Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Opening with the methodical, hard-rocking "Cinnamon Girl"--still one of the singer-songwriter's most-hollered requests in concert--Young's second solo album introduces the cockeyed harmonies and sloppy, chiming guitars of Crazy Horse. His wide swings from soft-spoken country-folk ("Round & Round [It Won't Be Long]") to menacing metal (the punch line to "Down by the River" is "I shot my baby") indicate the multiple personalities in Young's future. His second album of 1969 broadcasts a sincere passion for the peace-and-love '60s (dig the long guitar solos) but also predicts the dark introspection of "Tonight's the Night." --Steve Knopper

Tracks:

Cinnamon Girl
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Round And Round (It Won't Be Long)
Down By The River
The Losing (When You're On)
Running Dry (Requiem For The Rockets)
Cowgirl In The Sand

Amazon.com

Opening with the methodical, hard-rocking "Cinnamon Girl"--still one of the singer-songwriter's most-hollered requests in concert--Young's second solo album introduces the cockeyed harmonies and sloppy, chiming guitars of Crazy Horse. His wide swings from soft-spoken country-folk ("Round & Round [It Won't Be Long]") to menacing metal (the punch line to "Down by the River" is "I shot my baby") indicate the multiple personalities in Young's future. His second album of 1969 broadcasts a sincere passion for the peace-and-love '60s (dig the long guitar solos) but also predicts the dark introspection of "Tonight's the Night." --Steve Knopper

Customer Reviews:

sound quality not good.......2007-06-12

The sound quality did not sound as good as my old album.

a suggestion.......2007-05-30

You know what i think would be great?
If they gave this album one of those "Deluxe Edition" jobs like they've
done with so many others such as the first Weezer album and Blind Faith and on and on. Out-takes,demo's,alternate takes/mix's....it would all be catnip to the millions who love this album.
Actually, now that i think of it....if a "Deluxe Edition" job isn't possible, they could make a nice pairing of this along with the Neil and Crazy Horse at The Fillmore 1970 CD. That would be pretty deluxe!

A Classic----Everybody Knows.......2007-05-14

While sniffing around in the wine cellar, I looked into my considerable archive of music and this one, inexplicably, shuffled it's way off the shelf into my bony hands. Some people say that it's Universal Force and Enlightenment that did it. I suspect Guido from the empty bottles. In any event- it is an excellent choice.
What can one say about this album? Neil Young expanded beyond Buffalo Springfield with this one and, I think, came into his own as a considerable artist in his own right. With Crazy Horse, he examined and extended his creativity with pastoral landscapes, jagged-edged cliffs, outerworldly musings, and just plain country meets city sensibility. Not that it always makes sense, but that people is the magic of music. Interpretation is up to you, not the artist.
Even now, I am awed by the consistency Neil displays so early in his solo career. We are never relaxed, for one moment, that the sequence of songs will resemble sameness in any shape or form. It begins with "Cinnamon Girl" which, in some way, reveals the dilemma that many young people have a problem with. That is the in-between phase of being a child and adult. He wants to spend his life with her, but then again, "Ma, send me money". The need to be free but not quite there yet. This theme reveals itself in many of his tunes. It is a slow rocker but with such a memorable riff. Next up "Everybody Knows", a jumpy, sprightly groove that, again, reveals where he's at - between a dream and reality- essentially nowhere.
"Round and Round" is a slow acoustic sadness that, I feel at least, is about loss. A loss of yourself? Or perhaps someone close. "Down By the River", aside from allowing Neil to stretch his jagged lead guitar, proposes another dilemma for the astute listener. The protagonist is lead to possibilities with this woman - but is her non-compliance a reason to shoot her? Down by the River? An enigmatic song at best and I dare not ask Neil the meaning.
We then get to "The Losing End" which reveals an easy-going country groove with some electric guitars helping it along. The theme? Good ol' country heartache. A mainstay in that genre - now and always. The mood then changes, into some outerworldly, ethereal regret and deception. This song reveals a darkness of the mind, and this is brought forth so effectively with the inclusion of violins. An eerie offering, but so very different.
"Cowgirl in the Sand", I think, is one of Neil's most potent songs. It can be taken on many levels. It is hard drivin' (but, it takes on a whole new perspective if you heard him do the acoustic version). Neil pleads with her to stay in her company. But, her place of command is the desert. Desolation. And, this song tries, desperately, to make her see her worth. Neil knows she is a beauty. She feels she is "purple words on a gray background". I feel that this song is an aching plea. It also allows Neil to experiment with lead guitar breaks, gritty and rough and insistent on it's purpose. In all, a brilliant conclusion to a brilliant album.
This album (plus the next two- After the Gold Rush and Harvest) complete the superb triumvirate of Neil's early career. As we know now, he was to go on to more creative terrain. Some of it successful, some of it not so. In any event, plain and simple, he is an amazing artist and, I think, one of the greats in popular music.
This one is definitely a classic and well worth the investment.
Now - if only Guido would replenish my bottles!

Your personal roadmap to reflection and music of worth--Metamorpho

an absolute rock and roll classic........2007-03-30

"tonight's the night" is my favorite neil young album. what's number two, though? "on the beach," "after the gold rush," or "everybody knows this is nowhere." hard to choose from those three great albums. might be "everybody knows..." though. such great songs. such stunning performances. "down by the river" and "cowgirl in the sand" have some of the most originally stunning guitar jams in the history of rock and roll. and the first of those two songs is simply about as haunting a piece of work as you will find in all of the rock and roll canon. "cinnamon girl," with its power chords and great melody is another classic. the whole album is just outrageously fantastic. don't miss it.

excellent early record.......2007-03-18

This is really one of Neil Young's most interesting albums. I love the two lengthy jams the most- lots of emotion in the guitar playing and the mood. "cinnamon girl" is probably overplayed, and the crunchy guitar riff never did a whole lot for me, but the title song and the rest of the album stand mighty proud as distinct tunes that will immediately take you back to the late 60's. Enjoy it. I wonder if Neil Young knew at the time that this album would still be remembered and praised nearly 40, yes that's right *40* years later.

Average customer rating:

Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000AA7AZ8
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Album Description

Japanese pressing reissue of Neil Young's 2nd album originally released in 1969. Reprise. 2005.

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