To: Dave
Love: Adam
Date Sent: 8/22/2019
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Deja Vu
Release Date: March 11th, 1970
On my last visit, you had mentioned the top 1,000 albums to listen to before you die book and that you had started from the year 1970. So there is potential here that you may have actually listened to this album recently, since it was released that same year. Either way, I am on my third or fourth listen since yesterday afternoon and am enjoying it very much.
I was driving to our off-site meeting yesterday and Almost Cut My Hair was playing on the radio, thus prompting me to turn my attention to the full album. Although I knew probably 4/5 songs, I can’t say that I have ever actually listened to it from start to finish. Not only is its release significant to the counterculture movement of the day, but it’s also the first project created by all four of the artists together. I have been doing some reading and each of these guys were all-stars and it seems as if there was too much personality and pressure involved to continue their trajectory throughout the 70s. I am confident you can speak more on this.
The 10-song album delivers, starting with a really cool approach on Carry On and then making sure to balance the talent of all four in different ways (i.e., Almost Cut My Hair). I’d almost prefer to really get into the details while we listen together, but I don’t know if any two songs sound the same. Which, again, showcases the immense amount of skill and musicality possessed by Crosby, Stills, Nash AND Young.
I think it’s important to note 2 things:
1) The album’s title is eerily predictive of the band’s ultimate fate, especially when reading/listening to the lyrics of the song Deja Vu;
2) Not sure if I believe in coincidences, but I had mentioned that I am restarting The Office, considering that I had given up after Steve Carrell’s departure. The latest episode from last night just so happened to be the one where they bring their kids into work and Michael & Dwight end the episode by performing Teach Your Children. #WhoaBro
Dave’s Reaction:
Amazing first album to get this started up again! You are correct that this album is one of the first albums listed in 1970 from the GREAT BOOK OF ALBUMS. I have listened to this album many a time, but the credit would have to go to Xtina for getting me into CSNY (See also: Comcast Sports New York). When I first heard of CSNY, I had always just assumed Neil was part of the ground, until Xtina and her father corrected my ass. Turns out I was wrong, probably only the first time. Without doing any research, I know David Crosby and obvi Neil Young had prolific careers, but Stills and Nash apparently have some of their own shit? I guess they are more of the Garfunkel to Crosby and Young’s Simon. Did that work? Anyway, this album is incredible front to back. A true all-star album.
I used to believe the lyrics and melodies to each of the songs on this album were simplistic and thus boring. Age has made me a better person and has allowed me to appreciate great music for what it truly is. Age has also actually made me get mad at kids being on my lawn. Almost Cut My Hair or Our House seem stupid upon first listen, but it is clear that there is a motive behind the lyrics, such as the counter-culture movement that you spoke of in your email. It makes me yearn for bands to attack governments today. I mean, maybe they are (BLACK PARADE!), but I bet they don’t make it sound as good as Deja Vu. The four voices singing together at different parts of the album are what make these guys so special. If you and I sang together, no one would care enough except to yell SHUT THE FUCK UP!
These guys made it impossible for you not to feel some form of love when they hit those harmonious notes. The listener is taken to another level, which supports my hypothesis that the singer’s voice for any band is just another instrument within the band (See: Anthony Kedis). The setting that Neil Young creates with his lyrics in Helpless gives me chills even as I am just thinking about them as I type this. “Big birds flying across the sky, throwing shadows on our eyes, leave us helpless, helpless, helpless!” Goosebumps all around. Probably aided by that crazy Canadian’s unique voice, but that image he creates is one part of the album that sticks with me. I digress. My favorite songs on this album are Woodstock and Carry On. Of course the others are worthy, but dammit Woodstock sneaky rocks.
The Favorites:
Adam: Almost Cut My Hair
Dave: Woodstock