Re: Crosby Stills Nash & Young
I'm a big CSN(Y) fan, but can't get into 4 Way Street. The acoustic songs feel kind of dreary, and their harmonies don't come across as well live as they do in the studio. I believe they were a great live band (just the Woodstock version of Suite: Judy Blue Eyes is enough to convince me of that), but this album doesn't do it for me.
On the subject of the band in general, I think one of the many marks of a great artist is the ability to blend multiple genres and make it feel natural (this is why The Clash is probably better than The Ramones). The Stones fused blues and country, The Byrds country and psychedelia, and CSN(Y) folk (I mean pure folk) and rock. Even the great Bob Dylan was usually on one side of the fence (Freewheelin') or the other (Highway 61, Blonde on Blonde, etc.). I credit this mostly to Neil Young, as I think the others were more folk-leaning (and less talented, which is a compliment to Young rather than a knock on them). I'm glad Neil went solo because I love the stuff he ended up recording, but I think this band could've reached the next level of historic greatness if he'd stayed on. Why they're kind of underrated as it stands, I'm not sure. They didn't make that many albums, but neither did Hendrix (although he died at the height of his fame, which usually boosts one's status as a legend). Their music doesn't really have an obvious influence on today's music, but I don't really like today's music. I'm of opinion, though, that CSN(Y) doesn't get enough credit for being THE band of the Woodstock/hippie movement. That was an important part of American history, and these guys were absolutely the quintessential group with their long hair, protest songs, etc. Moreover, they embraced it (unlike Dylan). It'd be nice to hear them mentioned more or see them get more accolades from the critical world.
