Manassas

With a title like that, I was expecting a much tighter experience. Butt all ass... There are a few passable tracks on here - Hell, I might even describe a couple of the C-side tracks as "enjoyable" - but EDITING MATTERS, and no less than two-thirds of this should have been cut. A correctly curated EP would have scored 3; a slightly bloated LP might have scored 2; but as it is, I'm failing this for aggressively wasting more of my time than it had any business wasting.

This did not need to be a double album. It's just not interesting enough to be this long. Every now and again a funky riff will pop up but nothing that lasts for one whole song, let alone 21. 2.5* rounded down to 2

Dreary and boring.

Good instruments, and amazing vocals. The songs aren't really my thing, but the musicianship are great.

Shite

Talented but not my style of music

Fine. This is just fine.

649/1089 - And people say Steely Dan was a bad band to work with. It's fine overall; some alright country rock.

MAN ASS AS WHAT???? I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. maybe it's because I was driving as the sun was rising and it just felt right. some songs were very miss but what worked, worked. that one song sounds like the start of the George Lopez theme and it awoke me like a sleeper agent (anyway) note about the album cover, i do enjoy that it lists everyone's name, it's like the start of a powerpoint group presentation. everyone is included!!!:) faves: so begins the task Johnny's garden

Yeah i like this, but just like it. It was enjoyable to listen to with its folky/jam band interwoven vibe. Just had this on in the background at work and it did perfectly as background music lol. It’s wayyyyy too long and so many songs sound the same, what’s up with that. Yup, it’s ok/5. Gimmie something looney tunes for tomorrow pls.

nice enough, but nothing special. Can't help feel like he needs a couple of friends (or maybe occasionally three friends) to jam with

Pleasant, but way too long.

I don’t know - another average record with no hits from a member of famous group. Is this just here to show he had a solo career? That’s all I got from this. Don’t get me wrong there’s talented playing and such but I’ve heard this 1 million times before.

nice enough

6.2/10

I don’t doubt Stephen Still’s commitment to his craft, you can hear how earnest he is in songs like “Colorado”. He seems to have assembled a group of musicians who match both his vision and skill. But holy hell I don’t want to listen to over an hour of this. It just doesn’t scratch any itches for me, especially when there’s plenty of CSN on this list. “So Begins The Task” was the prettiest of the songs, but only because it leans into that much more appealing CSN sound he had with the group. Pains me to say I’m giving this a 2/5, even if it’s charming at points

self-titled debut double album of manassas, a rock band led by stephen stills. the band had been playing together while working on past album concepts, and the chemistry between the guys was so strong they decided to make a band. the roughly 70-or-so minute collection of records exhibits songs with a wide amount of genre overlap, four different themes make up each quarter of the album. the album was pretty successful when it came out, reaching to no. 30 in the uk and no. 4 on billboard's album chart, reviewers treating it as stills' comeback. holy cow what a little journey huh? this album just flings you from a rock and roll party to a hoedown to artsy fusion. part of the fun is anticipating where you'll go next. a lot of songs are really delightful for the most part. i think out of all four parts, i think the first and third parts are the strongest. but a lot of it is some good old-fashioned '70s soft rock... and i really really really can't complain about listening to that. for a double album it didn't feel too long or sluggish.

All over the place. Some songs are good. Some not so good. If this had been trimmed to around 40 minutes a very good album could have been produced. At least none of the songs outstayed there welcome.

Album started out strong and surprisingly took a more country/slower turn towards the end

This was a longe album but there were a lot more misses than hits for me. Maybe a bit too bluegrass influenced for me.

Good old fashion country bumpkin blues Not really my taste, and the runtime was pretty long Notable tracks: both of us (bound to lose)

I have honestly nothing noteworthy to say about this album. There wasn't anything bad or especially great. Tempted to give it a three but I would never likely seek it out or pick it up again to listen and so that makes me bump it down to it two.

A mix of yacht rock and country, which is a shame really as i can't really stand either. Bland, mawkishly earnest, deeply mid.

2.75 I wanted to hate this album. I'm not a big Crosby Stills and Nash guy. "Oh look we can harmonize" man shut the fuck up. But unfortunately, the opening tracks bang. Four straight blues rock bangers. But then by track 5 the album takes a turn. Had to look it up (because I was streaming it) and the double LP breaks down each side to its own group. So because of that, Im going to rate each side and average it out: The Raven: 4- Blues rock bangers that just blend into one another The Wilderness: 2.5- country folk now, getting close to the CSN sound. some good ones. Notably 'So Begins the Task' and 'Hide it So Deep' Consider: 1.5-trash. These have to be CSN demos or something. 'Bound to Fall' and "Love Gangster" not bad though. Rock & Roll Is Here To Stay: 3- pretty good Average of 2.75

I appreciate the songwriting, excellent band, and musical chops on this album. My issue with it is that so much of it is boomer white man rock... and this is coming from a close to boomer age white man. I found it boring and way too long. I enjoyed the more roots-oriented "second side" and songs like "Johnny's Garden." But it overstays its welcome and loses steam well before it ends. If it had been a single album it could have been as good as the best CSN and CSNY albums.

I wonder if Stephen Stills was underrated in CSNY after hearing this. Very much part of the tasteful 70s rock palette but I also like the forays into country and roots. Being a double album there's of course some forgettable songs but lots that grabbed me, like Song of Love, Colorado and How Far. This band he assembled was top notch and Stills himself is a phenomenal musician.

Way too long. I was surprised to enjoy some of the songs, I wasn’t optimistic based on the description. It’s funny, for an album marked as blues rock it was mostly folk/americana. And I was partially right to be wary going in, the blues rock songs on here stink, they’re dullsville. But the folkier and jammier stuff was pretty ok.

I hear nothing that makes me think this was in the slightest worth my time.

2.5 Rounded down for just being so long

stop adding those old folks to this list, nobody really likes it.

First time I put this on I was driving and felt like the huge range of styles and total length of this album was a lot to take in. I did a little reading and learned it was supposed to be a double album with 4 distinct sides. I listened to it again with this in mind and a bit more familiarity with some of the tracks and have got to say this is pretty great. It's still super thick and feels a bit manic (also might be reading too much in to the chaos of the recording process) but I'm convinced Stephen Stills was somewhat of a savant. I think it's easy to be fooled by the folk undertones into thinking this isn't super complex and ambitious but it certainly is. I'm still not always in the mood and sometimes his music feels a little too Americana, but this won me over and can hear why it is a standout album.

I love CSNY, and CSN, and just Y, but I don’t know if S needed multiple albums on a list of 1001 albums to hear before you die. That said, other than being a bit too long, this album is actually pretty good and I enjoyed it more than the last Stephen Still album that was generated.

Начинался альбом очень круто, я даже успел обрадоваться, что, наконец, нашелся хороший альбом, о котором я раньше не слышал. Но с Fallen eagle, альбом стал потихоньку снижать планку, и в итоге после яркого старта под конец остались крайне неоднозначные впечатления

The album is ok in the most ok est way possible.

I was going to rate this lower, but the string of songs from “It Doesn’t Matter” to “The Treasure” were great! A little too munch hockey tonk in the previous tracks for me. But even then, still a solid album. 3.5/5

It’s just so mid and overlong for really no reason.

Waited an hour for something to happen

It was fine. Thought Stephen Stills was the less rocky guy of the Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young quartet, but got a surprise.

It started off with some enjoyable dad rock, before becoming a bit too country dad rock

3.5

The first side of this album is absolute gold. Honestly that latin rhythm jamming just really got me going through that side. Then it just kind of takes me for a loop cuz it goes straight into basically country rock that I think the Byrds did a lot better a few years earlier with Sweetheart of the Rodeo. Side three sounds more of the standard Stephen Stills affair. I think it closes pretty well on side four with the kind of a straightforward rock and roll sound I'm not sure how this album would sound if I listen to it on LP because each side is its own entity. Unfortunately when you listen to it on streaming it seems every time it switches to an another side there's a continuity break, when technically he was looking at the pauses in changing the record as a way to kind of reset. You don't get that luxury with streaming and it's probably works for its detriment. (8.33) ★★★★

I think this is good, but too long. 3.5 stars

I like the second half better than the first. First side sounded like an Allman Bros meets Santana knock-off and the second side a poor man's Eagles. Third side is kind of CSN style Stills and the last is him going for a Neil Young sound. "Move Around" and "The Treasure" were songs that kind of stood out, but the whole thing was pretty uneventful. Light 3 stars.

We had the Stephen Stills self-titled solo album a little while back and that was enough Stephen Stills for me. A double album of this is just dispiriting. Ordinarily 3 stars for being meh but minus an extra start for all the double album padding. Songs In The Key Of Man Asses.

Some outstanding Americana, superbly executed by a crack band, but though also a fair amount of trimmable fat across 70+ minutes

It's a good album with solid musicianship from the supergroup that Stephen Stills compiled. The album is long, and the tracks are sometimes a bit overwhelming with sound because there is so much going on in them. The panning saves the day by at least letting you hear each instrument in a different spot, but it's still a lot. Not a big fan of the vocals, and might like the tracks better if they were purely instrumental. "Johnny's Garden" and "Right Now" may be my favorite selections.

Its totally peepaw music and I'm here for it. Lesser known for his solo work Stephen Stills was definitely a staple of CSN (&Y) but I wasn't familiar with his solo album. Its starts off rich and robust with blues and americana historical themes. Great standards, but towards the middle and end it gets lost in a sea of over produced 70s slow blues rock and pop rock that all kinda sounds the same. A double album was not quite neccessary, if it were stripped down to 35-40 mins and 7 great songs it might be a 4 star album. But, 3 stars on the end product being a chore to enjoy.

"Wow de här låter verkligen som Crossby, Stills och ... jaha jo" --> Banger!

Great album with lots of good stuff, a few parts that could be cut or that just kind of wander along, and some parts that feel more country inspired than others. Overall great songs.

"Manassas" is a breakup record in two ways, both from his partner (Stills had recently split with Rita Coolidge, who left him for his former bandmate Graham Nash) and from his band, so it's no wonder he wanted to show his range. There's plenty of ideas packed into this, and the musicianship is as excellent as you'd expect, but it's a rather sprawling, incoherent double album. Like George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass", which came out of a similar situation, liberation needed an editor. Stylistically, it's all over the place, but rather than shuffling these styles, they've been filed into quarters (each side of the album on vinyl). The first quarter is the most conventional - straight ahead blues-rock, with some Latin tinges, but the shift from the 1st to the 2nd quarter - as the hoedown fiddle stomps in with "Fallen Eagle" - is so abrupt its comical. The second quarter, for which he brought in some of the Flying Burrito Brothers, is fun, and sticks with the folksier material, including some gospel numbers, and "Colorado", a beautiful slice of country-rock-pop. The third quarter's identity is smoother rock, and includes a couple of my favourite tunes: the psychedelic "Move Around" which has an almost dream-pop vibe (and includes some token Moog); and the heavy groove of "The Love Gangster" which could be on a blaxpoitation soundtrack. The last quarter finishes off with psych-inflected, wah-wah soaked rootsy rock: "The Treasure" is great country-funk, including a brilliant guitar solo, although the shuffle outro that takes the track to 8 minutes could've been omitted - that seems like the kind of creative decision made with the help of a hefty cocaine habit. I'm not crazy about Sills' voice by itself, but when it's part of the CNS&Y signature stacked harmonies it's incredible, and thankfully that happens plenty on this album - those harmonies can be iced on top of pretty much anything, it turns out. In fact, if there is a common thread running through the stylistic jumble of this album, it's that sound. But there are better, more coherent examples, with better songs, so this probably isn't an album I'll be returning to often.

I like it, but I don’t love it. I love that thick early 70s sound with multi tracked vocals and guitars and acoustic guitars on top. I love the crunchy guitar solos. The musicianship is great. I’ll definitely play this again, but probably more for general ambience and vibe. The songs themselves just aren’t quite there in my opinion. All very early 70s driving music, nice overall feel, without any killer melodies or hooks or riffs.

Eh. Not my music.

Manassas by Stephen Stills is a long album and, at times, not an easy listen. I’ve always thought double albums are rarely improved by being double albums, and this is another one that could have benefited from a lot of the filler being taken out. There’s nothing particularly terrible about it, but so much of the album is just really generic and boring. The musicianship is obviously good, but too many songs drift by without anything grabbing my attention. At over an hour, that makes it feel like a real slog in places. There’s also quite a lot of religious imagery and references to God running through parts of the album, which did very little for me. Combined with the country, folk and blues influences, there were long stretches where I simply lost interest. There are some good moments though. “So Begins the Task” is a really nice song, while “Don’t Look at My Shadow” and “It Doesn’t Matter” were also highlights. There’s probably a decent single album hiding somewhere inside Manassas, but as a double album there’s just far too much here that I wouldn’t bother listening to again. Favourite tracks: “So Begins the Task”, “Don’t Look at My Shadow” and “It Doesn’t Matter”. Least favourite track: Nothing was particularly awful, there was just far too much forgettable filler. Album artwork: Pretty standard album cover. Stephen Stills with all of his friends.

If you didn’t know any better, you’d think it was CSN. There are some gems here among the duds.

Enjoyed

I like the feel and style

#270/1001 🇺🇸 First listen - enjoyed this very much. An easy going mix of country, blues, soul and bluegrass. A reminder to listen more to the back catalogue of CSNY. Best Tracks: Jet Set (Sigh), Colorado, It Doesn't Matter, Johnny's Garden, How Far, Move Around.

I quite enjoyed this but as others have suggested, there’s nothing in it that made me think that I must listen to it again.

This is fine

Good southern rock sound with some solid tracks

A classic rock record I've slept on. I've always liked Stills work in CSNY and Buffalo Springfield, but never checked out his short-lived (other) supergroup he formed. Side B of the first half I could sleep on, but the rest of the album is full of some good music. An album that ensures Stephen Stills earned his spot on the CSNY supergroup.

A lot! Seems like a lot of cool stuff. But it's pretty range with some rockier stuff, bluesy stuff, countryish bits, bluegrass, revival folk of course. I generally find double albums a bit tough to get into and this one pushes that further with the lack of through line. It's cool stuff though.

Ihan okei oli tämä. Kantria folkkihöysteillä. Ei kuitenkaan mitään niin erikoista että jatkokuunteluun menisi.

Levy selkeesti koostu neljästä osasta (Wikipedia tukee tätä huomiota), kaikki muut osat oli kovin mukavaa ja menevää rokkenrollia, paitsi toinen osa joka oli vähän puskista tuleva kantrilevy. Se vei osaltaan vähän fiilistä suuntaan, että levy oli hieman sekava kokonaisuus, kun ei välissä tarvinnut fyysisesti "vaihtaa levyä". Kantriseinään törmäämistä lukuun ottamatta oli kuitenkin viihdyttävä levy.

Too f ing long

This is enjoyable background countryfolkblues getmesomemoonshine andageetar Manassary.

Best Track - "Colorado"

Hey, I've been there!

Pretty standard 70s southern rock with some country influences thrown in too. This was perfectly fine to have on in the background but I didn't think much of it other than the fact that it overstayed it's welcome slightly.

Very enjoyable. Blues/rock with a nice 70s vibe. Would I listen to again in full, maybe. Will I save it on Spotify, yea Would I own it on Vinyl cos I want to relisten to it often, nah

70s blues rock. Ok but boooooooring.

It’s alright but much of the same. Enjoyed others more.

Not bad, but often boring. A three minute song shouldn’t feel like seven minutes.

Pleasant listen

Good singer/songwriter, but a little too country sounding for my ear.

Second Stephen Stills in a row. I like most of this but not too fussed on the Chris Hillman stuff.

This album is interesting, a huge variety of styles throughout. The name Stephen Stills did not ring a bell immediately, but after looking him up, everything clicked. Stills as in Crosby Stills and Nash. And he was in Buffalo Springfield. This album is a massive collection of different talents active in the early 70s. There are some really good tracks, and others I don't like as much. I think it's interesting that each of the 4 sides had a different theme. Creative and interesting.

Well I had never heard of Stephen Stills before but here it is. Before listening the album I read some reviews and expected the worse...and was surprised with some really good melodies and sounds. The main problem of this album is that it's too long, but the first 10 songs are pretty varied and nice and I really like some harmonies and the melodies. It can get pretty much boring by the end, butbI am happy I got introduced by this challenge. 3/5

too long too monotone

I have respect for Stills as a guitarist, and think he wrote some great songs with CSNY and BS. But I've found his solo stuff really dull so far. A few decent songs scattered across this, but it's way too long to digest. Like most double albums, it should have be a single album.

Pretty alright southern fried rock, with some bluegrassy country in there, it was way too long though being a double album. Overall 3 stars

STEPHEN STILLS MAN ASSES STEPHEN S T I L L S

70

I haven’t heard this before. I recognize a few songs from classic rock radio and a few others sound like other songs from classic rock radio but aren’t the same, I can’t tell if those songs were influenced by/ripping off these songs or vice versa. There are some great vocal harmonies on here that are reminiscent of what he did with Crosby Stills and Nash, but for whatever reason come out sounding like the Eagles or America or another skin crawlingly bad 70s country rock band, or something even worse like Steely Dan. I think it mostly has to do with the instrumentation and rhythms and just the general 70s-ness of it that turns what could be great into schlock. A few songs range from ok to good but they are outweighed by the bad ones and being a double album, that ratio is high. Even cutting it down to a single album or even an EP wouldn’t make it a good album, so making it a 72 minute slog is way too much.

This album was another very nostalgic sound. Driving in the car with my dad or grandparents this was the sound of their radio. Long album with no real standouts or memorable moments but it’s consistent with its sound and quality. Saw a review label it as a safe album and I can not disagree with that. Wonderful background listen. ⭐️⭐️✨

I prefer Stills in CSNY, feels like something is missing all album.

Very varied in musical style,nothing was bad, not necessarely what I'm looking for, but I enjoyed it.

Easy going. Like the Eagles but more earnest. Johnny's Garden was fun. First time I listen to an album that starts with man ass

*1972. *70 mins, 21 songs is too long for this, with possibly the exception of playing it in the background at a Key West bar. *This is the Stills of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. *He was also in Buffalo Springfield, which you can definitely hear in this album. *I generally dig this sound. There are some songs that switch from a yacht rock vibe to more of an old school country vibe but like the way the Eagles do country (e.g. banjos out of nowhere in Fallen Eagle), but generally a pleasant, if unmemorable listen. RATING - 7/10

70’s rock

Classic rock from Stills of Crosby, Stills & Nash

Good stuff.

So at first I thought “I have no idea.” But then… yeah, Stephen Stills - as in Crosby, Stills and Nash. THAT dawned on me. And I thought, “oh no, how long is this album? ‘Cause if I were a fan, I bet this would be great and I’d be happy as a clam. But I’m not. A fan. Of any of those boys. Or Mr. Young. They ALL bug me. Make me itchy. Make me… just want to get away.” And then I realized: THIS is a DOUBLE ALBUM. Ohhhh NOooooooo! 😱 So the question? Do I do it and give it the 2 I am feeling after being subjected to over an hour of Stephen? Or do I give it the 3 it’s musicianship actually deserves????? This is actually hard for me. But yeah, I am feeling salty. 2 Boolean: uhhhh? Yeah? Ok

It feels like I am in a non-stop run of folk-rock at the moment and here is another one. Albeit one that I enjoyed. The length of the album (another one) was way too long and a lot of the enjoyment I had evaporated somewhat after the 16th or 17th track. However, a solid 3/5 before it got to that point.

A little bluegrassy. I dig it

Here's the problem with reading reviews before getting through the music; it makes you hear things you otherwise wouldn't have heard. Now I'm pretty tolerant of this genre of music because it's more about the spirit of music than it is about how it sounds. One of the top reviews points out how bad Stills' voice is and I can't help but hear it more than anything else. Another pointed out how the whole album is just a jam session and is in the same chords and tempo. This killed any enjoyment I had because nothing irks me more than a Jam Session album. Jam sessions are like diaries: they're only for the members of the band to self-indulge and try out things they couldn't get away with at a live performance or in a recording setting. Jam sessions are typically drawn out and monotonous for the soul purpose of "feeling the music". This album is take it or leave it. I couldn't care less for any of the songs presented and none of them really impressed me beyond the fact that it is all very accessible and not very inspired. It's mostly just music that you could put on at the sleepy retail store and no one would take notice or offense to the sounds playing while they shopped for shampoo and hamburger buns. 3/10

Surprisingly good

My susceptibility to maudlin bloke rock, meticulously recorded MOR, virtuoso millionaire hippies pretending they’re in a bar band, and chummy vibes splash this right in my blind spot. I found this guilty pleasure almost three years ago after the list convinced me Still’s mawkishness was my kind of trash: oroboros in both the impression it leaves and how I got here. I swear I’m not trolling you, S.

Cliched, unispired songwriting and, ugh, that voice and that fucking fiddle. Doesn't even feature the ubiquitous psycho stabby drummer. D u l l.

Just wasn't a fan of this one. Wasn't terrible, but also just meh all the way through. Probably more than a 2 but less than a 3? No takeaways and not much that I enjoyed here.