Record Reviews

CROSBY, STILLS & NASH ~ 2012 CSN 851813004095 (Barcode: 851813004095) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This is a stunning live album by the iconic Classic Rock group Crosby, Stills & NashFind albums by this artist captured on audio and video during their 2012 tour on April 22, 2012 at The Performing Arts Center, San Luis Obispo, CA. The album offers over two and a half hours of sublime music (on two CDs and a DVD), with some bonus DVD footage featuring interviews with David CrosbyFind albums by this artist, Stephen StillsFind albums by this artist and Graham NashFind albums by this artist. The trio is accompanied by a terrific band, which includes keyboardists James RaymondFind albums by this artist and Todd CaldwellFind albums by this artist, guitarist Shane FontayneFind albums by this artist, bassist Kevin McCormickFind albums by this artist and drummer Steve DiStanislaoFind albums by this artist. The album presents twenty five songs, which span the entire Crosby, Stills & Nash recording career as well as the individual recording careers of the three legends. The three heroes appear completely ageless and although both Crosby and Nash have white hair (Stills admits to dyeing his), they are full of energy and vigor and most importantly their voices are in top form, both individually and harmonically, to the delight of the audience present at the show and of course everybody who can listen to this album subsequently. Stills also plays some amazing guitar licks, proving again that he is one of the most original Rock guitarists, a fact that is sadly often forgotten. I had the immense please to be present at a Crosby, Stills & Nash concert during their 2015 tour, and the same divine experience was repeated again. The music is of course absolutely Godly from start to finish and the fact that these three musicians managed to achieve so much in their lifetimes is both amazing and miraculous. There are absolutely no week moments on this album and a devoted fan like myself finds himself mesmerized and unable to detach himself from the music even for a moment. Although there are many superb Rock albums around, this audio / video package is certainly one of the finest around and an absolute must for the group´s fans and connoisseurs. If any Rock group deserves the title of "The Voice of a Generation", this is the one without a shadow of a doubt.

Updated: 19/01/2019Posted: 19/01/2019

2CD+DVD 3 Digipak Box Set Recommend To A Friend

GRAHAM NASH ~ LIVE PROPER 161 (Barcode: 805520031615) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2019 Released: 2022 This is a live album by legendary British singer / songwriter Graham NashFind albums by this artist, which presents contemporary interpretations of his first two solo albums: “Songs For BeginnersFind albums with this title” (1971) and “Wild TalesFind albums with this title” (1973). All eleven songs from the first album and ten songs from the second album are present in their original order. The album was recorded in 2019 during the Nash US solo tour, on which he performed only these songs, also in their original order. Nash is accompanied by a formidable set of musicians, which includes guitarist Shane FontayneFind albums by this artist, keyboardist / vocalist Todd CaldwellFind albums by this artist, guitarist / vocalist Thad DeBrockFind albums by this artist, bassist Andy HessFind albums by this artist, drummer Toby CaldwellFind albums by this artist and backing singers Celisse HendersonFind albums by this artist and Grace StumbergFind albums by this artist. The songs lost absolutely nothing from their original beauty, impact, melodic excellence and intelligent lyrics over the years and are a great reminder of the fact that Nash is one of the greatest songwriters of all times. His vocal abilities are completely intact and his presentation is sublime, as always. Overall, this is a superb reminder of the fact that music used to be great years ago, and some of its creators are still around to make us remember. These are some of the most beautiful Classic Rock songs ever written, and although Nash left Britain and settled in the US, where his music mates were / are living, he could never take out the “Britishness” out of his songwriting and singing, which was always as charming as humanly possible. This is absolute musical magic!

Updated: 07/06/2022Posted: 07/06/2022

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

GRAHAM NASH ~ NOW BMG 4050538888812 (Barcode: 4050538888812) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is the seventh solo studio album by iconic British singer / songwriter Graham NashFind albums by this artist, which follows seven years after his previous album “This Path TonightFind albums with this title”. The album was recorded with a group of excellent instrumentalists, which includes keyboardist Todd CaldwellFind albums by this artist, who also co-produced the album and wrote the string arrangements, guitarists Shane FontayneFind albums by this artist and Thad DeBrockFind albums by this artist, and drummer Adam MinkoffFind albums by this artist. A string quartet appears on three tracks and occasional guests appear on a few other tracks. The album presents thirteen tracks, most written or co-written by Nash. Nash lost absolutely nothing of his ability to write brilliant songs, based on beautiful melodies and touching directly the listener’s heart. The lyrics are direct and personal, without any unnecessary pretentious subtexts. There are just a few songwriters left, who are able to write such songs, and with David CrosbyFind albums by this artist sadly departed and Stephen StillsFind albums by this artist mostly silent, Nash is proudly carrying the message of our generation forward. In many respects this album is a ticket to a time-travel ride back to the good old days, when songs had a melody and a message, and singers did not use electronics to stay in tune. Despite his age (eighty-one years young) Nash can still carry a tune like his did decades ago and his sense of melody is as acute as it ever was. Overall, this is a brilliant Classic Rock album, perhaps totally out of synch with today’s pseudo-music, but still full of what was considered once as musical values. Listening to this album causes a tear to appear in the corner of an eye, but who can help it. Every time a gem like this is released the tragedy of contemporary Pop / Rock becomes more evident. Nash never failed us before, and hopefully we will hear from him again, as soon as possible. In the meantime, we can listen to his collected recorded legacy, which remains untouched by passing time. An absolute must!

Updated: 28/05/2023Posted: 28/05/2023

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

GRAHAM NASH ~ THIS PATH TONIGHT (DELUXE EDITION) BLUE CATLE 852550425167 (Barcode: 852550425167) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the sixth solo album by British singer / songwriter Graham NashFind albums by this artist, one of the icons of Classic Rock. It comes fourteen years after the release of the previous solo album by Nash ("Songs For SurvivorsFind albums with this title"). The album presents ten new songs, all co-written by Nash and British guitarist / singer / songwriter / producer Shane FontayneFind albums by this artist. Nash handles the lead vocals and plays acoustic guitar and harmonica, Fontayne plays guitars and sings backing vocals, Todd CaldwellFind albums by this artist plays Hammond organ, Patrick WarrenFind albums by this artist plays keyboards, Jennifer CondosFind albums by this artist plays bass and Jay BelleroseFind albums by this artist plays drums. The download edition of this album offers three bonus tracks and this edition pairs the CD with a DVD, which features a live performance by Nash and Fontayne from 2015 and interviews. It seems that Nash made a full circle since he released his debut album "Songs For BeginnersFind albums with this title" forty five years earlier. This album is almost identical in its introspective, almost completely acoustic balladry. This is Nash, the brokenhearted romantic who never gives up hope and has enough love to share with the entire world. Musically the album presents a superb collection of stunning songs, which offer great melodies and highly intelligent lyrics, which almost never happens in music these days. The same qualities that made him so special many years ago are still all there: his vocal abilities are completely undamaged, as are his songwriting skills. Overall this is a calm, introvert, well balanced album, which makes the listener really to turn all the attention towards the music and the lyrics. Nash legendary status of a "songweaver of a generation" emerges unblemished, and apparently, over five decades since his musical career got started, he is still very much one of the best out there. The album definitely grows on the listener and for quite a while I couldn´t take it out of my CD player, returning to it repeatedly. In view of the fact that music of this quality and power is almost completely absent from today´s "music scene", this album is an absolute gem and a ray of hope that not all is lost yet. An absolutely essential masterpiece!

Updated: 29/06/2018Posted: 29/06/2018

CD+DVD 2 Mini-Sleeve Essential Recommend To A Friend

STEPHEN STILLS ~ LIVE AT SHEPHERD`S BUSH RHINO 081227984694 (Barcode: 081227984694) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2008 Released: 2009 In 2015 I had the immense pleasure to catch a concert by Crosby, Stills & NashFind albums by this artist in Rome, which turned out to be one of the greatest musical experiences of my late life. It proved to me that talent knows no age limits and true Art overcomes the hurdles old age places in front of us all. For almost three hours Crosby, Stills & Nash took me back to the heyday of my youth via a music propelled time machine. I wept and laughed, sung along and joined the four thousand strong crowd in an ecstasy of nostalgia, but also in a feeling of togetherness that I can only remember as far back as the Woodstock days, where Crosby, Stills & Nash played their first gig together. This album presents a solo concert by Stephen StillsFind albums by this artist, captured in 2008, which presents his life spanning career as a singer / songwriter from his early days with Buffalo SpringfieldFind albums by this artist, via Crosby, Stills & Nash (and Young), ManassasFind albums by this artist and his other endeavors. The concert includes fourteen songs, split into two sets: an acoustic and an electric set. The first set presents Stills completely solo just singing and playing his acoustic guitar, while the second set presents him playing the electric guitar and supported by keyboardist Todd CaldwellFind albums by this artist, bassist Kenny PassarelliFind albums by this artist and drummer Joe VitaleFind albums by this artist, all three also singing vocal harmonies. Stills wrote ten and co-wrote one (with Graham Nash) of the songs present here and three are by other songwriters. The album also includes a DVD with the same material. Albums like these are often criticized by critics as nothing more than a "dinosaur experience", with the artists performing just crowd-pleasers and basically riding on waves of nostalgia. This album is nothing of the sort. Yes Stills performs some of his material that has gained him his legendary status, but he also proves that he is completely relevant today and his music simply does not expire with time. In fact there are very few contemporary music acts that can stand up to such artists as Stills, both as far as vitality and surely quality is concerned. For the hordes of Stills fans (we are dying but we are still here) this is a must of course, but younger music lovers should also find this interesting, provided of course they have the ability to distinguish between music and the bullshit the media is brainwashing them with. I hope to catch these heroes of my youth live on stage again, even if I have to do it in a wheelchair.

Updated: 29/10/2016Posted: 29/10/2016

CD+DVD 2 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend