neil young

[user_4541]

been going through the back catalog. somehow I missed them on the first time around. I really like After the Gold Rush and Harvest. Freedom would be up there as well, but for me the production is lukewarm. that being said, anyone know when chrome dreams II is coming out? and what is chrome dreams I? I just think his songwriting is superb. For me there's an element of like punk rock to some of his song structures like the three chord romp in the middle of the song "On Broadway".

For Harvest I really like how the record sprawls itself out, and it reminds me of Exile on Main Street by the rolling stones. I think I'm going to check out the Jonathan Demme film about him, and Neil Young is playing in Denver though I'll probably be in NY by then.

[grisha]

"On Broadway' is not his song though.

[Alastair]

been going through the back catalog. somehow I missed them on the first time around.

Well, you weren't born when Harvest and After The Goldrush came out, and were probably about 5 when Freedom came out, so you're excused the oversight.

[Salty Swift]

Always considered this to be the most overlooked gem of his.





Did you ever hear this tribute?



Loop, Psychic TV, Bongwater, Victoria Williams, B.A.L.L. and Henry Kaiser re-making his songs, some in quite radical ways.
Most of the proceeds were supposed to be donated to The Bridge School that he helped to set up for mentally challenged kids in California.

In terms of true Canadian ex-pats, Young is a fuckin god!
[Did I mention, he never took a penny from corporate in terms of sponsorship?]

[free math]

chrome dreams was an album that never came out, from 76 or so. most of the songs were spread out on other records, some of his best songs. there's bootlegs of the original album circulating, but who knows how accurate they are.

i never liked freedom because of the production. don't bother with the demme movie either.

the most crucial album is tonight's the night. decade is a must-have for that period. a fun, forgotten one i've been into lately is 1980's re-ac-tor (kinda halfway between garage slop and new wave). sleeps with angels (1994) is unique in his discography, and might be his darkest album -- some dirty, dirty guitar and some creepy, creaky singsongs.

[meadowphantasm]

for me "on the beach" is his best, a very moving album.
i also like "arc" and a couple others.

[jon abbey]

on the beach/time fades away/tonight's the night is certainly the best studio period, but for me, his peak accomplishment came with weld, where he took his playing style as far as it could go while still being connected to the songs (arc is too far for me, not very interesting).

[Dad Noise]

No votes for 'Zuma'? It's certainly got his best song on it (Barstool Blues) and some great ragged guitar playing on Cortez the Killer. (That said, put a gun against my head, and I'd go for 'After the Goldrush', like anyone else who's ever stayed in a bedsit over the last 35 years.)

[jon abbey]

I think his best song is 'powderfinger', that one still gives me chills and I've heard it a LOT.

[Joda]

'Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere' is quite good as well, 'cept for that song Cinnamon Girl . It's nice on record, as both sides end with great guitar workouts.

I really like Ambulance Blues, from On the Beach, 'cause he talks about being in T.O. and somehow also manages to use the phrase 'pissing in the wind' twice in one verse without losing it.

What's Powderfinger?

[jon abbey]

it's on rust never sleeps, also a concert staple.

yeah, the long songs on everybody knows this is nowhere are fantastic (down by the river/cowgirls in the sand), I can live without the rest of it.

[user_4713]

Pretty much all of his work 69-79 has something to offer. Zuma, After The Gold Rush, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, Tonight's The Night, On The Beach, and especially Rust Never Sleeps... just so irrefutably perfect. Time Fades Away is great, too. Harvest and Comes A Time, as well. And the debut. And American Stars 'N Bars has the stunning lo-fi seven minute acoustic epic "Will To Love"... wow.

"Powderfinger" is probably the greatest song of all-time. Or "Thrasher."

He was great in the 90s, too. Broken Arrow is so underrated. Three 7+minute long Crazy Horse droners in a row? Goddamn.

And Trans is actually a really great album. And nobody talks about Life because it has awful dated 80s production, but man, it's an awesome album. Neil Young is fantastic. The best songwriter. The best guitarist. The best everything. I'm seeing him next month. I'm sort of excited.

[user_4945]

for me "on the beach" is his best, a very moving album.
i also like "arc" and a couple others.

I completely agree. The vocals on this record are almost out of control with emotion. Some of his best work in my opinion, but most of my friends prefer other records of his.

[user_5098]

No votes for 'Zuma'? It's certainly got his best song on it (Barstool Blues) and some great ragged guitar playing on Cortez the Killer.

Agreed. Zuma defines ragged guitar.

Have a soft spot for Ragged Glory also.

[jkudler]

i listened to "on the beach" probably ten times last week. yeah, so moving, and so good. i love that this period of his has all this really sloppy/drunk/high (at least, according to wikipedia) loose production. in one song (forget which), you can hear some throat-clearing and mumbling in the background. gonna listen to "ambulance blues" right now!

american stars and bars?

pissing in the wind,
jesse

[user_4713]

On The Beach is definitely my number one "go-to" album for when I wake up unbearably sick and feeling like complete shit. The album just sounds so tired and lethargic in the best way, especially the second side. Dude just sounds like he's ready to give it all up and either kill himself or smoke copious amounts of grass until his brain melts out of his skull.

And then he comes back from it all with Zuma. Man, so many amazing rock songs on that thing. And "Barstool Blues" and "Danger Bird" both appear on Year Of The Horse in these wonderful live versions, so magnificently epic and droney. Some of the best music ever.

[Drinky]

On the Beach and Zuma are two of my favorite albums by anybody. I would say that every album he put out from Everybody Knows through Rust Never Sleeps (other than collabs with CSN) is worth owning.

Of his "comeback" albums in the late-80s/early-90s, I only really like Sleeps with Angels. (I've never heard Arc or Weld, though, and I should correct that.) Honestly, I think the much-reviled album he did with Pearl Jam (Mirrorball) is about as good as Freedom and Ragged Glory which have pretty medium highs and verly low lows. ("Someday" is just all-around terrible. And "Natural Anthem"? I dunno.) Oh, and the "electronic" songs on Trans are actually pretty cool.

I've read just about all of Shaky, and even though it can seem pretty tedious, it's overall a pretty fun read. "Informative" is an understatement. I feel like it gives a lot of real insight and is worthwhile for any but the most casual Neil Young fan.

[mudd]

do i get excommunicated for admitting that the only neil young i've spend significant time with is the dead man soundtrack?

m

[Drinky]

Well at least that's a logical choice for someone on this board.

I still haven't really listened to that (except for, you know, hearing it during the movie), but I've had it on my HD for a long time.

And do yourself a favor and spend some time with On the Beach and Zuma. If nothing else, you should at least appreciate the sound of those records.

[mudd]

but i have after the goldrush on lp somewhere. i just haven't played it.

i like the song 'powderfinger', though, so i guess my original statement was somewhat false.

m