#241

Back in the day I never used to play After The Goldrush as much as his other LPs. Going through this album again (been a while!) the same sentiments return. My favourite tracks are After The Gold Rush, Birds and When You Dance I Can Really Love. I know a lot of folks really love this album but it’s not in my top NY picks. It was cool to listen to it again though :+1:

1 Like
#242

nooo!
the only good song on the album! (take exaggerated for effect, but the album doesn’t really do much for me - EDIT: compared to his other albums, that is)

#243

I am by no means a big NY fan and after having counted I’ve only listened to 8 of his albums. Out of these there are only two I can say I have really connected with. One is After the Gold Rush and the other I will put as a spoiler to avoid discussing it too early in the Listening Club - On The Beach. ATGR is pretty much perfect from start to finish, with Don’t Let It Bring You Down probably being my favourite NY song.

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#244

My first listen to this album. I only know anything that made it to Decade.

2 Likes
#245

So I think whereas Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere felt like a really strong collection of individual tracks, After the Gold Rush feels like a proper album to me. I’d pick several of the tracks on Nowhere over this as favourites tbh, but this is a better listen from front to back. More stripped back, a little more adventurous/mature in its themes and subject matter. The tracks like “Birds” and “Only Love Will Break” your heart show he’s really arrived as a songwriter, if there was any doubt. Really feels like he finds an effortless groove by the second half. Still, even though “Southern Man” attempts an important message, and quite visceral, it also feels a little heavy handed to me.

Very often seen as his very best album, for some reason it’s never quite resonated to that extent for me, but it’s another great record and his most cohesive yet.

1 Like
#246

Echo some others here by saying this has never been one of my absolute faves, although I do think it has that typical classic album problem when you take the most famous tracks for granted - the title track in particular is surely one of the greatest songs ever written.

#247

@Piwi

Yeah I just came here to post that the title track is so mind meltingly brilliant that the other tracks (in my most humble opinion) struggle in it’s presence.

#248

Didn’t comment on Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere last week as I didn’t really feel like I had much to add. Still gave it a lot of spins and just lived with it for a couple of days. Definitely a stronger effort than his debut plus the trio of Cinnamon Girl, Down by the River and Cowgirl in the Sand are all just undeniable classics. Any artists would be lucky to have them in their canon. Really great album.

In regards to After The Goldrush, I hadn’t listened to it for a while but had it on in the background whilst I was cooking up some paella last night and it made for pleasant company. Only really been a NY fan for about the last 5 years or so but Goldrush was one of the first albums that I checked out and yeah it clicked pretty instantly. It’s one of those records that works so well on an autumnal walk with crunchy leaves underfoot, it’s just so comforting and pretty. Very much agree with @littlebirds in that this feels more like a cohesive whole rather than a collection of outstanding songs compared to Everybody Knows. Flows really well indeed. Top, top record and firm favourite in his catalogue.

1 Like
#249

I often say this is my favourite Neil Young. I don’t think it has the most standout tracks on it but it’s just so strong from start to finish. Feels like an old friend every time you put it on, there’s something so familiar & comforting about it, yet every time you listen there’s a lyric or sound that moves you anew. Think Don’t Let It Bring You Down is one of my favourite/underrated NY songs.

2 Likes
#250

This

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#251

Agree with this completely. It’s just perfectly put together from start to finish. If I had to express a disappointment it would probably be that I’d like another minute each of Cripple Creek Ferry and Til The Morning Comes - I don’t know if their short length has anything to do with it being intended as a soundtrack?

I have the 1972 UK re-issue - it’s lovely: gatefold sleeve plus a fold-up lyrics sheet in (I assume) Neil’s handwriting which is nice. A great picture of Neil lounging around on the inside cover.

It’s interesting that it’s a Neil Young album, but on the back it says something like “Neil Young and Crazy Horse with Stephen Stills”. It’s good to hear a really young Nils Lofgren on piano, although I’m not sure which tracks he actually plays on.

And a big picture of (I assume) Neil’s arse on the back cover - what’s not to love? I wonder if Springsteen nicked that idea for Born In the USA?

#252

Yeah, this was my introduction to him too. By the end of the first twenty minutes I was his for life.

#253

Mid week fav song poll for the playlist. Choose two!

  • Tell Me Why
  • After the Gold Rush
  • Only Love Can Break Your Heart
  • Southern Man
  • Till the Morning Comes
  • Oh, Lonesome Me
  • Don’t Let It Bring You Down
  • Birds
  • When You Dance You Can Really Love
  • I Believe In You
  • Cripple Creek Ferry

0 voters

#254

I’m weary after a 4.30am rise. Voted Southern Man instead of After the Gold Rush. Plum.

#255

I wasn’t enthralled by the debut album.

There’s 4 amazing tracks on Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (always had a soft spot for the title track in particular, plus Cinnamon Girl, Down by the River and Cowgirl in the Sand) and it’s a massive step up from the 1st album, but I’ve usually preferred the live versions. I’m not keen on a few of the other songs and will still likely skip them in future (just don’t feel for the other tracks here).

After the Goldrush is perfect. The title track is one of my top 5 songs of all time. But I’ve never properly listened to the whole thing and thanks to this thread I did and loved it. I knew Birds, but not listened in a long time and it really moved me last night, and I have this thread to thank. It made me think of my new little daughter in my arms and the joy that brings.

I always thought On the Beach was my favourite NY album, and it still could be but it really has something to beat now.

6 Likes
#256

So I guess here’s the important poll about Only Love Can Break Your Heart

  • I prefer NY’s original & I heard it first
  • I prefer NY’s original but I didn’t hear it first
  • I prefer Saint Etienne’s version & I heard it first
  • I prefer Saint Etienne’s version but I didn’t hear it first
  • Different versions for different moods / both good
  • Just not a fan of this song

0 voters

#257

Not heard St. et. Version

#258

Genuinely surprised but I guess it’s an age thing. I felt like it was absolutely everywhere in the early 90s and then I used to hear it on those Café del Mar chill out Ibiza compilation thingies in the late 90s/early 2000s

#259

I like ATGR but it was one of the ones that would be spun at parties on an almost weekly basis for a period so doesnt have a massive effect on me now. Other than its quite nice (bit of an understatement), obviously theres great songs on there, especially dont let it bring you down

#260

Needs an option for “I prefer Andrew Weatherall’s remix of the Saint Etienne version to either of the others”!

2 Likes