Neil Young Critical Essay | Critical Essay by Mitch Cohen

Critical Essay by Mitch Cohen

A 1988 undergraduate seminar—American Rock Romanticism 202. The midterm exam question: "Music historian Antoine Ferrand describes the music of Neil Young as 'a body of work that tells us more than we'd like to know about the feelings of despair, betrayal and helplessness that characterized a segment of America during the 1970's.' Using Decade as your primary source, discuss how Young's music over his first ten year period supports or refutes Ferrand's assertion. Be specific (quotes, titles)."

It's that kind of album. Like a Faulkner anthology. And it turns out that Neil Young is a figure to be seriously reckoned with (how else?; he is the most humorless of major rock artists). Decade probably shouldn't have been necessary to convince us of that, but here it is, and it states its case for Young as a Significant Talent with thoroughness and minimal special pleading….

There is little joy in the...
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