Reviews (page 4 of 7)
Really liked a couple of songs - We will not be lovers and The stolen girl
2 because its not dreadful but I can’t think of ant justification for a higher score. Anyway, I’m a Neil Young fan.
This was honestly quite a bit better than I thought. When this came out, folk rock was admittedly kind of oversaturated. Like, this was in the middle of a run in which every member of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young had an album crack the top 15. So, while it's hard to say this really feels essential, it is good. Honestly, Love The One You're With is actually *really* good, and earlier this week I heard Aretha Franklin's cover of this song. And, while this may be controversial, I actually *do* prefer Stills' original. While this is definitely the best song, this album is actually pretty consistent, especially side one. The rest isn't bad, but I just think it's a little choppier. Honestly, it's not changing anyone's life, but I think this is largely worth a listen, even though it kind of seems to be overshadowed by Stills' other projects, and also Neil Young's whole career, due to a storied history between them. This does have an identity all it's own. Also, as a quick aside, I like the photo on the cover quite a bit.
Great music to lay wooden flooring to A little folksy, a little gospel Makes me feel like a carpenter
4/5
No
Boring.
A completely normal album of music.
Fine I guess, for what it is. Nothing to write home about. I was trying to think what might be interesting about it beyond just being connected to CSN... I guess maybe 69 is early for this sort of thing, particular style of solo guy from band does kind of dull meander album. Maybe? I can't say it feels like something that needs marking anyway. I wrote the above before Arlen did their digging out from the book. Gonna leave as is. Lol.
This is an album I have listened to
Expected to be really boring, but actually quite a few tracks I liked. Go Back Home, Cherokee, We Are Not Helpless
It was nice and unintrusive. I don't think I'd go out of my way to listen to it again tho
I'm finally getting to Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young through this project (as an 80s teen, I ignored that sort of thing). I've enjoyed getting to know Neil Young; I didn't know anything about SS, so I had no expectations here. Well, perhaps I was expecting it to be a snooze, from the cover pic. It wasn't bad, in fact. I enjoyed Jimi H's contribution to Old Times Good Times, which built to a dated, but satisfying romp. I also thought SS's own guitar-playing on Black Queen was terrific. I thought To A Flame's attempt at slow grandeur was unsuccessful, though. But most of this was very listenable; accomplished musicians (often just SS himself!) having a good time. Definitely dated, including in the lyrics, but I did feel like I was in a 70s movie at times, which was kinda fun. It improved after I cranked the volume up a couple of notches. I don't think I was vibing with the final, rousing concluding number, but there are a few tracks I might revisit.
90/1001 Stephen Stills - s/t Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ✅ Not gonna lie, I was pleasantly surprised by this. The first half of this is definitely stronger than the second half. There's blues and gospel all mixed into this and makes for an engaging listen.
At some point I thought this would be a 4 but it’s not that interesting in the end…
I'll allow it. 3.4
A warm, rootsy blend of rock and folk, with sappy vocals making this Folk Rock.
jimi and EC, more guitar than expected, allman brothers Love the one you're with Old times good times
Idk, lots of bitching in the reviews but I think this is some good shit. Beautiful dynamics, nice texture, great guitar/organ playing. Groovy. I dig. Weird ass cover. That pink giraffe will likely be in my dreams.
Gave a 5 because of "love the one you're with" ... it was like an anthem in the 60's..
Boring
Horns and gospel choirs and bluesy wailing and epic guitar… damn dude, calm down. Stephen Stills is just not my cup of tea.
I've always liked "Love the One You're With" ... I had not noticed the congas before. Some of the songs are a bit on the "Lite Rock" side. But I like the lean toward spirituals.
ok
This was about what I expected from Mr. Stills. At it's core it's just decent folk rock, nothing bad but nothing great either. It's start off great with the first side and the second side being a tad lackluster. The album as a whole was a breeze to listen to and I did enjoy it for the most part. There's nothing really to dog on besides the lack of variety in sound. Pretty good if I do say so myself. Top 3: Love The One You're With, Do For Others, and Go Back Home no bad songs 3.00-3.50/5
I mean... Woof. He really needs Crosby, Nash, and Young to make this work. This is just naval gazy garbage.
Хорошая спокойная (но ничуть не усыпляющая) музыка. 7 из 10.
Was it listenable? Yeah sure, I felt like I'd heard every track without having heard it before. Will I listen to it again? No, because I left like I'd heard every track before.
Fucking Hell! Stephen Stills... What a talent, and a big surprise for me. I was not looking forward to listening to this album, to the point where I even put the task off some. I'm not keen on the CSN ensemble, or even CSNY, so I honestly thought I would hate a solo effort by Stills. How wrong can you be? The album has blown me away, and bulldozed its way into my Tidal album library.
you do you girl
Pretty good.
This was completely forgettable and I am not a huge fan of the lead track. Basically don’t try to be better. Don’t Follow your dreams. Settle for where you are no matter how unhappy you are. Boring record.
It was pretty decent, good for road tripping. No overly strong feelings
Shocked by the STRONG gospel influence. Old Times Good Times and Go Back Home were the highlight. Liked the closer. Lots of boring stretches
In the guitarist vanity genre, this is one of the better projects this list has served up. The songwriting is less a vehicle for mastubatory guitar playing than is usually the case with these; in fact, the best moments of this have nothing to do with Stills' guitar playing at all (the strings and piano on Church, for example). Low 3.
After Manassas I thought this was going to be hellish. Pleasantly surprised though! This is concise, and has some beautiful gospel infusion. Stills will never be Neil Young though ✨
beetje tss Buffalo Springfield en Neil Young in (wat niet echt verwonderlijk is)...
For an album with so much hype behind it this was disappointing.
Really great guitar but definitely closer to pop than rock for me.
Started off strong. He lost me a little bit early on but the back half sold me. Honestly the songs are getting better on re-listen, I’ll definitely revisit this one.
Criminally underrated songwriter. Brilliant album
That’s a strong debut from Stephen. Love the One Your With was the big hit and got plenty of radio play. Didn’t know he was friends with Hendrix and Clapton, and they definitely make the album better. To a Flame is a skipper, but the rest of the songs are good. L = (2.5*s) Enjoyed the guitar work by Jimmi and Eric. J = (3.3*s) Never heard it until this listen, don’t know anyone that had this album, and I’m surprised because it’s a good one.
Meh...not really a fan of solo Stills. "Love the One Your With" is the only recognizable track. Album ain't bad but I didn't gain anything from the listen. We may get the CSNY side solo projects on the list and I'd like to compare them against each other (suspect Y will take the cake). Stephen didn't wow me with his and I'm giving the record a lack-luster 2.07 stars.
I never paid much attention to the members of CSNY other than Neil Young. I always just figured that they each did their thing and the other 3 mostly fizzled out. I didn't expect much out of Stephen Stills solo album, but was delighted that it was more than just a throwaway album. It's a little soft rockish at times, but most of the album are relatively pleasant tracks. I had no idea he collaborated with the likes of Hendrix, Clapton, Ringo, etc. but he obviously was more of the talent behind CSNY than I originally figured. His voice brings a lot of emotion to the music so I mostly enjoyed this album with Love The One Your With as the clear stand out. Nothing special but better than expected. 2.41 stars
Not bad, out of the other “white guy with an acoustic guitar” genre that’s been on here so far.
Anybody gonna tell this guy he isn’t black?
First song was good, everything else was pretty forgettable to bad
It started well with songs I’d give 4, maybe 5, but then I started skipping. If I were playing the actual record, I’d probably swap after side A. ———————————— My non-musician scoring system. 5 - Love it. Would play anytime, buy, see live… 4 - Good music. 3 - Average playlist. Depends on time and setting. 2 - I can’t listen to whole songs. 1 - No.
Another album in my folk-rock sweet spot.
Let’s go
This was my first time listening to Stephen Stills’ self-titled debut, and I really enjoyed it. From the opening track, Love the One You’re With, the album grabbed me straight away. Stills blends folk, blues, and rock seamlessly, giving the record a great sense of variety and energy without ever feeling disjointed. There are plenty of strong moments across the tracklist, and it’s an album I’ll definitely come back to. Favourite track: Love the One You’re With and Go Back Home Least favourite track: Nothing stood out as weak – everything was worth a listen. Album artwork: A pretty standard cover, nothing too memorable.
Not very memorable, except for the Jimi Hendrix solo on song 4. Not bad, just forgettable.
Love the one you’re with is great I also really like Church and We Are Not Helpless He rest was good but did rather blend together
Didn't like it enough to listen past the first few songs.
Om jag får säga det själv så är det här ganska tråkigt faktiskt. Och det får jag ju.
Ok.
Музыка: 8/10 Разнообразие: 7/10 Тематика и вайб: 8/10 Цепляемость (отдельные песни зашли): 6/10 Реиграбельность (можно ли рандомно врубить на фон): 8/10 Итог: 7.4
Fine hippie music.
Well done
Love the One You're With 3.5 Do for the Others 3.3 Church (Part of Someone) 3.4 Old Times Good Times 3.8 Go Back Home 3.8 Sit Yourself Down 3.6 To a Flame 3.4 Black Queen 3.5 Cherokee 3.4 We Are Not Helpless 3.6 Score: 3.53
I find it quite interesting, but it's not my type of music
Not bad but not for me
I really just don’t care
good, solid album. missing some edge for me, got a little bit bored by the end
Folk
Nice
Pas giga fan
This is a really good album! Reading the wiki, it's impressive how many big names were part of it. Definitely a 4. really enjoyed this one.
Cherokee is a banger. That’s going on the camping play list
Not too bad! Interesting album cover.
Some good stuff some sucks
OK in parts. Docking a point for Black Queen, an affront to the senses.
Very pleasant to listen to.
Listening to Stills without Crosby and Nash is kind of like having a lettuce sandwich without bacon and tomato. Not bad, but definitely missing something that would make it a lot better.
Stills and friends really bring it. Great blues, folk rock, and spiritual music.
Good stuff. Turns out, he's my favorite singer in CSNY. Who could tell with all that harmonizing? 3.5* rounding up to 4*.
A nice relaxing acoustic sound and style. Reminds me of like a Paul Simon sound maybe. Got groovy at times. Easy to have on in the background
something to play after a funeral
Nice!
Enjoyed this, will listen again!
Good guitar, bad songs
Really enjoyed this! Good vibes. Simpsons: Yes
This was quite a nice listen on a Saturday morning, would probably score more with a few more listens
Really liked this, spent a load of the first song knowing I recognised it. Was a lovely antidote to Orbital 2.
Another album to file under the “Why?” category. It’s good for what it is, but I genuinely struggle to see why somebody would recommend this to be featured in this list. Bland, safe and predictable.
Well, that's three of the four. Will Nash be making an appearance next? Stay tuned! Lead track is a classic; the rest falls somewhere between O.K. and W.T.F. I guess to differentiate this from Crosby's trainwreck of a solo debut, I should give it a 2. You should thank David, Stephen... he set the bar WAY low for you.
I kinda liked Church. I did just watch Sister Act last night though. So I might have a temporary nostalgic favorable outlook on choirs. Which I will bring this up to a 3 (for the album, the movie is of course a 5).
You could say I love this album while I am with it ... but I more than likely won't come back
Crosby Stills Nash and Young are like the Avengers, they have some great solo work but it's when the team comes together that things really get exciting. In this metaphor, Stephen Stills is Thor. Favorite track: probably "Go Back Home"
Pretty nice. I liked most of the other songs more than the famous sone.
2 favs: - love the one you’re with - church (pt. of someone) - old times good times
acceptable!
This was an album my uncle had way back but the only things I was aware of were "Love The One You're With", the lead track which I had heard many times, and that Jimi Hendrix was on one track. But, having been really impressed by Stephen Stills when I gave Crosby, Stills and Nash and Deja Vu a critical listen, I approached this with a lot of hope. And it wasn't misplaced. LTOYW is still an excellent opener, once again Stills playing a large proportion of the instruments, as he does on much of the album. On "Old Times Good Times" Jimi plays with a funky soul unlike very little I had heard from him before but he is matched by the excellent organ playing from Stills; it's a great track. "Church (Part of Someone)" is a gospel song with a 'choir' which seems to be made up of five voices, one of which, Liza Strike, appeared on a lot of '70s albums. Stills playing throughout is very skilful, his acoustic guitar on "Black Queen" is phenomenal. Not every song hits the mark but this is a very good record.
Sorry SS. Great guitarist and a few good songs over career but as a solo artist too often lapses into pointless jams.
2.5
Interesting, but not something I would revisit
Great album that’s a perfect representation of the era.
i actually didn't hate this album and the last track gave me chills and really made me feel something, i just don't like folk. at the end of the day he was right and you really DO need to love the one you're with so tens on that
sing your shit white man!
Good stuff, not what you'd expect from the cover! 4*
3.5
Helt ok ändå, bäst när det är kör och gospel. Sämst när den är slow-bluesig. Gillar röst ändå. Och som helhet lite roligare än the average man med gitarr. Lyssna igen: kanske Bästa spår: D - Love the one you’re with DW- we are not helpless Betyg: D- 5av 10 (3 av 5) DW - 5 av 10 (3 av 5)
Certainly knew what I was in for here. ‘Love The One You’re With’ is an unassailable classic and there are some other great songs here. In many ways, Stills was the backbone of CSN(Y) with his playing, his voice, and his songwriting. An American folk rock treasure.
A decent enough folk/funk album. It feels a bit lost at times, jumps around in style and I imagine that is a lot to do with the guest musicians on the album influencing the sound and songwriting. I like Stills voice, much better than the solo offerings from Kermit (Young). Appreciate the length, 39mins is nice and punchy. Production could be better. It's a 2.5 for me but pushing it up to a 3 because I appreciate the talent and his voice
Love the One You're With is a classic and great opener. Powerful strings and gospel vocals on Church, too. I like the bassline and organ on Old Times Good Times, then Go Back Home amps up the funk with the guitar and bass playing off each other. My favorite so far, nice soloing too (Clapton's cameo went unnoticed at first - oops). To a Flame is a super cool ballad and the standout on the second side, steel drums (?) making the track. Black Queen is a dud though. Unmelodic and harsh, I'm waiting for it to finish. Cherokee gets us back on track with flute and a big sax solo and We Are Not Helpless is a triumphant closer, with the choir returning. It's a big album. Not as cohesive as I'd like and maybe some of the detail gets lost in the mix, but still impressive. And I didn't even know Hendrix was on this too, never mind Ringo Star. **** but I'd skip Black Queen.
Stills can play the guitar (the cover suggests otherwise) even Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Ringo Starr played on it. But man is he pretentious! The fame - or the fights with Young? - turned him into a "look how good I am!" musician. It's unbearable.
First listen
Never heard him solo - it’s good but never particularly great and really let down by the production..
Meh 😑
Geht so. Schöne Jazzige Harmien. Aber auch etwas überladen.
Good sound except for when you have two sleeping babies in the back, it gets just a little too rousing.
not as good as Manassas
It's alright
#DÍA 11: 1001 Discos Que Hay Que Escuchar Antes De Morir (English Translation Below) 4 álbumes seguidos de los 70’ me hace feliz, aunque éste en concreto no tanto. No conozco a Stephen Stills, pero al investigar el personal del LP quedé bastante sorprendido y me dio muchas ganas de escucharlo. Tenemos un cameo de Hendrix, otro de Clapton (aunque es un absoluto idiota supongo que es inegable que toca bien su instrumento), a Ringo Starr y como ingeniero de sonido a Andy Johns, responsable de los álbumes de Led Zeppelin y otros clásicos. Hay otros nombres poderosos en la lista, pero el disco termina siendo bastante decepcionante, principalmente por la falta de distinción de su artista principal. Literalmente el mayor toque de personalidad de este proyecto está en la jirafa rosa de su portada… Suena bien, en general es sólido, las vocals de Stephen Stills son agradables e inofensivas, aunque cuando intenta añadir algo de vigor y energía a su tono en ocasiones se vuelve ridículo para mí, sobre todo en Black Queen. La canción más pegadiza es Love the One You’re With, aunque la letra es bastante simple (problema constante en el LP) y el mensaje se me hace algo extraño… El mejor tema es en el que Hendrix hace su aparición, tiene más alma y ritmo, posiblemente esto deje ver cierta preferencia mía hacia la leyenda del blues, pero es lo que hay cuando un invitado brilla el cuádruple que el músico de cabeza. Me sabe mal porque la intención tras la música de Stephen Stills posiblemente sea la mejor, pero pienso que es un hueco desaprovechado en la lista. Favoritas: Old Times Good Times, Cherokee Menos favorita: Black Queen #DAY 11: 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die Four consecutive albums from the '70s make me happy, although this one in particular not so much. I didn’t know Stephen Stills, but while researching the personnel involved in the LP, I was quite surprised and really wanted to give it a listen. We’ve got a cameo from Hendrix, another from Clapton (even though he’s an absolute jerk, I guess it’s undeniable that he plays his instrument well), Ringo Starr, and as sound engineer, Andy Johns—responsible for Led Zeppelin albums and other classics. There are other big names on the list, but the album ends up being quite disappointing, mainly because of the lack of distinction of its main artist. Literally, the biggest touch of personality in this project is the pink giraffe on the cover… It sounds good overall, it’s solid, and Stephen Stills’ vocals are pleasant and harmless. But when he tries to add some vigor and energy to his tone, it occasionally comes off as ridiculous to me—especially in Black Queen. The catchiest song is Love the One You’re With, though the lyrics are quite simple (a constant issue throughout the LP) and the message feels a bit strange to me… The best track is the one where Hendrix makes his appearance—it simply has more soul and rhythm. Maybe that just shows my personal preference for the blues legend, but it is what it is when a guest outshines the headlining musician so carelessly. I feel bad because the intent behind Stephen Stills’ music might genuinely be good, but I think it ends up being a missed opportunity in the overall list. Favorites: Old Times Good Times, Cherokee Least favorite: Black Queen
This felt really competently made. Love the vibes! 'Love the One You're With' was my fave.
“Love the one you’re with” is a triumph but honestly, the rest of the album is a bit dull.
Great album, hard to go wrong with both Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix playing on your album. Go Back Home, the song with Clapton is the stand out track by far. It's a 4.5 album but I push it 5 given how often I listen to it.
Again, see other reviews for Stills. Great harmonies, good mix of styles, especially like the bluegrass.
It was weird doing this one so close to Manassas. This was great. I enjoyed it more then Manassas. "Love the One You're With" was a good opener and just a classic song. I had always thought it was a CSN song.
Very good album that I enjoyed listening to. I think with more listens, this might even get a 5.
Stephen Stills – Stephen Stills (1970) | Folk Rock / Singer-Songwriter | Avg: 8.45 | Favorite Song: “Go Back Home” This one really surprised me—Stephen Stills is way more versatile and emotionally tuned-in than I expected from a solo debut. “Go Back Home” was the clear standout for me. It’s gritty, bluesy, and Eric Clapton’s guest solo doesn’t just elevate the track—it defines it. But the strength of this album isn’t in flashy features. It’s how Stills blends folk, rock, blues, and Latin grooves into something that feels cohesive but never one-note. The songwriting is sharp, and the arrangements are deceptively rich. Even the more understated tracks have layers that unfold with repeat listens. What impressed me most was how well the record holds up front to back. There’s just this sense that Stills was pouring every ounce of musical identity into this one, and it paid off. It’s an album that doesn’t scream for your attention, but if you’re a reviewer who values craft, range, and sincerity, it’s hard to ignore how dialed-in this project is.
Kind of interested to know what the pink giraffe thinks about this. It was so-so 70a rock but did get into it a bit more as it went on.
Just couldn't get into this one. Feels like 3:00 o'clock on a Monday, and I just want to go home.
Great gentle 60s folk Americana vibe - good for background as you work
This music has soul! I love it!
Interesting blend of styles like folk, blues, gospel. Great guitar work. But the lyrics didn’t resonate with me, and the overall style isn’t really my thing.
Very nice 😊
3.33
I liked this album fine, but it’s been my least favorite from the Crosby Stills Nash and Young team and its associated offshoots. Something about it being soulful, but missing the mark a bit, weakens it for me.
Stephen Stills - Stephen Stills ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Recorded between Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young tours in 1970 Stephen Stills self-titled debut is a funky delight. Featuring a slew of famous friends like Jimi Hendrix, his CSN&Y band mates doing backing vocals, John Sebastian, Mama Cass, Rita Coolidge, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr fresh of playing drums for Howlin' Wolf and plenty of other top faces of the music scene. Whew! That's a lot of talent. An extremely likable loose album that mixes all sorts of styles to create if not the best album of 1970 certainly one of the most joyful.
bastante molon y muy relajadito
Pretty good
I am a fan of CSN(Y), but I’ve found most if CSN solo projects to be close to unlistenable, with the focus on the worst aspects of their songwriting and presentation. I HATE “Love the One You’re With” and expected this to all be the precious version of Stills that I can’t stand. But then there was Church (Pt of Someone) and it all changed. I loved most of the rest of the album and really gained more appreciation for Stephen Stills.
Surprised by how good this album is. Great songs and killer guitar playing all the way through.
Extra star for the album cover
Yes, a nice but not amazing album.
Great album. Amazing guest stars that somehow don’t take over the album. Prolific few years for Stills.
Enjoyable. Not sure we need every album by every combo of Crosby stills Nash and young and all their solo projects on the list
This album was exactly what I expected. 70s acoustic guitar rock. I liked it for what it was, but I'm not feeling the need to revisit it
A bit too gospel for me but there were some decent tracks on here
Chill singer/songwriter sound. I like it
1 . love - 1.5 2. otherz - 1 3. church - 1.5 4. timez - 1 5. home - 1.5 6. douun - 1.5 7. flame - 2 8. queen - 1 9. cherokee - 1 10. helplezz - 1
confusing album. feels like it has been mixed or produced at completely different times. more like a greatest hits. Shades of Supergrass in places, other stuff more poppy and unlistenable. strange, but also compelling at times
I don't know what exactly I expected from this album, but I don't think it was anything good. The last time I encountered Stephen Stills, he was in a group called Manassas, which I still pronounce "man-ASS-iz," no matter how much I know that's wrong. It might not even be a real band at all, but that's besides the point. MANASSAS was so overwhelmingly fiiiiine that it verged on being boring. Nothing bad at all on the record, just... Bleeeh. So I had to wonder, "Was **this** what I had to look forward to on this album? More crushing fiiiiiine-ness?" Much to my surprise: no, actually. I wouldn't say it was just fiiiiine at all. In fact, I think it's... Pretty good, actually. It doesn't reach much higher than "pretty good," but given what a slog MANASSAS was (72 minutes, too!) I will **gladly** take this. It's not even a very complicated album anyway. It's just some very good 70's guitar rock, whether acoustic or electric, or played by Stills himself or (yes) Jimi Hendrix, who makes a cameo on track 4. Even Eric Clapton, playing his dusty ol' blues licks, does a good job. And when the guitar isn't the focus, there's enough neat organ and piano and stuff to keep me entertained — again: track 4. Seriously, "Good Times Old Times", between the Hendrix guitar and the organ... I love it. Beyond that.... I mean, the guitar and organ **do** very much carry this thing. Certainly, it didn't give me any terribly compelling reason to care about Stephen Stills on his own. Besides his guitar playing, I don't have much to think about his vocals, and as for his lyrics... To be honest, I was too busy focusing on the guitar and organ to figure out what he was actually saying. This is all to say: as a sound, I'm more than fine with this album. I **did** enjoy it. I could honestly see myself occasionally revisiting it whenever I want a taste of this specific sound. But it wouldn't be **that** often, let's be clear. As well, it's not exactly gonna make me wanna dive deeper into Stills's solo discography. Matter of fact, it might just make me wanna listen to that first CSN album. So, yeah: a massive step up over MANASSAS, but only just such.
Basically all the dudes in CSNY have good records, and this is no exception. 4.5 bumped up to 5.
I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll just barely bump down to a 4. It’s a good album, don’t get me wrong, and honestly, it’ll probably click like a 5 someday. On a first pass, though? It’s just not quite there. Stephen Stills’ songwriting, while good, isn’t as strong as it could be, and not as strong as it would later be on “Manassas”, nor as strong as it was on the CSN(Y) albums. It’s a little broad here, with too much room for interpretation on a number of tracks, making the emotional pull a bit too ambiguous. It certainly doesn’t help that a lot of the context for that emotional pull feels sort of lost to the 55 years since this album dropped. Without that emotional pull, there’s just less “substance” to the album for me. That leaves two other qualities to pick up some weight, being his vocals & the instrumentation. They’re both pretty good here, but once again, it just didn’t quite get there for me. Stephen’s vocals are good, but while I know he’s not necessarily a belter, there’s never really anything super standout. Namely, I never felt like he was using his voice to get the most emotional pull out of the tracks, and more so just singing the way one would “logically” sing them. For an analogy, it’s like a gifted technical singer hitting all the right notes on an Aretha Franklin track, but without that deeper, truly personal touch. For the instrumentation itself, I’d argue much of the same thing – at a technical level, it’s wonderfully done, with a huge variety of instrumentation & some genuine star-studded appeal here. Jimi Hendrix rips a fucking stellar guitar solo on “Old Times Good Times”, as does Eric Clapton on “Go Back Home”. Hell, he got Ringo Starr on drums on a pair of tracks here, and he does a pretty good job. I think my thing with the instrumentation is that it’s kinda compensating for the “lesser” lyricism & vocal work. The problem is, at least to my brain, I think it ended up overcompensating. A little too much flashiness feels present here, and it creates a disconnect for me. I liked a lot of these tracks, but I felt like I was just enjoying them because they sounded good & did everything technically right, as opposed to genuinely feeling engaged with the tracks themselves, and entering that sort of “zen state” like I have with CSNY albums & with Stephen Stills himself on “Manassas”. That’s not to say there weren’t tracks I engaged with, because there definitely were. Hell, I really did enjoy a lot of the album, regardless of feeling that deeper sense of connection or not, because at the most technical level, it’s still a very enjoyable listen. It’s just some intangible things about my own personal tastes that built up over the course of the runtime stopping me from giving it a full 5 on a first pass, but I’d still recommend it regardless. If you like CSNY-adjacent stuff, it’s certainly going to scratch an itch. It’s a good 38 minutes, but for whatever reason, I never felt like it took the next step that would make me go “yep, this is a 5”. It probably will someday, though, hence a 4.5 barely bumped down to a 4.
Breezy folk-rock and funky blues. The music is soulful too. It's a great collection of songs all around. Very good classic rock. "Love the One You're With" is a staple of classic rock radio, but the lyrics have always annoyed me a bit. I feel bad for the girl he's settling for. Like, who wants to be loved when the person who's loving you is still thinking about somebody else? The music is gorgeous though. 3.5
Solid classic rock album with lots of layers and ideas. I actually felt a little overwhelmed at times- like "Love the One You're With" has so much going on that it's hard to focus on one thing when there's a lot of competition for my attention. I also kind of dislike how the bass is mixed on this track because it is so boomy and gives this idea of "fake" volume. Still, it's a great song and the obvious standout on the album. There's some nice contrasts on this record and it goes in a lot of different directions, which I like. "Black Queen" was really a surprise. Great album cover. I love the pink giraffe- what an inclusion in the image.
Quality varied blend of classic rock, folk and gospel.
Definition of great groovy classic 70s style rock. Killer guitar solos and deep but poppy lyrics.
I read some of the reviews before listening, and I kinda expected to dislike this album. But it was quite nice. I particularly like the instruments on this. Nothing really blew me away or anything. But enjoyable nevertheless
Well, I certainly wasn't expecting that. Folk is generally not something I like (although this list is testing that somewhat). There is folk here, but also rock, gospel, maybe a little blues. The first half is quite good. Love the One You're With has great backing vocals. Church (Pt. of Someone) has a gospel-like feel that works pretty well. Old Times Good Times and Go Back Home made me think this may actually be a great album. I suspect that's mostly because of Hendrix and Clapton. Then the second part comes and it's average at best. Nothing was terrible, but none of it caught my interest. So 4.5 for the first half and 2.5 for the second half. 3.5 rounded up.
#19 Stephen Stills ~ Stephen Stills It need not be understated that Stills is a very talented technical musician. His skills for composing each keyboard, rhythm guitar, bass and organ for each song is nothing short of impressive. It's for this reason why some consider him the best part of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Without those skills of composition and guitar work, that supergroup wouldn't have the sound it has. Plus the cameos of Hendrix and Clapton are very, very pleasant. Overall, each song is filled with a very endless and effortless groove. And that's about it. Stills is not Crosby, Nash and definitely not Young in terms of songwriting. And I have major gripes with the songwriting. His lyricism is just so painfully dull and unpolished. It's just a bunch of empty climaxes and cheesy runnings of the mouth in some songs, at its worst its arrogant and pretentious. Now I'm all for pretension, but you got to sell me on your inflated mental world, and Stills doesn't really do that. In fact, the more I paid close attention to the lyrics, the more frustrated I found. So good advice to people, just groove to this album. Don't take it so seriously. The music does the job well, and just imagine Stills is speaking in tongues. Then suddenly this album feels quite pleasing. Verdict: That really good guitarist in CSNY
10/10 holy shit these guys are fuckin talented!
Lots of memories
Surprised I got this a few days after Deja Vu. Not as good as that but this utilizes many big name guest appearances including Hendrix, Clapton, and Ringo. Brilliantly produced, sounds great and seems to be a very underrated album both then and now.
nice!
I’m on a bit of a roll with “okay” albums. I don’t hate that de website recommended them to me, but to say they are absolute must hears - no. Stills and his other work with Crosby & co. is always pleasant on the ear and this album is no different. Just a good folky rocky record, with not too many standouts. 3/5
Incredible funk
Yllättäen vallan kivaa kuunneltavaa. Gospeltyyli toimii groovaavasti. Vähän ehkä jopa liian taitavaa, vaikka kitaralla ei virtuosoidakaan.
Levytetty levyttämisen vuoksi. Onhan musiikki hänen ammattinsa.
Stephen Stills always seemed like the most talented of the CSNY team, especially his guitar chops. Old Times Good Times, Black Queen and Go Back Home are great points of supportive evidence. It was interesting hearing Love The One You’re With as the original as I always thought it was Luther Vandross’ song, which turns out the original is less gospel but keeps the vibe. Overall, I don’t think there was a bad song on this album, though To A Flame and the flute solo on Cherokee wasn’t a favorite, though the later had a point. I may even look around the bins for this one of vinyl.
Random thoughts: * The lead track is still so great. I think I heard a little steel drum in the background that I never picked up on before. There's always something new to hear in even longtime favorite tracks. * I got a lot of Joe Cocker vibes from this album. Maybe it was the gospel/soul influence but it was definitely there. * Overall, solid record but none of the other tracks really rose to the level of "Love The One You're With".
Can't argue that Stills makes some great folk rock. Not only does he play a ton of instruments, but the line up of talent he got to come in on this is rather impressive.
Solid if not captivating.
Still a haunting voice.
We have Led Zeppelin at home
Given the sometimes problematic genre for me and the rather negative reviews on the forum, I was expecting bad things. But no, the album wasn't bad at all, in fact it was quite enjoyable. If it had thrilled me a little more, I might even want to listen to it again. 3/5
I can’t deal with old white man music today.
Ehh, I thought love the one your with was a csny song. Fine
Pretty boring for me at this point. I've heard better versions of this genre 100x.
A nice album to listen to, not bad, not overly exciting either, showcases his musical diversity, blends the folk rock CSNY type stuff he is known for with blues, gospel, and rock, May come back to it but not in a hurry.
Lots of different styles tried, with various levels of success
Some nice bluesy rock in here
Very chill. Good chores music
This fell off quite a bit from the first to last track. Tempted to rate it as a 2 but that feels mean.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH CROSBY AND NASH it's actually pretty nice for most of it. chalk one up for dad's music
I think, with a gun to my head, I would have attributed Love The One You're With to Fleetwood Mac. Ya learn something new every day I guess
2.5 rounding up....this was pleasant and, like, a little forgettable but not in as bad of a way as other albums on the list. I found a lot of the instrumentation enjoyable to listen to.
A good album, I liked Love The One You're With, Church and We Are Not Helpless.
One solo Album from Crosby Gut
Ok, rounding down to 2 stars as there are only like 2 songs id return to listen to
Loved this one
I really enjoyed this one. It’s the kind of album that doesn’t rush to impress you with flash, but instead quietly wins you over with solid songwriting, mood, and variety. From the first track, I could hear that Stephen Stills had a clear vision for what he wanted this solo debut to sound like. It’s warm, rich, and confidently blends rock, folk, blues, and even a touch of Latin rhythm here and there. The arrangements feel thought-through without being overstuffed, and the guitar playing is consistently tasteful. There’s a sort of easy swagger to it all that makes it feel like he knew exactly what he was doing. I liked how Love the One You’re With kicks things off – sure, it’s the big hit, but it’s also genuinely good. Catchy, smooth, and full of laid-back energy. But it was the deeper cuts that stood out more for me. Black Queen is a highlight – that one’s raw and bluesy, just Stills and a guitar, recorded in one take and sounding like he’d had a drink or two beforehand. I love how unpolished it is. Do for the Others is another favourite, with that melancholy acoustic feel and lovely vocal harmonies. There’s also some impressive guest appearances if you go digging – Clapton’s on guitar, Hendrix even shows up briefly – but the album never leans too heavily on them. It’s still very much Stills in the driver’s seat. I think what makes this work so well is that it feels like a personal album, even though it’s polished and filled with guests. You get the sense that these songs actually meant something to him. There’s pain in the ballads, a touch of humour in places, and a clear love for the craft. For me, this is one of those albums that might not blow you away on first listen, but if you let it sit with you, it slowly becomes something you return to again and again.
Meh. Pretty forgettable
Good ol' timey songs! Quite church-y! Not my cuppa!
Du skal ikke skue hunden på hårene, men hva skjedde her??? Ok musikk, traust singer-songwriter med kassegitar.
Although this isn’t really the kind of folk rock I’m usually drawn to, this album was still pretty solid. There’s also a nice mix of gospel and blues throughout that adds some variety. One standout element is the lineup of guest musicians, such as Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton both appear on guitar, with Ringo Starr and Booker T. Jones contributing as well. I doubt I’ll come back to this album, but it was definitely worth the listen.
Fint nok, folk’et, rocket, velskrevet, stabil guitar, lidt kedeligt
Great music with thoughtful lyrics
I enjoyed this. It was nice background music and I probably would have listened to it more. 4/5
Pretty remarkable lineup - Clapton and Hendrix playing guitar is pretty cool and those songs have great guitar play as you'd expect. Love the One you're with is great as well, but as an *album* in entirety I don't know. I doubt I'll go back to this.
Too lukewarm. Too wimpy. Jackoff music but not in a good way. He has a good voice though and the leadoff is a good song.
This is too much of a same sounding thing for me. I like "Love the One You're with" but the rest of the album is not as good. After reading the wikipedia I was shocked how highly this was thought of by critics at the time as it seems very indistinguishable from many other albums that were released in the twenty year period before and after this album. 1.5/5
Love the one you’re with - 5/1,5 Do for the others - 5/2,5 Curch - 5/1 Old times good times - 5/3 Go back home - 5/3,5 Sit yoursef down - 5/1 To a flame - 5/0,5 Black queen - 5/2 Cherokee - 5/2,5 We are not helpless - 5/1
Solid but not mine.
So wanted to give this a 4 but some was hit and miss. I reckon with more listens the misses would turn more to hits. Love the One Your With is great.
This is quite fun. Some nice instrumentation, a nice folly/bluesy Americana cross. Love some of the gospel choir vocals. Felt quite rolling stonesy at times. Enjoyed it.
Not a fan of this style of music. Not arguing that he’s good musician or not, I just don’t like it.
Hearing the words Like A Rose In A Fisted Glove the first time permanently damaged my sense of decency and I doubt Stephen Stills's standing could ever recover in my pantheon. For example, I didn't even listen to this. Maybe it's amazing. I'll check it out some day but I need to become a more enlightened soul before I can give this a fair listen.
I didn't think I'd ever heard of Stephen Stills before, or anything he'd done, but the opening track set me straight, at least on the latter count (and the opening paragraph of the Wikipedia entry set me straight on the former count, as of course I've heard of Stills as in Crosby, Stills and Nash/Young). I'm not sure I'll be able to remember the connection long-term, or that Crosby and Nash provided harmonies on it, but it's so nice to have a name to fit with the classic "Love the one you're with". The rest of the album is solid, especially if you enjoy the whole CSN harmonies and humming and soft rock style (which I'll admit isn't really my cup of tea); the highlights for me were probably the Jimi-Hendrix-backed "Old times good times" and "Black queen"; I was hoping the Eric-Clapton-backed "Go back home" too, but it's missing...something...much like a lot of the album. I was also struck by how Stills' solo style occasionally sounds a lot like Joe Cocker, particularly when there's a choir backing him (as on "Church (pt. of someone)"); such a travesty that this is as close as we get to getting a Joe Cocker album in this collection. And how odd that Stills got so many famous artists to join him on the album, yet overall it doesn't rock (or roll) nearly as much as you'd think it should.
"Love the One You're With" is a great song; the rest of the album isn't bad but it's also not as good.
Love The One Your With is a just a classic jam. The production on it is absolutely fantastic. The rest of the album does not come close to meeting the level of quality from the opening song. There are a couple standout songs I enjoyed such as Old Times Good Times (enjoyed all the instrumentals and upbeat pacing) and Black Queen (love the crusty singing and the guitar work). That said, I think this just lands squarely in the 3 territory. Mid-to-high 3.
As corny as it is, I do enjoy Love the One You're With; just a catchy and bright little ditty. Go Back Home is a surprisingly crusty blues jam. Highlight so far for me. Looking at the credits, makes sense given that Clapton is behind the axe. Black Queen was really nice as well, and the funky yazz flute on Cherokee was unexpected, but nice. This was fine-to-good all around. Nothing to get me up out of my seat, but enjoyable nonetheless. 3 / 5.
A real good follow up to Henry's Dream. Nice and bluesy and energetic.
A lot more jammy than I expected from him. Love the one your with is a classic. A couple songs on here were unexpected shreddy as well. Mid to high 3
Usually not a huge singer/songwriter guy but I have been immensely impressed by all of CSNY while going through these albums. Mostly the guitar work on the albums has stuck out the most to me, with a touch of psychedelia. Just enjoyable stuff.
On the bright side, it's not a 1. I have had enough of those lately. It's also not a 4 or 5. Is it a 2? Is it a 3? Mostly it's just there. It doesn't suck, but I wouldn't pay money for it. Feeling generous today 2.5 rounded up. Yawn.
4.5 t digo e
It seems like it SHOULD be good, but… At one point I thought a track might’ve been skipped so I went back and listened to the previous song, and didn’t feel sure until the very end that it was in fact the one I had just listened to. That sums up how little impact it made on me.
It was good and there was a lot in it that was influential but not inspiring
i like the funky little giraffe on the album cover but the music was mildly boring
I now understand why early 70s rock was considered a hangover compared to 60s rock. Quite frankly, this was lame.
BORING, not horrible tho, just wish there was something else in it
No way his fingers aren't frozen in the album cover
🌟 Rating: 4.3/5 It’s like denim in album form: rugged, dependable, and somehow smells like campfire whiskey. 🎧 Favorite Track: “Love the One You’re With” A vibe so strong it practically walks barefoot into a commune and hands you a tambourine.
Nothing really stood out to me, but it was a nice and chill listen.
Sometimes simple is all you need. A guy and his guitar, so good. Favourites: love the one you’re with, Do for the others, go back home
Loved this album! I think most of the songs were on par with each other Fav song: Love the one that your with
Certainly one of the albums of all time. I love Stills as a songwriter, but his songs don't come alive as much without the likes of Crosby and Young. Love The One You're With and Do For The Others are both brilliant songs, but I didn't really have any other stand-out songs on the album. Pleasant enough to listen to but not the most essential thing he's been involved with.
Starts strong, then goes into prolonged jams and lots of noodling I can see why critics like it . Would give another listen but it's not something that has grabbed me
Fun folk rocky vibe.
wasn't obsessed!
There are a few pretty good bluesy tracks on this album that I really enjoyed. Then there were some schmaltzier tunes towards the end that will lower its score. Overall though I was pleasantly surprised.
His solo hits. Blusier than I would have given him credit for. Nothing to complain about. Nothing to rave about.
I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected. Lots of genres and influences on different tracks that kept it sounding fresh all the way through. I was super impressed by the guitar on Old Times Good Times and Go Back Home, and then saw it was Hendrix and Clapton. Crazy that he got so many talented people to contribute. Another album that's one or two songs away from a 5.
Assuming this is the same guy from CSN(Y), this was, not surprisingly, good. It was livelier than the group stuff so I’ll take it.
STEEEEEPHEEEEN STILLLLSSSSS when i was twelve i learned how to play the geetar
Not terrible
Suprisingly soulful (didn't realise he wrote Love The One You're With). Probably one of the better American folk albums I've been given from this list so far (all stinkers bar Bridge Over Troubled Waters). The more middle-of-the-road rock elements somehow don't fuse with the soul and gospel influences for me. Not entirely terrible, but there is something insincere and unsubstantial about the whole affair - just really didn't connect with any of it to be honest.
I mean. This album is insane. If you have any emotions when you listen to this album they will be amplified 100 fold.
I put this on and it kind of completely passed me by until Cherokee, which is such a fascinating amalgamation of genres - a bit of jazz, folk and psychedelic rock in there. That made me sit up and take notice, but otherwise this is just a bit forgettable
- Do for the Others, Go Back Home, To a Flame, Cherokee e We Are The Helpless foram as que mais chamaram atenção. - Bom disco, qualidade de gravação ok, mas não era o que estava no clima para a ouvir no momento.
Svært positivt overraska
Other than the last song, which really stands out, it's kind of just your generic 70s singer-songwriter kind of music. Like, I'm honestly not really sure why this is special album other than he's a member of CSNY. And it could just be that I'm missing something or not understanding fully what I'm listening to. That said. "We Are Not Helpless" is a really special song. It saves the album from being a lower/mid-mediocre album to being a good album (in relation to this list). I still don't think as a whole it really does much that's interesting or special, but it's a good listen. Favorite Song(s): We Are Not Helpless
How marvelous listening to this familiar voice sing a variety of country and rock songs. Nothing too complex or deep, just enjoyable and wonderful. 4.5/5
i'm a pretty big csny fan. unfortunately, stephen stills might be 4th out of 4 on my CSNY power rankings. it's not that this album is bad. it's just that, quite frankly, it's kind of nothing. there's one song on it (the one stephen stills solo song anyone knows) and the rest of it is... fine. it's not great. it's not bad. just fine. in the direct aftermath of 'deja vu,' all of his bandmates were doing more interesting, compelling things. this has almost no flavor. the styrofoam of albums.
Well, he’s still Stephen. Songwriting isn’t bad, and apparently there are some heavy hitting performers on here but it’s not for me.
Solid folk!
Liked it more than anticipated. 3.5
A very OK nothing that special type of album. Nothing offensive but nothing that stands out. 2.5/5 -> 3/5
https://rateyourmusic.com/music-review/JesseOverPessi/stephen-stills/stephen-stills-4/256364592
Albumbildet va kult, spesielt med den hesten. Sangane va kjedelige
7/10
Listened before?: Yes, some I've liked all the Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young solo albums I've listened to, and this one's no exception. A classic.
Całkiem przyjemne, nie obrażę się jak czasem poleci
Old Times Good Times & Go Back Home are standouts
Straightforward music. A refreshing change of pace from some of the more artsy concoctions.
First song giving Fraggle Rock Pretty bland inoffensive stuff for the most part but the guitar solo in Go Back Home was worth a listen
Nice. Would rather listen to the CSN music.
Long winded even tho it's only 38 Minutes long
It starts strong with "Love the One You're With, but its not a very good album experience. Some of the last Hendrix recordings are in the album (Old Times Good Times) and afterwards we have Clapton (Go Back Home), but other than that it didnt convince me. 5/10
6/10 Nice Isn’t this that guy from Scott Pilgrim?
Solid Dad rock
Seems like he's a lyrics guy
There is nothing really wrong with this except that it’s uninspired and, frankly, a bit dull. He’s got all his famous pals playing on it, and it still doesn’t excite. It’s a no from me. I will never listen to this album again, or if I do, I will forget it half an hour later.
p199. 1970. 4 stars. How to transition from the 60s to 70s in style. Quality, understated singer/song writing with fabulous production. Point deducted for occasional 70s guitar wankage.
A little folky for me
Ok
It's OK I guess. Good musician. 3.2
Listened Before? N As soon as this record finishes with "Love the One You're With", it takes off on an amazing journey through rock and blues. So many great jams and face-melting solos here. I loved it! Added to Library? Y Songs added to Playlist: Go Back Home
Nie fajne
Favorite Track: Love the One You’re With
Bi dem Album beni rächt gspalte. Gwössi songs send rächti Banger, wie öppe Love the one your with oder church esch no geil. Obwohls eigentlech folk esch, mesched die Songs das gnue uf dass es spannend esch ond au chli abgod. De geds aber no desi Songs. Do frogt mer sech de halt scho chli was mer do lost: e Typ metere Gitarre wo chli öppis omesengt. Rächt langwiilig, vorallem öber längeri duur wies do vor chönd.
3.5
Stephen stills is the talent in Scott pilgrim, guessing the guy who wrote that stole all the names from elsewhere and I didn't have the knowledge to notice. This was okay, really liked Cherokee and the rest of it was mostly bluesy stuff that drifted from quite cool to a bit dull. Can't say I'd listen again but pretty good for this sort of music.
Cherokee was the most interesting song, but the rest were a little bland. He's better with the CSNY or Buffalo Springfield - his musicianship is excellent, but others help solidify the vision. A kind 3.
This was fine. Nothing blew me away or particularly surprised me, but didn't really dislike any of it. Think it will very likely be forgotten 3
It’s a shame there’s no Graham Nash album on this list; it would have been nice to be served up the individual components of CSN&Y. Anyway, Stills is probably my favourite of the CSN trio (they all pale in comparison to Neil Young), and this is a cracking little album. It feels like a showreel of everything Stephen Stills was capable of, lurching from nice trad folk to dancier rock songs and brooding blues numbers. Just a very solid and dependable collection of songs.
Kind of another background bar music. It was ok.
This was fun and refreshing. I didn’t expect there to be so much experimentation on here and the experimentation worked so well. Every song worked. All but “Black Queen”. That one wasn’t really doing it for me. To each their own and all, but it came off as boring among tracks that were, at the time at least, very original. I enjoyed the whole thing thoroughly. 4/5
I don’t need to hear this. The best part is Hendrix solo
surprisingly funky!! the bass lines in this album are incredible. such a groove!
Maybe I'm reading into it too much, but I think I get it now - Stills is Salieri to Young's Mozart. He's still a great songwriter in his own right, but you can tell much of what he's attempting to accomplish is to keep up with Neil. They're doing similar things with a similar mindset, but Stills doesn't have "it". I enjoyed the first half of this - well, the first four songs. It immediately became derivative after Hendrix's solo on Old Times Good Times. By the time Black Queen rolled in, I was itching to skip the rest. It is a somewhat fun, mostly by-the-books 70s folk record. 6.5/10
Man, 2 or 3 albums into this 1001 albums journey have been made by "American Musician" and they're not bringing their A game. This album felt monotonou.. Most of the songs on here felt like they could be under a file name of RockMusicWithoutEdge.mp3 This sounded like the music that comes default in windows. This sounded like the generic music that plays at the target when you're demoing speakers in their electronics section.
Stephen is a favorite from way back. Great Crosby, Nash and Young.
Aivan, tää on taas Crosby, Nash, Stills & Young kokoonpanon jäsenen soololevy. Menevää monipuolista folkkia ja kantria. Osittain ihan hard rockia, Old Times Good Times oli ihan Deep Purplea urkusooloineen. Parhaat: Old Times Good Times, Do for the Others, We Are Not Helpless
Wow this was much better than I expected. I knew Love the One You're With (and thought it was with Crosby and Nash honestly) and I thought the album was going to be really folksy based on what I know of Crosby, Stills, and Nash, who I've never cared much for. This album really surprised me. The second song was folksy and the third started as folk before transitioning to a more gospel feel. Then the album got into funky blues rock stuff and I really loved a bunch of it. The second half is so strong, and the end of the album reminds me how Weezer's Red Album ends, which I've always loved.
Classic american vibe with very chill gospel influences. Great stuff
Two or three decent songs but I'm still not a fan of Neil You- I mean... Stephen Stills. It feels like a very particular genre for a very particular (albeit large) demographic of white American. Also, the album cover looks like it was made in MS Paint around the year 2000. Just terrible.
This is a distillation of the Baby Boomer generation blowing smoke up the collective future population's ass. The messaging here is great and all, but how long after this would they shatter all illusions that they believed any of it? Sonically, this is fine. Doesn't rise above its contemporaries, but it doesn't drag on too long, and it's pretty well produced, all told. That Jimi solo is alright but honestly sullied by its inclusion here. Any good goes right out the window by following it up with a Clapton feature. Barf.
Impressive
I didn’t finish🫢
The music is different than what the cover portrays. It was surprisingly groovy.
I was already familiar with "Love the One You're With", and was expecting the rest of the album to fall in line with that song. Pleasantly surprised to find that wasn't the case. As the album rolls along, Stills pulls from gospel, blues, and psych to deliver a fascinating and varied album experience. It feels like he set himself up to go anywhere with his solo career, so I'm not curious to see how that went. It's also very much a debut album, with some songs being stronger than others. Thankfully the production is consistently good and the music is well made regardless of my feelings about individual songs. Overall I wasn't expecting to like this as well as I did, and I'm glad this project brought it to me. Bonus points for having a giraffe on the cover. *This is a 3.5, but rounding up instead of down.
Totally fine. Whatever. 3/5
It's fine
It’s fune
5/10 Yeah, that was an album of songs by a singer song writer. I even knew some of the songs...yep. 4-10-2025
I'm that giraffe
Tasteful soul music that gets down to basics. There will always be a place for calming "sit by the fire" music.
goes down like a luke warm sip of water and is about that exciting to hear.
Pretty middle of the road in general. I was expecting more based on the strength of his songs on the CSNY albums, but I found these very forgettable. Some good guitar playing, but the vocals are really unoriginal.
Starts off much more promising than Manassas. I hear a fair bit of the glorious live version of Shine A Light by Spiritualized within Church. Jason 100% ripped this off. But it's ok, the LP version is very different. so yeah I like that. The book mentions Joe Cocker as well, which is absolutely fair. Simple but effective, and gospel can be wonderful to me despite my confirmed status as a godless heathen. Old Times Good Times was a decent slice of 70s soft rock, similar to Love the One You're With. The book says it's hard rock. It is not hard rock. Go Back Home I can live without, some nice guitar playing though. I more or less lost interest in the second side of the record. It's ok.
A solid album.
Damn Stephen!!!! I would’ve never guessed that he would have this much soul based on that album cover. I thought I was in for something else but this brother showed me something! He made me feel something which is what I think music is all about. I’m happy that this project is getting me hip to artists I have slept on. I just did a deep dive because I felt ignorant and I’m realizing how influential this gentleman is to rock music. Didn’t realize this was a debut solo album. Now I can hear the parts of the album where he’s figuring his stuff out and why I didn’t really connect with the latter half of the album. It felt like a shift from the beginning and it was kind of jarring. Album was still enjoyable nonetheless. 3.8/5
Right off the bat, Mr. Stills gets automatically docked a point for the gross sentiments of "Love the One You're With". ;-) He's certainly a competent songwriter and performer, but most of the tracks on this album don't rise above the ordinary (except for "Do for the Others" and "To a Flame" which show he's at his best when he dials down the rock 'n' faux-gospel bluster).
The most interesting part of this was the album cover
Like very much. Back and forth between 3 and 4, but sticking with 4.
Snooze the snooze you're with