Silver and Gold is possibly Neil Young's quietest record; it's certainly his most sentimental. Dedicated to his wife Pegi, this homespun, sepia-toned album captures the 54-year-old singer-songwriter in a wistful mood, reflecting upon his professional and personal lives and taking stock of the people and memories he holds dear. Naturally, anyone looking for Neil Young, the guitar-strangling Godfather of Grunge, will have to look elsewhere. He's firmly in intimate acoustic mode here and has written big-hearted, tender lyrics to match. He gets so nostalgic at one point that he even contemplates a reunion of his famously quarrelsome '60s quintet on Buffalo Springfield Again: "Like to see the guys again and give it a shot/Maybe now we can show the world what we got." Mostly, though, Young ponders the nature of true, enduring love ("Love ain't looking for perfection/Love's the answer/Love's the question," he concludes on Horseshoe Man) and sends out adoring words of gratitude to his spouse of 21 years. "Our kind of love never seems to get old/It's better than silver and gold," he sings with unguarded affection on the lovely title track. The guest musicians, many of whom contributed to the similarly rustic Harvest and Harvest Moon albums, are careful not to be intrusive: Co-producer Ben Keith threads his plaintive pedal steel throughout most of the record, while organist-pianist Spooner Oldham and harmony vocalists Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt add just the right touches when called upon. Silver and Gold is so understated, in fact, that it might seem unremarkable on casual listen. But, like love itself, this is a record that only blooms when nurtured with time and attention.

Track Listing 1. Good To See You
2. Silver & Gold
3. Daddy Went Walkin'
4. Buffalo Springfield Again
5. The Great Divide
6. Horseshoe Man
7. Red Sun
8. Distant Camera
9. Razor Love
10. Without Rings
TOTAL TIME: 39:14