Tonight's the Night

Tonight’s the Night is a cathartic cry of loss. Neil Young’s guitarist Danny Whitten and roadie pal Bruce Berry both died shortly before the recording, and the songs clearly mourn their passing. The thrillingly raw production makes you feel like you’re in Young’s living room, watching him deliver the dark, stormy title track and the almost unhinged-sounding “Mellow My Mind.” But the mood isn’t monochromatic—the relatively relaxed “Roll Another Number” and “Come on Baby Let’s Go Downtown” offer a breather from the intensity.