I’ve been revisiting all my old Neil Young albums, and was reminded by just how fantastic the pacing for Young’s Everybody Knows This is Nowhere is. It’s not quite the simplistic fast-slow dynamic that so many albums seem to fall into, but a rather steady foray into both paces that pieces together perfectly. As the album nears its end, and you’ve already been blistered by “Cinnamon Girl” and “Down By The River,” Young eases up on the reins with the absolutely gorgeous “Losing End (When You’re On)”, one of his best ballads of all-time. A loping country lament, it’s a potent tale of love-gone-sour, and it gives just enough space to prepare for the epic finale “Cowgirl in the Sand” two songs later. Sadly, when compared to much of the material on After The Goldrush and even his overlooked self-titled debut, it’s never received its proper due as one of the simplest, most painstakingly direct ballads Young ever wrote.