track has a veil of darkness shrouded over it in a way quite unlike anything else on the album, probably taking the cake as my highlight. I was also pleasantly surprised by Neil Young as a vocalist - for whatever reason, I was expecting some gravelly, two-pack-a-day smoker groaning, but he has a smoother vocal style much more aligned with vocalists of the 90-00s alt/indie persuasion. Would I put this on again? If the circumstances called for something of this ilk, then yeah, I'd probably reach for it.

La segunda parte del disco tiene una fuerza impresionante. Parece que estés escuchando dos discos de dos artistas distintos. 8/10

Not my favorite Neil album but still a good one. A bit jammy for my tatses

Hey Hey, My My, this album will never die. Yeah this album is pretty damn good. I’d heard Live Rust before, and it was also really good, and also longer than this one. Neil Young really does do some of his best work live. Not only on this album does his music excel, but his lyrics are superb on this album. Songs like Hey Hey, My My(Into The Black) or it’s mirror on the first side of the record, or even songs like Thrasher have really vivid lyrics. The songs are also very musically interesting, with Neil’s harmonica taking center stage in many songs. Crazy Horse also serves as a great backing band, with all of the members supporting Neil in their own ways. The album also has an interesting thesis, “It’s better to burn out ‘cause rust never sleeps”. That’s a sentiment that I’m not sure if I agree with, but it makes for a very interesting theme for the album. Overall, this is a great live album, and a great album in general, now, I’ve got to be headed out, hopefully, into the blue of another good album.

Just a rock and it's some solid rock

Sound album 😌

Top 10 live record - combines every style of playing and performance that Neil has at his command.

This album highlights what I love best about Neil Young - his ability to excel at crooning like a lonesome cowboy at one moment and then turning around and knocking you back with an absolutely blaring, fuzzy, electric chord the next. Solid from beginning to end - I would have liked a bit more mixing of acoustic and electric, but as an intentional two sides of a band, I get it. Truly one of the greats from one of the greats.

I have never listened to Neil Young, this album surprised me. Sorry for the backwards comparisons, but I am from a younger generation. Songs like "Thrasher" remind me of The Mountain Goats, and as crazy as this feels to say, and it is not something I was expecting at the tail-end of this album, "Sedan Delivery" sounds like an early prototype of Pixies. Very Francis Black-esque vocals, and while the instrumentation isn't as "strange" as a Pixies song might be, the tempo changes are there. Really neat album considering the the time period.

Good

Hey hey, my my is too good

I didn't really like the last Neil Young I got (Tonight's the Night) but really dig this one for some reason. The ear works in mysterious ways.

One of Young’s best - which is saying a lot, considering the quality of his work. A favourite of mine for years, especially the opening and closing tracks, ‘Pocahontas’ and the outstanding ‘Sedan Delivery’. Solid and essential.

So, only one Neil Young album gets a perfect five. But this is very good: turn on Neil Young, watch Inherent Vice, read Vineland, mourn the 60s

Much like Dylan’s Bringing It All Back Home, Rust Never Sleeps has both an acoustic and an electric side - and it’s all the better for it. The latter even proved formative for the sound of grunge that would blossom in the ’90s. Partly tracked live and later overdubbed, these recordings sound raw and yet fantastic. Plus, the collection features some of Neil Young’s absolute finest songs (Thrasher, Pocahontas, Powderfinger, Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)). Man, does he shred on the B-side with his Les Paul. I’m not particularly crazy about Ride My Llama, Welfare Mothers and Sedan Delivery, as they pale in comparison to the other towering songs on the album. But that’s really just nitpicking. Neil Young reportedly included “rust” in the title of the previous tour as a metaphor to avoid artistic stagnation - however, if you’ve got these songs sitting around, one does wonder what exactly he thought he was rusting into.

I’m really not a fan of his voice, in fact it reminds me of Kermit but worse. This album strangely grew on me over a few listens though. A surprising 4 stars

An all-time great album with songs that will be played forever.

The 1980 pressing of this that I have is from across the iron curtain in Yugoslavia, where Young seems to be sped up slightly, despite the clear 33rpm labels. I guess it shows just how big he’d gotten in the ~10 years since his debut to be distributed and (probably) well-received across the blue/red divide. Well, a slightly pitched-up version of him anyway. The main stories about this album need no introduction - the acoustic A side and the electric B side, the sort of hybrid live/studio feel, and of course the infamy that now besets My My, Hey Hey - Kurt Cobain’s suicide note. On the acoustic A side you’ll find the crushing opener of My My, Hey Hey to lend itself well into the subsequent, almost as impactful Thrasher, through seldom talked about Ride My Llama, and into the more bright and optimistic double feature of Pocahontas and Sail Away. The electric B side does everything the A side did so brilliantly and then some - from the cascading riff of Powderfinger through to the bookending abrasive sign-out of Hey Hey, My My, not letting up in energy or indeed quality once. That’s right, there isn’t a dull moment on either side, despite what you may hear about Welfare Mothers and Sedan Delivery, it’s better to really appreciate these two rather than just waiting for the gap between the more popular tracks 6 and 9 to end. That is the beauty of the album format after all. Rust Never Sleeps sees Young round out the 1970s with an unabashed reaffirmation of his songwriting genius, and Crazy Horse provide the engaging backing to propel it into deserved “greatest of all time” discussions, which I still refuse to partake in. You may have had marginally less time to focus on Young’s lyricism if you were living in Sarajevo at the time of its release, but that needn’t matter when you can just flip your record over and start again, right back out of the blue.

I don't love Neil Young and I don't love live albums. However, this hits some kind of sweet spot, the recording is great, and what's included comprises a set that is varied and succinct enough to give you a good sense of the multi-faceted Neil Young without it feeling like it's hitting you over the head being overly long. I quite enjoyed this.

Good music

Love it!

😩😩😩 I just love neil young so much he’s my goat.

Not perfect but pretty darn close. Thrasher all the way.

....

My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue) 4 Thrasher 3.8 Ride My Llama 3.4 Pocahontas 3.5 Sail Away 3.6 Powderfinger 4 Welfare Mothers 3.8 Sedan Delivery 4 Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black) 4.2 Score: 3.811111111

Grew on me as it went through the album, might listen again

The album is kinda all over the map. Solid listen--like that it opens with the smooth acoustic My My, Hey Hey and ends with the gritty electric Hey Hey, My My. Clear there's a lot going on in the album, but even when not listening intently to the lyrics, I still enjoyed listening to it.

Thanks to Nick Offerman suggesting this album in one of his books, I found this album just five or six years ago. As a beginner woodworker, I was inspired to listen to this in the shop (as Offerman says he did) while I wasted wood and didn't make much more than sawdust and smaller pieces of wood. Thanks to Nick, I love this album and have marginally increased my woodworking abilities. Anyway, I know Neil Young is an acquired taste and not for everyone. I was a hater for a long time, so I get it. For me, ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

I enjoyed hearing what was a more raw Neil Young.

I have always disliked Neil Young, and have already had 2 of his albums pop up here. Those were rated with 1’s and 2’s. I loved this album, the opener will definitely be revisited

This is very good fun indeed!

classic rock, a leyend

So good.

This is one of Young’s defining albums. I like the structure and I don’t think it’s been over done. I would have time for more albums featuring an acoustic and electric side.

Good stuff

This record was incredible! Another Neil Young album I love! It’s acoustic quality, along with its hard rockers at some points, make it a very good mix of a record. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Top-shelf writing and musicianship

Hey hey my my and my my hey hey are certified bangers. Rest of the album was aight. But 4 stars for the bangers alone.

Another excellent album from our boy Neil Young. No idea who Crazy Horse is, I guess that’s his band doing all the instruments and stuff but Neil cooked with the folk per usual. My My, Hey Hey > Hey Hey, My My

**** Don‘t like all of them, but most

This has some of my favorite Neil Young songs, but isn’t my favorite Neil album.

Some solid Neil

WHERE THE EAGLE GLIDES DESCENDING!!! THERE'S AN ANCIENT RIVER BENDING!!! Fav song: Thrasher

Great album

This is my second Neil Young album in 3 days. The first song on "Rust Never Sleeps" is his best. I prefer the first half of this album. The second part should have been more like the first. Wouldn't it be funny if I got another Neil Young album? 4 stars for "Rust Never Sleeps".

Favorites: hey hey my my, my my hey hey other picks: thrasher, sail away

Great lyrics and distinctive tone/mood to his voice, but many songs have same sound.

Good, I prefer Weld but solid

Little slow, but the end picks up and is very very good. Very good

adri: 8, un tio muy majo, musica muy maja. Música de viaje cruzando Estados Unidos. mar: 7, bonita harmonica.

A really quality album - one his beat

Sehr cool

its better to burn out than fade away rieeeese line. aha ich kenn sie vom kurt cobain sim abschiedsbrief. wow. findi super de song. hui mit dead weight uf thrasher meinter glaub crosby stills und nash. huere nasty. ride my llama au huere verzelli time. er singt huuere guet uf dem. uuuuh cooli chords. und bass zum erste mol halloo. mit gfallts gad mega so früe am morge zum ufwache sind super schöni warmi songs mega simpel instrumentiert. und er verzellt mega de text isch voll im vordergrund. mer ghört fast nöd dases live isch. isch alles live? nöd ganz hä. sail away isch etz chli s glich wie vorher die andere aber immerno hübsch. s chömed langsam meh instrument dezue. oke zweiti siite. ha etz überall glese dass die sochli geburtsdtund vo grunge seg. finds etz huuere soft de erst song. oke verzerrti gitarre aber tönt jetz nöd würkli andersch als andere stuff vo ihm us de 70er. welfare mothers isch etz chli hässiger scho seeehr verzerrte stuff. sedan delivery no meh. schnelle best und denn halftime mit jangly verzerrte gitarre jetz gsehni de grunge. meeega grunge huere cool wie hend sie erfunt. reprise vo hey hey hey huuuere heavy verzerrt. funktioniert au mega als hard rock song. geils solo hoi. sie singed afoch über de johnny rotten. ich find s konzept vo rust never sleeps als analogie vo mer mues sich kreativ bewege zum nöd stagniere huere geil und isch au mit en grund wiso de neil young so lang relevant gsi isch de siech het afoch witergmacht und immer sache usprobiert. finds etz nöd es rieeese meisterwerk aber gseh wie das album wegwiisend gsi isch. vieri.

hahaha freumi dank dere liste die ganz diskographie vom neil young durrezlose rust never sleeps isch echt en geilee titel my my hey hey isch halt schono schön ich han mega lang eifach s cover vom axel rudi pell kennt😭 drum tönts so akustisch fast scho komisch bis jz ischs sochli wie alles vom neil young wo ich bis jz ghört han, voll easy und iwie no herzig aber nöd meh... ich freu mich aber sehr uf de proto-grunge de neil young würkt idene zitat na wie en coole und intelligente siech? hmm also powderfinger isch sicher erfrischend gsi aber s jsch doch chli ah mier verbii? welfare mothers kenni hani s gfühl! also powderfinger isch echt cool, s solo ide mitti und v.a. au de hindergrundgsang findi super! na speziell wow sedan delivery mit ihrne tempowechsel findi recht cool damn hey hey my my het megaa verzerrti gitarre hahaha find denn de gegesatz zu sinere nasale ener höche stimm seehr cool DAS SOLOOO jap das isch sehr geil gsi han echt s gfühl, das isch sochli es speziellers album gsi? RESPEKTIV halt nur die 2. hälfti. die erst han ich nöd unglaublich spannend oder kreativ gfunde (au wenn det d lyrics sehr guet seget?) aber ja es git trotzdem es 4i, au weg de kulturelle wichtigkeit

Wonderful record

Good

Rust Never Sleeps is a great album and I thoroughly recommend giving it a listen.

One of the great songwriters, in peak form.

Love the acoustic sounds and pure guitar with a focus on the persecution of natives and longing for nature in the lyrics. His voice is a bit odd, but doesn’t take much away from the experience

I was not expecting to become a Neil Young fan after starting this project, yet here I am. Is this better than On The Beach? No. Is this still a really good album? Yes. Plenty of good substance here to uncover. The guitar work really does stand out in this record I think, mores than most of Neil Young's music - where his voice tends to take centre stage. This record feels way more rock oriented than Neil Young's more folky tunes he's known for. I didn't hate that! Anyways, not a whole heap to write about this one. It was a lovely listen, I won't be rushing back though - there's definitely better Neil Young records I'd go to first. Favourite song has gotta be Powderfinger though, banger.

I prefer his full band rock material to the more folky, acoustic output so things picked up in the second half for me.

had some really good songs on it and i liked the live sound

Awesome good voice great lyrics. Definitely prefer the acoustic side strong 4*

Très très cool, ambiance US, petit porche autour de la maison, rocking chair et soirée d'été

Good laid back album with Hey, Hey, My My

I would give this an album a 3.5/5 if this site let me. Very solid. Electric set goes crazy.

4/5 Classic.

I like it because the lyrics , I recommended because is pretty good you can feel the lyrics.

Powderfinger is as good as it gets. Don’t get many songs with stories that good. Rest of the album is definitely a good listen but towards the end loses a little steam

I think Neil Young gives Bob Dylan real run for his money for best American musician/poet. His lyrics are less creative, but I think are truer to the American experience (especially since they are dumbed down) and he's definitely a more talented musician. damn

Tää oli kiva!

Toimii!

Ya, good rock.

Neil Young is an acquired taste. At least that's the true for me. Sure he had some songs that instantly struck me, like Rockin in the Free World. But his voice, however distinctive, wasn't really something I sought out. I've never listened to a single one of his albums straight through, so I wasn’t sure how I’d view this. It helped that this album started with My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue), an instantly recongnizable song and a classic. Thrasher is an interesting song, love the theme of it, but it just kind of sits there and then fades out. Other than the lyrics, it didn't really move me. Similar reaction to Ride My Llama, though I liked the music more and the lyrics less. Pocohontas is just a weird song - singing about the plight of the indians and then end up singing about the Astrodome and Marlon Brando? Just really strange lyrics. Sail Away I liked a lot better. I could see some people not liking this, but I thought it was just a more well constructed song than the previous few. All in all, though, an uneven first half. It's interesting how this album shifts from solo acoustic to electric with Crazy Horse for the second half. Unique and I liked the construct. Powderfinger is a cool tune, loved the lead guitar work on this. I was less a fan of Welfare Mothers, it's fine but it felt pretty basic to me. Sedan Delivery picks back up, a straight rocker with an interesting viewpoint. The highlight of this album is the dichotomy in styles from the first half to the second, underscored by the different versions of My My, Hey Hey. It's hard to say whether the Blue or Black version is really better (the distortion in the guitars at the beginning of the electric version is very cool), both are great, despite the repetition. To be honest, just focusing on the songs, I'd probably be at a 3 for this. However, given how this album has two distinct halves and the fact that he could take the same song in My My, Hey Hey and make it sound considerably different depending upon whether he goes acoustic or electric? This combines to elevate it for me, making it deserving of a 4. It's far from a perfect album though.

Only one listen through so far. But I like Neil as chill out music.

All done!

Neil Young doing Neil Young, what he wants to, 4 Star

Solid Neil Young album. My 2nd in about a week and a half, and it was another enjoyable listen. I still don't think Neil Young will enter my listening rotation when the challenge is over, but I'm glad I'm checking out some of his stuff. 3.5 / 5

I am always a fan when artists do different stuff for different sides/halves of the album. Such as Low (by David Bowie) where the first half is these repetitive rock/pop songs and the second half is ambient, anyways enough David Bowie. Pretty cool how Neil Young does solo acoustic for the first half and then Electric with a backing band in the second half. This is my first impression of Neil Young (apart from listening to Heart of Gold) and I would say it was a good impression.

Side A (the acoustic side) approaches five-star quality, peaking with the stunning Thrasher. Those five songs are the best of Young's career. Maybe the contrast is an integral part of what makes the record great, but I can't help but find the B-side to be a let-down, as virtuosic and forward-looking as the proto-grunge work on it is. But man, does some of this stuff rip, right before hitting you upside the head. "I just turned 22/I was wondering what to do/And the closer they got, the more those feelings grew." This is one of those albums where I'm shocked by the negative reception it has on this site. To me, this is an obvious 4+ star lock, one of a few dozen key records in the rock canon. Never would have guessed it at 3.52 on here. An aside: this made me wonder whether Neil Young was the first to do the acoustic/electric dichotomy thing with a centrepiece song on an album, as he does with Out of the Blue/Into the Black. Yo La Tengo's Big Day Coming jumps out. Mistress by Red House Painters. Rust Never Sleeps > Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere > On the Beach > After the Gold Rush > Harvest

Great album. The second side was a bit of a shock after the gentle acoustic side 1! Loved the guitar work on Powderfinger.

Blir bättre med mer lyssning. Bra intro till Neil Young.

It was really good. I liked how Neil Young could convey what is like to be a musician with some of his songs. Then, sing about how Welfare mothers make better lovers. I listen to a lot of the albums in this project on the way to work. This is an album that I have to sit down in a quiet room in order to fully appreciate.

A great live Neil Young record.

Instrumental Hip-Hop Liked "Midnight in a perfect world"

Four stars. some of his earlier albums were way better... 'nuff said... next...

Excellent Neil Young album. Another great mix of heartbreaking folk and hard-rocking guitar. The opening track is the highlight, but there are strong tracks throughout. Apparently some of the album was recorded live in concert and finished in studio — that’s cool! It definitely has a live and unpolished feel in the best way. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the reprise of “My My, Hey Hey” that closes the album. It’s really heavy! The feedback and grit is really rough. Great stuff.

"My My, Hey Hey (Out Of The Blue)" is probably Neil Young's 4th or 5th best song, and it's amazing. It's beautiful and sad, and the guitar part is so melancholic that it fits the lyrics about as well as an instrument can fit a voice. I personally admire this quality in his songwriting as I know it's hard to do- and he accomplishes this so masterfully you would think the guitar is another limb on his body. I always found the quote "it's better to burn out than to fade away" to be so sad and profound for people who have that pessimistic kind of world view. Of course this was the infamous quote in Kurt Cobain's suicide note. But this album is a lot more than that song. The rest is full of great folky rock and heavy rock tracks that go through a slew of emotions and tempos. Neil Young to me has always been about being a master of restraint; he always holds on to tensions really well, and experiments with amazing sounding fuzzes on guitars without ever once overdoing it. This album is a low-to-mid 4 for me, I think a 4.3/5. The reprise at the end is so heavy, and sick. I love it.

There was an era where I listened to this album every day. I don’t remember much about that time in my life. Other than Hey, Hey and Powderfinger, I also didn’t remember much about the songs on this album!

Classic album that got a lot of play when I was in colllege.

The 16 year old me ordered this LP from Columbia House specifically for the bookend tracks, and at that time the middle was not a play through for me. Forty years later, I appreciate the full work much more. The standouts for me are still the bookends plus “Welfare Mothers” and “Sedan Delivery”.

I think this album makes it 6+ appearances in this exercise for Neil either as a soloist or as part of CSNY. That’s just silly and way overrated. Ironically it’s this album which does deserve to be here and definitely outshines some earlier efforts. One would think that the half acoustic/half electric model would be imbalanced, but the production and song choice really make it a well balanced listen. I really dug this. And it’s easy to see why bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam have cited this record as a major influence.

Really liked this, loved the chill vibes and love tracks.

Another day, another Neil Young album. I did enjoy this one... love the riff on Hey Hey, My My. Good little variety here and an interesting approach with mostly live recordings with overdubs. Rounding up. 3.5/5

love the mix of classic almost 80s’ rock and some country stuff. not really my thing, yet i enjoyed it. 7/10 for me

I liked it. It wasn't a love i don't think. With neil young ive always struggled but this was nice :)

I actually ended up listening to this before bed… I really enjoyed it! I like Neil Young and I love the electric sound that Crazy Horse brings. I enjoyed the lyrics to the songs too. Very good

I’m

I thoroughly enjoyed this one, but I am a longtime Neil Young fan. That said I understand his vocals and even his musical style may not be for everyone.

Kende alleen "Hey Hey, My My". De rest van de plaat ook zeer degelijk.

I thought this was solid throughout. Good background music. Best track = Hey Hey,My My (Into The Black)

Hey Hey + My My. Acoustic and electric. The acoustic side carries you along by the strength of its lyrics and imagery. Really well done. The electric side...well, it electrifies the way Neil Young and Crazy Horse tend to do. Great stuff but hampered by "Welfare Mothers," which may be ironic but I'm not in on the joke yet. As much as I expected the opposite, I'd say the acoustic side may actually be stronger, but you really don't have to decide. Just listen all the way through, enjoy, and then listen again to try to make sense of it all.

This album is great in that it covers such a wide range of Neil Young's iterations. You have the solo acoustic Neil, the electric Neil, the earthy Neil and the cosmic Neil all in one gutsy performance. I still like his studio albums better, but it is a great view of the artist in action.

I forget how much I enjoy his voice. The music is there and very American-y. He sings to you like a friend who cares.

I didn't really like folk rock until I heard this album. Easy to listen to, meaningful lyrics, and great storytelling. Not perfect, but close.

So good. Only complaint is that I associate this with Cobains death.

Enjoyed this one a lot.

A bit light for a long listen, but still a lot of talent going on.

Listens: 3-4 Standout tracks: Hey Hey, My My and My My Hey Hey Added to Library: TRUE The premise of "rust never sleeps" is an insightful one; something we should all keep in mind. You gotta keep moving lest we become complacent in the things we do.

Very good one, but I prefer studio recordings. Great songs, great harmonies, great songwriting. Fav Track: My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)

I’ve listened to this a few times through now. The imagery and storytelling is so evocative. Interesting structure with one half acoustic and one half electric, bookended by the same song in different forms. Powderfinger is the standout for me - I’m biased because it’s my husband’s favourite Neil Young song and Hayden covers it live sometimes.

When I was 18 I actually spent a lot of time hunting down this record. I had discovered Neil Young through the radio. I bought harvest and loved it. I really wanted to find the album that had Hey Hey My My on it. Unfortunately, the cd was out of print at the time (or that's what google said). This was before spotify... so I remember going to like 15 different cd stores looking for it... and nothing. Eventually I bought a copy online... handed my parents credit card info over to some sketchy site... and boom I finally had a copy. Luckily, it lived up to the hype. I would listen to this album constantly while driving around the country in my green jeep grand cherokee. It was a 5 out of 5 for me then for sure. Recently, I actually revisited it on a whim... not as part of this challenge. And it holds up pretty damn well. I love the transition from acoustic to electric over the course of the album. I love how its bookended with 2 versions of the same classic song. The electric version of hey hey my my just hits so fucking hard. The distortion is like a sledgehammer. Thrasher is one of my all-time favourite Neil Young songs... an amazing folk song about quitting society and walking into the woods and the passage of time (or something like that). "It was then that I knew I'd had enough, Burned my credit card for fuel, Headed out to where the pavement turns to sand." Incredible lyrics. Powderfinger does such a great job of transitioning from the folk side to the electric side. On Welfare Mothers and Sedan Delivery, you can feel the influence of punk on Young which is just cool. Sail away and Pocahontas are just pretty (sad) folk songs. There's no real bad song on this album for me... sure some of the lyrics are a bit wonky (may don't age well). It's probably a 4 for me now? And that almost feels harsh. Perhaps it just couldn't live up to the memory of discovering to the album 15 years ago

Pretty solid album I expected something really light from this album, but I got hit by some hard rockin tunes. "Rock never dies" for real. But it ain't my favorite album. I just don't vibe with it as much.

Started good then kinda fell off. Really enjoyed the first two tracks. 4 stars.

One of Neil's best. Many will hold the electric part up as pre-cursor to grunge, and while true, they're off by a decade: Neil was using double drop D tuning and fuzzy guitars with a simply heavy riff back in the '60s! See "Cinnamon Girl". Proto-grunge from 1969. And a lot of the entire album Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere. But this is great. The two sides of Neil. Both sides are very enjoyable. Very few artists can pull this off... while also creating early grunge to top it off :)

Loved the album back in HS - my first Neil Young album #albumsky #musicsky 4/5

The thing about Neil Young is that he bounces so easily from friggin' awesome to cringe inducing so easily and often. We're all prisoners of history, I guess, but even 19 year old me knew there was something wrong about Pocahontas. But then there's Powderfinger. Nothing is all one thing. Good to remember that, in these days when we all hate each other.

You know an album is good when it makes working a little better when its on. I had already heard some Neil Young before and his stuff is nice but not always my thing (its a good brand of folk rock still) Here though the closer it gets to pure rock its actually fantastic in his own way The way some of these songs and their tones are just click in a way that songs from the 90s who are very obviously inspired by this (Pearl Jam) makes it a great time I guess I prefer the last few songs to the first few, especially the reprise of hey hey my my at the end with that NASTY guitar tone (noise rockers don't make tones that hard). It's a great album like what else do you want from me?

There were a few stand out tracks but I prefer Neil Young in a playlist than a whole album

The depth and breadth of Neil Young's work is encapsulated here. The acoustic side is pure beauty, philosophical and edgy. The playing is so smooth, really sincere, it's amazing to me how perfect yet heartfelt. The electric side turns the tables without being any less beautiful and soulful. Spontaneous, deep, it's great. Not disturbing or upsetting, just more pure awesomeness!

Good live album!

Great folk/country vibe on some drugs. Love the first two tracks my my hey hey and thrasher. Then we get into some weird fun stuff about riding llamas and marlon brando. Enjoyed all of it. I really love Thrasher and my, my, hey, hey

Complete

I was a little surprised this album started out so mellow. The stuff I've heard before with Crazy Horse has been far more rocking. Great album, though. Just a bit thrown 'cause it's not what I expected. Favorites: "Hey Hey My My", "My My Hey Hey", "Welfare Mothers"

Another good Neil Young album. Not sure if i had a favorite track, but I was pleasantly surprised by Sedan Delivery

Not bad

Really enjoyed this live record, lots of energy and creativity.

C'était ... vraiment bon bordel.

Interesting mix of live/studio, folk/rock, impressionism/story-telling. Apparently a big influence on Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Emotional, raw voice.

My my hey hey and variation are both great songs in Neil's catalog.

volim, al plažu ipak vise

Classic Neil Young about what I expected

I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. Country isn't really my thing usually, but this more rock-n-roll type works well for me. I really appreciate the distortion on the closer in contrast to the opener.

ok wait i liked this a lot actually. my relationship with neil young is so complex even i can’t keep up with it… things i learned from this album: 1. kurt cobain was actually quoting a neil young song in his suicide note. 2. neil young appears to have been misinformed of johnny rotten’s death. 3. neil young wanted to have a threesome with marlon brando and pocahontas. stephen king quoted the first track in the epigraph of the clown novel so that is admittedly very darksided but i liked it anyway. “pocahontas” is also kinda wack conceptually. is neil young openly fantasizing about sleeping with pocahontas in one of his songs the predecessor to jeff mangum writing a whole album about saving anne frank from the holocaust? let’s get into it.

More great Neil Young. Powderfinger is my favorite here. Great stuff, nice mix of folk and rock and roll. 4 easy stars.

I don't remember how and when, but at some point in time I heard Hey, Hey, My, My (or the other one) and started to be obsessed with it. This is basically what made me discover Young. So I have a special love for this record. Apart from that, it's actually pretty standard Young: the folk songs are a bit too low-key and I generally fail to keep interested in this part... and then there are the electric ones, that are really good. As far as I'm concern, we could chop off 50% of Young production and it would be near perfect. But well, life is like a Young album: you have to swallow some shit at some point, everything is not unicorns & rainbows.

A live album without background noise and an incredible sound.

I think Neil Youngs voice works with this heavier rock sound than it did on the previous album of his that I rated (Harvest Moon -- a classic, I know). I also love the expression of Native American themes here.

Always liked this album, even as some songs dragged.

The contrast between the sparkly 12 string and harmonica of side A and the fuzzy electric guitar on side B lends to a dynamic journey though the eyes of someone who saw the evolution of rock and roll.

Without “My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue),” this would be a very average album. That opener really sets a tone the rest of the record can’t quite live up to. That said, it’s still an enjoyable listen. The raw style and shifting energy keep it interesting. Just not one I’ll likely be listening to the whole album ever again. 3.5 stars

More enjoyable than I was anticipating..obvious and interesting influence on Grunge in some songs, despite that not happening much later, plus some other things like Flaming Lips. Still somewhat on the fence re 3 or 4 stars but the incredible retrofuturist ont for "Neil Young and Crazy Horse" on the cover pushed me over the edge for the latter...

I was uninspired when I saw that I needed to listen to yet more 70s white man guitar music. This list is far too heavy with it. That said, I have to be honest, this album deserved its place on the list. Why? The bookending is amazing. The juxtapositioning of the musical styles, the forewarnings of an ageing star being replaced and of the ephemeral nature of rock n roll stardom lift the album to “must hear” status. I can understand where the referenced grunge influences emanate from, especially on the paired back Pocahontas and the more screechy guitar tracks of Sedan delivery and Hey Hey, my my. Significantly better and more interesting than expected.

Neil Young is an acquired taste. He’s one of my absolute favorite artists. This album is very good, but not his best. Not particularly fond of thrasher or ride my llama. Still, if you like his music, then this is a worthy listen. Live Rust is a superior live recording.

This marks the end of Neils classic period. He would wander in the desert - doing whatever he wanted - for the next 10 years before returning with a total barn burner. I prefer Live Rust perhaps out of familiarity. That album has everything you could want from Neil Young. This one has a lot...

Honestly, finally a Neil Young Album from this site I can get behind. Something about the songwriting and combination live/studio recording tricks just hits the sweet spot of the best aspects of his songwriting.

Very good album overall, love the second half of it,

Surprisingly good

listened.

The only thing better than Neil Young playing rock is Neil Young playing folk

Really enjoyed its good to vibe out a bit. Liked the first song the most. Surprisingly great album that I didn’t think I would enjoy. My first Neil Young listen.

3.5

8.88 ★★★★

Kuuntelen Neil Youngia, minun täytyy säätää ääntä Joku huutaa aina "Poista se" Tuntuu kuin ajaudun, ajaudun kohtauksesta toiseen Ihmettelen mitä helvettiä se kaikki voisi tarkoittaa.. sitä ois voinu parempaa kuvaa ottaa tapahtumasta.. vähän häröä näin vähän voitu kuvaajalle maksaa jotain pari latia varmaan sieltä naamavärkkiäkin näkyisinkin. toki uskomattoman ruma mies tuo neil young niin ehkä ei haluttua, tosiaan varmaan tutkitusti myy paremmin jos lemuava takatukka on kameraan päin kuitenkin kun mutruinen kammonaama, villinaama, hooponaama... minun minun hei hei, sinisest

'Rust Never Sleeps' is een vreemde eend in de bijt als je z'n discografie van de 60s en 70s bekijkt. Deels natuurlijk omdat het een semi-live, semi-studio album is, maar ook zeker als je de muzikale inslag hoort. De folk rock - tot dusver de focal point in Neil's carrière - wordt naarmate het album vordert steeds vuiger, en de tweede helft van de plaat wordt niet voor niets vaak gezien als de bakermat van de grunge, dat een jaar of 10 later pas echt een naam kreeg. De kracht van het album zit hem in deze transitie, die een ingezoomde versie van zijn loopbaan lijkt. De folk-opener en misschien wel meest iconische Crazy Horse compositie 'My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)' wordt door de mangel gehaald, en nadat het album steeds ruiger en progressiever wordt is afsluiter 'Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)' de uiteindelijke belichaming van de transitie van Neil Young als artiest. Toch wel een fenomenale manier van narratieve albumproductie, en een voorbeeld van waarom de volgorde van songs wel degelijk een verschil maakt voor de luisterervaring. Los van dat sterke 'full-circle moment' is het ook gewoon een plaat waar puike - meer typische - Neil Young songs opstaan. De storytelling is weer on point. Vooral 'Thrasher' is echt prachtig en één van m'n favorieten. Bijzonder album die zich toch onderscheid op meerdere vlakken. 8/10 Highlights: My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue) Thrasher Powderfinger Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)

Enjoyable folk/rock album. “Hey Hey, My My” clear stand out

"Rust Never Sleeps" is eclectic, featuring a live recording enhanced with studio overdubs. The album begins with an acoustic set, before transitioning to electric. Notably, the (almost) same song serves as both the opening and closing track, effectively highlighting the contrast between the acoustic and electric elements. Thematically, the album explores the inevitability of decline and the struggle to overcome it. At times it is quiet and sparse, yet it also filled with bursts of raw energy and loud reverbing guitars, "Rust Never Sleeps" effectively showcases everything Neil Young is as an artist - both sonically and lyrically.

they call him the “godfather of grunge” for a reason. i am convinced that the grunge movement wouldn’t have existed if it weren’t for the seeds that neil young planted with his work with crazy horse.

Solid Neil Young album

The acoustic side of this album is great. The electric side is too noisy. But anyone who knows me could have predicted that I'd say that.

Decent vibe, and engaging lyrics. Like, "Pocahontas" is just great imagery, you know?

I was just listening to this album a week ago. I really love that this is a mixed bag of live and studio performances, some songs tracked live then overdubbed in the studio. The guitars sound incredible through out the whole album. Not much I can add to the praise Neil Young gets, but I do think he deserves it. There’s elements to this album that feel like a direct influence to my favorite Dinosaur Jr album “Farm.” If you like Neil Young but are looking for newer artists, you should check out Tyler Ramsey, Israel Nash and Kurt Vile all are extremely talented and worth your time. 4.5

Powderfinger alone carries this to a 4 for me, but I'm a big Neil Young fan and this is another goodie. I always love his soft acoustic set against the heavy toned electric sets.

Great transition from acoustic on the first side to Crazy Horse joining in on the second. I had heard My My, Hey Hey previously, and that's probably still my favorite track, but solid album overall.

love this one a lot, favs are thrasher and powderfinger. Welfare Mothers and Sedan Delivery are the weaker point of the album for me but still rock.

Wow! I really like this one! Neil Young, only know him from the popular songs. Yeah, this is nice. Will be added to my album list :)

Neil Young never sounds like what I expect him to sound like. I don’t know what I mean by this but I really do mean it

This one started out a little slow for me but gradually grew on me.

I like this album I’d really give it a 3 1/2 but it bumped it up to a four. his catalogue is huge, butI will take Harvest, Rust never sleeps and Harvest moon for my Neil collection.

Amazing opening & close. The others were ok to good, although I could do without Sedan Delivery.

I’m so over Neil Young on this thing but this is one of the better ones.

Hey hey, my my, Rock 'n' Roll can never die!

Neil Young's *Rust Never Sleeps*, released in 1979, is a landmark album that showcases his duality as both an acoustic troubadour and an electric rock innovator. The record is notable for its blending of live and studio recordings, its thematic depth, and its influence on future genres like grunge. Below is an in-depth review focusing on the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with a balanced evaluation of its strengths and weaknesses. ## **Lyrics** The lyrics on *Rust Never Sleeps* are among Neil Young's most introspective and evocative. The album opens with "My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)" and closes with its electric counterpart, "Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)." These tracks explore themes of artistic integrity and the transient nature of fame. The line "It's better to burn out than to fade away" has become iconic, symbolizing Young's commitment to creative vitality over complacency. "Thrasher," a dense acoustic track, offers a poetic critique of conformity and nostalgia, possibly aimed at his former bandmates in Crosby, Stills & Nash. Its imagery-rich narrative reflects Young's desire to forge ahead artistically. "Pocahontas," another acoustic gem, juxtaposes historical violence against Native Americans with surreal modern references, creating a haunting commentary on American history. On the electric side, "Powderfinger" stands out as a tragic folk-rock narrative about a young man facing inevitable death. Its ambiguous storytelling invites multiple interpretations, adding to its emotional weight. Tracks like "Sedan Delivery" and "Welfare Mothers" deliver biting social commentary with humor and grit. ## **Music** The album is divided into two distinct halves: acoustic (side one) and electric (side two). This structure highlights Young's versatility as a songwriter and performer. - **Acoustic Side**: The first half features stripped-down arrangements that emphasize melody and lyrical depth. Songs like "Thrasher" and "Ride My Llama" showcase Young's folk sensibilities, while "Sail Away," featuring Nicolette Larson's harmonies, adds a touch of country warmth. - **Electric Side**: The second half unleashes the raw power of Crazy Horse. Tracks like "Powderfinger" and "Sedan Delivery" feature heavy distortion and unpolished energy that anticipate the grunge movement. The electric version of "Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)" is particularly powerful, blending punk-inspired aggression with rock grandeur. ## **Production** *Rust Never Sleeps* is unique in its production approach. Most tracks were recorded live during Young's 1978 tour but were overdubbed in the studio to create a polished yet authentic sound. The decision to remove most audience noise gives the album an intimate feel while retaining the energy of live performance. The production strikes a balance between clarity and rawness. On the acoustic side, the recordings are clean and intimate, allowing Young's voice and guitar to shine. On the electric side, Crazy Horse's distorted guitars create a wall of sound that complements Young's gritty vocals. ## **Themes** The album explores several recurring themes: - **Artistic Integrity**: The title *Rust Never Sleeps* serves as a metaphor for avoiding creative stagnation. This theme is reinforced in tracks like "My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)" and "Thrasher." - **Mortality**: Songs like "Powderfinger" and "Pocahontas" deal with death and loss, often framed within broader historical or personal contexts. - **Social Commentary**: Tracks such as "Welfare Mothers" critique societal norms with humor and irony. - **Escape and Alienation**: Whether it's the extraterrestrial musings of "Ride My Llama" or the yearning for freedom in "Sail Away," many songs reflect a desire to transcend limitations. ## **Influence** *Rust Never Sleeps* has had a profound impact on rock music. Its fusion of folk storytelling with raw electric energy influenced the grunge movement of the 1990s. Artists like Nirvana and Pearl Jam have cited Young as an inspiration, particularly for his distorted guitar work on this album. The record also bridged generational gaps in rock music by incorporating punk's rebellious spirit into its sound. At a time when rock was becoming increasingly polished, *Rust Never Sleeps* reminded listeners of its raw roots. ## **Pros** 1. **Lyrical Depth**: The album features some of Young's most thought-provoking lyrics. 2. **Musical Range**: The contrast between acoustic and electric tracks highlights Young's versatility. 3. **Raw Energy**: The live recording approach captures an unfiltered intensity. 4. **Cohesive Themes**: Despite its stylistic diversity, the album maintains thematic consistency. 5. **Influence on Grunge**: Its abrasive guitar work paved the way for future rock subgenres. ## **Cons** 1. **Inconsistent Melodies**: Some critics feel that certain tracks lack memorable melodies compared to Young's earlier work. 2. **Rawness Over Polish**: While intentional, the rough production may not appeal to all listeners. 3. **Pacing Issues**: The stark division between acoustic and electric sides can feel jarring. 4. **Obscure Lyrics**: Tracks like "Powderfinger" are open to interpretation but may confuse some listeners. 5. **Limited Accessibility**: The album’s experimental nature might alienate those expecting more conventional rock or folk. ## Conclusion *Rust Never Sleeps* is a bold artistic statement that captures Neil Young at his most innovative. Its blend of acoustic introspection and electric ferocity makes it one of his most compelling works. While not without flaws—such as occasional melodic inconsistency—the album’s thematic depth, raw energy, and influence on future generations cement its status as a classic. For fans of Neil Young or anyone interested in the evolution of rock music, *Rust Never Sleeps* remains essential listening—a testament to the enduring power of creativity over complacency.

These songs were so nice, I really enjoyed the album! It's a shame that Neil's voice isn't great. These songs could have been even better 4 ⭐️

Tender and heartbreaking is acoustic side, and suggest what NY might have been. Radically sincere and vulnerable, achingly so, these are songs adjacent to meditation. Raw, pure emotion packaged in song as an offer of connectivity. On the electric side, "Powderfinger" is minor epic, and quite literary. The hook on "Hey Hey" is nearly as infectious as "You Really Got Me" but in the service of a much deeper vibe ane effect.

An incredibly versatile record. From the beautiful acoustic cuts My My, Hey Hey, to the rock n roll tracks like Powderfinger and Sedan Delivery, this record is where Neil Young reigns in his influences, and in turn drops a memorable album. I would even argue that the final track Hey Hey, My My is like a preview for the prevailing grunge scene that would arrive in about a decade post this release. A veteran of the scene at this point, I can see how all of his experience, be it with Buffalo Springfield or CSNY, have truly coalesced on this record. Even in the what I think the records low moments are, they are still done with a level of thoughtfulness that I can't deny. Favorite Track: My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue) Least Fav: Welfare Mother's 8/10

I enjoyed that this album picked up significantly in its second half. Hey Hey My My is the standout track. I like and truly respect Neil but don’t love him.

It’s hard to listen to Neil Young for an entire album, but this is a really good live album

He always gets it done. Great live recordings and song writing 4.4

While this isn't what I usually listen to on my days off from 1001 albums, I can appreciate that Neil is a hell of a song writer. 3.5/5.

Didn’t really think of myself as a Neil Young fan before, but this is a great record. Powder finger and Thrasher are both great, and the bookending My My songs are really haunting

Neil Young seems like a real douchebag. Nice album tho.

Impeccable recording and mixing for a live album. Banger too.

My My, Hey Hey and Hey Hey, My My are two of my favorites. I love how some of the songs jam and meander before coming back to the main song bits. Neil's songs alwasy grip me. The lyrics, the raw instrumentals, the whole vibe is great.

I LOVE IT HERE

Neil Young changing with the times! There's the hallmark folksy stuff here, but there's also a lot of distorted guitars. Really interesting to hear this side of his music. Fav tracks: My My Hey Hey (Out of the Blue), Thrasher, Powderfinger, Sedan Delivery, Hey Hey My My (Into the Black)

Ugh I love you Neil young

gritty banger from the rock Icon

Loved it!

I found this a little more exciting than some of his stuff, the album even gets a punk rock feel toward the end (e.g. Sedan Delivery). Would listen again. 3.6/5

I loved this. I listened multiple times. I particularly liked his view on rust. If you stay still creatively, you will rust. He continually pressed forward. It wasn't always amazing, but he was always moving. Really respect that.

Some great songs on here and the fact that it was recorded live is incredible! Not my favorite Neil Young’s album though, and I really dislike Welfare Mothers. A veeeery light 4

Typ country/rock/folk, nånstans mellan tolererbart och bra, sparat en låt

One of his best - but loses a star for the chug-chug-chugs on the heavy version of Hey Hey my my.

Americana när den är som bäst. Det finns en känsla av oändliga vidder, örnar som flyger över en prärie. Thrasher: En av Neil Young's bästa låtar!!

Enjoyed it. Calming vibes

Explosive and enjoyable. No stand out tracks but flows very well together and sounds great live. Some songs are a bit meandering in a way I don't love but I overall liked this a lot. 4

This was a really solid album. Great vibe and it sounded great as well. I quite enjoyed thrasher, I love a good harmonica!

+ Thrasher, Powderfinger, Welfare Mothers, Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)

For the most part, I really liked this album a lot…I realize that Neil Young has an odd, whiny voice and that he may be a bit of an acquired taste, but I thought this one was quite good. I have listened to a couple of his other albums over the years, but I thought this one was superior, even though I was only familiar with the first song. I will definitely be saving this one, and will listen to it again in the future. And if I stumble across a reasonably priced vinyl version, I’ll pick it up. Four stars.

Мне нравится Нил Янг. Лучшая песня - My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue).

such a lovely album, the first couple of songs were grand and then it fell off a bit for me, but then halfway through it got great again. but i need to do a little research about stuff cause his singing voice reminds me so much of Daniel Johnston, so now i wanna know who came first and inspiration and influence and all that jazz. it could have been a 5 if it wasn’t for 1/2 songs that jarred me.

Some great tracks some duller ones - all and all still classic.

I didn't have much to say with this one because I'm pretty busy with work but I really enjoy Neil Young and I love live albums so this one definitely works for me.

Another friend of the list, though I don't mind when Neil comes up as much as Tom Waits. This started like a Neil Young solo album and got progressively rockier, much preferred the latter half. A lot of the same sensibilities as we've had on the other albums from this list, his singing style is quite endearing if objectively bad. Think he needs to switch it up a bit more if I'm going to be a proper fan but still generally liked it. 3.5.

Another that the list loves... Again, I agree. The more I hear Neil Young, the more I like him. His voice and writing style is so captivating. The opening couple of tracks were the best. 4.5