Neil Young / On The Beach

This record finds Neil at a crossroads musically somewhere between country, rock and blues. While the title suggests summer breezy, On The Beach finds Neil in a more cynical mood, playing in a more hard edge fashion with stark tones reflecting what was going on at the time. Loneliness and confusion seem to to be his themes here, full of injured serenity and a sense of letting-go throughout the slowed-down pump of the oceanic music in its grooves. Layering sounds onto his vision with intuitive ease, these songs resonate with time in what has become a favorite amongst Young’s fans. The record has a feeling of uncertain acceptance and in and of itself a journey to the center of its own meaning. In other words classic Neil Young.