It’s really hard to come at this record without the expectations of about 30 years of work, both collectively and individually, but, assuming that, it’s equal parts not as good as expectations would have, and certainly not as bad as some soothsayers are saying.
If you think more the CSNY of their 1987 third album, "American Dream," then you will not be disappointed. But, you have to listen to this record repeatedly for the warm harmonies and strong guitar play characteristic of this battle-worn quartet to reach the surface. Plus, in a very weird way, the latter songs on this release are stronger than those at the front, so it might make sense to random play it.
Clearly, Neil Young’s songs stand out the most, and are the strongest. He played all but one of them on his solo acoustic tour last late winter and spring, and it is interesting to hear them here with band and three part harmony behind them. Young, easily, has aged the most gracefully of the four. Stills still plays great guitar at times, but his songs are a bit whiny and at least two here are virtually anonymous, which is not something you would ever say about his work in the late Sixties and early Seventies. Nash’s songs are still of the "home and hearth" variety, pleasing yet not very deep. Crosby, blessed that he is, frankly, still alive, does some good work, but his songs are the most layered and toughest to get into as a listener.
If you don’t compare it to "Déjà vu," and don’t expect the playing of "Four Way Street," you will like this record. If you try to compare it to those works, you will be disappointed.
- Mark T. Gould***1/2