#90 Neil Young- After The Gold Rush

This is my favorite album from one of my favorite artists. There is something about this album that hits me differently. The sound of this record sounds like Neil went to his basement and just banged out all these songs. That is exactly what he did! This record was the bridge from the crunchy rock he was doing with Crazy Horse and the country folk rock he was doing with CSNY. The album also features Nils Lofren who would go on to become a member of Springsteen’s E Street Band. 

The  album opens  with the quiet “Tell Me Why” you can hear the influence of CSNY had one Young on this track. This is just a simple chilled out country/folk jam. Musically it is just Young and Lofgren on guitars with the members of Crazy Horse providing backing vocals. “After The Gold Rush” has  always been one of my favorite Neil Young songs. It's just Neil and his piano  laying out some gut wrenching vocals. The song is allegedly about the end of the world cut into three parts: the past:  medieval celebration part II the present: the singer laying in his burned out basement reflecting on his life  and part III the future: The end of humanity's time on earth as they fly to their new home on Silver spaceships. Musically the only instruments are a piano and a flugelhorn. “Only Love Can Break Your Heart '' is another mid tempo slow burn. Supposedly written for Graham Nash after his break up with Joni Mitchell. It's the first appearance on the album with a full band backing Neil. ‘Southern Man” is another Neil Young classic track that the front half of this album is simply amazing. It just you classic Neil and Crazy Horse song with a dense sound and distorted guitars. This has one of Neil’s best guitar solos ever. The song is about the history of racism in the south. Many people believe that Lynyrd Skynyrd wrote their classic “Sweet Home Alabama” in response to this song t Neil think it is about his other track criticizing the south  “Alabama”. “When The Morning Comes is just Neil dooling on his piano for 1:17. “Oh Lonesome Me” is a cover of Don Gibson’s classic country song done in that classic Neil Young style. “Don’t Let It Bring You Down” is another classic Neil Young song. Its another country/folk song mixed in with the dense Crazy Horse sound. It's just such a great combo. Young often gets criticized for his voice but I love his high range sound. Annie Lennox does an awesome  cover of this song.  “Birds” has such an emptiness to it. Another great break up song that Neil does so well. It’s just him and his piano laying out his pain. Some suggest that this song is about Neil’s tendency throughout his career of burning bridges or abandoning people when he is just not feeling it anymore. This is a great Neil Young deep track that everyone should check out. “When You Dance I Can Really Love” is a classic Neil/Crazy Horse jam but with a country rock twist. There’s a great piano part that is played by Jack Nitzsche. “I Believe In You” is a simple love song with a very middle of the road  groove. The album closes with “Cripple Creek Ferry” which is just a short and sweet country/folk/rock track. 

This is just a great album. It is in my top 5 of all time. It should be on everyone’s bucket lists. This is a 5 out of 5 stars classic masterpiece.