Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

THE REVIEW

Neil Young's first solo album was released in 1968 and was simply titled "Neil Young". It didn't turn out very well, with too many overdubs significantly weighing it down, despite some commendable songs. In short, it was an album that only hinted at what was to come.

Right after the release of the record, Neil, dissatisfied with the album, went to see a concert by a band called Rockets (note, not the late '70s ones dressed as astronauts) and was struck by the electrifying and rough sound of this new band. In particular, he immediately formed a friendship with guitarist Danny Whitten, and invited them to his studio for some sessions. During these sessions, the spark ignited so much that Neil, in the span of an afternoon, wrote three songs that would become masterpieces of his vast production: "Cowgirl in the Sand", "Cinnamon Girl", and "Down by the River". All the songs were recorded in the studio live, and within five to six days, an album emerged that remains to this day one of Neil Young's absolute pinnacles, seven perfect songs in their imperfection, meaning that the sound is dirty, rough, electric, and the guitars are allowed to feedback freely (it was one of the first times this happened on a studio record; sure, there was Hendrix, but it wasn't as common back then), Billy Talbot and Ralph Molina provided a punctual and essential rhythm section, Neil and Danny improvised at will, especially on the long tracks, and it's a pleasure to hear them.

In addition to the previously mentioned songs, particularly "Down by the River" is one of my all-time favorites, a fantastic song that, despite being over 8 minutes long, makes me want to listen to it again and again. There's also a stunning acoustic ballad, "Round and Round", and the title track itself, an example of electric country-rock all rigorously recorded live. An urgent album, one of those written and recorded on the fly and, like all urgent things, truly important and especially fundamental for Neil Young's career, who shortly thereafter would join Crosby, Stills & Nash for one of the most celebrated supergroups in rock history.

If a good day is seen in the morning...