Reviews (page 2 of 7)
Stephen Stills is so good.
DAAAMN that was cool. Perfect for chillin out after a hot ass day. Some song transitions were nuts
1972. Country rock, folk rock, roots rock
All sorts of country rolled up into one great package. Solid 5 Stars.
I’m at a 5. Just like “Something/Anything?” by Todd Rundgren, this album also has 4 individually titled sides, each with their own particular vibe, and just like that album, I split this into 4 miniature albums. Once again, it really worked. Side 1, taking up the first 5 tracks, is titled “The Eagle”, and it’s rad as hell – sort of an “Americana bossa nova” vibe to the whole thing, blending the 70s rock sensibilities of bands like Chicago or Boston with a little bit of Afro-Cuban percussion and riffs. Not a single miss there – just 17 minutes of pure jams that clicked really, really nicely for me. It’s a stellar start to the album. Side 2, taking up tracks 6-11, is titled “The Wilderness”. It’s a REALLY nice set of country music tracks, with a bluegrass lean that really appeals to my sensibilities. Great fiddle solos, excellent use of the steel guitar, some lovely texturing by the piano, & some really nice lyrics throughout to create some vivid midwestern imagery. The only vague knock I have is that Stephen Stills doesn’t have the full country twang that some of his contemporaries have, but he sounds great regardless. I deeply enjoyed it; special shoutout to “Don’t Look at My Shadow”, which has a perfect finish to the entire side / first half of the album. Side 3, tracks 12-17, is titled “Consider”, which doesn’t really have a specific theme, but it’s just a great variety set. I really liked it – lots of bouncing around between genres & styles of rock, jumping around from influence to influence. “It Doesn’t Matter” feels a lot like a Byrds track, “Bound to Fall” feels like a Beatles cut (sort of White Album-y?), “How Far” feels a lot like Simon & Garfunkel, “Move Around” feels sort of like a David Bowie track, & “The Love Gangster” has a bit of Jimi Hendrix in it that really pulls the funk together. It’s a super fun set of tracks, and it might be my highlight of the whole album. Side 4, tracks 18-21, is titled “Rock & Roll Is Here To Stay” – I was in the zen state for a lot of it, so my analysis won’t be as fruitful, but I liked it a lot. Certainly a rock-driven side, & even though there’s a bit of a homogeneity that emerges after leaving the zen state, it’s really enjoyable in the moment. There’s some great percussion patterns, some really smooth guitar melodies, vocals that glide kinda like silk, and some really nice solos that carry a good chunk of each track. “Blues Man” is a lovely tribute to Jimi Hendrix, Al Wilson & Duane Allman, who all happened to die in 1970 & 1971, all in their 20s. It’s a strong way to end a side called “Rock & Roll Is Here To Stay,” and a solid way to end the entire album. In a weird way, this might be my least favorite side, but only because I didn’t feel like I was as engaged by the content of the tracks, and more so mesmerized & sucked in by their soundscapes and vibes. It’s still a really good set of tracks, though. As a whole album, there’s really not a single miss here. This is weighed down a bit by its length, so I understand why this has a 3, but for my money’s worth, Stephen Stills has proven himself a very, very, very capable artist outside of the vague mythos of CSNY. Obviously, this is “Manassas”, but it’s a band Stephen Stills put together to act as a backing band to perform tracks he wrote entirely by himself. It’s listed on Spotify as a solo Stephen Stills album, & that’s honestly kind of fair. I’d be remiss not to give an incredible amount of credit to that backing band though – they killed the instrumentals on almost every track here. The songwriting isn’t as sharp as the sharpest stuff on the CSN/Y albums we’ve gotten, but it’s certainly not dull. When it clicks in the most vivid ways, it really clicks, especially so on Side 3. It’s a shorter double album, thankfully sitting at just 74 minutes, but if you treat it like 4 mini-albums of around 18 minutes each, it’s a really fruitful set of tracks with a wide variety of styles & soundscapes that never really manages to miss. As a whole, this feels like it’s gone underappreciated in the larger canon of 1970s rock, & that’s kind of a shame. I really, really liked it, & I think it’s worth giving a 5. I’m very glad it’s on the list. Good on you, Stephen Stills (& all the other people you credited on the cover that I’m too lazy to type out).
Great
Absolutely brilliant. This album gives you good old fashioned rock &roll, country, bit of R&B. Musically sound, excellent guitar throughout, Still's vocals, and excellent production. This one definitely deserves its place.
Wow!!!
Great music. Great writing. Great musicians.
What a great guitar player Stephen Stills is. Big fan of CSN(Y), very nice to be exposed to some of the great solo stuff and while this isn't as magical as the CSNY classic albums, it's great.
Stills of Crosby Stills Nash. Great album with lots of bluesy bits
good flow between songs
Sometimes in music a group of people will get together 3just make pure music Magik. That's this album. Everything in its right place from first note to last. I think it'd be closer to the top 5 greatest albu s of all time if those things weren't popularity poles.
Another revelation. Holy smokes, what an album. A new favourite.
5/5
Classic. If you like Crosby, Stills and Nash, this is right in your wheelhouse. The songs are all well-crafted, with beautiful melodies and some flat out rock n roll. Song of Love, Rock and Roll Crazies, Jesus Gave Love Away For Free, Colorado, So Begins The Task, Johnny's Garden are my favorites.
This was an unexpected love from me
Awesome. Never actually listened to CSNY or any of the members other than the hits. Stills is rocking in this album with this band
This is really good music. It feels good to listen to. It's perfect for working, for doing yard work, for driving on a nice day with the windows down, for having a BBQ. Just really love it.
This album is one of the few I'll argue literally every person truly does need to hear before they die. This is a transformative experience. My review can't really do it justice. Go and listen.
Hadn’t heard it but really glad I have now. Solid all the way through and varied enough to keep me interested.
Great!
a lot of good vibes here. I felt like I was out in a prairie or deep in pine forest or on the streets of a city.
Just great song after great song, all in short little bursts
Such an incredible guitar player, and an amazing voice. The guy you hear the least about from CSNY, but arguably the most important member. He part in Suite:Judy Blue Eyes at Woodstock was one of the greatest moments in Rock n Roll history. This album brings back memories of cross country drives from concert to concert in my 20s.
Catchy, bluesy, good for bbq
'Goeie muziek jongens!' zou mijn vader zeggen. Dit is toch tijdloos, of niet? Je krijgt meteen zin om in een ouwe Amerikaanse auto door de binnenlanden van de States te trekken. Countrybluesamericana, of wat het ook maar is. Kun je me midden in de nacht voor wakker maken.
We hebben weer eens te maken met een dubbelalbum en in de tijd van vinyl spreekt men dan over 4 kanten. Manassas heeft die 4 kanten dan ook een aparte naam gegeven. Die allemaal toch wel een eigen karakter hebben. Kant 1 - The Raven - is fijne folkrock, meerstemmig, bands als Eagles en the Band schieten me gelijk te binnen. Kant 2 - The Wilderness - komt met meer country en folk, waarbij instrumenten als een steel guitar en een viool vaak acte de presence geven. Kampvuurmuziek. Kant 3 - Consider - gaat weer meer richting de prog en psychedelische rock, ook al is het veelal akoestisch. Steppenwolf komt in me op, al is het misschien alleen maar om het akkoordenschema van Johnny's Garden dat lijkt op The Pusher. Kant 4 - Rock & Roll is here to stay - komen er weer meer versterkte gitaren de boel versterken. Fijn om het album swingend en bluesy te eindigen, Allman Brothers stijl. Sowieso vrijwel alle nummers herbergen de karakteristieke harmonieen waar Stills bekend om staat. En er wordt heerlijk gitaar gespeeld. Het voelde absoluut niet als een straf om het hele dubbelalbum uit te zitten en alle nummers verdienen het om er op te staan. Ik heb me buitengewoon goed vermaakt hiermee. Weet je wat, ik deel lekker 5 sterren uit.
Good stuff
I'm torn on my ranking for this album; while I really enjoyed it, it is pretty fucking long. I like that the original album was broken up thematically by side; it means that the vibe consistently changes up and doesn't feel stale. And the overwhelming amount of material, and good material at that, is pretty mindblowing. Overall it's a real groovy scene, man. I can put this album on any old Saturday and just vibe out. Straight through or shuffled I think it would be a great time. Fuck it, five stars.
Excellent. 5/5
Nice album, I like it - BUT I cannot see the influent relevancy. Stile - mix between funky rock, country and ballads
Double albums don't get much better than this.
Diverse and well-crafted with songs that flow from one to the next. Loved it. Helped me pass the time while trying to beat this stupid-ass level in Super Mario Wonder.
Are you a fan of the Muppets? If so then you'll easily recognize how this album sounds like Electric Mayhem, or should I say influenced Electric Mayhem. I really enjoyed this, I especially found it interesting how this went from rock to blues to country to folk. The early 70s were really an interesting time when music was what you wanted to play and bands could cross into whatever genre felt right in the moment. I liked this one a lot
The first time I heard Johnny's Garden, it was playing in our favorite hipster burrito restaurant and I had a pretty nice margarita buzz going. I scribbled some lyrics on a napkin so I could do an AltaVista search to find the name of the artist and buy the CD. Could I give it some of the same criticism as I recently did for Christina Aguilera --- that it's long and the songs are kind of samey? --- why yes I could. And yet, this is a favorite. Top shelf.
Really amazing collection of songs. Plenty of variety, I listened to this all three times today! Terrific!
Very calming and peaceful album. Some songs give me a Steely Dan vibe, mixed with Jimmy Buffett (may he rest in paradise). Overall, a fan! I've seen this album before at the record store and paid no attention to it. It will definitely be something I add to my collection next time I come across it. Great work vibe album! Have been enjoying it all day - 3:41 PM, 6 Sept. 2023
Nice
baita sonzao, rock e country
cool
Super album
Has a vibe very in line with CSNY, a little more edgy and rock like than I picture from them. Segued perfectly into more of my favorite era of classic rock on Spotify too!
Didn't know a lot about Stephen Stills going in, just that he was in CS&N, who I only know a few songs from. I was pleasantly surprised. Great mix of a lot of genres (rock, country, blues, funk, etc.), nice harmonies and lyrics. I'm going to have to give this a 5/5 and listen to it again.
Phenomenal.
Honestly I quite enjoyed this, more than I was expecting. I think this was an example of an album suiting my day perfectly, having spent an afternoon driving along an old country road into Warwickshire to run an errand. Worked nicely with seeing the sun setting over the horizon on a winter day at the very beginning of the year. I really liked the Latin vibes at the end of Both of Us (Bound to Lose), and the whimsical country vibes of Fallen Eagle and Don't Look at My Shadow was fun. However, Bound to Fall came on at just the right time, just at the last glimpses of the sun before it set, to make it a real special moment. I just wish that song was longer. Yes I'm certainly not in the American South, but whatever. This album had a bit of everything to do with Southern Rock, Country, Blues and Folk, and while it probably wouldn't appeal to me on a normal day, it worked exceedingly well today. This is going into my driving playlist. Favourite: Bound to Fall
Lively, lovely and groovy, in equal measures. Latin-country-blues-rock-LA sound-etc...
Love this. Had only heard one or two songs before. If you told me it was CSNY I would have believed it. Great mix of styles that blend really well.
oh fuck yeah, love Stephen Stills (as well as the rest of CSNY) this was really fun, easy 10/10 some of the country stuff was a little boring but it’s easy to get back into it
Wow, did I love this listen! Great music, harmonies were so pleasing and I loved the concept of the album being in 4 themes with slight changes in the genres for each section! It made for such an interesting listen and I didn't end up minding the longer length because I was vibing with it so much. Definitely an album I will be returning to!
6/5….remember it so well…good rockin’
Damn Joe Rogan for taking this off Spotify!
weirdly really vibed with this. 5 stars I guess
great album
Endelig et dobbelt album der kan noget. Delt op i 4 sektioner med rock, blues og folk og masser af gode numre. Enkelt få fyld, men generelt godt
Wow! This is what CSNY aspires to and sometimes reaches. Guess we know who is the heartbeat of that outfit. Bunch of really good musicians having a great time.
One of the best albums ever made. Stephen Stills was really at the top of things with this, CSN, CSN&Y and his first solo album.
long album. that’s a good thing though it was really good. would listen again!
Just slightly disappointed that this album is not about man asses. That aside, the album didn't disappoint at all. It's just simply good rock music. What sets it apart is the variation within the album, the wide range of influences Stills infuses his rock with and the fact that no matter what style he mixes in, it all sounds good. My favorite track is the final, bluesy song of the album.
Grote fan hiervan.
Absolutely rocks - great guitar playing and tone. All the good parts of CSNY, but much cooler. Bluesy rock.
I really enjoyed this album
Great album, loved the concept of 4 different sides with different genres
Brilliant.
I’ll need to revisit this one some time, but on first listen I liked it a lot more than Stills’ first solo album, which I found highly overrated and hippy-dippy in the worst way. This one seems to showcase his guitar and singing chops a lot more, and has some interesting synths on some tracks that I found interesting. I wish it wasn’t so long, but it’s one I’d like to pick up on vinyl sometime.
I am in the mountains for a wedding. This rips man. Just perfect vibe for this, driving to a disc golf course throwing up and down a mountain and this is what’s playing, 10/10 experience. Musically, wonderful, nothing I’m ever going to come back to, but this hit on the correct day at the correct time.
I really enjoyed this. I wish some of the tracks were longer... I also wish some of the tracks didn't feel like I was sitting in the waiting room at the dentist. The songs Bound to Fall and The Treasure stood out to me.
Stills y Hillman acompañados de otros grandes músicos, que ya habían tocado en el disco de Stills y que se separaron cuando se reunieron Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young apenas un año después. Tras la salida al mercado del «Dejá Vu» Stills contacta con Chris Hilman (ex Byrds y Flying Burrito Brothers) y le propone la formación de un grupo y la grabación de un disco. Chris se lleva a Al Perkins que tocaba la steel guitar en los Flying Burrito Brothers. Stills por su parte recupera el batería Dallas Taylor del disco «Deja Vu» y el bajo Fuzzy Samuels que había trabajado con Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young . El grupo lo completarían el organista Paul Harris (músico de BB King) y el percusionista Joe Lala (Blues Image y Pacific Gas and Electric) que tocaba las congas. Además del productor Tom Dowd, el mismo que un año antes había producido el disco de Derek and the Domino’s Layla. Un disco con 4 caras: La primera THE RAVEN, muy rockera y con algo de aires latinos en la percusión. Recrodemos que Stephen Stills, hijo de militar pasó una temporada en Panamá, lo que se nota aquí, sin ir más lejos en R´R Crazies/ Cuban bluegrass: "Musica latina es cubanbluegrass" Song of love, con retazos del mejor sock sureño, es una gran entrada. Jet Set es la palanca que cogieron los Black Crowes. Both of us es más simplona, típica de los 70. La cara B es THE WILDERNESS, country exquisito. Solo por esta cara. merece la pena el disco entero. Fallen Eagle es country más acelerado, pero el violín le sienta bien Colorado es una joya, suena a los Byrds, a The Band, a los Flying Burrito (Chris Hillman... algo sabía de esto) suena a lo mejor de los 70. So begins the task este tema lo grabaría en 1968 cuando acompañaba a Judy Collins. Jesus give love away for free está la nivel del The Christian life del Sweetheart of the rodeo de los Byrds. Don´t look at my shadow es claramente, bluegrass. No es lo mejor del disco. Seguimos con CONSIDER. La Tercera cara del disco, de un sonido rock y folk muy de Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, aunque aquí meten moog syntetizer. Comienza con It doesn´t matter, sonando a lo que serán los Eagles... En esta cara hay un invitado sorpresa, Bill Wyman que toca el bajo en The love gangster. También toca Jerry García en el disco, aunque sin acreditar dónde. La última cara es la más floja del disco, pero no es en absoluto mala. The Treasure es una jam, con guitarra wah-wah. La verdad es que el disco es completísimo. Puede uno ahorrarse más, esto resume los 70. Blues man, dedicada a Duane Allman, Jimi Hendrix y Al Wilson (Canned Heat). No se entiende el escaso interés de Atlantic en Manassas, salvo por el desmedido intento de que CSN&Y garabaran otro disco (lo harían en los 80 y sería obviamente, penoso). Stills no es un cualquiera: capaz de haber hecho tocar en el mismo disco (su primer disco en solitario) a Clapton y a Hendrix o tocar él mismo en la Superssesion con Al Kooper.
Very nice! Not usually a country fan, but fantastic harmonies
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Började läsa några recensioner innan jag började lyssna och var beredd på ett jobbigt album. Det visade sig att förväntningen var fel, jag uppskattade faktiskt albumet. Det var inte alls som CSN, mer rock, sväng och framförallt varierat med inslag från olika genres som latin, country, blues och framförallt rockigare. Visst albumet är kanske för långt och det är väl inte direkt mycket hitlåtar men jag lyssnade igenom albumet ganska många gånger och tyckte det var ett soft att ha på så det blir en 4a. Bäst är Song of love, Colorado, Johnny's garden
I’m rating this 4/5 for being a solid album in a genre I really enjoy, but for the record this is a 10/10 album to look out a train window to.
Very good record.
Long, but filled with bangers. Enjoyed the listen through. Will be returning.
Very much enjoyed this, and eventually got a new album recommendation from this site for an album I really liked. So much better than the pop and rap pish I've been subjected to. I'll send this album out again and see what else they have put there. My faith in the 1001 albums project has been restored.
Enjoyable country rock
Pretty long but a great listen
Good and LONG!
3.5
Fine album.
Stephen Stills is an incredible writer. "Jet Jet (Sigh)" sounds exactly like something that would come off Derek and the Dominos' only album, which hooked me instantly. I'm a massive sucker for slide guitar and this entire album is absolutely chock-full of it.Tracks like "Both of Us (Bound To Lose)" and "So Begins the Task" are fantastic because they seamlessly continue that classic CSN and CSNY sound. Stills really managed to pull off an absolute beast of a double album here by blending those familiar harmonies with a ton of great roots-rock and blues energy. It's an underrated 70s masterpiece that holds up incredibly well. Favorite song: “Jet Jet (Sigh)”
Like Stephen
Impossible to rate this in a single day given how deep, varied, and dense this album is, but after being disappointed in like 3 albums in a row by CSNY alums, I have finally found one that I am in LOVE with. Almost every song on this thing is incredible. The only weak section would be Fallen Eagle into Jesus Gave Love Away For Free, which are two pretty off the rack innoffensive country songs that are nothing close to bad, but are just simply outclassed by the rest of the album, mostly because they kind of cuck the rhythm section, who are carrying the majority of the rest of the album. Standout Tracks: Everything but the aforementioned two 4.2
I wasn't expecting much from this album, but it was surprisingly decent. A bit samey and overlong. Still just about good enough for a four though.
Bangers but I'm a sucker for soft 1970's rock. Gives Eagles but more folksy. I'm a sucker for this type of music 4/5. Fave songs: So Begins the Task, Johnny's garden
Probably, the best mix of country and rock I've heared so far. Probably should have give it an 5
Cool and familiar. Great vibes throughout. Groovy, rocking and melodic.
Honestly really enjoyable! A bit long though.
Surprisingly solid album. Not that I didn't think Stephen Stills had it in him. Just that without his C, N, & sometimes Y bandmates I just thought this might be a little one dimensional. But nope. Thoroughly good album start to finish. 4/5
A sampler of early 70s rock, bit done well
Much better than I expected! Gentle but full of life. Reminds me of the Byrds; it’s not quite country because it’s too good to be country. Perfect for a slow, humid spring morning with my wife and daughter.
I liked this so much more than I thought I would. Really nice morning music, with several songs I found truly beautiful.
Very impressed. Not much to say. This is new to me and i like it.
14/04/2026 Happy enough with this. It's nice to listen to a pioneer craft his work. Spotify listeners: 359.6k
this makes me feel like the main character in a comfort film. may or may not have a new soundtrack for my life
Despite its length it is quite pleasant the whole way through, I never got tired of it being on and thought more than a few tracks were great
A good blend of rock, blues, country and even a little gospel. Stills obviously has an ear for harmony. It was an enjoyable listen, even if I generally prefer music with a little more “bite.”
4/7
Dope
I gave the album two listens. It is an extremely varied album, showing Stephen Stills range as a songwriter, composer and guitar player.
I surprise myself once again by dishing out 4 big stars. I have had to ‘delete’ 5 tracks from this on my saved copy as they went too far down thecountry route for my taste, but I’m left with an hour of great songs, musicians and vocals. Happy to have heard this. Only ever heard of him for his work with CSN and CSNY, but this is decent too.
A little folky, singer songwriter, some classic rock, some steely dan. Cool vibes 4/5
J'ai déjà amené mes parents à un show de Crosby, Stills & Nash au Royal Albert Hall à Londres. (PiL jouait juste avant ou après notre passage - même chose pour show hommage à Jimmy Reed par Ronnie Wood et Mick Taylor...) Un couple qui n'était pas assis ensemble m'a proposé de faire un échange de banc. Je me suis retrouvé assis à genre 5 mètres de Stephen Stills juste sur le bord du stage. Il mettait / retirait ses lunettes de presbytie selon ses passes de solo / rhythm. Bon guitariste.
Bien mais sonne comme beaucoup d'autres projets de cette époque. On commence à être saturé J'ose dire. Cover quelconque, 2/5
really enjoyed, might even grow to be a 5
Very fine soft rock album. Thing about soft rock, it's soothing and pretty much anyone will enjoy it, but listen to it too much, and it quickly turns dull. Same with this album - it could have been somewhat shorter. This way, it wouldn't feel like a compilation, but rather a legitimate album. But overall, I like it.
Wou t bijna skippen toen ik de lengte van het album zag en op de klok keek, maar heb geen spijt dat ik het toch heb geluisterd. Niks al te wilds maar wel gwn lekkere muziek. Door de 4 sides die allemaal een eigen muzikaal thema hadden werd het ook niet saai, ondanks de lengte van het album.
Leuk wel!! Heel Amerikaans. Niet helemaal iets wat ik nog een keer zal luisteren, maar ik heb best genoten!! (Nu hopelijk een album dat niet rock-adjacent is ahhhhhh)
This is a great album, that I'm kind of surprised I never discovered in my lengthy classic rock exploration phase(s). It's bluesy, funky, soulful, and has that classic CSN shine glossing up the seams. I'm not going to write a long review here, but this is definitely getting added to my library, and I'll revisit for sure. 4/5 from me.
For those who like CSN but wished they didn’t harmonize so much. Seriously, this is likable but maybe not a double-album’s worth.
I have already heard this album a few times. Despite not really having a single that became well-known, this is a really good album. The song-writing and musicianship on display here is top notch. I really appreciate how each side of the record is themed. I would listen to this album again anytime.
A rare instance of ambition in sync with talent, Stephen Stills' goes for broke here with a lethal lineup and, likely, a reaction to the collaborative formats of CS&N and Buffalo Springfield. Probably Stills' last great album as well.
🎧Surprisingly good
loadsa good stuff on here
Pretty groovy! Enjoyed it quite a bit! Got to be a little long though. 3.5!
i likea this one!!
Starting off with this, Song of Love is a nice groovy track! I enjoyed the guitar the whole way through. Actually, that groovy guitar goes throughout the whole album. Rock n Roll crazies was unfortunately not as crazy as I would’ve liked it to be. The middle of Jet Set though was really great with the harmonica and guitar. Anyway made me really appreciate how these tracks flow into one another, honestly same with Both of Us. Fallen Eagle was a really fun track and I appreciated the lyrics too. Jesus gave love away wasn’t my thing really, but I really enjoyed Colorado, the track that followed it. I like how more instruments are coming in as we go further in the album. I really enjoyed So Begins the Task, and while Hide it so Deep slowed it down again, the track hit for me. Skipping forward a bit here, Johnnys garden was an awesome track. I can see why it’s one of the most popular ones. I liked the acoustic guitar in How Far. It had a sense of urgency to it despite not being the fastest track on the album. I didn’t love the vocals in Move Around, but it was a good track overall. The Love Gangster was fun. I also appreciated a shorter track at this point. What to Do was awesome! I loved this one. Right Now had a cool guitar solo! The Treasure - Take One had a very fun vibe the whole way through. I particularly liked the instrumental section. Blues man was an alright closer, but it honestly left me wanting more. Hm. I’m not sure where to place this. Im thinking a 4/5 ⭐️, 8/10. It had some really good moments. I liked it. I’m sort of going based off of vibes for this one. 38/1089
Really nice groove to this. Enjoying this more than expected. Nice variety in it and consistently quality songs that are easy to nod along to. Really nice slow between the songs a lot of variety and layers which keeps it entertaining. Listened whilst cooking and enjoyable in that way but maybe could be locked in a bit more and would happily give it another spin. It is quite long and had my fill by the end but constantly quality and grooved throughout. Kept me entertained enough
had some songs a really liked. bit 70s twang. worth another listen.
This absolutely hits my sweet spot. Despite being a double album it never overstays its welcome. Well crafted songs that find a groove and explore it fully, layers of harmonies, pedal steel. Everything I love in an album, and a genuine surprise
This was a great band and a very enjoyable album. Stills was at the top of his game. I think his partnership with Chris Hillman was a great addition to this band and gave all involved an extra incentive to put everything into this effort. The short, but brilliant, “Bound To Fall” is my favorite song on this album. It’s unfortunate that the follow-up Manassas album fell flat.
Groovy, then bluesy, then country, then back to groovy
Pretty and sonic, definitely a folksy staple. Would listen to in the mountains.
In my car screaming turn it up! (It’s probably folk fusion). Love his solo run😭
Of its time (and a bit before mine) but yes, great.
Really good.
seamless transitions. flawless classic rock sound. the classicest of classic rock fallen eagle--little fiddle going on move around--going electro here, i dig it good contribution to the drawl-ey, southern rock sorta genre, but imo doesn't stand out on its own. it's long, probably a larger dose of southern rock than i would prefer 3.49/5 rounded to 3/5 scratch that blues man--great end to the album points for versatility, between the standard southern rock, fallen eagle leaning more folksy, blues man going full blues.. 3.75/5 rounded to 4/5
Day 156 Really enjoyed this, could have done without a couple of the god bothering songs but enough here for an excellent album Highlights Rock and roll crazies Jet set So begins the task
There was nothing here that knocked me out but at the same time there was nothing here that I didn't enjoy. I like Stephen Stills voice. It's calming and it has a quality that lends itself well to the type of music he plays.
Really good. Not perfect but good and nice surprise!
A quality album. Great musicianship, energy and songwriting.
only got a few tracks in but from what I heard, it's a solid album
Wow, what a fun surprise. Never dove in on Stills’ solo material, but man, this is great. A double album worthy of its run-time. Terrific blend of alt-country, rock, blues, bluegrass, folk, etc. But all just seamless; really feels like one concise thing.
After listening to the first 12 tracks, I realized that there were distinct changes in the composition of the songs, so I hopped on over to Wikipedia and sure enough, each section of this album is broken up into different themes. I liked Section 1, Section 2, and Section 3. Section 4 was a bit all over the place and actually sounded like leftover Buffalo Springfield material, but Blues Man was good. Overall, I liked the album and definitely found some new favorites off of it, so that's a win. It's also not ANOTHER boring 90's brit pop group, so that's always worth a half star. 3.65 stars out of 5. 4 stars by this scale.
Great album
This album makes me realize that he was the funkier, groovier one of the four. I love that he carries the tight harmonies forward in his work. This album spans a lot of genres, pivoting from something Latin-esque for the outro to “both of us bound to lose” to the bluegrass of “fallen eagle” for example. I also like that he can slow it down with tunes like “hide it so deep”.
This was really fun to listen to. A bit much to take in at once, but nice nonetheless. Feels like listening to a lot of extra Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young material without the vocal harmonies. There's a bit more focus on groove here, some funky guitar playing, longer jams and influences from Louisiana Rhythm & Blues. The songs all had this semi ''outtake'' feel to them, which was explained by the way in which this album came to be. Stephen Stills is a real workaholic and eventually he was only allowed to do a few takes per song.
Pretty solid but makes me miss Crosby and Nash.
Solid
3.7 Other than the Stills in Crosby Stills & Nash ive never heard of any this guys stuff before and honestly pretty impressed. It is the most digestible country that's appeared on this list, admittedly because it often detours far from country. Very long, yes, but there's no particularly bad parts of this album, and though there's no killer track there are between 5 or 10 that I would happily put on from time to time.
harmonies ❤️
Album a little long but there's some good songs mixed throughout
No. 21 Southern rock, the exact proportion of which varies. I like the rock parts more, though I'm not against a slide guitar solo. But I really enjoyed this album
Some great guitar work, totally listenable, but to be honest the songs seem a little lightweight at times even if moments of casual brilliance regularly shine through. Pretty tight. My kind of groove pervades.
Damn, what a good band. This was loose but expertly played, good vocals and harmonies. I'm sure every one of these players enjoyed this project. I'd have to listen again (and again) to really dig into the compositions, but this was a good ride.
****A great album! Easy listening!
A lot of pleasant songs
Just a very impressive album from the perspective of musicianship, subtle varieties of blues/rock/country/r&b etc. and mostly just the sheer consistency of good songs throughout. As double albums go, they can be a struggle, this was far from it. Given all this, it feels a bit wrong to criticise. However, as good as it is, it suffers from already being familiar, with obvious similarities to CSNY. Also, oddly there aren’t any immediate real standout tracks. Therefore it slightly lacks that ‘wow factor’ and just feels like a solid continuation of some fine form. High 4*.
Loved this. Great for spacing out at work and could see myself adding to a long drive playlist
some good tracks, I enjoyed it quite a lot. Evocative of better days.
Wonderful classic rock album of folk-rock, blues and country (even some bluegrass). This is a big album — 21 songs! — and I enjoyed putting it on in the background and letting it wash over me. Beautiful music and very easy to listen to.
What a surprise to find I’d missed out on this album in my high school classic rock phase..maybe I should look further into Crosby or Nash too.. It was long, but mostly just some good ole folky classic rock
heater! never heard this before - in fact really only know stephen stills by name and csny, not at all familiar with his solo work. the first few and then the last few songs hit the hardest, almost abbey road-esque in the sense that they are flowing sequences more than individual songs. definitely sags a bit in the middle but it’s a double album that shouldn’t be. manassas - yes!
Heyrðu, byrjaði í þristi en svo mundi ég á annarri hlustun að ég er svoldið svag fyrir góðu áttundatugarrokki, og þetta er það oftar en ekki. Kannski tæpur fjarki, en fjarki samt.
Love Stephen Stills' song Treetop Flyer. Bummed it was not on this one. Album overall was good just not sure it should make this list.
Good
Why have I not listened to this before?
When I saw a 70s double album pop up today I did sigh a bit, but this is great. It’s not a 5, there are too many indifferent or heavily countrified tracks to give it top marks to my ears, but I genuinely enjoyed a good 75% of this. Easy 4.
OK
Didn't mind it
Nice. Smooth easy listening the whole way through
Nice one. Didn't know this existed.
I found this to be relaxing, pleasant, and talented. Though it's not generally my cup of tea, I certainly appreciate the work here. 7/10.
Cool
Side 1: I'm grooving. The transitions between songs are crazy good. Side 2: Sneaky switch into Country, but it's really not too bad. Side 3: Back to grooving and there's some cool space synth action happening. Side 4: Grooving harder -- they are playing their ass off and completely win me over with Treasure - Take One. I'm a sucker for longer instrumental joints. I do see the vision behind the 4-side concept, and I think it's part of why even the Country one worked for me. There's a real sense of progression throughout these parts, with each of their respective sounds evolving and merging together towards the end. Although I'm unsure of how often I'll come back to it, there's so much cool stuff happening that I can't help but bump it up to 4. Unexpectedly great. Standouts: Jet Set (Sigh) • How Far • Move Around • Right Now • Treasure - Take One
Well done. I enjoyed this album
Jet Set
This guy is pretty good. He should start a band.
It‘s an album that's close to my heart. Side 3 is stunning.
This seems interesting
Great 70s rock. Loved the country flair on a lot of these tracks. I’ve always heard of Stephen Stills, but inward impressed by the music on this one!
Surprised by how much I enjoyed this, and didn’t get tiresome considering it’s a double album. Some nice jam band, lovely acoustic guitar work and randomly some Latin influence which is cool. Great find!
I liked this. A lot of genres, and all of them done well.
A very fitting album to get on the Friday leading into my wedding weekend - which happened to take place in Manassas, VA! Listening to this album on the interstate while driving to the wedding venue was a bit of a surreal experience. While Stephen doesn't re-invent the wheel in terms of country/roots rock, it was a thoroughly enjoyable listen. Favorite bit was probably the transition from straight to swing in "The Treasure (Take One)"
Somehow I posted my review of this record as Rob. Hope that doesn’t fuck everything up
It’s crazy to me I had never heard this record. I was a Buffalo Springfield HEAD in my mid twenties, the Big Homie Dan never played it for me, in all my music seeking it just never came up. I listened to it 6 times on repeat yesterday. I love it. Some of the lyrics really hit (Johnny’s Garden could be Bardo) and the playing is all top tier. Stills is a legendary asshole but the guy has chops.
Nice chill rock
Know that the early 70s LA country rock sound isn’t in vogue at the moment, probably due to the fuckin Eagles but this is a damn good record. Remember when1st heard it a few years ago and to be honest at the start thought it would be a slog to get through ( was on a hear everything associated with the Byrds vibe) but by the end of the record put it straight back on and listened while on holiday for 2 straight weeks. 4 Stars
this is kind of boring as fuckkk but im only like 3 songs in IDK its just rocky roll. OK i like the country folksy ones better fav track: both of us/it doesnt matter/move around
Cool concept with the different sides. They’re not all good, and this would have made an awesome single. The score is an average because most of this is solid, with the exception of the country side.
Songs from my youth...
Now we're in my wheelhouse. Bought this double album shortly after it came out. If I'm honest, there's some filler spread across four sides and it would have been a stronger album if the "best" (i.e. my favorite) songs were consolidated. But the album still contains some of my favorite Stephan Stills songs including Both of Us (Bound To Lose), Colorado, So Begins the Task, It Doesn't Matter and Johnny's Garden. Definitely a classic.
21 songs , certainly a rarity 53 years on. Immediately thrown into the 70s. Basically the entire theme of the ‘Almost Famous’ soundtrack.
The problem with Spotify is that it ploughs through all the tracks on an album, one after the other, with no consideration for the natural breaks that were designed into a vinyl record. Hence I was really enjoying this...and then it suddenly changed and I wasn't ... and then it changed back and I was again. On second listen and after some research, I discovered that the album is split into 'themes'. So you get a natural break when you get up to turn a record over. I sadly also confirmed that I really can't abide more than about 3 minutes of bluegrass at a time. If I was a record executive in 1972, then my advice to Mr Stills would be ...keep sides 1 and 4 for a single album, release side 3 as an EP, and just dump side 2 on a bonfire. In summary, I'd have given this a 5 but side 2 spoiled it.
Classic stills
Great record! Great vocals great arrangements, instrumentation is really nice ... Reminds me of Elton John, The Guess who, The doobie Brothers, Genesis...
There’s a lot of great music on this one. I love the variety explored throughout the album.. country rock, blues, bluegrass. But by the end of side four it does start to feel a bit long, which is why it falls short of five stars for me.
I really liked the bluegrass and always the harmonies. Good record.
Yet another enjoyable album. It's a tad too long, like most double albums, it'd be better with some editing.
Passable country
It sounds like a blend of Creedence, Doc Waston, and Skynyrd with a little bit of some random dude at 3pm on the Cabin Stage Friday afternoon at Merlefest. They jump from one to the next and never seem out of place. Doesn't sound like they're playing at any of those styles, but they've adopted them sincerely.
Excellent. I've added a couple of tracks to my favorites.
I liked this album, but did not care for the songs that sounded too country. I am also getting tired of getting recommended songs from the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Really fantastic songwriting and even better guitar playing. If Crosby, Stills & Nash is the only exposure someone has to Stephen Stills, I definitely recommend hearing the fully electric approach he has on Manassas.
Solid! Liked the mix of classic rock and country
This is a lot. So much country, the occasional Mason Profitt harmonies, always excellent guitar work. The great thing is that the album builds to The Treasure, which should not be missed. Good listen. 3.5/5
It’s so important to listen to this as 4 sides of a double album instead of the solid block that we get on a stream. These songs are beautifully written and performed and I really appreciate the journey between genres. Side 3 “Consider” is a stand out for me. Overall an important and underrated entry in the history of rock n roll.
Rating: 7.5/10 Great production and nice variety of styles on here, there's a punchiness that resonates with me throughout the album.
Met de rest erbij is beter maar 3 is te laag
Bluegrass acoustic. I hear similarities to Pearl jam at times, Lynyrd at others. Nothing stands out as exceptional but nothing bad. First take is raw.
Overall I’m really enjoying this much more than expected! I saved a couple songs in fact. “Song of Love” “Rock and Roll Crazies / Cuban Bluegrass” “Fallen Eagle” and “Colorado”
Protest!
I like him better with C,N, and Y, but still a good offering from probably my personal favorite era of rock
Classic rock gold. Great stuff with an outstanding cast of players!
song of love hani seehr geil gfunde und dases i jede song afoch übergoht au. de siech cha gitarre spiele wow. und singe. und isch huere groovy und bluesy ersti drü songs alli sehr guete bluesrock. anyway au afoch no cool? alles bis etz afoch no recht cool. outro gitarre meeega cute. s rhodes passt au super. mega geils klavier uf both of us. und perkussion. uuh country uf de zweite siite. jedi siite het wie es thema anschinend. geeeili fiddle öyyy. jesus gave love au mega schöne song sehr country aber mit leslie gitarre findi suuper cool. the one special one? singeds über de mourinho? jöö so begins the task au huuere schöni harmonies und pedal steel soo schön ich lieb das instrument. dont look at my shadow geile titel, ha immerno sehr sehr spass, freumi uf siite 3. siite 3 chli folkier aber immerno cool. how far guuets riff cooli orgle. moll sehr geil. die beide songs vorher sind chli a mir verbi. what to do jetz au wieder chli standard rock afoch aber chli groovy strophe no cool. the treasure hani seeehr schad und noodly gfunde. find s album git chli ab. aber etz de letst song blues man isch wieder en super coole gitarre part und s isch tight und fokussiert. bi seeehr nöch amne füfi aber isch glaub doch keis, wenner die folkige sache chli kickt hett wärs eis für mich glaub.
A pleasant surprise, this is. Other than some songs with peacenik lyrics, there is some solid musicianship and melody in these tunes.
Good. Much better than I was expecting. Much more bluesy and less whiny
I have other Stills albums but not this one. Love it!
It was very 70s Neil Young folky vibe I love
Classic folk rock, with some country/southern leanings
This was a good album, I would want to listen again.
My dad would love this record. I don't know what I was expecting, but this album is a pleasant surprise.
Great for that background accoutrements. This album is explores a little psychedelia, a little country, a bit of folk, a bit of Jam band janglin’, and a whole lot of groovin. On the first pass some of the melodies can be lost in jam. However, paying a little more attention brings me to some stellar musicianship, and thoughtful arrangement. Many songs hit their stride hard, with marginal filler on a double LP
Great album!
Yeah not too bad. Like his stuff with CSNY more I suppose. This went on a bit too long I would say. But not bad.
- I don't know much about music (hence why I'm here) but I feel like this album might have inspired a lot of other famous songs I've actually heard.
Great discovery for me!
Great album full of talented musicians playing roots music. Lots of highs, but some lows that end up sounding like wallpaper. I've always enjoyed Stephen Stills' harmonizing. Happy to have listened to this since I never knew it existed.
Cool album
Nice flow at the beginning of the album. I love the vocal harmonies that come in sometimes.
I forgot to rate this after listening to it but I remember enjoying it, I think there was some good guitar and vocals but I don’t remember a lot.
Classic SS,
Loved it.
Good solid music.
Brilliant album for the most part. A couple of tracks towards the end were kinda middle of the road which cost it full marks.
I only know Stills from CSN(Y) so this would be interesting. Some cool songs - both of us, don’t look at my shadow, it doesn’t matter, bound to fall. Honestly just the second side is really great, don’t look at my shadow onwards. Overall a nice country tinged blues rock album. Nothing earth shattering but overall good. I’m debating three or four stars. I like it and I don’t mind it being on the list. Not a personal top 100 by a long shot though. How would it compare to Tusk? Let’s do four.
Great album
Really liked the last song, not bad felt a little too long and like he could’ve cut a couple of songs
This is overall a good album. I started really enjoying it around song five hit me enters a bit and doesn’t always carry a steam but for the most part, this is a good one. At times, it reminds me of Doctor teeth in the electric mayhem in the very best way, and I like to hear the choir style singing. Sometimes southern rock, sometimes bluegrass, sometimes folk overall good. I’m a sucker for a fiddle and slide guitar taking turns. Don’t look at My Shadow is my fav song on this album
Solo Stills remains the same.
There is so much lore around Buffalo Springfield graduates Crosby, Stills, and Nash — and the later addition of the wild man eccentric Neil Young. They were absolute superstars in their own right, and the various configurations they assembled during this era of rock dominated the genre. Despite all of their individual successes, Stephen Stills was the clear leader, both in terms of personality and ego, and in sheer musical talent; he earned the nickname ‘Captain Many Hands’ given his indefatigable energy and efforts in the studio. Stills exists in the pantheon of multi-instrumentalists who are also excellent song writers and captivating performers. His skill and impact can’t be understated during this golden era of dude rock. His two solo debuts released during the CSN(Y) tumult, Stephen Stills (1970) and Stephen Stills 2 (1971) are classics in their own right, but those records featured Stills as a towering one-man band, with incredible support that included a who’s who of the eras one-name greats: Hendrix, Clapton, Booker, Jerry, and Ringo to name a few — a sure flex and testament to his importance and standing in popular rock music. Manassas (1972) is Stills first release following the official breakup of the supergroup, and his first with this new exceptional band that is the namesake of the album. This record featured Stills as the leader of a band full of pros, freeing him to focus on lead guitar, vocals, and various keyboard instruments. His guitar playing on this record is probably the best of his career, and by his own account this album is the best work of his career. Stills and Manassas roam across genres, but the album is firmly rooted in bluegrass, a welcome and fitting focus from his mostly blues and rock-centric music up to this point. The latin rhythms and grooves that pepper the album are so unexpected, but they pull it off so well, and it lends an otherwise pure Americana record a sheen of global influence. My fav track is ‘Both of Us (Bound To Lose)’, and it is one of the only songs on the album without Stills handling lead vocals. The only drawback of this record imo is its runtime. Despite the mastery and synchronicity on display, the stand-out tracks get lost in the sprawling expanse that is Manassas (to be clear though, there are no duds on this album). This would be a classic were it not for this fact, and the album from a modern perspective feels like a deluxe or expanded edition wherein great but not-great-enough-to-make-the-cut songs from recording sessions are included to afford fans a wider view into the interplay and chemistry of the band.
I really loved how this album started - with a bang. Just some great bluesy rock that really scratches a certain itch for me, the kind of itch that has to do with fond memories of playing with other musicians. Great stuff one track after another for the first five or so, some faster, some slower. But all the same attitude the whole way. Then it started to shift tones, and do so rather often. It got real country, real quick. And I really wasn't nearly as into that as I was the bluesy stuff. I dunno, I think this suffers from being a double album. It loses focus at times, trying out other genres and styles that don't work as well. I think a lot of double albums suffer from this, and I wish they were less common. They feel like ego trips to me, and I don't think many artist's best work has been a double album. I'd love to be proven wrong on that. I wanted to love it, and off the bat it was gonna be a five star endeavor. Alas, it's four. Standout Tracks: Song of Love, Rock and Roll Crazies/Cuban Bluegrass, Jet Set (Sigh), Anyway, Both of Us (Bound to Lose), So Begins the Task, Don't Look at my Shadow, Johnny's Garden, The Love Gangster
Nice cruising around cross-country road trip music. Some solid guitar bluesy guitar riffs in here.
Country if it was actually good
4 - great southern rock
Ничё так
Muy bueno
I thought this was really good, and for the most part, I liked it a lot. I also enjoyed the variety, particularly the country side of one of the albums. Usually I think that a double album is too long and some songs should be cut, but not in this case. If I see a used vinyl copy for a reasonable price, I will pick it up. 4 stars.
First time hearing this. Cool. Groovy. 4
Good folk/country/rock. Amazing Production.
liked it. good 70s music
Stephen Stills’ Manassas double LP is as ambitious as it is enjoyable, packed with enough variety to keep you engaged while feeling like a musical journey that goes from coast to coast in the USA. It starts off slow, like someone easing into a jam session, before finding its stride with tracks like "Anyway." By the middle, the album leans heavily into country and western territory, capturing that old Appalachian charm with fiddles and banjos reminiscent of the Carter Family, Clarence Ashley, and Dock Boggs—but updated for the time. It’s the kind of pure Americana sound that might make you want to do a little jig, even if it occasionally meanders before the latter sides bring it home with lush harmonies and tight grooves. Manassas isn’t perfect—double albums rarely are—but it captures the spirit of the early ’70s with its bold ambition and variety. From the bluesy closer "Blues Man" to the layered energy of "Move Around," it’s an album full of heartfelt Americana that feels like a proper road trip soundtrack. It’s a mix of heartfelt and fun, like a long road trip with an old friend who can’t stop switching radio stations, but keeps finding good songs when he does so.
Pretty good. Something I'd put on while working in the yard.
So far, I think I’ve heard all music I’ve heard that was directly related to Stephen Stills. Gladly, today’s album is no exception to this rule. The genre lies somewhere between folk rock and country, and can pendulum between both as the tracks progress. I found it very soothing and pleasant. The acoustic guitar playing felt like the kind of music that sounds simple but is actually very hard to replicate. It is a bit of a longer-than-average album, coming in at 72 minutes, but it didn’t feel like it outstayed its welcome. This was a nice one.
Pretty good 70s classic rock, or would these oldies now…
Some decent rock. The album drags on a bit long, but it ends with Blues Man which sounds a lot like Treetop Flier, which I love. So I'll give it a boost to 4 stars.
A fun and free-range romp, with loads of quality, tons of good vibes and many suggestions of where the sounds of the '70s would head. Best cuts are the mellow and hopeful "Colorado" and "So the Task Beings" and"Johny's Garden" (though "How Far" and "Move Around" are also stong, especially the interweaving of gentle strumming and out-there synthing on the latter. And who doesn't love a song called "Love Gangster"? One's always been a fan of Stills' voice and it doesn't disappoint here. This is a reminder of how many highly musical and ambitious records were made in the '60s and '70s.
Apart from Neil Young, I’ve never enjoyed anything I’ve heard from the Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young lot. So, I wasn’t really expecting much, but this was really good.
Oh damn. So many good songs here. I thought the double LP would be a drag but it wasn’t at all.
Double LPs can be a chore to sit through, I'm pretty sure the band knew this when they made the very smart decision to have a different musical theme for each side. Each side as well has enough variety within it to keep things fresh. Side 1 starts off slow but really picks up on the last couple tracks, really kicking into a higher gear with Anyway. Side 2 starts off strong, carrying over from the end of side 1 and has a very distinct country and western influence, both to its benefit and detriment as it kinda meanders and sounds samey towards the end. None of the songs here are bad, I like them a lot but they're not memorable. Sides 3 and 4 musically are pretty similar and really carry this album through all the way. Very glad to have finally listened to some Stills and I’m happy that I can say now it’s more than just a name I see along side the other guys in CSNY in my recommended songs. This isn’t a masterpiece or whatever but it’s easy listening and musically very well done. Thank you to Rita Coolidge for cheating on Stephen Stills, thereby breaking up CSNY and inspiring him to make this album. Highlights: Anyway, Both of Us (Bound to Lose), Jesus Gave Love Away for Free, It Doesn't Matter, Bound to Fall, The Treasure - Take One
I've always liked Stephen Stills. He is not my favorite of CSNY, but he is still really good. My biggest problem with this album is the "medleying" of the songs. They ran together like the songs in "Abbey Road" (probably my favorite of the Beatles' albums). Imagine you did not know some of the songs on Abbey Road were... "smushed" together. Suddenly you go from "Polythene Pam" to "Mean Mr. Mustard". I felt a bit of whiplash as the album careened from song to song, with no finality in each song. It was a bit frustrating, I thought at least once I thought I had hit the "skip" button. But besides the rapid shift from one song to the other, I liked this a lot. Although some of the riffs sound very familiar ("Jet Set (Sigh)", which I still liked.). Top tracks: "Song of Love," "Rock and Roll Crazies / Cuban Bluegrass", "Jet Set (Sigh)," "Anyway," "Colorado", "So Begins The Task," "What To Do," "Right Now"
I really do enjoy Stephen Stills' voice and his musical sound. Granted, this is really him and the band Manassas, so kudos to everyone who contributed to the album. Solid, and reminded me of his other solo and band work. I want to give one of his albums higher than a 3. This one has some cool tunes, but at over an hour it drags at points. Some double albums are awesome; this one maybe could have cut out a couple sides. I liked side 1 and side 4 for sure - in particular Song of Love, Rock and Roll Crazies, Anyway, What To Do, The Treasure, and Blues Man. But I could've done without Chris Hillman on vocals and most of side 2 - Colorado being a notable exception. Side 3 kind of brought me back - It Doesn't Matter and The Love Gangster are maybes, Johnny's Garden and How Far are both a yes please. So maybe this is 3 out of 4 good sides. And maybe it was side 2 that sent me reeling a bit, whereas if I had just listened to the second album (sides 3 and 4) I'd be way more into them from the get go. I'd say this album is around 3.5, maybe worth a bit more. I'll give it a bump, not sure if it quite deserves it.
Very nice, that folly americana 70s rock sound. A few tracks had this like cuban congo drum in it, gave it a unique sound I liked. A little long, but it's calm rock for sure
Some good stuff.
Classic 1970s Folk-Country-Blue-Rock. Perhaps a tad dated if you didn't grow up in the 1970s.
Sounds great but double albums feel a bit overkill in the age of streaming. Still, I am a fan of Stills!
fantastic album full of elements of country, folk, and blues, even a little bluegrass. not usually a fan of albums that are this long, but this one is a keeper. highlights: “song of love” “fallen eagle” “how long” “the love gangster” “the treasure (take one)”
I enjoyed this album more than I’ve enjoyed an album on this in days, if not a week or two. Good stuff.
Pretty good. Easy music to listen too, maybe around a campfire fire.
Excellent musicianship, great mix of blues rock and some bluegrass songs
An enjoyable exercise in roots music via a double LP, with beefy backing from the band and gusty vocals.
Really wanted this to be boring so it could break the 8/10 streak I'm being forced to give by this site's rating system, but damn it this one deserves it. I hadn't listened to any Stills record apart from his performances in CSN(and Y sometimes) and it ended up being incredibly good. Remarkably consistent over it's runtime and exactly in the cozy spot of country/folk rock I adore. Song of Love is the first track I've been introduced to through this project so far I can consider a real favorite of mine, with its propulsive rhythm and extremely catchy chorus. While this record can be a bit too overlong, it's very consistent. 7/10
Al inicio me tenía sorprendidísimo y me estaba pareciendo uno de los mejores discos en la lista hasta ahora. Un blues potente, melancólico y genial. De pronto, sin el menor aviso, esto se convirtió en un disco de Country muy muy country. Y aunque tiene buenos temas también, no pude evitar sentir que el álbum tuvo cierto bajón. Para nada mal disco, pero me habría encantado que siguiera en el tono de los primeros tracks.
This was a great vibe for my day.
Weighing in at over 70 minutes, this is a genuine, good ol' fashion whopper of an album. And it comes from the member of CSNY that I know the least about: Stephen Stills. Love the One Your With is all I know him specifically by and that isn't here (not saying that's a bad thing). Out of the gate, the tone is set for an unhurried blues rock album with deep southern twang. Nothing particularly innovative here, but really well-done nonetheless. Jet Set is a stanky barroom walk about a fuzzy whiskey soaked guitar. Some depth shown between Anyway and Both of Us, with some funk-adjacent percussion on the former and harmonies aplenty on the latter. Colorado plays like Shooting Star by Bad Company -- understanding that this came first by at least 3 years. It Doesn't Matter is basically a better-sung Fleetwood Mac song down to the tone and delivery. The Treasure is a great late album cut; a sprawling 8 minute southern rock opus. For as long as the album was it never felt like it overstayed its welcome. The song writing is tight and varied enough to justify and the unrushed atmosphere made for an enjoyable ride. This is a solid 4 in my book.
Feels very classic rock a lot of the time, but it dips a bit into a jazzier and more prog rock sound at parts in the beginning while rounding into a bluegrassy/country sound at times, especially toward the end. Little long for an album, but the changes in sound throughout had me checking to see if the album had ended.
Just some good old fashioned rock and roll. A great amount of variety too with the different types of songs. Not much more to say just a very solid 4
Feel like I've really enjoyed the Crosby Stills Nash and Young albums we've had so far so I'm pumped to see it, although another country/folk album is meh. All is pretty meh even though I love some of what CSNY is known for, the harmonies. Johnny's Garden is a favorite that doesn't have that. Loving Move Around too. This was a rare one for me where the album just got better as it got going. Was a meh 3 but worked its way up for me.
Started out very strong, but the excess of the double album format (or maybe just a dip in quality) certainly wore down its welcome over time. I feel like it'd be better pared down but will have to give it another listen. I was prepared to give it a 3, but then it picked up again by the end, so a 4 it is.
Not at all bad
Pretty good. Some of the songs sounded really familiar.
Starting off well, Song of Love is classic 70's blues rock. It's crazy that this album predates Lynyrd Skynyrd, they totally ripped Steven Stills off. Only four songs in, I'm calling it, this is his best work. I spoke exactly one song too soon. Both of Us (Bound to Lose) is more of a CSN type of song. And followed with straight bluegrass on Fallen Eagle. The album feels a little disjointed with the jumps in style, but I think I understand what he was trying to do with the album, it all fits in a way, music, title, cover. It's like he went to Nashville and sat at one bar and wrote a song in every genre that passed through, southern rock, folk rock, bluegrass, country. Some are more successful than others. Just as I'm thinking the county music is getting a little wearisome, I see this is a double album (bad sign) and each side had a different musical theme (mitigating factor, maybe?). I wish Spotify would add a column to show the original album sides each song was on. Now, I'll have to figure out which side is my favorite. Right now, I'm leaning towards the first. Not loving the synthesizer on Move Around. It's an uneven effort, some songs on each side are good, but it's just too many songs to expect all of them to be great or even good.
I doubt if I will ever listen to this album again in my life.
I don’t know. He’s talented but his albums don’t stick.
I really enjoyed this.
Anybody from CSNY does great work
Really good album. Almost a culmination of all the styles he picked up in all those bands he was in, but there might be a bit more to it. Also does everything Chris Hillman touch turn to gold?
80% Best: Song of Love; Jet Set (Sigh); So Begins the Task; Don't Look at My Shadow; How Far; The Love Gangster; What to Do; The Treasure Must-Hear? Sure
Good one
exceptional group for an enjoyable album
Du plutôt bon rock simili-country, en vrai j’ai rien à redire, c’est très honnête votre honneur
Ich kannte bisher kein Solo-Album von Stephen Stills. Country Rock Blues. Das hat was und ist auch noch sehr gut produziert. Sogar wunderbare Gitarren soli sind zu hören. Die Mischung hat mich schon sehr positiv überrascht. Ich dachte ihn gibt es nur in Kombi mit anderen. Jetzt nehme ich alles zurück.
Favourite songs: Don't Look at My Shadow, Fallen Eagle, Hide It So Deep, Rock and Roll Crazies/Cuban Bluegrass, Jesus Gave Love Away For Free, Colorado, Jet Set (Sigh), Anyway, Song of Love. Johnny's Garden, Blues Man Least favourite songs: none.... This whole album is really solid!! 4/5
it doesn't matter
Pleasantly surprised. What an enjoyable album to listen to.
great vibe for post-mondegreen
What a tight band Stephen Stills has on his side on Manassas. I was concerned when I saw the runtime at well over an hour but this turned out to be an excellent listen. The entire band is made up of pros, specifically the slide guitarist Al Perkins, shit is slick. The Jesus song was pretty lame but I’ll let that one slide. Good blues, good twang, good album. 4 stars
Approved by my dad!
I like how each side has its own theme. Side 1 is probably my favorite just because it's so rocking. Side 2 being country is less my thing but still enjoyable. I dig how eclectic side 3 is. Side 4 is a strong return to side 1's style. The Treasure is epic.
Favourite tracks: anyway; Colorado; so begins the task; jesus gave love away for free; fallen eagle; the treasure; blues man
I vaguely remember this album from my high school days, but didn’t own it. It was all unfamiliar to me. Quite liked most of it. Stills is an underrated guitarist and songwriter. He was in the running to be one of The Monkees, but his crooked teeth sank his chances. This probably would have been a better one disc release, as is the case for most double albums, but I’m not sure what to cut out. All pretty solid stuff to me.
### In-Depth Review of the Album "Manassas" by Stephen Stills **Introduction** Released in April 1972, "Manassas" is a double album by Stephen Stills and his band, Manassas. The album represents a diverse fusion of genres, showcasing Stills' multifaceted musicianship and ability to blend rock, blues, country, folk, Latin, and bluegrass seamlessly. The band featured a stellar lineup, including Chris Hillman (The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers), Al Perkins, Paul Harris, Dallas Taylor, Calvin "Fuzzy" Samuels, and Joe Lala. **Lyrics** The lyrics of "Manassas" are a testament to Stills' introspective and narrative songwriting. The album explores a variety of themes, from personal reflection to social commentary. 1. **"Song of Love"** - This track showcases Stills' ability to blend personal emotions with universal themes of love and longing. 2. **"It Doesn't Matter"** - Co-written with Hillman and Rick Roberts, the song speaks to the transient nature of relationships and the inevitable passage of time. 3. **"Johnny's Garden"** - A reflective piece inspired by Stills' home in England, symbolizing a haven of peace amidst the chaos. 4. **"The Treasure"** - This song delves into spiritual and existential themes, exploring the search for meaning and inner peace. 5. **"Blues Man"** - A tribute to the blues greats, this track blends homage with Stills' personal narrative, showcasing his reverence for the genre. **Music** The musical composition of "Manassas" is characterized by its eclecticism and virtuosity. The album is divided into four thematic sides: "The Raven," "The Wilderness," "Consider," and "Rock & Roll is Here to Stay." 1. **"The Raven"** - This side is heavily influenced by Latin and blues. Tracks like "Cuban Bluegrass" and "Jet Set (Sigh)" demonstrate the band's ability to blend Latin rhythms with rock and country elements. 2. **"The Wilderness"** - Featuring country and bluegrass influences, this side includes tracks like "Fallen Eagle" and "Hide It So Deep," showcasing intricate guitar work and tight harmonies. 3. **"Consider"** - This side leans towards folk and acoustic sounds, with songs like "It Doesn't Matter" and "Johnny's Garden" emphasizing lyrical content and melodic simplicity. 4. **"Rock & Roll is Here to Stay"** - As the title suggests, this side is a celebration of rock and roll. Tracks like "Right Now" and "What to Do" are driven by electric guitars and energetic rhythms. **Production** The production of "Manassas" is another highlight. The album was recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida, with Stephen Stills and Chris Hillman taking on significant roles in the production process. The production quality is notable for its clarity and balance, allowing each instrument and vocal part to shine. 1. **Sound Quality** - The album boasts a clean and polished sound, with meticulous attention to detail in the mixing and mastering processes. The separation of instruments is particularly well-done, providing a rich and immersive listening experience. 2. **Instrumentation** - The use of a wide range of instruments, from pedal steel guitars to congas, adds depth and diversity to the album's sound. Each instrument is expertly recorded and integrated into the overall mix. 3. **Vocals** - Stills' distinctive voice is complemented by harmonies from Hillman and other band members, creating lush vocal textures that enhance the emotional impact of the songs. **Themes** "Manassas" explores a variety of themes, reflecting both personal and broader societal concerns. 1. **Love and Relationships** - Many songs on the album deal with the complexities of love and relationships, from the joy and fulfillment of connection to the pain of loss and separation. 2. **Reflection and Introspection** - Stills' lyrics often delve into introspective themes, exploring his own experiences and emotions. This is evident in songs like "Johnny's Garden" and "The Treasure." 3. **Social Commentary** - Some tracks, such as "Fallen Eagle," touch on social and political issues, reflecting the turbulent times of the early 1970s. 4. **Homage to Musical Roots** - The album pays tribute to various musical genres and influences, from blues and country to Latin music, showcasing Stills' deep appreciation for the roots of American music. **Influence** "Manassas" has had a lasting impact on both fans and fellow musicians. Its blend of genres and styles has influenced a wide range of artists and contributed to the evolution of rock and Americana music. 1. **Genre-Blending** - The album's successful fusion of diverse musical genres set a precedent for future artists looking to experiment and blend different styles. 2. **Musicianship** - The virtuosity and versatility of the band members have been widely recognized, inspiring musicians to push the boundaries of their own abilities and explore new musical horizons. 3. **Legacy** - While not as commercially successful as some of Stills' other projects, "Manassas" has garnered critical acclaim and a devoted following over the years, solidifying its place as a seminal work in Stills' discography. **Pros** 1. **Musical Diversity** - The album's eclectic mix of genres keeps it interesting and engaging from start to finish. 2. **Expert Musicianship** - The technical proficiency of the band members is evident throughout, with impressive instrumental performances and tight harmonies. 3. **High Production Quality** - The production is polished and professional, ensuring a high-quality listening experience. 4. **Lyrical Depth** - The lyrics are thoughtful and introspective, adding emotional depth to the songs. 5. **Innovative Sound** - The blend of genres and influences creates a unique and innovative sound that stands out in Stills' discography. **Cons** 1. **Lack of Commercial Success** - Despite its artistic merit, the album did not achieve significant commercial success, which may limit its recognition and accessibility. 2. **Complexity and Length** - The double album format and diverse range of styles may be overwhelming for some listeners, requiring multiple listens to fully appreciate. 3. **Inconsistent Themes** - The thematic diversity, while a strength in some respects, can also lead to a lack of cohesion across the album, making it feel somewhat disjointed at times. **Conclusion** "Manassas" by Stephen Stills is a richly diverse and expertly crafted album that showcases Stills' versatility as a musician and songwriter. The album's blend of genres, high production quality, and introspective lyrics make it a standout work in Stills' career. While it may not have achieved significant commercial success, its artistic impact and influence on future musicians are undeniable. "Manassas" remains a testament to the power of musical exploration and the enduring appeal of genre-blending artistry.
At first I was oh great a country album, but then as it went on it just kept getting better and better. Of music. Going to leave it on the hard drive for the Sunday Shuffle.
Surprising, Complex, diverse
Smooth
crunchy tunes
If you like blues rock ((which I do) this is a beautiful noise. No outstanding tracks, but just consistently good.
No songs here that I would describe as unimpeachable bangers, but still, a double album that avoids anything resembling an obvious skip is worthy of some admiration.
Very nice! I will spin this again. Reminds me of my mom’s hippy boyfriends, many Nam vets. Nice dudes. A little messed up, but friendly. We need more of them. And this.
listening to this at 8am on a Saturday with the windows open. It definitely got me up and into work. Early tracks were nice tho it started feeling like it didn't need to go on quite so long until Move Around and The Love Gangster rolled around. Right Now is also a highlight and The Treasure was an impressive ride, in fact it generally ended well after the middle lull
Stills is a true artisan - it may not be the most exciting album but it's crafted very carefully.