Neil's Greatness (A Neil Young Appreciation Thread)

[JtotheIzzo]

How one man has stayed relevant for more than 40 years despite his awkward and uncool veneer, while all his peers have either faded into oblivion or decided to churn out garbage (well, Neil has made some trash too, but he always seems to bounce back).

The coolness of not trying to be cool, a one man wall of noise with a mesmerizing control of the microphone, who doesn't give a f*ck. Pure brilliance.

Neil Young - Don't Let it Bring You Down (Live '71)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBG4vxi9mtk&feature=player_embedded

My My Hey Hey from Farm Aid (1985)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tY5x8pF512k&feature=related

Cinnamon Girl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAdtUDaBfRA&feature=related

Needle and the Damage Done (live, Johnny Cash Show)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNqqKHPMXEk&feature=related

Rockin in the Free World (with Pearl Jam)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTTsyk-pyd8

Like a Hurricane (Live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Obfci1CIqq8&feature=related

Powderfinger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMvjfBdeiKw&feature=related

Thom Yorke on Neil Young
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igiXodK37v0&feature=related

[BRabbiT]

great artist.



NY is 65, and still putting out great music...


http://www.covershut.com/back_covers/Neil-Young-Le-Noise-Back-Cover-47889.jpg





love and war (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skJddbSJQjA)

[LJJ]

Neil Young is amazing, but let's not paint a brighter picture than is necessary: All of his subsequent work pales in comparison to his seventies output. (save for maybe 89-91)

1969-1979 Neil Young is an all time great stretch though. In terms of quantity, quality and consistency it's nearly unrivaled.

[Zan Tabak]

Luv Neil Young. Been listening since I was a kid.

Here's a few of my favs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoA5cqDSasM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efFXoCLY_wI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tii--VSDCrc

:cheers:

[johndeeregreen]

A couple of my favorites:

Cortez the Killer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GDIkb5CDUY)

Helpless (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2z7LXpAX3Q)

Blowin in the Wind (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvP7JNsX6ic)

[RaininThrees]

Can't forget Southern Man, his time with Buffalo Springfield, and his time with Crosby, Stills and Nash.

He wrote Ohio, which is an incredible, meaningful song (Kent State shootings).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI7-m919ynU

[johndeeregreen]

Almost forgot my all time fave Neil tune:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1WpgTzf8nk

[Zan Tabak]

On a side note. can anyone find >"Neil Young - Down to the wire"?

Been looking for it on the net for awhile now. Doesn't seem to be anywhere....odd.

Here's some super crappy version of the song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjRwBqCMM-A

amazes me this one ^^ is posted but Neil's version (the original) isn't.

[JtotheIzzo]

Neil Young is amazing, but let's not paint a brighter picture than is necessary: All of his subsequent work pales in comparison to his seventies output. (save for maybe 89-91)

1969-1979 Neil Young is an all time great stretch though. In terms of quantity, quality and consistency it's nearly unrivaled.

I think the same thing can be said about almost any of his contemporaries, although Harvest Moon (1992) and Mirror Ball (1995) were great albums.

So that brings your time line to 69-79, and 89-95, not a bad career, and when you factor in that he still rocks live, guy is an all time great.

[andgar923]

I'm one of the very few that thinks he's a better 'overall' artist than Dylan.

Dylan= superior lyricist
Neil= better all around songwriter/artist

Big distinction between writing great lyrics and writing great 'songs' (songwriter).

[RedBlackAttack]

I'm one of the very few that thinks he's a better 'overall' artist than Dylan.

Dylan= superior lyricist
Neil= better all around songwriter/artist

Big distinction between writing great lyrics and writing great 'songs' (songwriter).
I don't like comparing the two... They are completely different kinds of songwriters, but Dylan wasn't just a great lyricist.... He was an incredible songwriter.

Dylan's catalog is staggering.

Neil is maybe my favorite folk musician ever, though. I especially love his songs completely stripped down with just him and an acoustic. Don't get me wrong... I appreciate Crazy Horse and I've seen them live a few times (very good), but Neil's stripped down stuff is just killer.

Neil also had an amazing unplugged set that is underrated in the grand scheme.

Unknown Legend (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQbywlrgRgk) (how about the imagery in this song?)

Here are a couple of good vids (all just Neil and his Martin acoustic)...

Old Man live in 1973 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMXvJEB7ue8)

Heart of Gold from the same show (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFNqj3RGUuM)

[TennesseeFan]

I've always loved Neil Young. Cortez the Killer is my favorite lyrics ever. Love that song. Southern Man, Ohio, Down by the River, Cinnamon Girl, Hey Hey My My, all incredible songs. Cortez is definitely in my Top 10, Top 5 maybe, Southern Man is Top 20 at least.

[RedBlackAttack]

I hope everyone posting in here has the CSN&Y album 'Four Way Street.' If you don't have it, listen to this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jai6AykXW9k

into this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv7KHcuALI8

At first, it is just CSN doing their classic. Then, halfway through the album, Neil comes out with his acoustic and does an absolutely incredible set... Before they all join together.

That is an amazing live album.

[JtotheIzzo]

I'm one of the very few that thinks he's a better 'overall' artist than Dylan.

Dylan= superior lyricist
Neil= better all around songwriter/artist

Big distinction between writing great lyrics and writing great 'songs' (songwriter).

If we talk longevity (like we do with GOAT athletes) than Neil definitely takes the cake. Neil can still walk out on stage with an acoustic and command the room, Dylan (I saw him just a month ago) hasn't been able to do that in about 20 years.

But comparing artists just seems wrong to me (despite the above paragraph :oldlol: ). Both are gifts and we should enjoy them. Here is a clip of Neil discussing the topic with Charlie Rose.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmADAA97RTI

[jongib369]

The Loner - 1970 - Cafe Feenjon - Greenwich Village - New York
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvbLbqtJ2ZA