Sunday Music: After the Gold Rush
Dec. 11th, 2011 06:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stoutfellowAlbum Title: After the Gold Rush, Neil Young
Why I Bought It: For the title track. I had Dolly Parton's version, but nothing tops the original.
What I Like (Disturbing): "After the Gold Rush". Soft, evocative, and ultimately chilling, as the lyrics swing from the Middle Ages, through - is it World War II, or some predicted apocalypse?, to an SFnal (and deeply creepy) ending. Honorable Mention: "Don't Let It Bring You Down", already described in the 4 Way Street post.
What I Like (Sad): "Birds". A different, and curiously upbeat, kind of breakup song. Neil's voice seems deeper than usual in this one.
What I Like (Troubled): "I Believe in You". I'm not sure what to say about this one, except that it touches on a rarely described phase of an affair. An interesting song.
Overall: Neil Young's voice is generally rather thin, and his songs rise and fall on content rather than delivery. This isn't background music; it requires attention. If some of the songs don't really deserve attention, well, that's the risk one takes. A mid-rank album, in my judgment.
Note: This'll be the last "Sunday Music" post of the year; by this time next week I'll be in California, and away from my music collection. I'll get back to this the second week of January.
Why I Bought It: For the title track. I had Dolly Parton's version, but nothing tops the original.
What I Like (Disturbing): "After the Gold Rush". Soft, evocative, and ultimately chilling, as the lyrics swing from the Middle Ages, through - is it World War II, or some predicted apocalypse?, to an SFnal (and deeply creepy) ending. Honorable Mention: "Don't Let It Bring You Down", already described in the 4 Way Street post.
What I Like (Sad): "Birds". A different, and curiously upbeat, kind of breakup song. Neil's voice seems deeper than usual in this one.
What I Like (Troubled): "I Believe in You". I'm not sure what to say about this one, except that it touches on a rarely described phase of an affair. An interesting song.
Overall: Neil Young's voice is generally rather thin, and his songs rise and fall on content rather than delivery. This isn't background music; it requires attention. If some of the songs don't really deserve attention, well, that's the risk one takes. A mid-rank album, in my judgment.
Note: This'll be the last "Sunday Music" post of the year; by this time next week I'll be in California, and away from my music collection. I'll get back to this the second week of January.
