Customer Reviews

Neil Young: On the Beach

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Though it's not in the first rank of Neil Young albums, "On The Beach" contains several songs that are unquestionably of the first rank, namely "Revolution Blues" and the title track. The pervading themes of loss and alienation are articulated with brilliant, vivid imagery.

The recorded sound quality is also of a very high order at 176.400khz/24 bit. Yes, this is apt to cause dropouts and other problems with many DVD(-A) players, but if the hardware is fully compatible, it sounds breathtakingly real. It is a pity that this disc appears to be out of print. One may hope that it will soon sound even better on Blu-Ray in the "Neil Young: Archives Part II."

My husband went through a phase when he had to play this album every day. But Neil Young grows on you at many levels. A lot of heart and intensity behind that gentle voice, and melodies that stay in your head. The title track to this album, based on a simple three-chord blues progression, always releases with a pretty jazz chord that elevates the entire song and makes you wait with anticipation for each time it comes around.

It's hard to believe some of the releases from this part of Neil Young's career got such mixed reviews. Alas, there's been lots of critical reappraisal (read: 20/20 hindsight) since those days, and "On the Beach" now is accepted as being right up there with some of the best discs of Young's career, including "Zuma" and "Tonight's the Night."

Look out, though: For fans of prettified Neil, this ain't "Harvest" or "Silver and Gold." Yet it isn't nearly as noisy as "Zuma" or as raw as "Tonight's the Night," either. The first half of the album is witty, bizarre and very entertaining; the songs include "See the Sky About to Rain" and the hoarse but heartfelt "For the Turnstiles."

The second half (side 2, back in vinyl days) is simply one of the great turns in Young's career. "On the Beach," "Motion Pictures" and "Ambulance Blues" constitute a trilogy of slow-tempo, reflective songs that nevertheless have tremendous emotional power and considerable darkness. In its way, each of these pieces also asserts Young's amazing independence as an artist. He will do things his own way, even if, at times, that stubborn insistence ends up irritating his collaborators and even his fans. The title track's lyrics perfectly encapsulate Young's love/hate relationship with stardom: "I need a crowd of people," Young sings," but I can't face them day to day." Hell's bells, Neil ... who can? :) "Motion Pictures" is the gentlest of these three songs, and was dedicated to actress Carrie Snodgrass, with whom Young had a son, Zeke, but this isn't a simple romance ballad. A sample from the lyrics: "Motion pictures on my TV screen, / A home away from home, livin' in between." The song, while clearly expressing love, also delves into self-doubt, the nature of stardom, and more.

Finally, the album concludes with "Ambulance Blues," one of the finest pieces of rock music I've ever heard. In it, Young addresses critics directly, calling them out for being no better than him or anyone else despite their haughty pronouncements. And there's a verse, repeated, that many feel directly referenced Richard Nixon, the disgraced politician who in 1974 became the only U.S. president ever to resign from office:

"I never knew a man
could tell so many lies
He had a different story
for every set of eyes.
How can he remember
who he's talkin' to?
'Cause I know it ain't me,
and I hope it isn't you."

"Ambulance Blues" doesn't end so much as it just stops, kind of falling apart musically with a sigh of harmonica and soft percussion. But it's a brilliant ending -- Young, despite all the issues he's addressed on this album, knows better to proclaim that he's resolved any great mysteries.

Final note: Some reviewers here have complained that the DVD-Audio version of this album is presented in two-track (stereo) only. This was deliberate on Young's part, as he wanted the highest resolution possible for the two-channel mix. Thus, no surround here, which has irked some folks. Upon buying the disc and getting it home, I was perplexed and rather annoyed. Over time, though, I've come to appreciate it just the way it is. This is a stark, revealing mix of one of Young's most harrowing and yet winning albums. Highly recommended.

"On the Beach" was Neil Young's 5th studio album, originally released in 1974. The reviewed version was re-released as a remastered HDCD/DVD version in 2003. Some have complained about the technical aspects of the album (it plays fine on my system), but the real focus should be on the music.

"On the Beach" was initially panned by many critics as being overly pessimistic and spare. It then lived the life of a cult-favorite (I still have the 8 track!). In retrospect, Neil's genius and ability to span genres is evident. The opening track, "Walk On," displays that authentic, spare sound that was the key to Young in the day. He dabbles with country-rock in "See the Sky About to Rain" and turns a harder turn in "Revolution Blues." In the following track, "For the Turnstiles" we can hear one of Neil's banjo jams, with tight harmonies and great lyrics: "though your confidence may be shattered, it doesn't matter."

"Vampire Blues" is just fun: "sucking blood from the earth!" and is followed by the title track "On the Beach" which may in fact be the weakest cut on the album. He makes up for it (and more) in "Motion Pictures," a dreamy solo. The last track, "Ambulance Blues" may be known more widely as "Proud Isabella," and is a great example of Young's ability to disparage those with who he was having "emotional issues:" "you're only real with your makeup on."

Fans of Young cannot overlook this album. It's essential Neil.

I have 5 DVD players and 3 MacIntosh computers. This DVD-A disc WILL NOT play on most of my DVD (not CD) players. It will play on my computers! I have dozens of DVD-A discs , and they play on ALL my DVD players. This disc won't.

I would have rated this disc higher (probably), if I could have heard it.

This is a really great album by Neil Young but this DVD-Audio Edition is STEREO only! DVD-Audio allows for multiple versions of the same disc, usually a Surround Mix and a Stereo Mix - but this ONLY has a stereo one.

Also, the quality isn't that much of an improvement over the CD (having listened to it too) probably because it was remastered at the same time.

And just beware, unlike SACDs you can't play these in regular CD players. You can in a DVD player to get a CD quality recording.

This is NOT the movie!!!. This is an audio DVD with a selection of pictures. I think the seller did a poor job in the description of this product. As far as the recording, Neil did a great job with this recording! I have it on a couple different media.