Top Five Neil Young Albums

Let’s face it. When talking about rock and roll, there’s good, there’s great, and then there’s Neil Young. As my comrade-in-arms Jake Bartolic once put it, “In a contest between any two bands, Neil Young wins.” Arguably one of the best singer-songwriters of all time, Young has a knack for crafting songs that are simultaneously touching and rocking. He’s been around for over 40 years, and so, without further ado, I present my favorites.

1. Rust Never Sleeps (1979)
The concept album that was released AFTER the tour. How brilliant. Its title borrowed from Rustoleum paint, the “Rust Never Sleeps” tour was a two act set that featured Young alone in the first half, performing acoustic songs. The second act was the electric set, with backing band Crazy Horse. Put the two together, and you get some of the most expertly crafted songs possible. Young is able to show off both his acoustic picking and his electric shredding. Songs like “Thrasher” and “Powderfinger” are epic tales of a lost America. And the duo of “My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)” and “Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)” are the perfect bookends. As Mr. Young reminds us in the latter, “It’s better to burn out / ‘cause rust never sleeps.”

2. Harvest (1972)
“Harvest” is Young’s most commercially successful album. It’s the only one of his albums to go to number one, and has been certified platinum four times over. It’s not surprising why. “Harvest” has some of Young’s most deeply personal songs while featuring a star-studded cast of backing musicians. David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt and the London Symphony Orchestra all lend a helping hand to completing this masterpiece. And with songs like “Heart of Gold,” “A Man Needs a Maid,” “Old Man” and “The Needle and the Damage Done,” who could argue with the results?

3. American Stars ‘N Bars (1977)
This is Neil Young’s forgotten gem. Recorded in four rather different sessions from 1974 to 1977, “American Stars ‘N Bars” is simultaneously country and rock. Songs like “Saddle Up the Palomino” and “Bite the Bullet” evoke images of days past in the folk stylings of old. Conversely, “Will to Love” and “Like a Hurricane” are hard-rocking guitar workouts, the latter being the best evidence of Young’s immense prowess with the electric guitar. The album closes with “Homegrown,” a potential anthem for organic farmers and those growing their own stash of weed. Those crazy Canadians.

4. Mirror Ball (1995)
In 1995, Young found his best backing band since Crazy Horse: Pearl Jam. Yes, the Seattle grunge rockers collaborated with Young to craft the ultimate blend of alternative rock and Young’s iconic folk-rock style. Each song is its own epic story, a cross between classic Pearl Jam sound and Neil Young vocals. “Song X,” “I’m the Ocean” and “Peace and Love” are just highlights of an album that never stumbles, only soars. Even better: the following 11-date tour to promote the album was dubbed “Neil Jam” by fans. Best. Collaboration. Ever.

5. After The Gold Rush (1970)
This is the sound of Neil Young before he struck it big. “Harvest” wasn’t released until two years later, giving “Gold Rush” plenty of time to sink into the national conciousness. It took some time to, for this is arguable Young’s saddest album. The title track is a piano ballad that is only accompianied by a French horn, and speaks of a disillusioned Young looking at a world slowly falling apart. “Southern Man” is a biting attack on racism in the south, the best part of which is not the actual song, but the fact that it inspired Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama.” And “Only Love Can Break Your Heart”? Try and guess what that’s about. He’s chippered up recently, but some of Young’s best work comes out of this dark period.