Neil Young – ‘Oceanside Countryside’ album review: The blissful sway of a lost moment in time
THE SKINNY: New album releases can take time to settle in, especially when an artist’s catalogue already carries high expectations for what’s next. Neil Young first recorded these tracks in 1977, and while many later appeared on albums like Hawks and Doves and Archives Vol. III, this release offers insight into their original versions—a special glimpse into the past.
“This analogue original album, recorded in 1977, was unreleased at the time,” Young explained, recalling how each song came together in Florida and Malibu. Split into two sides, Oceanside and Countryside, the “lost” recordings drip with an unmistakable essence of familiarity with a newfound flavour of authenticity, closer to Young’s initial intentions without the added embellishments.
Embracing Young’s gentle sway of country folk, Oceanside Countryside carries an inexplicable hint of nostalgia through Young’s yearning vocals, from the soft lament of ‘Sail Away’ to the stripped-back, considered affair of ‘Pocahontas’. While the tracklisting feels limited by its own closeness, it offers a kind of quiet contemplation that defined the singer-songwriter boom, with delicate sweeps that feel magically close to the album’s namesake itself.
If for nothing else, both of these sides offer a glimpse into a poignant moment in time. Young’s reflections not only guide the music industry through uncertain times but also signal the importance of slowing the soul, allowing the mind to soak up the warmth and gentle intimacy of the wind and coastal waves. Setting the pace for an unhurried journey back in time, Oceanside Countryside is one for the thinkers.
For fans of: Neil Young. And Sunday coastal walks.
A concluding comment from a Glastonbury loyalist: “How am I supposed to drunkenly shout along to any of this?”
Oceanside Countryside track by track:
Release Date: March 7th | Producer: Neil Young | Label: Reprise Records
‘Sail Away’: The beauty of the oceanic breeze is difficult to capture through sound, but ‘Sail Away’ embodies the exact appeal of resigning to simple pleasures, setting the perfect tone for the rest of the record. [3/5]
‘Lost in Space’: Another unhurried affair, ‘Lost in Space’ is more melancholic than it initially seems, as Young wistfully laments the changing tides of time, anchoring the heart of Oceanside Countryside in just over four minutes. [4/5]
‘Captain Kennedy’: Embracing his knack for raw storytelling, ‘Captain Kennedy’ traces the tragedy of a sailor fated to war, using considered, delicate guitar picking to accentuate the intricacy of the story itself. [3/5]
‘Goin’ Back’: Capturing the depth and complexity of time itself, ‘Goin’ Back’ has always felt like one of Young’s more heartfelt country arrangements, and while this feels almost identical to the version held close by so many, there’s a subtle rawness to this particular rendition, like hearing Young utter those wistful words for the very first time despite repeated listens. [4/5]
‘Human Highway’: The harmonies have always been the most dazzling aspect of this song, but with these removed at first, Young’s vocals shine still, holding their poignancy clear and robust until these come back centre stage for the chorus. [3.5/5]
‘Field of Opportunity’: “Let me bore you with this story / ‘How my lover let me down’ / While I borrow seeds of sadness / From the ground,” Young sings on ‘Field of Opportunity’, providing a country-tinged playful ballad about the conventions of the genre itself, providing an inviting contrast to the record’s otherwise reflective tone. [3/5]
‘Dance Dance Dance’: While this song has always felt more accomplished and ahead of its time, the Countryside version somehow feels even more crisp, enhancing its joyous and lighthearted appeal even further, despite its innate headiness. [3/5]
‘The Old Homestead’: Showing off Young’s storytelling proficiency with a more calculated demeanour, ‘The Old Homestead’ refocuses the significance of Oceanside Countryside following its more lighthearted tracks, with an even heavier focus on the rawness of its own sentiment. [3.5/5]
‘It Might Have Been’: This song has always naturally felt particularly dreary, especially as Young wastes no time sugarcoating the tragedy of longing and loss from the off. But somehow, this recording removes the overt tongue-in-cheek veil of the released version, feeling more akin to lamenting times gone by on a cold winter’s night than observing the passage of time in a beer garden. [3/5]
‘Pocahontas’: Album closers are always more significant than they might seem, and many fail to hit the mark. However, ‘Pocahontas’ wraps up Countryside perfectly, with a haunting reflection of cultural shortcomings through the powerful tool of narrative poeticism. [3/5]
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