Customer Reviews

American Dream

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I was biding my time in the mall with my wife, when I heard a song being played as background music over the store intercom. I had never heard the song before, but found it haunting. I am an old CSNY fan from the late sixties and early seventies. I instantly recognized the harmony and guitar work. I memorized the chorus line and searched the web when I got home and sure enough, found it to be CSNY's "Got it made" from American Dream. I will be buying this CD soon.

As for some of the reviews that say the CSNY magic is gone, that one track defines their magic and makes the CD worthwhile

I know many people bad mouth this album and everyone is entitled to your opinion and mine is that this album is amazing. I first heard this album on cassett when I was about 8. I listened to it so much that I actually wore out the tape. For a while I forgot about this album but recently I found my old copy and went and bought a cd release. The lyrics that have been created here have brought me to tears, they touch me on such a deep level. As well as having great vocals and instrumental the lyrics make everything so much better.

Actually CSNY didn't make any mistake. It was my mistake that I bought this album ignoring "Deja Vu". I have listened to the album may be four to five times. I agree that the standard of the album is definitely higher than many of the so called chart toppers but still it gives me a certain dissatisfaction.

Any record (put out by anybody) that has a song like "Compass" on it automatically has something to recommend it. It's true that there are a couple of clinkers here, and the instrumentation is a bit selfconsciously "modern". But the voices are still there, and there are flashes of the old songwriting and musical brilliance. Still better than Norah Jones.

I know that some people have felt that this was not up to their usual standards. I am only a music lover not a critic so for me this CD was fabulous. It was so good to hear them all together again. And being a girl I am more into the lyrics and the mood of the song. Each and every one of the songs on this CD spoke to my heart. I hope that they continue to make music that speaks to our souls for a long, long time.

let me tell you how great it is to hear these guys again,they still n always will have that fantastic harmony!!this is the kind of music that should be playing now on the radio.the hit alone ,"american dream"should have hit no#1 with it's driving soulful beat,fab record!!this is the real mccoy!!j.h.god bless

Take modern keyboards, repetitive drum beat sounds (typical of the 80's) as if programmed by a drum machine, good electric guitar riffs and transpose the harmonies of 70's-sounding CSNY and you have this album. Ok, I am not a fan of 80's music or modern music but I do possess a bit in my collection. Some of the songs remind of Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing" and others of some Stevie Ray Vaughn (with CSN harmonies), etc.. This album reflects commercial pressure imposed upon CSNY to fit in with the 80's sound. In the context of their classics from 1969 to 1977, this album pales big-time and is not even in the same ballpark. However, in the context of what else was being released in the 1980's, this album is "ok" and sounds similar to what else was being released in the late 80's. I'd give this a **1/2 but 1/2 ratings are not acceptable. It's better than ** though. If you don't like 80's music, skip this. If you want to hear vintage CSNY harmonies amongst the backdrop of modern 80's digital music, this is the album to get. Seems like their attempt to retain old fans (with their 70's like vocal harmonies and even an accoustical ballad or 2 that does not sound modern) but also to capture newer younger fans with the modern digital sound that the youngster's like. Personally, I think an approach like that will fail every time. To me, this album is not terrible but it's not good either. Other's may like more than I. Although the Still's songs are not that hot, he still has a rockin' voice. Neil Young sounds like he has a head cold on this album as his vocals tend to destroy his compositions.

This is one of my favorite albums. The songs are smooth and beautifully done with superior blended harmonies. I never seem to grow tired of this one. I am amazed that some people have scored it low because the words are poetry and the music soothing to the soul. If you like blended vocals that linger with you, and you like CSN then don't pass this one up. It grows on you.

The difference between a four-star rating and the five-stars I gave this recording are Crosby's "Compass," for those who, like me, loved "Triad," and Nash's incredible anthem "Soldiers Of Peace," cowritten with Craig Doerge and Joe Vitale. Song for song, I think this recording is as good as "Deja Vu," and may even be better. I know that, regardless of what the know-it-all critics from on high say, these great artists are far from being washed up. Buy it, listen to it, HEAR it and I think you'll agree!

WOW!! THESE GUYS SURPRISED ME WITH THIS ONE....IT HAS MANY DIFFERENT SUBTLE EDGES INVOLVING KEYBOARDS, VOCAL EFFECTS, AND WONDERFUL GUITAR RIFFS----ALL SO NEATLY PACKAGED AND POLISHED. JUST REMEMBER...TODAY MUSIC IS SO COMMERCIAL WITH NO TRUE VOCAL OR PLAYING TALENT. I FIND AN ALBUM LIKE THIS ONE--REFRESHING!!!