CSNY
Déjà Vu Live

This live album is the official testimony of the "Freedom Of Speech Tour" that David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, and the indomitable Neil Young embarked on in the United States in 2006. A highly polemical tour against the Bush administration and the dramatic American military engagement in Iraq.

Despite the quality of the music, "Deja Vu Live" is a somewhat disappointing album. Firstly, it is a single album that absolutely does not convey the real essence of the concert presented by the four artists, a nearly three-hour show rich with not only musical emotions but also social and political ones. Furthermore, this live album is a partial repetition of Neil Young's "Living With War," a work in which the Canadian loner criticized the President of the United States, denouncing the misdeeds of his puppet government. In fact, the setlist of the "Freedom Of Speech Tour" was mainly based on many tracks taken from that uncomfortable 2006 album, accompanied by thematic classics from the Crosby, Stills & Nash repertoire.

Neil Young's historical pieces were usually limited to a couple. Despite these necessary initial premises, "Deja Vu Live" remains a tough and strong album with Young as the true protagonist and cornerstone of the concert, very focused and keen to highlight the political message of his album. In comparison, the others seem like three luxury supporting players who completely follow the endless musical charisma of the Canadian, the true center and overwhelming force of the performance. A performance highlighted by the work of a solid and seasoned backing band that includes familiar faces like Sponner Oldham, Ben Keith, Rick Rosas, Chad Cromwell, and Tom Bray. Crosby, Stills & Nash remain excellent when they propose universally known and impactful anthems like "Teach Your Children", "Wooden Ships", "For What It's Worth", "Deja Vu" and "Find The Cost Of Freedom". As expected, given the pacifist context of the concert, there is also the presence of the melodic "Military Madness" by Nash and the choral "What Are Their Names?" by Crosby. Neil Young, as already mentioned, stands out with pieces from his "Living With War," an album made for the people and generated by the angry impulse of seeing so many Americans dying unnecessarily in Iraq. Among these songs, the vibrant "After The Garden", the biting "Shock And Awe", the dramatic "Families", and the explicit "Let's Impeach The President" deserve a mention, where Young openly asks for Bush to be removed.

"Deja Vu Live" would have had a greater impact if it had been presented as a double album. With just a single listen, it comes across as a direct and at times courageous album, but too one-directional since nine out of a total of sixteen songs are taken from "Living With War". It is indeed a shame not to have tracks from that important tour in the official album setlist, such as "Chicago", "Almost Cut My Hair", "Southbound Train", "Long Time Gone", and "Ohio". Additionally, this live album completely lacks the jams and guitar duels between Stills and Young that have always made the concerts of this great group unforgettable.

In conclusion, "Deja Vu Live" feels at times incomplete. A live album only partially successful but never lacking in emotions.