Overlooked gem or career misstep?

Overlooked gem, for sure. I really like this record.

cheesy as it is, it's good for Neil Young...

"Opera Star" is one of Neil's best-hidden gems.

Brett Eugene Ralph wrote:"Opera Star" is one of Neil's best-hidden gems.

I love that version of "Mr Soul," too. Trans is one of my all-time fave Neil Young records, the whole thing has a really ghostly quality. I wish I still had my copy; I dont know what happened to it. Fucking moving. And housemates. And utter disorganization. Damn.

Anyway, NOT CRAP.

I'm glad Trans has gotten a positive score. I thought everyone hated it but me. I particularly love the version of Mr Soul on there.

At the time of its release, critics were complaining that they couldn't understand the words. Neil referred to his handicapped son and said "I can't understand my son, so fuck you". Or something to that effect.

I like this record, too.

Yes, "Trans" was influenced by his nonoral quadriplegic son Ben, and his frustrations at his inability to communicate with Ben.

Of course it's obvious by listening to "Trans" that this is what the record is about, right? So Neil Young is justified in being pissed off at critics who don't get it.

Angus Jung wrote:Of course it's obvious by listening to "Trans" that this is what the record is about, right? So Neil Young is justified in being pissed off at critics who don't get it.

It wasn't obvious to me - it was just a good, weird record as far as I knew.

Critics, however: it could be argued that it's their job to know this stuff.

I took Angus's statement as sarcastic. The fact that the album reflected Neil's inability to communicate with his disabled son isn't obvoius and it's not necessary to know that to appreciate and enjoy the album for what it is.