It's not a happy album (as if any album named after a movie about nuclear war would be?), falling between the bleak, road-weary Time Fades Away and Neil's ode to heroin casualties Tonight's the Night. But the dreary, moody feel which pervades the album makes it stand out as one of the more cohesive, consistent works from an artist who is best known for his obsessive eclecticism. The album kicks off sturdily enough, with the straightforward rocker "Walk On," but ventures off into meandering, bluesy territory. "Revolution Blues" is one of his sharpest, most jarring tracks, a riveting walk alongside Charles Manson; while the epic "Ambulance Blues" conjures up the meandering, folky lyricism he'd intermittently delve into over the years (i.e. Zuma's "Cortez the Killer). The beautiful "See The Sky About To Rain" is another gorgeous ballad capturing a similar feel as his Buffalo Springfield-era "Expecting To Fly." Yes, some of the tracks take some work -- both the title track and "Motion Pictures" are great but a bit too slow-moving -- but the album is still solid through and through.

After languishing for years as a vinyl-only forgotten classic, Neil finally released this in 2003 on remastered cd (alongside several lesser albums but, alas, still no sign of the great Time Fades Away). It sounds great, head and shoulders above most of Neil's neglected catalog (most of which is desperately in need of remastering).

samples	Amazon.com's On The Beach samples.
links	HyperRust is the essential fan site; there's also Neil's Garage, the official page.
	Opinionated Neil Young Discography