Second only to Dylan, IMO when it comes to songwriting, Neil Young has an influence that is unique due to his two distinct styles of folk rock along with rocking out on the guitar. So many great songs but one of his most underrated is the gem from the widely panned '80s album, "Landing on Water" in "Touch the Night". It is like a cross between "Bat Out of Hell" and "Like a Hurricane" - the guitar playing is incredible: <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/U59DhKpZ9Qg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
One of the best shows I ever saw was a solo show with Neil, a piano, harpsichord, half a dozen guitars and harmonicas. He sat on a stool and moved between instruments so effortlessly for great song after great song. Arguably one of the best singer songwriters.
I don't care much for Neil Young, but I listened to 'Trans' and thought it was a really cool album - then, I found out that most Neil Young fans hate that album. The other stuff is alright, I guess. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/izU_lVASxZw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
That was my first show ever, NY on the Trans Tour. I was only 12, big sister was a huge fan, and have grown over the years to really love Tonites the Nite; as real as it gets!
Never a huge fan of his. Depends on what aspect of songwriting you're looking at- lyrics or music. Lyrically, yes, he's pretty good. Song-wise? Good. See, here's the thing with Neil- I don't mind the nasally singing, but have you ever heard him sing with the passion of say, Springsteen or Seger, or even Jackson Browne? I'm thinking of all the usual suspects- Cinnamon Girl, Down by the River, Heart of Gold, Like A Hurricane, Southern Man- OK, now there's some great singing on that one. And maybe Rocking in the Free World. But I never got the intensity of his music the way you would get it from a Springsteen or even someone like Elvis Costello. I would say Tonight's The Night is probably his best, or the Gold Rush one. But he's never really inspired me to just have to buy one of his CDs the way I would with Van Morrison or Tom Petty (Long after Dark). I could be wrong. I will say this about Neil Young- he contributed multiple songs to one of my all-time favorite bands, Buffalo Springfield. For I Am a Child, Mr. Soul, and Broken Arrow alone (an amazing song, BTW), he gets my vote as a great songwriter. I'll give some more of his stuff a listen. I would also say that he's pretty much one of the godfathers of grunge, like the Velvet Underground, and that's saying something. Funny how people can both have the same opinion of one artist and completely different opinions on another. I can't tell you how many people have scoffed at me when I've mentioned favorites like Cheap Trick, The Monkees, or E.L.O. Give me melodic, Beatles/Beach Boys-inspired pop with a kick anyday. But some can't stand it.
Neil Young #2 songwriter?? In terms of music, no way. There are 20 off the top of my head that I can say are better than him- Lennon/McCartney, Wilson, Jagger-Richards, etc. Now, lyrics, - as far as from a creative and imaginative standpoint, here are my top 5 (just my opinion, of course): 1. Pete Townshend 2. Bob Dylan 3. Ray Davies 4. Bruce Springsteen 5. Michael Stipe 6. Elvis Costello 7. Thom Yorke 8. Donald Fagen 9. Jackson Browne 10. Joni Mitchell
I would have Roger Waters, Leonard Cohen, Van Morrison, and Tom Waits (along with Neil) ahead of most of those with the exceptions of Dylan, Springsteen, Mitchell, and maybe Townsend. Someone who THINKS HE IS a great songwriter is Robbie Robertson... Don't get me wrong - I love guys like Yorke, Costello, and Stipe but I just don't think their lyric writing is on the same level as the ones I mentioned in the paragraph above. I don't think there is any doubt that Yorke, Costello, Stipe, Davies, etc. write better music than Neil or Cohen, etc, but I just don't think their lyrics are on the same level - my opinion, of course.
"Greatest Songwriter" lists are always dominated by the folks that missionaries of Rolling Stone® deified and/or canonized in the seventies. There were better songwriters before, and there have been better songwriters since.
My top 10, errr 12, is ripped straight from rolling stoned magazine... Lennon / McCartney Charles Thompson/frank black/black francis Roger Waters Frank Zappa Neil Young Bob Dylan Sting Les Claypool Michael Stipe Jack White Willie Nelson Elvis Costello Your mileage may vary. Enjoy responsibly.
Sometimes, I'm tempted to put Michael Stipe in the top 3, right below Townshend and Dylan. He's that good-and that underrated. His knowledge of history, science, and other topics that come out in his lyrics is just ridiculous. I could do an entire study of literary/historical allusions from REM and it would cover a book. Reminds me a lot of William Faulkner. Yes, Robbie Robertson- well, I always thought the heart of that band was the other 4 guys, anyway. Another one I'd have to put up there is Peter Gabriel.
Just like Dylan, I have a Neil Young playlist, 50 songs total: Cinnamon Girl Southern Man Heart Of Gold Look Out For My Love Ohio (with CSN) Hangin' On A Limb Long May You Run Powderfinger Words (Between The Lines Of Age) Tonight's The Night Like A Hurricane War Of Man Old Man Roger & Out The Loner Tell Me Why I'm The Ocean Ordinary People The Needle And The Damage Done Crime In The City (Sixty To Zero, Pt. 1) Goin' Back Touch The Night Prairie Wind Razor Love Sample And Hold A Man Needs A Maid Downtown Ambulance Blues Down By The River Only Love Can Break Your Heart Harvest Moon Lotta Love This Note's For You Like An Inca Love And War Mother Earth (Natural Anthem) Sleeps With Angels Hippie Dream Shots Big Time Rockin' In The Free World (Fast, Rock Version) Come On Baby Let's Go Downtown Cortez The Killer Revolution Blues F*!#In' Up Just Singing A Song Don't Cry Walk With Me Cowgirl In The Sand Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dVC2cszdTao" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> God, ****ing, Damn... What a special talent...
I can tell you that that song has a much different meaning for me now than it did back when I first saw him play it. He's an amazing songwriter. I don't know where I'd place him on a list, but he's one of my personal favorites. To the person who said he lacked "passion," well, you must not have paid much attention, or seen him in concert, with all due respect. You mentioned Buffalo Springfield. I saw Buffalo Springfield in concert and he (and they) were great. They're one of those bands that should have stayed together longer than they did. Passion? Young has it in spades. He had it then, and he still has it.
^ What Deckard said - I found an old concert footage of NY playing "Touch the Night" (the song I posted in the op) and just the way he plays his guitar, you can tell that he has passion dripping from his bloody veins! Repped, by the way as I was having a tough time with the software for some reason.
Looks like the same set... <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Eh44QPT1mPE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
