Music review: David Crosby — ‘Croz’
It鈥檚 been 43 years since David Crosby released his debut solo album. 鈥淚f I Could Only Remember My Name鈥� was a personal triumph for Crosby that featured a variety of prominent artists such as Neil Young, Graham Nash, members of the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane and Santana.
After a 20-year hiatus, the founding member of the Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash releases his first solo studio album since 鈥淭housand Roads.鈥�
Crosby has stated his purpose for making the new album, 鈥淐roz,鈥� was to prove to himself that he still possessed the musical chops to produce quality, relevant and revealing music at age 72.
Describing the recording process as a voyage, the two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee recorded the new material with his son James Raymond. Raymond served as Crosby鈥檚 collaborator as well as his musical compass throughout the therapeutic journey. Penned by Raymond, 鈥淲hat鈥檚 Broken鈥� leads off the cathartic effort filled with lush harmonies and the unmistakable guitar work of Mark Knopfler.
Wynton Marsalis makes a guest appearance and follows Knopfler by delivering a tranquil trumpet solo on 鈥淗olding on to Nothing.鈥� 鈥淭he Clearing鈥� contains traces of the vintage Crosby, Stills and Nash sound first introduced on classic songs such as 鈥淕uinnevere,鈥� 鈥淲ooden Ships鈥� and 鈥淢arrakesh Express鈥� from the band鈥檚 1969 debut release.
鈥淪et That Baggage Down鈥� rings of redemption and resurrection as Crosby sings about unloading hauntingly dark burdens for a fresh start and fruitful future. One of my all-time favorite songs from the CSN catalog is the nautical-themed 鈥淪outhern Cross鈥� from 1982鈥檚 鈥淒aylight Again.鈥�
At the time of the song鈥檚 recording, Crosby鈥檚 addictions were beginning to take a heavy toll on the singer鈥檚 contributions to the group. A true fighter and survivor, he has triumphantly rebounded back into fine form once again. Crosby, who still owns a schooner, revisits the sailing lifestyle with crisp, soaring harmonies on the refreshing 鈥淩adio.鈥�
In the end, Crosby reinvents himself and reinforces his musical legacy.