Review #161: Crosby, Stills & Nash, Crosby, Stills & Nash
#161: Crosby, Stills & Nash, Crosby, Stills & Nash
I’m going to say something that may be very controversial: Men can’t sing.
Now, as a Frank Ocean fan, I know that’s not true. But I also sang in a co-ed choir all through my high school career, and anyone who has ever sang in a co-ed choir can probably relate to this bias.
Also, there’s the simple fact that female singers have to be technically better than male singers in order to succeed. Look at how everyone rips into Alanis Morissette for “oversinging,” but every time Robert Plant wails on a note that isn’t anywhere close to where he’s supposed to be, it’s cool and exciting.
Whatever!
My point is that I’m always so delighted when I hear men with beautiful voices. And when men with beautiful voices harmonize? Get out of here.
This was Crosby, Stills & Nash’s debut, before they got Neil Young, the owner of the world’s Craziest Horse, to hop on. I like them with and without Neil Young!
FAVORITE SONGS:
“Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” — I am yours/You are mine/You are what you are. What’s a “suite” anyway?
“Marrakesh Express” — I just love the word “Marrakesh.”
“Lady of the Island” — This reminds me a LOT of “Julia” by the Beatles.
“Helplessly Hoping” — I adore this song. It was in the movie Annihilation! Also in the video game The Last Of Us II, which you may remember from the Pearl Jam review yesterday.
“Long Time Gone” — Oh-so groovy.
“Song With No Words” — These last few songs were actually bonus tracks on the 2006 reissue, but they’re so good. It’s so amazing that they can harmonize like that on a song that literally has no words. They even mix up their rhythms.
“Everybody’s Talkin’” — A cover of a Fred Neil song, which was made famous by Harry Nilsson. I prefer the pretty harmonies.
“Teach Your Children” — “Remember the words?” “Roughly.”
LEAST FAVORITE SONGS:
“Guinnevere” — Some of the songs on this were just too folky for me. Maybe I like CSNY more than CSN.
IS RS FULL OF IT?
According to the RS blurb, Jimi Hendrix himself called this “groovy, Western-sky music.” Are you about to sit there and call Jimi Hendrix full of it? I know I’m not.
