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Not only does Young accomplish his goal of creating a musical storyline that transcends the tedium and self-indulgence of your average concept album, but he's also crafted his finest set of songs since at least Freedom and Ragged Glory.
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Q MagazineGreendale is a bonkers, utterly headstrong conceit. Let's hope that Neil Young never stops having them. [Sep 2003, p.111]
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It all adds up to a very good record -- one that is interesting, and one that satisfies musically.
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Greendale has a tattered, buzzing, demolike sound, rude as any Young has put out.
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A soothing, gentle rock'n'roll opus.
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BlenderQuirks and all, it's a consistently absorbing tale from a songwriter who's still pushing himself. [Sep 2003, p.132]
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UncutThe good news is Young has found himself a different kind of voice and some fresh inspiration. [Sep 2003, p.116]
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Songcraft occasionally gets sacrificed for the sake of narrative, and some tracks are easier to admire than enjoy, but by and large, Greendale still works as a Neil Young record.
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The problem with Greendale-the-CD is that too many songs rely on simple blues vamps that neither Young nor Crazy Horse manages to rave up into their trademark protogrunge.... But you keep listening because he's created real setting, plot, and character.
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While some of it is bitterly brilliant, too many songs veer toward being overdone or naively optimistic.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 49 out of 57
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Mixed: 4 out of 57
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Negative: 4 out of 57
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Jan 2, 2012
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StephenSApr 26, 2006
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SeamusSDec 24, 2005