From the Vault...

12/26/2004
#922

info
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
"American Dream"


© Atlantic Records

Rating:

track listing
  • American Dream
  • Got It Made
  • Name Of Love
  • Don't Say Good-bye
  • This Old House
  • Nighttime For Generals
  • Shadowland
  • Drivin' Thunder
  • Clear Blue Skies
  • That Girl
  • Compass
  • Soldiers Of Peace
  • Feel Your Love
  • Night Song

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    Previous Review: #921
    Tomatic--Smart Rhythm
    Next Review: #923
    Moody Blues--To Our Children's Children's Children
    Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
    "American Dream"



    Crosby, Stills Nash and/or Young marks their debut on the WSVNRadio website this week, with their 1988 reunion release, American Dream. Most popular in the late 1960s and throughout the next 20 years, CSN&Y's wonderful harmonies and laid back soft-rock songs have dominated fans, enjoying their music at the popular rock concerts Woodstock in 1969, and Live Aid in 1985. American Dream may not be highly ranked as their previous decades' albums, it brought back CSN&Y at a time where many artists of the past 2 decades were reuniting and/or being rediscovered.


    Two songs from this released received moderate radio airplay, the title track, written and sung by Neil Young, and the Stills/Young penned "Got It Made." The lyrics "you're all washed up" is heard in the title track, yet after listening to this album, CSN&Y is anything but. "Got It Made" is a great pop song, having a very nice feel and sound, ending the 1980s decade.


    Neil Young's "Name Of Love" shows Young's voice in fine form; a very well-done composiion including his fellow bandmates' voices gives a nice harmonic touch. "Don't Say Goodbye" is a beautiful piano ballad, co-written by Graham Nash -- his voice is beautifully crafted, and the harmonies are equally blended in fine form. Neil Young's folkish "This Old House" has a Harvest sound (a very popular solo album Young released in the early 1970s), and the harmonies makes this song exceptional.


    "Nighttime For Generals" co-written by Stills, has a far different sound and harder rock feel. It may not be easily recognized as CSN&Y by sound and vocal style. "Shadowland" is another different sounding song for CSN&Y, it definitely has the 1980s pop sound, co-written by Graham Nash.


    "Drivin' Thunder" co-written by Stills & Nash, has a harder rock feel, more as in Neil Young's direction. "Clear Blue Skies" is a very good Graham Nash pop song, again easily fitting the pop sound of the 1980s, and easily recognizing the lead vocalist as Nash. Co-written by Stills, the lead vocals on "That Girl" has harmonies that are easily recognized as CSN and/or Y -- a very good upbeat rock styled song.


    David Crosby's "Compass" brings back the early sound of CSN&Y, having a more acoustical sound, and very well-crafted. "Soldiers Of Peace" co-written by Nash, is not an exact song about defending the war, yet it has a very strong sound for representing any current war in progress. With lyrics such as:

    Soldiers of peace are not fighting a war,
    Are not looking for enemies behind every door,
    Are not looking for people to kill or to maim,
    Soldiers of peace are just changing the game.

    ... It's easy to see how CSN&Y still sing as they did in their heyday, of antiwar.


    "Feel Your Love" is easily recognized as Neil Young, either solo or with his fellow bandmates. The album's closing track, was written by Stills & Young -- "Night Song" has a good rock feel, and may not be easily recognized as CSN&Y at first. Definitely having a late 1980s feel, songs such as this one, "Shadowland" and "Nighttime For Generals" could easily be used as soundtrack music for the popular TV show at the time, Miami Vice.


    CSN&Y proves on American Dream they are NOT all washed up... Definitely updating their music to the 1980s decades styles and trends, songs on this album reflects on the sound at the time, and also bringing back their common styles from the previous two decades. There's not a bad track on this release, it's easily enjoyable with each listen. Reunited bands from the past (or "super groups" consisting of rock's past legends [such as The Firm]) shows that being reunited again can "feel so good" and that you're never too old to rock & roll.


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    Previous Review: #921
    Tomatic--Smart Rhythm
    Next Review: #923
    Moody Blues--To Our Children's Children's Children