#81 – After the Gold Rush

Apple Music Rank: 81

Album: After the Gold Rush

Artist: Neil Young

Year: 1970

Genre: Rock

Was I familiar with Neil Young?  Yes, but probably not nearly as familiar as I probably should be at my age. I know he’s a legend, but I know little about him or his music.

Had I heard After the Gold Rush before?  No

Thoughts on After the Gold Rush: If you know me this will shock you, but I like this album. I’ve spent decades listening to hip hop, R&B, soul, funk, and jazz almost exclusively. I’ve studied and analyzed the recordings of trailblazers like Prince, Stevie Wonder, J. Dilla, Miles Davis, D’Angelo, and Questlove, among others. I’m accustomed to listening for complicated sampling, drum programming, time signature changes, etc. It’s part of what I love about music. The rest of this paragraph is likely going to be so obvious to most, but this is what I was reminded of listening to After the Gold Rush: Music can be as simple as a gifted songwriter saying, “Give me a pencil, a pad, and a guitar and I’ll give you great music.” I don’t mean that as an insult to Neil Young. I mean the opposite. He doesn’t need gimmicks or tricks and he doesn’t overcomplicate anything. There’s an added level of coolness and vulnerability to someone who puts out music that’s raw as hell and says this is who I am. Just write some damn good songs and record them. This record reminded me of that. I love listening for the cool drum fill, discovering the origins of a cool sample, or listening for a song in Dilla Time. Music doesn’t need all of that to be good. I’m not saying Neil Young has converted me and I’m ready to start listening to a bunch of 70s rockers now. I’m just saying I respect it.

If I’m being brutally honest, I don’t love Neil Young’s voice. It’s a feeling similar to what I said about Nina Simone earlier in the countdown. I think anyone would admit that Neil Young doesn’t have a polished voice. I might like this music even more if a “better” singer was performing it, but I’m sure that’s part of the appeal. It adds to the “I’m just a guy recording this record in my garage” vibe of the album. I’m being picky anyway. The more I listen to this album, the more Young’s voice grows on me. I get the appeal with Neil Young. Great songwriting. Genuine. I’m not necessarily about to run out and listen to the rest of Neil Young’s catalog now, but an album like this is the reason why I started this project in the first place. Until now Neil Young was just some old guy I knew of. I certainly never would’ve sought out his music. Now I can say I heard After the Gold Rush and I dug it.

Favorite track: You know how when you’re listening to Apple Music and it will put a little circle next to the most played songs? It lets you know what songs other people are listening to most on an album. I’m assume Spotify has something similar. How is there not one of those little circles next to “Only Love Can Break Your Heart“? Easily my favorite track on the album. My next favorite was “Oh, Lonesome Me“. Also doesn’t have the little circle next to it. What the hell? The two songs on the album with the little circles are “After the Gold Rush” and “Southern Man“. Were they singles? Does that matter with a 55-year-old album? I’m baffled.

Will I listen to After the Gold Rush again?  Yes. Listened to it enough times already that I’ll probably look at my statistics at the end of 2025 and say, “How did Neil Young make the top 10? Oh yeah, that one record I listened to for most of January…”

Would I buy it on vinyl? Yes. This album should join the eclectic collection we’ve built at our family’s cottage up north.

To access more expert analysis of the Apple 100 Best Albums list click here.