Tracks
- Out on the Weekend
- Harvest
- A Man Needs a Maid
- Heart of Gold
- Are You Ready for the Country?
- Old Man
- There's a World
- Alabama
- The Needle and the Damage Done
- Words (Between the Lines of Age)
Harvest is an unfocused album. The music is mix of country rock and folk rock. The songs are lean, that is when there isn't an orchestral accompaniment, and mostly acoustic. No matter, there isn't a lack of melodies, riffs or solos. The lyrics are deeply personal and troubling; they're of a man suffering from loneliness and weariness of the world.
Neil Young writes really beautiful songs and he performs them as if he means it. But with this album Neil Young seems confused and doesn't have a real point to make; he seems uninspired.
The album is good, but it's hard to get excited about. Perhaps this album is just meant to be one big downer. I don't think this album is necessary for the 1001 Albums list; other Neil Young albums are similar enough, and they're the only ones that matter since he's the only who gets this style right.
All of the songs are good. The stand outs are Out on the Weekend, Harvest, A Man Needs a Maid, Heart of Gold, Old Man, The Needle and the Damage Done, and Words (Behind the Lines of Age).
★★★★★★★★☆☆
Tracks
- 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 I Can Really Love
- I Believe in You
- Cripple Creek Ferry
After the Gold Rush is a pleasing album. The music is folkie rock with a twist of country. It's an easy album to listen to. Neil Young makes well-crafted music. There are some relaxed ballads with beautiful melodies and there are some acoustic rockers.
Many of the songs deal with love and, sometimes, loss. After the Gold Rush makes reference to the environment being damaged to the point that humans may have to seek a new home elsewhere. Southern Man is the only difficult piece—it's his in-your-face reminder of the continuing racism in the American South. I'm not exactly sure what Don't Let It Bring You Down and Cripple Creek Ferry are about, though.
This is an excellent album. It's definitely worth listening to. It's easy to listen to this album over and over without getting sick of it. I'm unsure whether it's a must-have album. It has yet to leave a lasting impression on me after it's over, but while listening to it, it's like listening to one of the best albums ever. Of course, it should be on the 1001 Albums list for that reason and because these songs are well-crafted.
Every song on this album is outstanding. The stand out songs for me are Tell Me Why, After the Gold Rush, Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Southern Man, Oh, Lonesome Me, Don't Let It Bring You Down, When You Dance I Can Really Love and Cripple Creek Ferry.
