Dan Swan | Lincoln City, Oregon United States | 02/26/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
""This Notes for you" was largely overlooked when it was released. Much was the same for other releases from this period in Neil's career; such as "Life", "Landing on Water",and "Everybody's Rockin'. For these three records Neil was in the process of getting out of his creatively constricting contract with Geffen Records. "This Notes For you" was his return to his original label "Reprise". Many had written him off; but for those of us who knew Neil; this was a triumph. Never one to become stuck in a rut, Neil came in screemin'. "Ten Men Workiin'" opens with a vengeance. A heavey guitar and blasting horns prepare the listener for what awaits. The title cut is one of Neil's many "ANTHEM" songs, and was accompanied by a music video that was quickly banned from MTV. It portrayed many famous look-a-likes, selling their souls for various products. "Coupe de Ville" must be one of Neil's finest moments. Smooth as silk; this song transports you. He creates an audio painting of love and pathos rare in modern music. This song contains an absolutely beautiful guitar solo. Neil shows how LESS is so much MORE. It may be what he doesn't play that makes this perticular solo so completely satisfying. "Life in the City" is brass infused rock at it's finest. Big, brash, and makes your feet dance. "Twilight" is another brilliant ballad which puts guitar and horns together in a way that I've never heard before, and with amazing results. This disc has some of Neil's most adventures work to date. Check out "Lucky Thirteen" to hear some "Live" work from this "BIG" band. If you like "BIG" music, you'll love "This Notes for You". Neil's only record with that "Big Band" sound, and one where the whole band shines. Think of it as a quick bend in the road towrads "Ragged Glory". Enjoy the ride!"
One of Neil Young's best
John Alapick | Wilkes-Barre, PA United States | 06/01/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This Note's For You is one of Neil Young's best albums even if it didn't sell. This is the last of Young's experimental albums before he went back to his formula of making either largely acoustic albums or noisier but still very good albums with Crazy Horse. This is great rhythm and blues with an outstanding horn section. The title track is the best known track and it's Neil at his best as he attacks corporate sponsorship while the horn section responds after each line. The rhythm section of Rick (the bass player) Rosas and Chad Cromwell lay down a killer groove throughout the album. Other great R&B tracks include "Ten Men Workin'", "Life In The City", "Sunny Inside", and "Hey, Hey." But for all the great R&B, it's the moodier tracks that are the strongest. "Coupe De Ville", "Can't Believe Your Lyin'" and "One Thing" are very strong with "Coupe De Ville" being one of the best tracks Neil has ever recorded. Albums after this like Freedom and Harvest Moon would bring him back in the spotlight but This Note's For You is more consistent than both of them."
On A Good Note
Thomas Magnum | NJ, USA | 05/07/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"After the wretched Life, Neil Young bounced back strong with the blues-based, horn driven, This Note's For You. The album has a nice loose feel and the songs, which in most cases are built around extended riffs, have a strong punch. Mr. Young is in fine form and the horns section wraps nicely around some blistering guitar work. The title track contains some scathing lyrics about the commercialization of rock music and the video won an MTV video award are Video of The Year despite being banned from the station. "Life In The City", "Coupe De Ville", "Married Man" and "Sunny Inside" are all good songs, but "Ten Men Workin'" is the standout track on the album. The album has a catchy as hell horn riff and some nifty guitar playing. This Note's For You marked Mr. Young's return to the Reprise label and it marked a turn back towards greatness."
R&B's good, Neil's good, but Neil can't play R&B
finulanu | Here, there, and everywhere | 12/09/2007
(2 out of 5 stars)
"Now for the most part I really enjoy classic R&B, but the fact is it's not Neil's sound: in most parts the huge horn section blowing everywhere sounds awkward. The fast songs are often trite, boring, and clichéd ("Ten Men Workin'"; "Married Man"; "Sunny Inside"; "Hey Hey"), with the slow blues tracks being sluggish and interminable in addition to trite, boring, and clichéd: at least "Hey Hey", for instance, has energy to spare. "Twilight", "Can't Believe Your Lyin'"; "Coupe de Ville" and "One Thing" all sound dead on their feet. Only a couple songs save this from being a total blow-off; the witty anti-corporate title track has the best lyrics by far on the album; and "Life in the City" is exciting with a dramatic horn part - I would've preferred those two as being one-off experiments on an album that was otherwise typical of Young's, rather than on an entire album of such songs. If you're curious to hear how an album totally uncharacteristic of Neil will turn up, then you might get something out of this, even if it's just the novelty factor of Neil putting out a Motown-ish album: approach with caution regardless. Yeah, I like steak, and I like cookies. But would I eat a steak cookie? Of course not!"
Which Coat Shall I Wear Today?
Thomas Magnum | 08/17/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Another one of those genre experiments by Mr Young. This is a fun CD in which the experiment works. Neil sounds as if he is having fun with his music again."