One of music's most versatile and prolific songwriters sets his electric guitar to one side and releases a poignant and thought-provoking album that is a staple in his vast discography.
Neil Young has portrayed a number of personas during his career; differing from the insightful poet to the gritty hard rocker. The Canadian-born singer is able to combine these traits into one compelling record that varies from vulnerable melancholy to moral and political disdain.
After the release of his abrasive and visceral second album 'Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere', Young transitions away from this sound and creates and intimate album that relies heavily on the minimalistic sounds of his acoustic guitar and piano.
The simplicity and the subtlety of the record instantly shines through with the opening track 'Tell Me Why'. Young's fragile vocal delivery paired with his complex guitar playing is a notable shift away from his previous work whilst still being able to keep his philosophical lyricism intact.
The title track showcases Young's ability to take real-life trauma and transform them into haunting ballads that are audibly striking and perfectly paint a picture in your head. The song itself is supposedly about a catastrophic flood that swept through California, but Young has since stated that he is unable to recall the true meaning of the song.
Despite the album moving in a more acoustic direction, Young's aggressive guitar riffs still shine through in brief moments throughout the record. The politically charged 'Southern Man' is a particular highlight of the album with Young's raspy vocals perfectly emphasising the importance of the message he is trying to get across. The song was extremely controversial at the time, Young expressing his hatred for the American Deep South and the racism that was prominent throughout much of the 20th century.
There are also moments on the record that hark back to his self-titled debut. The exquisitely dramatic 'Don't Let it Bring You Down' and the infectiously catchy 'When You Dance I Can Really Love' are perfect examples of folk-infused rock tracks with Young putting his own spin on the genre to make them utterly unique.
The album is also able to encapsulate complicated emotions such as melancholy and sorrow without being cringeworthy. The single 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart' is a perfect example of this, with Young dedicating it to band-mate Graham Nash who had recently split up with fellow folk singer Joni Mitchell.
'After the Gold Rush' also includes a cover of the classic Don Gibson track 'Oh, Lonesome Me'. Young was unphased by the popularity of the song and transformed it into a soft yet intimate ballad. The song is full of vulnerability, Young's trembling vocals perfectly complimenting the themes of loneliness and isolation.
Finally, the minimalistic nature of the record causes a couple of the tracks to lack any real substance. 'Cripple Creek Ferry' and 'Till the Morning Comes' are songs that come from the same formula as the rest of the album but are ultimately filler that fall short of the mark when compared to the other songs.
Overall, 'After the Gold Rush' is a quintessential Neil Young album that is a perfect blend of his hard rock sensibilities and his love of traditional folk music. However, it is not a particularly accessible record due to Young opting for a more subdued album when compared to his previous work up to that point.
Rating: 8.1/10