darth_vedder wrote:What are RM's thoughts about 'On The Beach'? I don't think I know anything from it. Is it on the rock or folk side of things?
Many fans will say it's his best work. I easily put it in my top three. The first half of the record is rockin', with the exception of For the Turnstiles (which is an awesome song). Then the second half of the record mellows out a bit, getting into some dreamy/bluesy stuff.
Like the other two records in his "Ditch Trilogy," (Tonight's the Night and Time Fades Away), it's magnificent. Neil is at the peak of his songwriting prowess, and he surrounds himself with a bunch of super capable musicians and then makes them all play instruments that aren't their stated focus (the bassist plays drums, etc). And then they all got zonked on "honey sliders" (basically pot cookies), and recorded a few albums off-the-cuff. Enigmatic, edgy, weird, sloppy in al the right ways -- the Ditch Trilogy is amongst the very best that Neil has to offer. Imagine listening to After the Goldrush if everyone was super stoned and the recording quality was more raw, and you should have a general idea. Revolution Blues and Vampire Blues are two of his very best songs ever, but every song on the album ranges from very, very good to amazing.
On the beach might be my favorite Neil. Absolute must have.
tragabigzanda wrote:Top 10 maybe?
Hello Morning
Close Captioned
The Kill
Place/Position
Do You Like Me?
Latest Disgrace
Recap Modotti
Nightshop
Break
Life & Limb
I'd maybe bump Life & Limb for Epic Problem
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Mon January 12, 2026 10:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Another fan of "On the Beach" here. It's ragged but eclectic in a way that the other "Ditch" albums are not. I once read it described as "a cult item with a weird sense of quest." Pretty good summary.
darth_vedder wrote:What are RM's thoughts about 'On The Beach'? I don't think I know anything from it. Is it on the rock or folk side of things?
Most people think it's his masterpiece. Personally, I think it's a tad overrated. But that's in comparison to all the other amazing albums he made in the 70's. It's still good.
Legendary singer-songwriter, musician and activist Neil Young brings one of his most personal albums, GREENDALE, to comics. Overseeing the work of acclaimed writer Joshua Dysart (UNKNOWN SOLDIER) and fan-favorite artist Cliff Chiang (HUMAN TARGET), they compose a graphic novel that explores a whole new dimension to the album that Rolling Stone voted as one of the best of its year.
In the Fall of 2003, as the nation gallops into war, a politically active teenage girl named Sun lives, loves and dreams in a small California town named Greendale.
Sun's always been different. There's been talk that the women in her family have all had a preternatural communion with nature. And when a Stranger comes to town – a character whose presence causes Greendale to, well, go to hell – she'll find herself on a journey both mystical and mythical. To face the Stranger, she'll unearth the secrets of her family in a political coming-of-age story infused with its own special magic.
Oh and the bad guy looks like Neil and controls events using his harmonica. Hmm.
I love Greendale. When i first bought it on CD it came with a behind the scenes of Greendale. Lots of footage of Neil and the Horse recording and working the songs out . Haven't been able to find it since though.
Kevin Davis wrote:Another fan of "On the Beach" here. It's ragged but eclectic in a way that the other "Ditch" albums are not. I once read it described as "a cult item with a weird sense of quest." Pretty good summary.
Revolution Blues really changed once I found out what it's about. Love that album.
On The Beach is probably my fav Neil record as well. Love it front to back, Ambulance Blues is hands down my fav Neil track I think. Found it on vinyl a few years back and haven't come across it since. Really hoping for a Greendale reissue someday.
8/22/98, 9/11/05, 8/19/09/, 9/15/11,7/16/13, 9/6/22
Still waiting for Yellow Ledbetter to open a show.....
durdencommatyler wrote:Everybody Knows This is Nowhere is still my favorite. Maybe not his best, but the one that speaks to me most often and never lets me down.
