David Crosby - Voyage
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Free Music Notes for Voyage
Free Music Review: Like Walt Whitman's Song of the Open Road
Hit: 5 Stars
Make no mistake, the philosophical, poetic and political intelligence of CSNY is David Crosby. While not the most prolific, he makes up for quantity with quality, and as this intelligent overview demonstrates, from very early on there was something especially unique about his songwriting and his singing. Even more distinctive than Dylan, he was posing questions with a sophistication and imagination not known in American culture since Walt Whitman.
Each stage in his remarkable career is acurately and persuasively represented, with a separate disc of demos and alternative mixes and unissued live tracks making it just as vital as the balance of the rest. None of it is filler. None of it is less than compelling. Crosby dealt always with society's conventions, the duplicity of politics, the spectre of our own mortality and the safe harbour of our own loved ones, the redemptive power of true friendship. Aptly titled VOYAGE, this is in many ways, signposts along the way. Markers in the sky at night of his voyaging out across life, these are remarkable songs, every last one of them, for their chords, their melodies and their lyrics. These efforts celebrate a life led with eyes wide open and his mind fully aware, even in the depths of hid drug addictions, of the importance of Socrates' encomium. Who else but David Crosby could compose a song like "Delat" at such a devastating point in his life?
And his voice! Possessed of the finest set of pipes in music, Crosby is always what holds a song together. You need look no further than the DAYLIGHT AGAIN record - Mike Finnegan took most of Crosby's parts, and you can hear it plain as day. The Byrds were never quite the same, not worse, just not the same, without Crosby. Young was interested in joining CSN only if Cros had cleaned up. Why? well, listen......
I've always thought his rhythm guitar playing was underated, but the remastered production by Joel Bernstein and Graham Nash makes the case clear, that just like his harmonies, any song without his touch on guitar is something less. Nash and Jan Crosby are the major ties in David's life, and it is in the works produced that he pays most loving homage to his friend and his wife. Doesn't have to name them, they are carried in his heart, and that is the place from where David's art comes.
This set comes with a beautiful booklet. The whole concept is extraordinarily well done. But that's Cros, heart and soul.
The most incredible concert I have seen in my life was this year's Freedom Tour with CSNY. Sure, Young's LWW was the catalyst, but there at the center, the philosophical, poetical and musical glue stood David Crosby. In this marvellous retrospective, Cros closes out the first two discs with his take on "My Country Tis of Thee," a collaboration with Nash and Michael Hedges. And his notes on the song, like Walt Whitman's poetry, tell the story best:
"I am naively, staunchly, almost childishly loyal to this country, this democracy, and this system of government. It's not flawless, I'm not saying it's utopian - it isn't - but its' the best working blueprint for people to live with each other inside a set of rules, which we've got to have. And it's up to us to care enough to lay ourselves on the line for it. The people who are abusing this government should be thoroughly frightened of the people who love the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, because we're dead serious."
Amen.
Free Music Review: Heavenly overview of a genius talent
Hit: 5 Stars
David Crosby is one of the top five most important US singer-songwriters of the past forty years, but his association with a certain supergroup of *other* amazing talents left him ever-so-slightly overshadowed, even as his personal troubles with drugs and the law (as well as unexpected sperm donor!) took precedence for a long time. When one isolates his songs and collects them in an anthology like this, however, his true genius rings loud and clear.
The first two discs offer a comprehensive collection of his key studio work, with anything missing appearing in demo/outtake/live form on the third disc "Buried Treasure". The only minor nagging complaint is the inexplicable omission of the two Byrds classics "Lady Friend" and "Dolphin's Smile", although no box is 100% perfect, I suppose. Otherwise it's all here, and it's all magnificent, particularly the tracks on disc one. The CPR material on disc two is also overlooked and definitely worth a second look here.
It's the third disc, "Buried Treasure", which really lives up to its name. Compiler Graham Nash sequenced this compilation of demos, outtakes and live material brilliantly, most of the tracks appearing in stripped-down form with Crosby's meditative acoustic guitar and angelic, soulful voice taking center stage. The stoney, hypnotic versions of "Games", "Almost Cut My Hair", "Lee Shore" and "Traction In The Rain" are just breathtaking, as is a harder-rocking "Cowboy Movie" with Young and Garcia jamming away in the background. There's also an excellent remix of "Have You Seen The Stars Tonight?", a lovely a capella "Samurai" and even the more adult-contemporary later material fits in (I never liked "Dream For Him" much but this is about as good a version as it gets).
In short, all three discs are essential listening not just for Crosby fans but for anyone who appreciates beautiful music that seems cut into diamonds straight from the heavens.
Free Music Review: Forty Years Of Harmony
Hit: 5 Stars
This well produced box set is a fine overview of the music of David Crosby. As a part of rock history for over 42 years now, this set was really long overdue.
Disc One: Spans from David's most creative period as a member of The Byrds, through the up's and down's of CSN and CSN&Y, his amazing solo record and the Crosby/Nash partnership of the early 1970's.
Disc Two: Continues the musical journey from the mid 1970's, with a re-union with Stephen Stills, CSN & CSNY. More solo works, and the fantastic group: CPR. David, shows that through healing, some of his best work happened late into his career.
Disc Three: The rarities disc. This is the one for the collectors of all things David. A version of: "Guinnevere", that will prove how important a bass guitar can be, when played by the right musician. "Kids And Dogs" is a GEM, and it shows just how much we all miss, Jerry Garcia and his vast talents. Many demos, and live versions of David's finest songs are served up in completly different editions.
Fans of David, are gonna eat this stuff up. And for the folks that only know of the man, from his mid-eighties, People Magazine daze, this will be buried treasure for lot's of those new-comers. But, as there is that REP, that goes along with David, {And it always will} I'm sure lot's of listeners will diss this, and include all the reasons they HATE this type of musical adventure.
Funny, as it is easy to say that the music of David Crosby, does not appeal to all tastes, many of us feel that music should and still can be a musical journey. And by letting your self be taken into this new world, you are gonna be on a journey full of treasure.
A wealth of jewels.
Five Stars !!!
Free Music Review: A long time coming for the vocal version of the Ahlmann Bros.
Hit: 5 Stars
The album conjures up images befitting to music that has stood the test of time in the period from the 60's for Rock 'n Roll, and is aptly named, taking one through remembrances and imaginery journeys that afford those rare instances when one barely has to close their eyes to allow the ear as a window to the mind and move on to touch all the senses. Not to be interpreted as a trip other than an enjoyable venture into that which music is meant to trigger - emtion full of range, depth, and organic state where one forgets that sound, in the form of magic music, transcends the mundane: a sequence of notes and timbres that leaves one with new insights and lasting thoughts through which life itself and its views and perspective are refreshed.
CSNY produced tonalities that trigger such experiences in a way that few bands have achieved, and David Crosby leads the way vocally across the range of bands compiled into this 3 CD set. A ready comparison of the essential point of this review comes to mind, in terms of the effect, not necessarily musical structure, as produced by Led Zepellin's Physical Graffiti. This will either make sense or not, levies no claim on objectivity, but simply recapitulates an observation. If This Is Your Thing, you won't be disappointed. I'm happy to see such a wonderful collection all under one roof, so to sepak. Look up and see the heavens :-)
Free Music Review: Joel Bernstein, Graham Nash, John Nowland, Stanley Johnston, and Bernie Grundman - TAKE NOTE!
Hit: 5 Stars
... Joel Bernstein, Graham Nash, John Nowland, Stanley Johnston, and Bernie Grundman - TAKE NOTE! ...
...Dear Gentlemen who produced this masterful anthology of music by David Crosby: you need to make ammends! ... "Almost Cut My Hair," track #8 on DISC #1, contains not one, but two, click-pops at exactly 2:29 and 2:30 on the CD. This is unacceptable! I want a replacement CD - as should everyone. Also, the song - as well as "Wooden Ships" - does not sound like it was remastered from the original master tapes. What gives? Why such low fidelity (and lower compressed and normalized volume) on some of the songs on DISC #1? ... Please, gentlemen, correct this immediately! David Crosby's wonderful and passionate music deserves much better care.
... As for the music? ... It's great! DISC ONE is great. DISC TWO is good. DISC THREE is fantastic! I like DISC THREE the best of all. The whole package is a beautiful artistic production and a labor of love. David Crosby deserves it. God bless his big beautiful heart and soul. I always knew that he would rise from the ashes like the phoenix and come back to life again to achieve greatness.
... Thank you for this great musical anthology. I cannot stop listening to it. ... YOWZA! - The Aeolian Kid