Customer Reviews

After the Gold Rush

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4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm not going to waste your time with a long winded review of one of the greatest albums of the last fifty years. If you are a fan then you know how good it is. If you are not a fan or unfamiliar with his work, then this 1970 album should do the trick. If it doesn't get you into Neil then nothing in his catalog will. I'm also not going to post the same review for all four albums released, this review applies to all of the newly remastered solo albums (Neil Young, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, After The Gold Rush & Harvest) with regards to sound quality.

I had a sneaking suspicion they were going to remaster his catalog since it took way too long for the Archives box set to come out, especially considering how little unreleased material was actually on it. To some extent the box set, in my opinion, was a bit bloated and padded to charge a higher price. In any event, it appears the real reason it took so long was due to the fact that they were remastering everything possible in his catalog and wanted to have it all ready to release in the same general time frame.

I mainly want to focus on the remastering of this album, which is absolutely incredible. The liner notes state it was remastered from the original analog tapes and was an analog to HDCD 24 Bit 176 KHZ digital transfer...uh...OK...sounds good to me! This album sounds so far superior to the original CD pressing that it made my weak car speakers sound like they had had a BOSE makeover. Upon hearing some of the album tracks on the Archives box set it was obvious how incredible they sounded and I hoped they would do the same treatement to his catalog. Each album is numbered in the order they were released and a label on the back states it's part of the "Neil Young Archives Official Release Series" so there should definitely be more to come. All of these remasters come in a standard jewel case and there are no bonus tracks.

The sticker on the outside of the packaging stated that it was "remastered from the original analog tapes...because sound matters", and they're right. Someday pre-packaged music will be gone to a large extent and the younger generation doesn't give a rat's behind about sound quality so we have to get the best sounding versions while we can. Yes, I'm getting old and crotchety, I admit it. Now get off my lawn!

Released in the same year as Déjà Vu, Young's landmark reunion album with former Buffalo Springfield collaborator Steven Stills, David Crosby and Graham Nash, After the Gold Rush understandably focused on Young's solo compositions and idiosyncratic vocal style. Although it always had a slightly hastily put together quality, as if Young were rushing to his next assignment with Stills, it was highly successful at the time both commercially and artistically, and has aged extremely well. In fact, along with Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, which had a more rock orientation and which also produced the classic "Down by the River," After the Gold Rush is arguably young's best overall album, blending rock-tinged songs like "Southern Man," basically a one off on "Down by the River," with lovely ballads such as "Only Love Can Break Your Heart," and "Don't Let It Bring You Down".

Like all the recent Neil Young reissues, this has benefited immensely from the remastering to HDCD sound. Unlike some remastering efforts these days, which tend to be aggressive and edgy, this one has made the sound more "musical and mellow while at the same time restoring the dynamic impact of Young's forceful guitar strumming and twangy lead guitar playing. In other words, it sounds about as close as a CD can come to sounding like an vinyl LP, without the clicks and pops of course. This reissue is long overdue, and it's great to finally hear it again with all the force and mastery of the original.

I did two sets of A-B comparisons of the original CD issues to the recent reissues for these albums (NY, Goldrush, Nowhere and Harvest). One was on my mp3 player (FLAC) and the other on my home stereo.

Like with many recent reissues the volume is increased (only slightly, thank goodness) and the bass is beefed up (punchier, more delineated, less of a blob sound). Unlike with many recent reissues (the Stones come to mind), distortion is not introduced with these changes.

On the electric numbers I frankly did not hear much difference. It may say more about how well the original CDs were mastered (which I had always thought were just fine). The differences really shine with the acoustic numbers, especially on Harvest.

Good upgrade for us fanatic Neil fans, but many won't hear much of a difference.

After The Gold Rush is the second remastered CD I have bought from the Neil Young Archives series. The first, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere I bought because I didn't yet own it on CD. This one I bought to compare with the old Reprise label release that I already own. After listening to both of them many times, it seems that the benefits of the remastering accrue much more to the former album than to this one. As one reviewer noted, the remastering done thus far for the Archival Series is more apparent on the electric pieces.
As far as the music goes, After The Gold Rush is one of the most important albums of the last half of the 20th century. And while a remaster is long overdue, I have to strain my ears to notice any appreciable improvements on most songs. The benefits of the remaster are most apparent on the smug, preachy yet still powerful Southern Man. Elsewhere the benefits are quite underwhelming.
Like the Reprise issue, this CD is accompanied by an attractive booklet containing lyrics, pictures, and important album information. If you already own this on CD, whether an upgrade is worth the added expense depends on the quality of your sound system. But then, this remaster is so inexpensive it will be hard to resist. I look forward to further releases in the series.

As we all know, Neil Young has famously resisted the remastered reissue of his huge catalogue on CD because of what he feels is the format's less than stellar representation of analogue tapes' 'original sound' - and almost a full 20 years after 1989's first issue of "Gold Rush" on a dullard CD - it looks like the guy is having the last laugh - because this meticulously prepared tape transfer is GLORIOUS. It really is.

First to the details - "After The Gold Rush" was released in September 1970 on Reprise Records RS 6383 in the USA and RSLP 6383 in the UK (it went to Number 8 in the USA and Number 7 in the UK). This 2009 NYA OSR remaster (Neil Young Archives - Original Release Series) is Disc 3 of 4 and carries the HDCD code on the label and rear inlay (High Definition Compatible Disc). Until now, 2004's "Greatest Hits" set (which offered us three Gold Rush tracks remastered into HDCD sound quality) was the only real indication of just how good the album 'could' sound (this is the first time the 'entire' album has been given a sonic upgrade). The Audio Tape Restoration and Analog-To-HDCD Digital Transfer of the Original Master Tapes was carried out by JOHN NOWLAND (24-Bit 176 KHZ) with the Editing and Mastering done by TIM MULLIGAN - and they've done a stunning job.

The inlay faithfully reproduces the foldout lyric sheet with his black and white grainy handwritten lyrics and the print isn't cramped either - it's very readable. (The Harvest inlay has the textured feel of the original LP sleeve and lyric insert too - a nice touch).

Also - as these are the first four albums in a long reissue campaign - to identify them from the old CDs, the upper part of the outer spine has his new NYA OSR logo at the top and an 'issue' number beneath - D1, D2, D3, D4...on upwards of course.

However, the big and obvious disappointment is the complete lack of musical extras or any new info in the booklet; they're in "The Archives Vol.1 1963-1972" box set that's still sitting in shop windows at varying extortionate prices. Still - at mid price - this remaster of "Gold Rush" is great value for money and with this hugely upgraded sound - it makes you focus on the music as is and not anything else.

Some have complained that the sound is a little underwhelming after all the hype that has preceded these releases - I don't think that at all. The danger in remastering would be the cranking of everything, ultra-treble the lot - but I'm hearing ALL the instruments on this carefully prepared remaster - especially the bass and drums which now have a clarity that is so sweet rather than flashy. The sound is very subtle - there's no brashness, very little hiss. So many highlights - the meaty guitars of "Southern Man" and the slyly lovely cover of Don Gibson's "Oh Lonesome Me" is great too. But then there's a triple whammy of "Don't Let It Bring You Down", the beautiful "Birds" (lyrics above) and the rocking "When You Dance, I Can Really Love". Each is so beautifully done but in different ways. They're not bombastic, nor trebled up to the nines, but subtle - the music is just THERE in your speakers to a point where everything seems new and up for grabs again. Fans will love it and feel like they're revisited long cherished old friends while newcomers will now understand what all the 5-star fuss is about.

The gold sticker on the jewel case of each of these issues states - "Because Sound Matters" - and although it took him a few decades, on the strength of this reissue, I think Rock's great curmudgeon was right to wait to get it right...which in many respects is the ultimate nod to his fans.

Highly recommended.

PS: I've reviewed "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" and "Harvest" also - just as good soundwise...

I recently purchased the 1st four Neil Young CD'S remastered and I was quite pleased with the overall sound.The music is cleaner,louder,livelier,with more punch to it.It is a DEFINITE IMPROVEMENT over the original CD'S.What I don't like about them is the noise and excessive tape hiss at the end of each track.Instead of smooth fade outs,when the music ends a blast of loud air blows through your headphones (tape hiss)followed by dead silence ( oh yeah the songs over STOP ).For me it ruins some of the listening experience.I know I"m picky but smoother segues like the originals,would have been easier to take.The great sounding music with QUIETER SEGUES would have been perfect.Don't let this stop you from buying them they are an improvement just be aware.This is one man's opinion.

Neil Young's third album, After the Goldrush, is testimony to his eloquent songwriting skills. Some of his finest work can be found on this recording. The album is mainly a mix of acoustic guitar and piano driven material, along with some electric intensity reminiscent of his second album, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere. This album may be forty years old, but it's still amazing. Young writes plaintive songs, full of yearning. Highlights include the wistful title track, the angry "Southern Man" written about racial inequality (one of Young's songs that inspired some controversy, as well as Lynyrd Skynyrd 's "Sweet Home Alabama"), and the absolutely amazing "Don't Let It Bring You Down". One of my favorite Young tunes has long been the short and sweet "Cripple Creek Ferry". Honestly, there isn't a bad song on this album and even the cover of Don Gibson's "Oh Lonesome Me" fits seamlessly into Young's pastiche of melancholy, redemption, and yearning.

The 2009 remaster is simply amazing. The piano is bright and vibrant, individual notes ring out from the acoustic guitar, and the electric guitar snarls out from the speakers. Background vocals have a clarity not found on the original CD issue. This obviously isn't a repackage job to bring in a few extra bucks, but an honest attempt to breathe new life into a classic session. Even the CD booklet is printed on heavy, textured paper. After the Goldrush was already a 5 star album, but John Nowland and Tim Mulligan's remastering work has served to make it even better.

A lot of musical obelisks from the early years of recording are being remastered with amazing results. This CD is one of those. If you like Neil Yong and don't have this disc, buy it. If you love Neil Yong and have the original CD-recording, this is the opportunity to hear the music hove it was meant to sound.

Folk rock has really grown on me over the years. Neil Young is one of my all-time favorite artists. He offers a broad array of music, not limited to folk. Yes, he ROCKS as well, especially when he teams with Crazy Horse. You never know what you're going to get with Neil Young. However, in terms of consistency and variety, After the Gold Rush is probably his best work. Released in 1970, this masterpiece has withstood the test of time, and features some of his all-time classics, such as SOUTHERN MAN, ONLY LOVE CAN BREAK YOUR HEART, and TELL ME WHY. This album is aptly-named, because it has that folksy, mountain, and river sound that gives the album its feel and mood. I especially like the very short and to-the-point final track, CRIPPLE CREEK FERRY. Here, Neil sings about a riverboat (ferry) and the cast of characters who inhabit it as they make their way down the river. Simple stuff, but effective. This album is good traveling music, too. Whether it's this album, Freedom, Are You Passionate?, Comes a Time, Harvest Moon, or Zuma, you will always get a great effort from Neil Young, the hardest-working guy in the business. 10/10

`After the Gold Rush' is one of those seminal albums and required listening for fans of Neil Young, both existing and new. This is the album that really kicked off his solo career and it has some great songs on it. Neil Young sings in his usual plaintive style and his vocals suit the themes of the songs perfectly. I love `Southern Man' which was his indictment of deep south bigotry and it has some excellent guitar towards the end. `Don't Let It Bring You Down' is another standout track as well. Written before his super successful `Harvest' album, this album shows where Neil Young's style was heading and these two album compliment each other superbly. To go back to Neil Young's roots this is a great place to start, it has plenty of his early folk style playing and engaging lyrics as well, that I enjoy reading along with the songs for the poetry they create. Well worth a try.

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