After the Gold Rush

by

Neil Young

Edit

This was the album the prolific Neil Young released right after his first flirtation with CSN&Y, and once again he shows just how wide and deep his musical talents are. All we aging sixties kids all have a copy of both this album and his "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" album; it is standard issue for older babyboomers. Indeed, out of the welter of so many artists with so much in the way of incredible and unforgettable music, Neil Young stands alone as a sixties icon, someone who has consistently done the music his way, and with great sincerity, consistent authenticity, and a singular verve. No one has produced the range and quantity of memorable songs and melodies, as has Mr. Young, who has always produced what he wanted on his terms, and has never sold out to commercialism or tried to appeal to the mainstream audience.

Here we have so many terrific songs like "Tell Me Why", "After The Goldrush", and his smash hit, "Southern Man", that it is hard to remember that this is just one of several such albums he released in short order over a three or four year period. IN a number of other songs, such as "Only Love Can Break Your Heart", which Linda Ronstadt later did a great cover of, Neil's genius and guitar virtuosity shines, as it does in songs like "Don't Let It Bring You Down", "Birds", "I Believe In You", and a personal favorite of mine, "When You Dance". Young may well be an iconoclast, someone who is unpredictable, unreliable from a business sense, and something of a prima donna, but he always plays straight from the heart (and groin), and one knows that the guy playing that axe so masterfully is absolutely in control of the incredible sounds emanating from it. Wow! Put this baby in the CD player and listen as the CD illustrates why Neil Young will never die! Long may his chrome heart shine!

Hey I like Neil Young and I especially like his electric guitar jams with Crazy Horse. I also admire his late 80's/early 90's work. I like plenty of Neil's other folk/country songs and albums as well.

However After the Gold Rush fails to impress me any longer because to be completely honest, it's an example of getting into the songwriting *too* easily and quickly becoming exhausted with the material. Not *all* the songs fit this description but at least half of them do. You see a lot of times when you get into music too soon, it doesn't hold up over the years. It doesn't contain replay value so you don't feel like hearing it anymore. That's the case with After the Gold Rush. The melodies are WAY too simple and, more often than not, borderline childrens songs. Not that I could write melodies any better of course, but still. These melodies are too simple. I first heard After the Gold Rush 10 years ago and playing it again this afternoon my feelings haven't changed at all. I *didn't* want it to be exactly how I remembered it.

With that said, the title song is still able to impress me. The chilling piano and Neil's vocals are magnificent on this track. I never get tired of this one. "Southern Man" is still awesome because, well for one thing I courageously grew beyond my stupid "classic rock radio" addiction so I can appreciate this overplayed song whenever I choose instead of having radio stations choose it for me. I actually went through a period when I believed radio stations were not only my main source for music but were supposed to dictate what I should and should not listen to (what a silly and embarrassing phase THAT was... and it lasted 4-5 years. I hate myself). The guitar jam at the end is especially cool. Any time that electric guitar is jamming on a Neil album, count me REALLY happy. Live at the Fillmore isn't my favorite album of his for nothing (along with Rust Never Sleeps).

"Only Love Can Break Your Heart" is another standout. I just love the way Neil sings along with the piano playing. When the tempo changes during the final minute and Neil's tender emotions seem to build even stronger... just awesome. "Don't Let It Bring You Down" is another classic. Memorable chugging vocals leading into the sudden optimistic-like chorus "Don't let it bring you down, it's only castles burning". "When You Dance You Can Really Love" is overlong by a couple minutes but I enjoy the vocal melody nonetheless.

The songs I feel are boring to me now are "Tell Me Why" (even though I fancy the line "I'll be around for a while" which seems to indicate that Neil was aware of his destiny) and especially "I Believe In You" which is drenched is too much sap and high-pitched vocals that sacrifice what could have been a pretty melody without those things. I honestly can't even listen to this tune anymore. "Till the Morning Comes" and "Cripple Creek Ferry" are basically nursery rhymes in their simplicity. Meanwhile "Birds" and "Oh Lonesome Me" are pretty decent selections with dreary vibes but nothing extraordinary.

Not a highlight of Neil's discography. I'm totally exhausted with at least half of the material presented and probably won't ever listen to the album again but I can see how the immediately accessible melodies and lyrics mean a great deal to many listeners.