I fear these songs sound better musically than the actual quality of song writing (if that makes sense)
I found with This Path Tonight that it took a few spins to get its claws in. I think it's a real corker now - maybe even a candidate for Graham's best - but it took its time to unveil its charms. It's plausible this new one will be similar.
Sure. The band sounds great, it’s tastefully recorded. But, I agree, these would be boring songs acoustically. At least the first two singles but I do like this one better than the last.
I saw Graham Nash last night at the Ram's Head Tavern in Annapolis, MD, the fourth show on his new tour. Interestingly he didn't play anything from the new album or even mention it. But someone who'd seem him the night before said he played A Better Life at that show. His voice sounds great, and he has excellent back-up support from Shane Fontayne on guitar and Todd Caldwell on keyboards. He looks good and healthy, too. 81 years old! The nearly two-hour set, with a 10-minute intermission halfway through, included all the usual CSN(Y) suspects. No Hollies last night, but he played Bus Stop the night before. Some good stories, and a mix of his originals and songs by his partners, including Stephen Stills' 4+20 and Neil Young's Only Love Can Break Your Heart. He briefly mentioned the death of David Crosby, calling it "insane" and saying he was glad they had started to patch up things before David died. The only Crosby song he did was an abbreviated Critical Mass before his own Wind on the Water, but he did perform James Raymond's Lay Me Down, saying the author was David's son. The oddball song of the evening was a dynamite cover of the Beatles' A Day in the Life. Catch his show if you can.
First listen through the new album and my initial thoughts are "nice" but "not memorable". Having said that, I never "get" Nash albums on the first listen and so I probably need to give it 2-3 more spins before I come back with a proper assessment. I did like "This Path Tonight" quite a bit. "Songs For Survivors" also took me a few listens before I really got into it.
Agree that it sounds nice but not sensational. We've heard it all before but I guess we didn't expect, or want, him to do anything radically different. Maybe I'm also on a bit of a downer on Nash, given what's happened with him in the recent past and some odd interviews he's given.
I have only listened to it once, but for Nash fans, Now is a really good album. I didn’t listen to the preview tracks more than once. “Right Now” sounds really good. It easily recalls early seventies Nash. I associate this sound with David Lindley so much that I kind of think it shouldn’t be done without Lindley. However, Nash embraced the sound, and it’s really good. I’d rather have a Nash album that sounds like the seventies, than contemporary. Now feels like a Graham Nash album in the vein of his other albums. I’ll have to listen to it a bunch more times before having a better take. After one listen, very good.
I saw him last week at the Cabot Theater in Beverly Massachusetts. He played for 2+ hours. In addition to the songs mentioned above he played Bus Stop and 4+20 and then segued into Country Girl. He was very chatty and seemed to be having a great time. He event talked about Joni Mitchell. Great show, great voice, great songs. The crowd loved it. I saw him last year on Martha Vineyard. It was a good show but really didn't compare to Cabot program.
I got the signed one also. Glad to have it. The album actually is solid for me. Overall happy with it.
I've played it through twice and like it but am not knocked out. It certainly lacks the punch of This Path Tonight. The love songs seem kind of tired, but then the guy is 81. This is Graham Nash, though, so I suspect it will grow on me with repeat listens. A Better Life and Buddy's Back are obvious favorites. Follow Your Heart invites a closer listen.
As long as he stays away from his favorite interview topic of the past few years ("It's OK to bail on your wife and kids if the sex with the new kitten is good...") the lyrics could definitely be worse
He's found the love of his life according to a song or two, but it's unclear whether it's Susan or the Joni lookalike. His politics are mostly stupid but understated and harmless. His voice musically and lyrically, however, is Graham Nash, and that's why we listen.
I streamed it today instead of buying it. I got bored with it. He still sounds great, and those harmonies are so familiar they buzz in just the right part of my brain, but he damaged his brand for me and unfortunately it’s affecting my enjoyment of the album.
I have always wanted to like Graham Nash, and rarely had a reason except my early devotion to CSNY, CSN, and CN. I kept trying. I just don't think he's that good.
when it comes to harmony and melody I think he’s excellent. Lyrically, as I’ve said here before, it’s 6th grader poetry.
I used to think that I would never love again I used to think that I'd be all on my own I really thought that it was coming to an end And just the thought of it chilled me to the bone But not now I'll give Nash 7th grade.
Ooooh, I like the LP cover layout. Gotta say, I’m not committed on it yet. I agree the sound is generally good, but the vocal tuning is a little off putting at times. That said, I Watched It All Come Down is great.
I hear you. I was listening to it thinking f#ck this guy. The dude came across like a massive narcissist in regard to how he treated the situation with his ex. Sure, we don't know the details but on the surface it's not a good look.
I like this album a lot. Nice Sunday morning album. I would rate it Survivors>Now>Path Tonight. Not a bad run of albums for the 21st century. Loved the live album too and the live DVD that came with Path Tonight sp ed.
Have to agree with you. I found Nash to be extremely distasteful in interviews over the last several years. Around the time of his last album, he was talking incessantly about his tremendous sex life, and also his estrangement with his children. Granted, I don't know the situation but I just found him to be extremely offputting in remarks. And he was also ragging all over Crosby at the time too. Now it's time to promote the new album and his new narrative is he's saying how Crosby was his best friend, and that Crosby had left him a voicemail wanting to apologize for "shooting off his mouth".
The album grows with each play. Wondering about buying it on vinyl. Anyone know what the vinyl version sounds like? Hoping it's a quiet, non-noisy press.
Second full listen today, and it already grew on me. I think it will be in regular rotation for the foreseeable future.
