Harvest Moon Tracks
1. Unknown Legend
2. From Hank to Hendrix
3. You and Me
4. Harvest Moon
5. War of Man
6. One of These Days
7. Such a Woman
8. Old King
9. Dreamin' Man
10. Natural Beauty
Harvest Moon Review
When Neil Young seems about to zig, he zags. Two years after 1990's loud Ragged Glory, he retreats to an old world of steel guitars, gentle folk melodies, and pristine country choruses. (That's Linda Ronstadt, who helped make 1972's Harvest a hit album, singing backup on the follow-up.) Young name-drops Hank Williams, Jimi Hendrix, and his old dog, King, in rich reminiscences about the musical ride he and his fans have shared since the late '60s. The album, as Young sings in "One of These Days," is "a long letter to all the good friends I've known." --Steve Knopper
Released to coincide with the 20th anniversary of Young's most popular album, "Harvest", "Harvest Moon" is not a sequel per se, but it has the same feel, and some of the musicians are even the same as in 1972.
Far from Young's recordings with Crazy Horse, "Harvest Moon" is a low-key set of mainly acoustic folk-rock and country-rock songs, most of them drum-less. It is not brimming with pop hooks, but that's has never been Neil Young's thing anyway, and there are plenty of lovely, melodic tunes to be found. The laid-back acoustic shuffle "From Hank To Hendrix" is one. James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt provides vocal harmonies on another, "One Of These Days", and the beautiful title track is the highlight of the album, terrific arrangement and a lovely melody, one of Young's best ever.
"Old King" is a charming banjo-driven country song, one of the few up-tempo ones on this album, a tribute to a deceased dog. And "Dreaming Man" is an underrated gem in Young's lenghty catalogue, a gorgeous melody build around Young's acoustic guitar riff.
"Harvest Moon" is a Neil Young record, which means it is something of acquired taste. Young's high, reedy vocals are every bit as unusual as Bob Dylan's nasal croak...but if this is your thing, that is, if you have good taste, go get it ;o)
Fans of Neil Percival Young will definitely want this charming record in their collection.