Rating: - A Damascene Conversion: Revolution In The Heart...
Years ago, I bought 'Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere' on the recommendation of a trusted friend, who told me it was considered an idiosyncratic masterpiece in the vein of 'Astral Weeks,' though musically miles apart. Whereas I liked the album, I was never the biggest fan of extended musical jams, which 'Cowgirl In The Sand' and 'Down By The River' sounded like to me. In short, I couldn't love it, and I already knew 'Harvest,' 'After The Goldrush' and Youngs work with Buffalo Springfield particularly ... Read More
Rating: - Ditch Masterpiece
For those of you who haven't heard the story, after the success of the single Heart of Gold from the hugely popular Harvest album, Young famously said "the song put me in the middle of the road, which became a bore so I headed for the ditch".
To prove the point he made three albums that contained none of the mainstream appeal of Harvest. On the Beach was the last of the three ditch albums recorded, but was second released, mainly because the record company deemed Tonight's the Night too ... Read More
Rating: - The world is turning.......i hope it don't turn away.
Not much more to add to all the extensive reviews of this particular Neil Young. Readers will be aware of most of its history. Its unavailability in "regular" cd form, until very recently. This rather added to the album's cult status, which contrived to make secondhand vinyl copies seriously expensive. (Up to £100, apparently, through the more "unscrupulous" outlets.)
The cd issue faithfully recreates the original album's artwork, to make a very pleasing package. (Not just a crummy, little ... Read More
Rating: - Dark, mature and wonderful
Some of the bands or artists I like I find it very difficult to be objective about. Van Halen, for example, could do anything they like and I`ll always love Eddie. Neil Young isn`t quite in that category; like Lou Reed ("Metal Machine Music", anyone?) he`s always keen to experiment, shock, annoy his record company etc. and can miss as often as he hits. Some of his output in the early 80s sounded like the products of a bored, disordered mind, such as "Landing On Water" and "Everybody`s Rockin`". Of course ... Read More
Rating: - Neil at his Young and shakey best.....
Not especially adulated on its release, On The Beach is a melting pot of all that makes Neil Young great. From the stylish upbeat opener - Walk On - right to the doom laden sparsity of Ambulance Blues, the album fails to be tied down. Trying to shrug of the MOR label that Harvest had created, he put together a set that seemingly contained no central thread in either theme or sound. It does indeed disappoint slightly on the first couple of listens as it is neither upbeat nor overly morbid. Yet it is held together ... Read More
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