Crosby, Stills & Nash Album: “Looking Forward”

From reading many reviews of "Looking Forward", I've learned that it is a record most CSNY fans either love or hate. Let me propose that this record is neither as bad as some would lead you to believe, or as good as others would lead you to believe.

Let's start with the songs. Neil Young weighs in with three good ones and another, less-than- serious song(Queen of Them All) that you'll like if you catch the humor in it. Nash and Crosby offer two good tunes apiece. Sanibel, the final song, was written by an outside composer, and it is good, if anything, because it shows that the CSN studio-produced harmonies are still intact. The problem is Stills. While still a formidable musician, his three songs on this record are weak both lyrically and musically, including "Faith in Me", the lead-off track. CSN/CSNY need to rely on Stills to write the classic Rock tracks, and he fails on this record. This is a major problem.

Regarding the harmonies, CSNY rely on their "live" voices, which were never spectacular to begin with and have only weakened with age. This will come as a surprise to long-time fans (who haven't seen CSN in concert lately). The last track, Sanibel, shows what the CSNY harmonies can be like when produced in a studio environment. By the way, the individual CSNY solo voices are up-to-par, abeit weaker than they were when the band members were younger, which is understandable.

Regarding the musicianship, the band's "chops" are fine, particularly Stills and Young. No problem there.

In summation, I would rate this record three stars out of five. I find that I generally enjoy it. If CSNY hang in there, I think it portends well for future collaborations.

The new Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young CD is enjoyable. The harmonies are still appealing, and the individual voices sound strong. The production quality is so-so, and not all of the cuts are terrific (Stills' Have Some Faith In Me is a clinker and gets the CD off to an ominous start), although Young's Slowpoke, Nash's Heartland and the title track are of the same fine, acoustic quality of their work a generation ago. Even Stills' societal diatribe (Seen Enough) is easy enough to handle. He's certainly seen it all.

The point needs to be made that the societal elements which endeared CSN&Y to so many in 1969 are long gone. These men, all of them still fine singer/songwriters, have come through with a solid, likeable effort. No, it won't be the best album you've ever bought, and it really won't hold a candle to Deja Vu or any of the CSN stuff from 1969-1970. But how well would albums by Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and The Doors be received at this point in time, were those legends alive and recording? They might also be making solid, likeable records as well.

Although I agree that some of the tracks are so-so - Niel is outstanding as usual! I've listened to the CD a number of times Looking Forward and and Slowpoke are my favorite tracks.

This CD is neither as good or as bad as most of the reviews would have you think. I have been a fan of CSN&Y in their various configurations since Deja Vu. While clearly, these gentlemen are no longer on the cutting edge of popular music, neither am I. It don't want CSN&Y to sound like Korn. This is a good, not great selection of songs, recorded without the studio sheen that accompanied most of their earlier works. These songs will sound pretty much the same live. I am always a little perplexed at music critics and others who suggest that Neil Young is the only member of this quartet that has any talent. I like Neil Young, but I connect much more with what Crosby and Stills have to say. "Slowpoke" is simply a re-write of "Handy Man." This is one of those discs that you will like more with repeated listening. If you are not 13, you'll find that while it is not a masterpiece, it has merit in an otherwise desolate musical landscape.

The reviews, which run hot and cold, remind me that the same thing happened when CSN and CSNY's earliest albums came out almost 30 years ago. Now considered classics, they did not receive instant critical acclaim upon release. My memory is clear. Funny how some things never change. These new tunes also will become classics. I've only played it through twice and I already find myself humming several numbers during the day, especially "Stand and Be Counted." And the other reviewer is right. There are few 90s albums with this many strong tunes. Keep playing this one. It will grow on you (or you will grow with it).