Decade (1977)
SO much overrated, mediocre music. It’s enough to make one nauseous. Occasionally a good one marches by, but it’s just not worth it.
(“Like A Hurricane”)
Grade: C
2010: I was an idiot.
Grade: B+
Harvest Moon (1992)
Forlorn and gently beautiful, the peak of this album is high indeed. I fell in love with “War Of Man” from the first time I heard it, and it hasn’t lost an iota of power in fifteen years. The first song, “Unknown Legend”, is a great introduction to the album. Not a great song, but it shows where Young plans on going this time around. Which is to play softly and sing softly for the most part, with a little harmonica thrown in. I love the general atmosphere here. I would be totally enraptured and handing out an A+ if all the writing and performing had the same magic as “War Of Man”. Dare to Dream…
(“War Of Man”)
Grade: C
Greatest Hits (2004)
Neil Young has always had a remarkable, unquenchable spirit and vitality, a purpose to his music and to his life that I perhaps can’t fully understand because I’m not nearly as deep. When this spirit comes through fully in his vocals/lyrics, especially when it’s matched by music of a similar quality and standard, it can be haunting, scary, or both. Capable of intense fury and complete and utter wistful longing, he makes music as he always has – for himself. If you like it, fine. If you don’t, fine. I like a lot of it.
(“Cinnamon Girl”, “Ohio”, “Rockin’ In The Free World”)
Grade: A-