Wow. I can’t believe this guy isn’t crowned king of song writing (although he’d share it with Bob Dylan). Neil Young is a multi genre maverick, whose contribution is nothing short of being all across the board on rock music. His, sounds and tones, in terms of instruments, are brilliantly set but he’s all too careful so as to not allowing them to take center stage.
The thing is Mr. Young is a brilliant guitarist himself (although underrated beyond permissibility. Check out Cortez the Killer), he never lets you gets swayed away from his actual intention of creating holistic songs. These songs create an atmosphere around them and Neil Young ensures that his songwriting coalesces with that atmosphere and ambience with perfection. There is a sense of deep meaning to each line of lyrics. His vocals are, according to me, one of the most uninfluenced and original vocals around. His legacy extends beyond his trademark solo career and into Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young (CSNY). His complete body of material is unequivocally true to his original sense of songwriting even though he dabbles with many genres along the way.
The thing is Mr. Young is a brilliant guitarist himself (although underrated beyond permissibility. Check out Cortez the Killer), he never lets you gets swayed away from his actual intention of creating holistic songs. These songs create an atmosphere around them and Neil Young ensures that his songwriting coalesces with that atmosphere and ambience with perfection. There is a sense of deep meaning to each line of lyrics. His vocals are, according to me, one of the most uninfluenced and original vocals around. His legacy extends beyond his trademark solo career and into Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young (CSNY). His complete body of material is unequivocally true to his original sense of songwriting even though he dabbles with many genres along the way.
The following tracks give a pervasive glimpse into the kind of musician that Neil Young is and what a listener can expect from his albums. (These recommendations are only of his solo works, CSNY and Buffalo Springfield fall under totally different classification compared to Neil Young’s Solo Discography):
- Southern man:
The guitar work is impeccable as usual. Young uses so much with just bending and licks work; there is no wah-wah or unnecessarily harsh distortion to thee rhythm and lead. The whole track has too much cool flowing out of it when the 2 semi-blues inspired solo’s kick in. there is not much sweeping action in the leads. Each note individually struck, that in itself is a great show of guitar mastery... to create emotion without much peripheral sounds. The song has a strong sense of unplugged rhythm to it thanks to the acoustic drumset, which works out very well with the electric guitar of Young!
- Cortez The Killer:
This song solidified Neil's position in the world of music as a guitarist to be reckoned with. The solo is frequently ranked amongst the top 30 of all time. The song is a guitarists delight. It’s a laid back solo more than anything. Neil lets himself ease into a rhythmic trance and then unleashes a proper assault of sweet leads that are very unassuming at first but they really make the song into something that will be stuck on you players for a long time.
It’s the perfect go-to/get-back from work song. Relaxing as hell. Any dimmed out or de-lighted setting lets the song manifest to its full potential. The theme of the song is about a conquistador named Cortez and lotta ramble about the Aztecs and their temple and the war. Although it’s very convenient to let the lyrics skip your mind and just sit back and just enjoy the track.
- Harvest moon:
Well this track is as sweet as they come. It surprises me that this track isn't on any love song compilation yet. Neil lends his vocals beautifully to what can be only described as a humble and unadulterated expression of true love. It has a very soft and subtle feel to it that will transport you to a lightly foggy meadow in the moonlight. A very dreamy and honest track in terms of emotional content.
There are never any high or low points to the sentimental and rhythmic value in the song. Its a really consistent delivery of pleasant sentimental composition in terms of music and lyrics. This song makes me wonder the situations where I'd prefereably play it. Nothing comes to mind than it being the perfect accompaniment for an anniversaries, drives with loved ones. There is a sleepy harmonica solo towards the end that perfectly blends with the whole atmosphere the song creates. This song is a true celebration of love and makes you transcend your surroundings and take you away to place of snuggly love.
- Rockin in the free world:
A total rebels song. It came out when G.W.Bush.Sr was running and entered office. It puts forth a picture of a world, although America to be more specific that is torn in itself. A place where the voice of reason and minority is crushed without any forethought or mercy. A place which drives even good individuals to sell their souls to something that can be bought for glorified pieces of paper. The strong opinon, thoughts and content are protect by a magical aura that is the riff that young starts of the verses with, simple classic rock but gritty stuff nonetheless.
(Godfather of Grunge showing his Godchildren
a little thing or two about grunge-angst.Great Jam)
A bleak solo is there in between, sounds like something there just for the sake of it (really this guy should’ve put more solo's, he's too prolific to not do that!)The song is really something you'd expect from rage against the machine if they were in another era! There's so much of a surreal portrayal of the dystopia we live in but do not acknowledge. But the chorus gets you to believe that it could be way worse any other way, freedom is the essence of the reason behind the madness in which we live and love.
- Only love can break your heart:
This one is a real meaningful one that talks about the true beta, that love is a phenomenon, that only love can break your heart and to be certain of a thing before you commit yourself. Obviously that isn’t possible in any case, as discovery in a relationship is constant, the song represents the state of mind that one goes through when the love fades and leaves you high'n dry emotionally. It is suggested that this track was written by Young in context of Graham Nash of CSNY from Joni Mitchell, with reference to the second verse (how the hell these legends hook up is a thing of wonder! its like if Jimi Hendrix married Bob Dylan.. well if they were gay.. but the magnitude of the situation stands true!) very honest song which portrays the sedated state of numbness man endures after split.
Paul McCartney with Young. Real sweet duet.
Audio/Video quality isn't the best but worth seeing the legends together.
Even musically the rhythm is very consoling and sober in terms of sentiment. Simple acoustics all over. It’s the symphonic sync between the lyrics and musical composition that makes this song worth many listens
- After the gold rush:
A softer track that is piano driven all throughout. The reference across the 3 verses of the track is about the past, present and future. The title is tentatively titled to signify metaphorically that about what happens after the gold rush, after we have used and exploited all that Mother Nature could offer us.
It is another beautifully reflection driven track that provides a chroniclers perspective on the state of mankind and its direction. The music to the track is never overwhelming the central idea that Young wishes to convey and the lyrical content is the showstopper on this one. The melody on the piano is a sweet one that reminds you of one of Pink Floyds tracks.
- Cinnamon girl:
I somehow feel that this is a lyrical prophecy about all the songs that hard rock and glam bands in the eighties will write about from Van Halen to Motley Crue!
There’s just as much of whacky-ly cyclic riff going about there. Good vibbing track altogether. A good fun time dedication to a loved one if you are the type that goes for it.
Conclusion...
There is a clear sense of maturity (despite his usual activist persona) in his style of vocal delivery. Even the tracks which are generally not high pitched and gritty, there is a feel that Young is always comprehensive of the exact display his vocals must bring about. There’s not one unnecessary howl, screech, growl in any of his tracks. There is nothing special about production value of his albums but his own set-ups and finishing of his records are impeccable. Although his music best or rather trademark records were released in the era’s of Rock,Punk,Heavy-metal,Grunge,Country ,Southern rock( this a style that he owns all the way); Neil Young always and consistently proved that his sound and appeal was way ahead of any relative era in which his record was released.
His music is rugged and suave, if I really have to put it in a category. If anything, he has influenced rock music the most in the post 50's era.
Neil Young would, for me at least, always be remembered as, along with Bob Dylan, an honest chronicler of the century.
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