1969

On his second album, Neil Young set the standard of quality that would permeate his post-SPRINGFIELD discography for years to come. Every track on the disc quivers with haunting, heartrending vocals and Young's trademark guitar clunge. At any point in the record, the band either weaves gorgeous acoustic drama or charges and staggers on the verge of total collapse. The gentle guitar ripples of "Down by the River" and the rootsy, shuffling chord changes of "The Losing End (When You're On)" are nothing short of hypnotic. Over the next few years, Young would be outdone only by himself in terms of songcraft and minimalist musical expression.

Picks of the litter, 1969: