Reviews (page 7 of 14)
Album that took time to grow on me, but can understand why was so successful at the time. It’s organic and it’s beautiful. 5 Star
Fav: Suite: Judy Blue Eyes Least Fav: Lady Of The Island Just as good without Neil Young involved
partway through listening and this is okkkkk so far but i've had a lot of 60s/early 70s albums this week and im flagging tbh. just really wanting different music that is not this, sorry...
The harmony! My god, how these guys harmonize! The music itself is really good, but these three are just amazing to hear together. Too bad they had to let Neil Young hop in later.
Certainly in the better half of folk rock album I heard. Some songs still have the tendency to disappear into the background, but the core of this album is pretty fun a satisfying, with pleasant vocals and instrumentation. Chill but not boring. 7/10
Sounds like Simon and Garfunkel
didn't listen to the whole thing this time but i've listened before ... pretty good album but not one i usually go out of my way for
Buenos tiempos de guitarra y reuniones campestres, cervezas y...Estuvieron siempre invitados
👍
excellent album
Why not
Loved this album since I first pulled it from my uncle's record collection. The songs are nearly all excellent ("Lady of the Island" can be a little tiring at times) - "Suite:Judy Blue Eyes", "Marrakesh Express", "Wooden Ships", "Helplessly Hoping" & "Long Time Gone" being the picks for me. The harmonies are incredibly tight with each vocalist bringing something special, even I find David Crosby's voice a little less distinctive than the other two. The production is bright and clear; the record sounds fantastic. But this listening brought new appreciation for Stephen Stills in particular. With the exception of drums (by Dallas Taylor) and a couple of additional rhythm guitars, Stills plays everything - acoustic and electric guitars, bass, organ, percussion - and is superb on all of them. His arrangements complement the vocals wonderfully.
Jangly crap. "The harmonies are wonderful"; yeah, awesome to hear shitty songs three times over. Useless without Neil, imo.
83/100. Crosby, Stills & Nash’s self-titled debut is a great, chill record, centered around themes of love and personal reflection. Their harmonies and songwriting shine, making this a very strong debut for these three legendary musicians.
Спокойный, приятный софт и фолк. Люблю такое. Познакомилась - раньше не знала их. Хорошки <3
I was expecting some kind of lame singer songwriter mostly acoustic thing, but this rocks. Vocal harmonies on point. Songwroting is fantastic. Great instrumentals. I would have mixed it heavier but there is a lot here. I hear a lot of what influenced some of my favorite artists. Potential to be a 5 but needs a lot more listens for that. 4.5, I round down. 1=Crap that shouldn't be here 2=I didn't like it but get why it's here 3=I thought it was ok or even like it, get why it's here, but won't revisit 4=I like it, will revisit 5=This is some of the best music I've ever heard and will continue listening to it
Classic
Great folk-rock album. Very consistent vibe throughout, nice lyrics, warm guitar riffs, and sweet vocals. One of my favorite choruses ever with "They are one person, They are two alone, They are three together, They are for each other". Overall, a simple, concise, well put together project from the trio.
Some weeks a man will listen to Helplessly Hoping 400 times, ya know.
we are one person we are two alone we are three together we are for each other 😭😭😭😭😭😭 3.5 because i like deja vu better
Førstehåndsindtrykket var west coast Beatles men bedre. Virkelig godt album med variation, bliver et af sommerens albums
Solid harmonies. Classic chilled out 60s folk music
I liked it
# Album Name: Crosby, Stills & Nash # Artist: Crosby, Stills & Nash # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Not bad. Steady as she goes. Doesnt really move out of third gear if im honest. Couple of decent tracks. The album didnt really stand out to me on a first listen though. # Top Tunes: Jude Blue eyes / Marrakesh / Helplessly hoping # Would I listen to it again? Not sure. Maybe.
This is a classic album from a classic era, with flashes of brilliance and flashes of "aww, that's a nice song." It's a testimony to the 60s, and to the talents of these three guys, that the counterculture could lie down so peacefully with more traditional sounds and sentiments. Still, as great as these guys are together I can't help but wonder what it would be like if Stephen drafted his former bandmate Neil Young to join the group. I think Neil would add just the edge needed to put them over the top. *** For brilliance, see: "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" and "Wooden Ships." For nice, check out "Helplessly Hoping." For a head-scratching "huh?" check out "Marrakesh Express" - why was this a single, exactly? Also, for purists OR those in a hurry... Note that the original track listing ended after 10 songs. The remaining 4 are bonus tracks.
This album is delight from the first notes of Suite: Judy Blue Eyes all the way to the end. And even though the album is a little uneven, it feels right, with the peaks hitting throughout at just the right moments. And, oh, the harmonies!
Not my jam
just okay i would say, nothing special
And why not
Vielfältig, erzählen Geschichten, eher munter und upbeat… erinnert mich an die beatles mit unerwarteten sprüngen und changes.
Classic, but save for a few cuts, not my thing
This is an amazing folk rock album! I love so many of these songs and am definitely listening to this album again. Such great voices and harmonies and the songs are catchy and gorgeous! I would 100% recommend this album to others!
I didn't really have an opinion on Crosby, Stills & Nash prior to this project. I do now: I don't like it. Hippie dippie acid rock/folk. No, thank you.
Another gem of classic rock. You probably heard all of these songs before - actually pretty timeless.
Had its moments (predawn downs and long time gone) bit overall I found it kinda boring.
2.5 I asked my Dad after I listened to this if CSN was like an underground hippy thing or they were mainstream. He said that they were on the radio and were somewhat popular in his friend group, which I dont think answered the question. Or maybe it did and they are/were a bit of both. Im pretty indifferent to CSN, I think it doenst hold up to the test of time over other acts in the same period
if its maybe a lil lopsided its only because the highs are so ridiculous. could just survive on being great songs performed by the ever reliable band structure of Guys Who's Voices Sound Really Fucking Good Together but theres also tons of nice little instrumental/arrangement flourishes and details...more than anything, that plus the obvious clashing/melding personalities create a v distinct sound (earthy with a celestial tinge) yet i never once feel like its repeating itself. but i sure did think "oh theyre just casually throwing out the best song ive ever heard in my life" at least a couple times
Beautiful harmonizing. Awful versions of Everybody’s Talking and Teach your Children. I find their style can get monotonous
More of the hipster avengers, before Young would join the crew, I assume. But I think I enjoyed this more than the 1970 Young featuring record. The simpler nature of the harmonies, playing, and writing made everything feel more personal and tranquil, like you're camping out in a small cabin with these three guys you found in the woods. You'll still get a groovy psychedelic cut here and there, like with 'Long Time Gone' and 'Wooden Ships', but from the very opening 'Suite: Judy Blue Eyes', the band makes sure to establish this very warm and cozy shell to encapsulate the listener in, and it works really well. Nothing here is abrasive; nothing strays too far from this pattern - it all just cruises by nicely and painlessly. Great listen.
Some of the most recognizable harmonies in music, Crosby, Stills & Nash laid the groundwork for everything I love from the 70's like America and Yes. Thanks guys!
Extraordinary album that bridged the sixties and seventies
Oh yea. This is great! These guys are so classic. Great harmonies.
A great collection of classy folk rock tunes. Nothing groundbreaking, but all the songs spark good feelings of nostalgia and comfort.
Litt ensformig
some of them really caught my attention and some of them were just...there yk still a pretty decent album 3.5/5
Not for me this. It’s calm, pleasant, easy listening, but forgettable.
01) Suite: Judy Blue Eyes - 7,5 02) Marrakesh Express - 8,0 03) Guinnevere - 7,0 04) You Don't Have to Cry - 7,0 05) Pre-Road Downs - 7,0 06) Wooden Ships - 7,5 07) Lady of the Island - 6,5 08) Helplessly Hoping - 7,0 09) Long Time Gone - 7,5 10) 49 Bye-Byes - 7,0 TOTAL: 7,20 (72/100) Current ranking: 301/543
I know this one well. It's great to give it another listen. Great songwriting, incredible vocal harmonies, just beautiful textbook folk rock. Super influential, super great music. Wouldn't crack my personal top 100 probably though, so four stars.
I mean, the songs on this album: Marrakesh Express, Guinnevere, Helplessly Hoping. If you ever listened to AM radio in the 1970s these songs are imprinted on your brain.
Als ik mn ogen sluit hoor ik Simon & Garfunkel. Ik HAAT Simon & Garfunkel... Maar toch, maar toch trek ik dit iets beter? Vooral You don't have to cry had zo op een album van die twee kunnen staan. Verschrikkelijk. Dan trek ik Suite Judy Blue Eyes een stuk beter. Of Pre-Road Downs, daar zit zowaar een beetje tempo in! Die bassline op Wooden Ships gaat H A R D!!!! Hahahhahaha song with no words dekt wel lekker de lading hoor. Het hele album is prima. Ik word er niet heel enthousiast van, maar heb me ook geen seconde geirriteerd ofzo. Dit is van die prima achtergrond muziek, er zit net wat meer pit in dan Simon & Garfunkel. Ze krijgen 3 sterren, ik denk niet dat ik dit album ooit weer aan zet. FAVO: Pre-road downs, Wooden Ships
Całkiem spoko. Dobrze się sprawdza do puszczenia w tle. Nie jest nachalna ale też nie jest porywająca.
Gezapig en langzaam. Eigenlijk is enkel 'Marrakesh Express' nog een leuk nummer.
langweilig kein fav hab gefühlt alle schon wieder vergessen
Bisschen zu chillig
Still more Boomer classics. Pretty harmonies. But pretty boring too. 3 stars, not sure it needs that many
9 out of 10
8/10
chil
It's a pretty good listen, although I prefer them with Neil Young.
3/5
I appreciate how they “keep” their own sound but really the songs aren’t that distinct from each other, it’s really the songwriting that’s a little different. Not actually a bad thing I just expected something else. The harmonies and instruments didn’t help, the formula got a bit old fast but it works really well for a few tracks. OaARaT: 7.5/10, there’s some really good songs off it but, the album in general, it’s good, could be better.
After a couple of listens, I still can't decide on this one. Some parts are wonderful, the harmonies are flawless, and tracks like Guinevere and Helplessly Hoping are beautiful while doing something really interesting with the arrangement. And at the same time, the cloying harmonies did get sickly sweet at times. Some tracks are just dull, or tacky (Marrakesh Express had me rolling my eyes more than anything else). The number of times I heard 'My Lady' made me feel like I was at a fedora wearing convention. The best parts were really something, but as an album it didn't stick for me, with a couple of exceptions
A top 100 album!!
It's fine, but I think the CSN style requires Y to give it a little edge.
Nice folk
Solid but unimpressive. Over all too mellow without being memorable enough to make it more than something to fall a sleep to. A handful of good tracks like "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" and "Marrakesh" not enough to raise album above OK.
Suite Judy Blue Eyes is my favorite song so I knew I would love this. I didn’t know they had such a pure mellow album. It was lovely!
Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
This album isn't bad, but after a while it just sounds like the same song over and over with little variation. It doesn't do much for me, but I also don't dislike it so I guess that's something.
These hippies were on to something
Great harmonies, but the music wasn't as good as when they were with Neil Young, sorry 7/10
fuck it, we're putting 7 names on the bill
Lots of solid tracks here that I enjoyed listening to. The softer moments were the best ones, particularly Guinnevere. What a standout that one was! Very enjoyable all the way through.
8/10 Could use some Neil but we love some harmonious boys
it's fine. great simon and garfunkel harmonies. mild political slant without any sort of call to action. average 1960's. nothing to complain about. decent.
The vocal harmonies are good but not Earth-shattering. Some of the backing music is good though the production is clearly date. This probably needs multiple listens.
Just not my thing, was maybe my favorite of the CSNY universe Rating: 3.1
Classic, easy listening, a little boring for me. I like their harmonizing and soft guitar solos. Marrakesh Express feels a lil racist, opening with "whoopa, hey mesa, hooba huffa, hey meshy goosh goosh" lmao what is that? Fav was Wooden Ships
Why we all singing… reminded me if the monkeys met the doobie brothers
Haven't ever listened to Crosby, Still and Nash before-- for some reason, in my head I had an expectation of more "rock". Enjoyed it though, kind of reminded me of Simon and Garfunkel but with slightly less interesting vocals.
Kinda one note for me
Some nice vocal harmonies and sparse guitar parts. I like the vibes but if I'm being honest I got super bored listening to this.
Lovely, i suppose. It didn't move me really
Boring
Favorite Track: Marrakesh Express
Kann man schön im Garten hören
It's good, but it's not my kind of good. A bit dull but worthy.
6/10
Still no idea who these chaps are; never heard a note of this and I'm now convinced you're all making stuff up about remembering them. I quite like this one though!
Los primeros dos temas parece una sesion de metidacion, los temas que le siguen estan buenos, la mitad del disco. Las violas suenan tremendas, super claras. Quizas algunos temas son demasiado largos hoy. Por momentos me hace acordar a algo de fleetwood mac
Songs I’d already heard: Judy Blue Eyes New Faves: Guinevere; Wooden Ships
Great album.
no
Great harmonies.
Definitely enjoyed it
Feels like a lifetime ago that I listened to this!
ok
If someone tried to create the perfect vocal harmonies using modern AI or some type of enhanced autotune software, they could not do better than CSN on this album. It’s a pleasure to listen to this work of art. The first “supergroup” and their best album.
The falsetto harmony is so grating. Unfortunately, it’s their signature sound. “Song with no words” is unforgivably irritating. While I loathe the vocals, the instrumentation is fantastic. The guitars and Leslie amp on the keys get that psych-rock vibe down, the drums are crystal clear and the bass leans on funk and pulls it all together.
Fantastic album. Easy to listen to and appreciate.
These guys immediately sounded so good harmonizing together that it's sometimes hard to remember that each of them were actually already established stars with other groups. Some beautiful, timeless stuff here.
It was good post sesh music
If the Beatles and Queen had a Baby in the Late 60s
Great, chilled music, and nice harmonies
Highs are better than expected, lows are just kinda there. Harmonies are great but a little overproduced.
"Whoopa, hey mesa, hooba huffa, hey meshy goosh goosh" this has to be a little racist, right? I do not love this album.
Favorite tracks: Judy Blue Eyes Marrakesh Express Helplessly Hoping
The harmonies! Suite Judy Blue Eyes is traditionally the song I first put on to try any new audio equipment, but I had never given the full album a listen. Solid but dated and a little messy and amateurish by modern standards.
i’ve listened to several songs on this album before. nostalgic . feels like summertime with my family. soulful and familiar to me. love the first one. def have heard before. i dig easy listening 60s soft shit. (judy bloom) not super into 2nd song (train song) third song feels like king arthur’s court. like old kingdoms knights n shit so title is apt track four - lovely track 5 meh okay lady of the island is lovely helplessly hoping - yes i like teach your children well feeling a solid 3 (as in id listen again but not my fav) would give it a four but prolly won’t play it again any time soon.
Off top, I’m in a better mood today so my review of this album will likely be inflated. I’m not usually a huge fan of this genre/era of music or people singing together, but I have a feeling this will turn out to be a somewhat happy album. I liked the format of taking the album song by song, but that amount of involvement has already begun to feel unsustainable. I’ll just speak about this one and each other as a whole from this point on. I feel like I’ve heard all of these songs before, even though I haven’t. I appreciate the imagery and love songs, especially one early in the album talking about a girl in the garden with the fruit and stuff. The slower songs are nice and easily blended in. Nothing too abrasive here at all. 6/10 After reviewing a couple of these albums, I think I’ve realized I have more bad to say than good about most things. That’s a shame but this album was okay for sure.
Pretty good stuff, it’s def boomer coded. The last song with Neil Young was my fav. All and all, a kinda boring album but I’m glad I listened to it. It’s just not evocative in any sense. I didn’t know who these guys were before listening to this album.
Judy blue eyes - nice long ballad to start the album. Enjoyed this one 6/10 Marrakesh express - fun little bouncy diddy 5/10 Guinevere - slows it down another nice track. I’m starting to float 6/10 You don’t have to cry - I feel like they’re gonna pick me up and take me away. 7/10 Pre road downs - boring track, but I liked the guitar. 3/10 Wooden ships - cool track, some great moments in this one between high and low moments 6/10 Lady of the island - I really liked this track, felt like a bridge from somewhere. Makes me want to walk more flat footed (unrated) Helplessly hoping - absolute gem of a song. A perfect amount of hopelessness in a song. Also the main song in the annihilation movie. 10/10 Long time gone - I like this track ok but it doesn’t jingle my bell. 5/10 49 bye byes - indifferent to this track 4/10 Do for the others - second half of this album has just not been hitting like the first half did. Song is fine 5/10. Song with no words - it do be what the title says it is 4/10 Everybody’s talking - I want to listen to this song on a boat during sunset 6/10 Teach your children - I like this song alright too. Feels like a good send off to the album. 5/10 Still trying to hone in my rating system. I’m erring between a 6/10 or 7/10 so I think I’ll land on a 7/10 cause I like the energy being given off here. Fun album throughout to listen to, will definitely be returning to this. Though it did kind of slow down in the second half for me. I could definitely see this album growing on me more over time too. Stand out tracks: Judy blue eyes, Guinevere, you don’t have to cry, helplessly hoping
1 extra star for the song Wooden Ships which is why the band Wooden Shjips exists
It was nice.
Une petite douceur, avec quelques excellents trucs. 1 point de moins pour les harmonies en mode Simon & Garfunkel qui deviennent vite relou.
норм, но немного заунывно (с+г вайбы). зато снова познала оригинал ранее слышанного кавера, еле узнала)
I love Helplessly Hoping. I can now appreciate how great they individually are as musicians. Certainly not my go-to for music, but I greatly apprecaite it.
Some absolute all timers and some a little more boring but a classic for a reason.
really not my style
ok
'California' Sound -esk. Sounds like a combination of folk and rock. No song really stood out as a personal favorite.
Love it
4/14/2025: a bit too folksy for me, but solid RiverNerns music
No Young, no edge to CSN. This is the music I think of when I think of 60s music that I’d rather not have to think of again.
I discovered this album in university and still listen from time to time. Suite Judy blue eyes is an unreal opening song on a debut album and always reminds me of them at Woodstock. Fantastic.
great album overall. my favorites are guinnevere, wooden ships and long time gone. 3.8/5
A nice song here and there in a sea of okay songs.
It was pretty good, there’s a reason these three sound so good together.
Not quite for me. I understand the vibe but not a genre I’m eager to listen to
A couple high points, but overall not enough songs on the album to keep my interest. They're at their best when they're harmonizing with an acoustic guitar. You can hear the influence on later bands (Fleet Foxes immediately comes to mind)
Too twee for me.
Proof positive that all the crap music came from Neil Young. CSN >>>>>>CSNY 4.5/5.0: Excellent
significantly better than the csny album or any of the solo albums i've heard from them
Chill album, harmonic vocals
Enjoyable folk rock.
3.5. Solid, but they needed Neil.
This is good, but it's missing something. (Neil Young)
I like rock music from this era, but had never listened to a full album from this band. While I can appreciate what they did here, it didn’t really hold my attention for an entire album. By the end it was just an endurance test (I did listen to the whole thing). One or two tracks were good, but as a whole it was boring.
I was really disappointed in this album. Nothing was bad but most of the songs were mediocre, only Wooden Ships was really good. I will try to give it a second chance in the future. Edit: On a second listen a month later, I liked it more, I've raised the rating from 2 star to 3, I'm still a little disappointed though.
Good vibes. Do do do d-do, dit do do-do do do.
Lot of greats here but don't overlook "You Don't Have To Cry"
Classic album. Suite Judy blue eyes and helplessly hoping are all timers but I hadn’t really heard much of the rest of the album. The spectrum spans classic 60s rock with warm guitar tones to folky acoustic tracks like wooden ships. The latter really reminded me of Simon and Garfunkel. Overall a fun listen and not too long.
This folk stuff is boring as all hell. Just a hard listen. No me gusta. Hope to never hear this again. Negative score
2.5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n39897a9hNk Funny, after having two albums in a row that surprised me with their country influence, we have one that surprised me with how country it ISN’T. Not that I thought CSN were a full-on country group per se, but I guess I was expecting a bit more twang than what we got - which was more like a second-rate Simon & Garfunkel album. Yeah, I’m not really getting the hype surrounding this one. The harmonies are great and all, but I didn’t really find anything about the songwriting overly interesting. Like, as someone who typically writes far more than anyone asked for, I’m left without much to say. For the most part, no song really stuck out to me more than another, but ironically, my least favorite is apparently the group’s most popular, Helplessly Hoping. Not for any strong reason exactly, but I hated the lyric: “They are one person They are two alone They are three together They are for each other” I’m not even entirely sure why if I'm being honest, but it kind of pissed me off a little bit each time I heard it. Still, not an album that I would call bad or that I hated, but one that really did nothing for me in my listening. If I wanted this kind of sound, I would much rather listen to Simon & Garfunkel instead.
3.75 star so im rounding up. Didn't grip me bit I don't hate it
kinda mediocre but I appreciated the bits of folk innit
Some twists and turns, overall it's really good.
Great harmonies on this. Groovy hippie music. I like the song that goes, "Do do do do do, do do do do do do."
This is like the quintessential 60's California mellow hippie vibe. Judy Blue Eyes Suite and Teach Your Children are the two big standout tracks here, but I prefer the Teach Your Children version from CSN and Young that features the steel guitar.
3.5
The self-titled debut album *Crosby, Stills & Nash*, released in 1969, is a landmark in rock history. It showcased the trio's exceptional vocal harmonies, innovative songwriting, and a seamless blend of folk, rock, and pop influences. Below is an in-depth review focusing on the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with its strengths and weaknesses. --- ## **Lyrics** The lyrics on *Crosby, Stills & Nash* are a mix of introspective reflections, social commentary, and poetic storytelling. Each member brought distinct lyrical perspectives: - **David Crosby** contributed socially conscious songs like "Long Time Gone," written in response to the assassination of Bobby Kennedy. Its lyrics channel a sense of urgency and disillusionment with the political climate of the late 1960s[1][4]. - **Stephen Stills** offered deeply personal narratives. "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes," a suite-like composition addressing his breakup with Judy Collins, is both intimate and universal in its emotional resonance[4]. - **Graham Nash** brought a lighter touch with songs like "Marrakesh Express," which captures the whimsicality of travel and cultural exploration. His "Lady of the Island" is a tender love song with minimalist yet evocative imagery[3][4]. The lyrical diversity reflects the trio's different backgrounds—Crosby's activism (from The Byrds), Stills' introspection (from Buffalo Springfield), and Nash's pop sensibilities (from The Hollies)[1][4]. --- ## **Music** Musically, *Crosby, Stills & Nash* is an intricate blend of folk-rock with elements of jazz and blues. The album's defining feature is its three-part harmonies, which elevate every track: - **"Suite: Judy Blue Eyes"** is a tour de force that combines classical music structures with pop sensibilities. Its multi-part arrangement showcases Stills' compositional brilliance[1][3]. - **"Guinevere"** is hauntingly sparse, featuring Crosby's unconventional guitar tunings and ethereal vocals that evoke an almost mystical atmosphere[3]. - **"Wooden Ships"**, co-written by Crosby and Stills with Jefferson Airplane’s Paul Kantner, is an apocalyptic vision set to a brooding melody. Its themes of survival and escape resonate deeply[4]. Instrumentally, Stephen Stills dominated the album's production. Dubbed "Captain Many Hands," he played most instruments except for rhythm guitar (handled by Crosby and Nash) and drums (played by Dallas Taylor). His contributions on bass, organ, and lead guitar are particularly noteworthy[2][4]. The acoustic arrangements are intricate yet accessible, making the album both musically rich and widely appealing. --- ## **Production** The production on *Crosby, Stills & Nash* is remarkably clean for its time. Recorded at Wally Heider Studios in Hollywood, the album avoids unnecessary embellishments, allowing the vocals and instrumentation to shine[2]. The mix emphasizes clarity—each harmony is distinct yet blends seamlessly into the overall soundscape. Stills' meticulous approach to layering instruments ensured that every track feels cohesive despite the trio's differing styles. The production choices have aged well; even decades later, the album sounds fresh and immediate[2][3]. --- ## **Themes** The album explores themes that were both timely in 1969 and timeless: - **Love and Relationships:** Songs like "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" and "Lady of the Island" delve into personal relationships with honesty and vulnerability. - **Social Commentary:** Tracks such as "Long Time Gone" and "Wooden Ships" address political unrest and existential concerns in a turbulent era. - **Escape and Exploration:** "Marrakesh Express" celebrates freedom through travel and cultural discovery. These themes encapsulate the countercultural ethos of the late 1960s while maintaining universal appeal. --- ## **Influence** *Crosby, Stills & Nash* was revolutionary in several ways: 1. **Redefining Vocal Harmonies:** The trio's harmonies set a new standard for rock music. Their influence can be heard in subsequent acts like Fleetwood Mac and America[1][2]. 2. **Shifting Rock Trends:** Released during an era dominated by heavy rock sounds like Led Zeppelin’s debut or Cream’s blues-rock explorations, this album helped usher in a softer, more melodic approach to rock music that would dominate much of the 1970s[2]. 3. **Singer-Songwriter Movement:** Alongside artists like James Taylor, CSN laid the groundwork for introspective singer-songwriter albums that became staples of 1970s rock. The album’s success also solidified CSN as one of rock’s first supergroups. It peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard charts and has been certified four times platinum[5]. --- ## **Pros** 1. **Exceptional Harmonies:** The intricate vocal arrangements remain unparalleled. 2. **Diverse Songwriting:** Each member brought unique strengths—Crosby’s social awareness, Stills’ musicality, Nash’s pop sensibilities. 3. **Timeless Production:** The clean mix ensures longevity. 4. **Musical Innovation:** Tracks like "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" broke conventional song structures. 5. **Cultural Impact:** The album captured the spirit of its era while influencing future generations. --- ## **Cons** 1. **Occasional Overpolish:** Some critics argue that the perfectionism in production sacrifices raw energy—a hallmark of great rock music[5]. 2. **Uneven Contributions:** While Stills’ dominance ensures cohesion, it sometimes overshadows Crosby’s and Nash’s input instrumentally[4]. 3. **Dated Themes:** Certain tracks feel tied to their time period (e.g., “Marrakesh Express”), potentially limiting their resonance for modern listeners[5]. 4. **Lack of Edge:** Compared to contemporaries like Neil Young or Bob Dylan, CSN’s debut lacks some of the grit associated with protest music. --- ## Conclusion *Crosby, Stills & Nash* is both a product of its time and a timeless masterpiece. Its lush harmonies, innovative compositions, and poignant themes make it one of rock’s most celebrated debuts. While it may lean toward perfectionism at times—arguably at the expense of spontaneity—it remains an essential listen for anyone interested in folk-rock or vocal-driven music. Despite its minor flaws, this album stands as a testament to what happens when three distinct voices come together in perfect harmony—a rare achievement that continues to inspire musicians today.
ami vibe, it’s ok.
Not for me.
.
A little corny around the edges, but all in all an excellent album. There’s a lot of stuff on here that hadn’t really been done before, even considering the way-paving done by the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, the Hollies, and others.
If Simon and Garfunkel were stoners, they would be CSN. Let me restate, if Simon and Garfunkel were hard core stoners, they would be CSN. This album was a drug: it started strong with Judy Blue Eyes, which was the bong rip; Marrakesh Express was the high kick; Wooden Ships through Helpless Hoping was the ride; and Long Time Gone was when the munchies kick in when you discover the pizza was delivered an hour ago. For me, their harmonies have always been detrimentally lacking in needed variation, and, though admirable, gets monotonous after a while. Plus, I know Stephen Stills can rock a guitar better than this album shows. This feels like a product of the time and doesn’t translate to modern times, at least for me. If I was completely blazed, this would be the BEST…album…ever! But I’m not. Pity.
Random thoughts: * Suite: Judy Blue Eyes is underrated. What a great tune! * I don't love Marrakesh Express but apparently it was the hit song off this album. * I didn't realize that Everybody's Talkin' is a cover song. The Harry Nillson version feels so definitive. * Weird to hear an early version of Teach Your Children. The CSNY version is the one we all know.
Nice voices, but ultimately just music for your cool grandpa to listen to.
Кантри поп, лёгкая, под фон хорошо, некоторые песни оч красивые 7/10
These guys may not have invented three-part harmony. But they definitely did it better than most.
The harmonies are beautiful; the songs are a product of the hippy movement.
Always enjoyed Suite: Judy Blue Eyes in particular. Even the Spanish gibberish at the end. The singing's excellent on the entire album.
Great vibes
Beautiful yet insufferably pretentious music for Boomers, by Boomers.
I've never heard of these guys so it was nice to listen to something new. Feels very folksy. Reminds me of the Beatles with a cross of like Simon & Garfunkel. I enjoyed the album.
только положительные эмоции от прослушанного, ну это реально круто
1969, this album is exactly what beckons the sounds of the late 60's. Harmony and jammin with social presence. The Byrds x Buffalo Springfield
A classic rock group I have very little experience with, Though what little I've heard from them hasn't enthralled me I'm hoping to be convinced. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes The harmonies are nice. The bass sound is lovely. Can't say this is something I'm awfully entertained by. Feels sanitised and washed out. Average. 2.5/5 Marrakesh Express I've got nothing to say. Gray wallpaper. Did not like. 2/5 Guinnevere The guitar harmonies are cute. Perfect music to fall asleep to. Fine. 3/5 You Don't Have to Cry The instrumental is fine. Bland lyrics, good harmonies. Feels preachy. Snoozefest. Did not like. 2/5 Pre-Road Downs The instrumental breaks are kinda interesting, is it playing backwards? Boring verses. Fine. 3/5 Wooden Ships The bluesy vibes sort of is a nice change. Decent bass sound. The panning on the vocals is obnoxious and unneeded, comes across as really corny. Instrumentally this song checks a lot of boxes for me. Has a decent groove, the keys add a lot of texture and the guitar is a great centerpiece. Good. 4/5 Lady of the Island Has some pretty vocal work, honestly works pretty well. Can't say there's much else interesting here, but it's enough to keep my attention. Decent. 3.5/5 Helplessly Hoping Pretty guitar. I like alliteration in the lyrics. The harmonies are on point. Decent folk song. 3.5/5 Long Time Gone A bit more of a rock oriented track. Appreciate the difference in sound from the other tracks on the album, though it stilll feels sanitised and edgeless. The change in vocal style is also very welcome. I think the chorus is decently crafted. Also would like to highlight the organ as I think it adds an additional layer to the song. Decent. 3.5/5 49 Bye-Byes Corny title. Cliche premise. Goes on too long. I'm not entertaines by this at all. Exceedingly average to the point of it almost being impressive. Did not like. 2/5 An album which went in one ear and out the other. I heard some pretty sounds here and there, and caught some nice pieces of lyricism, but all in all I can't say I found it especially memorable. Throughout the album the thing that stood out was probably how on point the harmonies were, topped with some fairly decent guitar playing you have what can only be described as a pleasant, inoffensive listen. And that's what you get. If that's what you're into then perfect, but for me personally I ended up being bored or unimpressed at several points no matter how well put together it is. I'm tempted to score it a 2, but I feel that's harsh the individual songs are of much higher quality craftmanship than that, so it bumps it up to a 3. Fave track. Wooden Ships Least fave track. Marrakesh Express
Long Time Gone is a great song. Rest is a ok 3/5
Pretty spectacular debut for CSN. They created a new sound with this one. Pretty mellow with some grittier stuff thrown in.
Two and one half stars
Wanted to like this/was curious about CS&N but it just wasn't for me
Certainly one of the greatest singing groups of all time. Perfect harmonies and while I dint think all the sings in this recording are classics, I like it enough to give it an overall rating of a 4.
One of the best ever, been listening to this for years
I really enjoyed this record. Perfect for sunny days. I wanna go on bike rides while listening to this. Fav songs : Marrakesh Express & Hopelessly Hoping
I was probably expecting too much so I was a bit underwhelmed...
I'm not sure if I had a horrible bout of the stomach flu, strep throat or some other ailment as a child while my parents played Crosby, Stills & Nash, but I just can't get through this album without feeling ill.
Familiar with many of these songs, which shows how classic they are.
So many hits...classic album from that era.
Harmonies are unparalleled
These harmonies tho. Introducing themselves with "Judy Blue Eyes" and echoing it with "Helplessly Hoping" it's so sweet and tender to hear these boys so worried they're losing their loves.
Crosby, Stills and Nash! What more can I say?
Harmonies, harmonies, harmonies!
I still can’t stand the harmonies.
Also team harmonies
pleasant listening experience, but there were no songs that particularly stuck out to me. 3.5.
would i actively listen to this? no. did i surprisingly REALLY like it? YES!!!! this was such a cute lil album and was lowkey peak 60’s music. i don’t really have much to say about this one, it was pretty straightforward. country meets rock. 4/5!
very silly ahh guitar tone
Pretty hippy. Guinevere is a good song
I was not expecting to like Crosby, Stills & Nash because I assumed they would sound similar to The Band (who I despise) and because of their affiliation with Neil Young (who I also despise). Wow was this a pleasant surprise!
amazing
Fun Folk Album with some great songs.
Who could predict that we would be in such a mess in 2025? The science fiction writers...and the musicians of the 1960s. This is an important and timeless album.
I feel like this would have been a really exciting album to have experienced upon release, but sitting among so many other similar albums on this list it's quite easily forgotten. I did enjoy it, but can't rater higher than 3
This album is so of its time and yet so timeless. A bit of a miracle of songwriting
Probably better than CSNY, but I’ll take The Byrds over this.
Albumi #179, 18.03.2025 Crosby, Stills & Nashin debyyttialbumi vuodelta 1969. Hyvän meiningin folk rockia. Lauluharmoniat tuovat mieleen Simon & Garfunkelin ja sävellyksellisesti tämä albumi on takuulla viitoittanut mm Fleet Foxesin tietä.
3.75/5 nice chill album, enjoyed it
For someone who has a growing appreciation of the folk arts, what a freakin' classic. Heaters galore!!
Very Simon and Garfunkel adjacent, but worse
Always confuse this with CSNY but this is also a bona fide classic
Childhood memories of parents playing
Folksy
Ok very dated feel to it
A masterpiece.
One of the best folk rock albums out there. I'm a sucker for good vocal harmonies, and this is full of them.
Yeah not sure about this one. Sounds a bit like Simon & Garfunkel added a bit of country and then asked the BeeGees to sing on it. Good if you like that kind of thing but not great if you don’t. The guitars are sublime on this though. Definitely would skip a few Best songs : Wooden ships, Long Time Gone Worst : Guinevere - just boring
This album is pure 60s folk-rock bliss, drenched in rich harmonies and mellow, sun-drenched melodies that practically radiate flower power. The vocal blend of David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash is undeniably gorgeous, creating a lush, peaceful atmosphere that makes tracks like Suite: Judy Blue Eyes and Helplessly Hoping feel timeless. The instrumentation is warm and intricate, balancing acoustic delicacy with moments of electric energy, and the production has just the right amount of polish to let everything breathe. It’s an album that feels both deeply personal and effortlessly expansive, capturing a moment in time when music was all about harmony—both musically and ideologically. And yet, something about it just feels like it’s missing that extra spark to push it into masterpiece territory. Maybe it’s the absence of Neil Young, whose grit and unpredictability might have added just the right amount of tension to offset the smoothness. The songs are undeniably beautiful, but they stay very much in the same mellow lane, never quite taking the risks that could have elevated the album further. Still, for what it is—a dreamy, impeccably crafted folk-rock record—it’s hard to fault it too much. It’s lovely, lush, and deeply soothing, even if it feels like it’s just one ingredient short of being truly legendary.
More of a steely dan guy tbh
This is a very warm feeling psych album. I'm hearing lots of different influences in there all from bands that I enjoy. I also realized that Wooden Shjips got their band name from the song Wooden Ships on this album.
I love this record. I started listening to C,S & N in High School when I really started exploring folk music. I didn't initially love it, because the harmonies and pop nature of it was so different from the raw Bob Dylan style of folk that drew me in. As I've gotten older and spent more time with this, I've really come to understand the genius here. Its a really cool combination of blues, folk and pop rock. Not every song lands, but the ones that do slap. And there are far more bangers than not. This is one that I often come back to.
A joy
It was alright. I can understand the hype at the time. But it isn't for me.
Ah yes, the days of great harmonies and beautiful lyrics. Just like Simon & Garfunkel, these guys had a great connection for beautiful music.
Wasn't expecting a whole lot going into this but I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would which was a pleasant surprise Standout tracks are Marrakesh Express and Long Time Gone
not much my vibe, the instrumental doesnt standout much for me, the vocals dont hit too
I was expecting more out of this one. Maybe that's just too high of expectations or just the advancement and evolution of music as time goes on, but either way it happened. I did get some saved tracks. It's just nice though. The way the 3 guys all work together and harmonize is top notch. But it's in a very simple framework. And I'm a bit hung up on that point. Still a good album but I was expecting to love it. It's a me problem for sure but I gotta give it what I gotta give it
There are a handful of great moments on here, but overall was just ok. The harmonies alone can't carry it. Needs Neil Young
beautiful! a few remarkable songs, I will listen to this again for sure :)
A perfect album. The California sound long before The Eagles, Jackson Browne, etc. claimed it as their own (or at least Rolling Stone magazine did) & years before Mick Fleetwood discovered a young Stevie Nicks & her moody boyfriend, started selling millions of albums & every lifeform under 30 fell in love with Stevie Nicks. Some absolutely perfect songs (the first 3 songs on the album are nearly as perfect a trio as any 3-song album opener has ever been) but the harmonies got on my nerves- I don't know why as I adore The Beach Boys and harmonies in general but by the end of side two, I was feeling a tad violent. Is there such a thing as too perfect? I don't know. Maybe but likely there isn't, 'Pet Sounds' is absolutely perfect and almost as good as The Beatles at their very best but I digress. I want to give it five stars, I get how massively important this album (came out in the summer of 1969) was/is in shaping the music of the 1970s (at least in North America) but likely due to my own short comings I can't. I rated Tracy Chapman's debut album five stars yesterday & frankly this album is way better but IMO a 5-star album shouldn't get on your nerves, and it certainly shouldn't make you feel violent. I feel like an asshole or like that Robert Christgau fellow. Same difference- I guess.
-1 full star for musical quality. -1 half-star for catchiness. -1 half-star for a good mix of different song types. -1 full star for interesting lyrics. -1 full star for innovation, no one sounded like these guys except The Byrds at their time. Overall: 4 stars.
If you like one song, you’ll love this album because they’re all the same song. Inoffensive but that’s about it.
cool
Wonderful
Eine Supergroup, die zufälligerweise entstanden ist aus Musikern von The Byrds, The Hollies etc. Traten am Woodstockfestival auf. Der Vietnamkrieg war ein grosses Thema. Stills spielte fast alle Instrumente ein, daher waren für Liveauftritte Gastmusiker nötig. Folkrock mit mehrstimmigem Gesang, feinem Gitarrenspiel.
Sehr höchs vieri für mich. Es isch mega schön, wirds no paar mol lose.
ohni young?? wow die singed so schööön zemeee. bass super. orgelgiti au. düdüdüdü mega nice. ich ha e sehr gueti ziit. marrakesh express ebe au fire. sehr cool ha gmeint meh orientalism aber super. guinnevere seeehr schön sie singed würkli krass guet zeme. you dont have to cry isch wieder suuper mega simon garfunkel? hammer. wooden ships sehr speziell mit hallou etz singi rechts und etz links hallooou. okay nai die dumpf gitarre isch cool es tönt suuuper. helplessly hoping isch seeehr cool. long time gone INSANE bass WHAT. das isch sowas vo es vieri.
hmm suite findi jz ener langwilig bin jz bi you don't have to cry und ich find ihre gsang no herzig aber alles in allem reeecht langwilig hahah oh gott wiedermal en gitarre-hinderschii-moment suscht isch pre- road downs na cool uiui lady of the island najaaa ah scho fertig. ja bö song with no words kennemer ja scho vom crosby iwie chani wenig degege sege, aber es isch ebe doch ener langwilig leider
O.k. but too old fashioned for my taste.
A few good songs.
I enjoyed this, the three of them are great songwriters and performers
all great great songs
Not a bad song on the album. Judy Blue Eyes alone puts this in 4 stars territory but the rest of the album is so solid
Beautiful record. Great songs and some of the best harmonies ever committed to vinyl. Classic
A couple amazing songs. The rest was a little to heavy on high pitched electric guitars for my tastes. The singling felt a little off too, but sometimes that's endearing.
A nice album, very chill. My only issue with it was that it was a bit too dreary. Could have done with some upbeat songs thrown in 3 ⭐️
This is a really special album. The songs are great and the harmonies are top tier. There's not a bad song on here. This album will stay in my rotation.
It seems like country rock (I'm not really sure if that exists), light listening but I don't think I would listen to this again on purpose.
****An excellent album
Nice album
I didn't really feel to intrigued to keep listening.
Crazy how I love this genre and era, but when I listened to this it just didn't quite hit me at all in the right way. Felt very boring and slow the whole way through. Just felt like I was waiting for it to end.
On first listen I thought this was just fine. On second listen I got more into it. By the time I realized I was listening to it a third time I figured I must be enjoying it. It’s nice to listen to, the harmonies are peaceful, and the stories take you places. It’s somewhere in the realm of Fleetwood Mac and Simon and Garfunkel and I’m not mad about that.
This album hasn't aged well. I know these guys get high praise for their harmonization, but it doesn't carry through for 41 minutes. I hate to say it, having listened to something like six of his albums on this list already, but I think these guys were better with the edginess of Neil Young.
Great harmonies but otherwise not too much to get excited about.
pretty dry.
Late in 1968 David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash all found themselves at a collective loose end, having either left or been fired from their respective bands. They teamed up to form an eponymous supergroup, recording this album just before playing at the Woodstock festival. Aside from the jolly Marrakesh Express about the joys of the hippie lifestyle, this album feels oddly melancholy, with songs about doomed relationships and a sense of a golden age coming to an end. The trio posed for the cover photo in front of a derelict house before agreeing on the band name and went back a few days later to retake the picture in the right order, only to find that the house had been demolished. That’s a perfect metaphor for the end of the sixties and this album as a whole.
Nice and chill album. I can get why it is so popular and the influence it had over the years. It's a bit too chill for me to be truly exciting but I guess that's the spirit.
Pretty good! Mostly a little too mellow for me but I really enjoyed the songs Marrakesh Express and Long Time Gone. Not an album I'd choose often but loved those two songs!
Not unpleasant but got a bit bored with it by the end
I expected more from this. What I got was Simon & Garfunkel!
If someone said “write me a nice album, nothing more, nothing less, just nice” this would be it. I think this is proof that too many close vocal harmonies rather diminishes the product. CSNY’s Deja Vu is a 5* album as the addition of Y brings some welcome variety and a bit of heft to proceedings. While I like what CSN do, this album gets pretty samey pretty quick. Other than Marakesh and Wooden Ships nothing really stands out, and it just becomes a nice if unmemorable listen.
Фолк-рок с ароматом психоделии конца 60-х. Guinnevere прекрасная песня. Альбом захватил по мере прослушивания.
Kósý.
Ótrúleg tilviljun að fá þessa plötu á eftir Neil Young. Ægilega fallegar raddanir, en alltof væmið og sætt fyrir mig. Meiri Neil Young maður. They were better with Neil Young and Neil Young is better without them.
Two-and-a-half bangers. The rest is perfectly enjoyable, well-produced hippie music
Quite good! Softer than I expected. Nice vocal harmonies. 3.75
Overall a sold 3, great harmony and many of the tracks I know and love
I liked this album better than I expected, since I'm not a huge fan of theirs in general. Their vocal harmonies are the highlight. 3 stars.
Well this is very 1969, isn't it? Quite like it, probably about the same as the one recently with Neil Young. They do the hippie thing while just stopping short of taking themselves too seriously.
I mean, it's fine? I don't know if it's just because I'm listening to this for the first time now in 2025, with 50 years of rock coming after this in my memory, but this all feels a little toothless and safe - perfectly good background, but nothing sticks afterwards for me.
How have I never heard this before???
I knew way more tracks from this one than I realized. This one was a treat. Fantastic lyricism and vocals. I did not anticipate the guitar work being so impactful. Adding this to my regular rotation for sure.
Crosby, Still and Nash are always a little hit or miss for me. I don't think I've ever listened to an entire album by them and liked the whole thing. The songs I like...I really like. The other ones literally do nothing for me. Unfortunately, on this album there were only like 3-4 I really liked.
There was only one track of this on Spotify but that’ll do for me thanks
These guys have just never been quite my thing. The harmonies are pretty, I guess, and it takes skill, but I just don’t need to spend so much of my life listening to dudes sing like that. Also, I feel there’s a disconnect between guys obviously living late ‘60s hard but wanting me to believe they are so mellow. Probably pulls hippie tail pretty successfully. “Wooden Ships” is a banger, and I groove with the end of “Judy Blue Eyes” despite myself, but the rest doesn’t provoke anything but snores.
It's a fun, chill ride.
Chill, nice to listen to. Where'd Young go? Did they eat him?
mehh another era, not my cup of tea
Didn’t get to listen to the entire thing
knew nothing about the band going in, so the brit reveal towards the end of the album was a jumpscare
3.5/10
Don't care for it. Some classic songs on here but the boy band vibe is even more dull than the usual white folk man stuff.
Great Album. some well known song and some excellent music.
Suite: Judy Blue Eyes. Extra special.
Not for me. I like country, but this was too bland.
Beautiful album. Almost all the songs here are classics that worked their way into my mind. Their vocal harmonies are beautiful and there's lovely guitar playing throughout. The acoustic and sparse songs mixed with more conventional 60's folk rock also really adds to the variety of the album. Certified classic.
Would have been great live in a tiny bar
Nice and comfortable, not much more to say about it. 3 stars
It's fine, nothing really caught my attention Favorite track(s): Suite: Judy Blue eyes, 49 bye bye Will I revisit?: low priority Current rating: 5
Love the harmonies. There's northing like Suite: Judy Blue Eyes. Liked Songs Added: Suite: Judy Blue Eyes Wooden Ships Helplessly Hoping Long Time Gone
Falleg sungið en ekki mjög spennandi. Svona vesturstrandar köntrí fólk. Ekki mín tebolla.
8 Thoroughly enjoyable folk-rock with wonderful harmonies. Best track: "Helplessly Hoping" Mellow. Melodic. Reflective.
7/10
It’s was fine, just not for me
Gives off a very 70s vibe, like something you would listen to on the radio while you're playing with those old types of action figures. It gives off this nostalgic vibe, if anything their sound somewhat reminds me of New Order but more positive. Guess I could also compare it to the Beatles or Billy Joel, that style of music. The only critique that I had with the album is that the songs are somewhat blended together, if you told me to pick a favorite song out of the album I probably would choose Song with No Words, cuz it has no words. Their writing isn't bad or anything, Teach your children has a good message and you can understand it if you listen closely to the lyrics, but I can't think of any other standouts. Overall it's a pretty nice listen, highly suggest it if you're a Beatles or Billy Joel fan, or if you really enjoy 70s music.
Absolutely gorgeous. Sounds incredible soft to the ears. What a pleasant experience!
3.4 Pretty nice soft folk. Not normally my thing but a lot of decent tracks that are worth saving. A fair few more that I'm happy to pass me by though. Would need to be in a specific mood, hardly one to put on on rotation.
There are some really good tracks in here- a bit samey in places and understated but a real slow burner. Some really lovely songs.
You know you’re in safe hands with Crosby, Stills & Nash. Polished, great songwriting and lovely harmonies.
A good album, I like Suite: Judy Blue Eyes and Long Time Gone the most. But overall a great listen and a fun music style.
The harmonies on this are fantastic.
Love the harmonies. Very American sounding. I hear where fleet foxes might get some inso from guinnivere. Lovely album, sounds like home.
Gosh this album is a bore. Not awful, just boring.
All of 'em
Perfect album! Masterpiece! Guinnevere is one of the best songs I heard!
Unparalleled sense of harmony. Glad I got to see them live at Lincoln Center years ago.
It sounds fine but everything blurs into this hippy dippy vibe that just becomes a mash of harmonies and blegh.
i just didnt care ngl
I just wrote out a whole blurb and then the website froze and erased it. can’t be bothered to write it again. I liked the back half of the album a lot. It’s the kind of gem I hoped to find when doing this. Really good stuff.