Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Déjà Vu

Déjà vu (Already seen). Or the impression of being in an already known environment even if we rationally know it’s not. It has happened to everyone and has been recounted by many. It’s a mix of overlapping sensations leaving us puzzled at the mercy of our unconscious. Déjà vu (Already seen). Literally something that isn’t new, something that’s already been done or experienced by others. Déjà vu (the album). Perhaps a mix of the two previous definitions. A fitting title, but let’s take it step by step.

We are in the '70s and anyone with a minimal knowledge (musical and otherwise) knows what’s happening in these years. These are the years of the Vietnam War, of the feminist revolution. These are the years of the hippies with their “peace and love” and the student revolt. Years of protest, years difficult to describe succinctly in a review that should be about music. In the air lingers a great desire to communicate, to express oneself, to make one's voice heard. And what means of communication is more direct than music? Thousands of groups form in these years that will leave a mark on rock history. Making a list would take a few pages. Among all the bands that are born and die, there are three about to lose their three key members. They are The Byrds (who are about to lose Crosby) and Buffalo Springfield (who are about to lose Stills) and the Hollies (who will soon be ditched by Nash). Three different but similar stories, three “characters” who for one reason or another found themselves “closed” within their respective bands. Except for Stills, who was the true “soul” of the Buffalo. This would have no positive note if these three young men didn’t decide to start strumming together, partly for fun, partly for passion, partly because they understood each other wonderfully even before forming the band. And so here they are. No name for the band (also because it's not a band), just their three names in random order Crosby, Stills & Nash. Meanwhile, a certain Neil Young, although busy with his solo projects, decides to join the trio giving birth to the quartet known as: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

Their first studio album is titled Déjà vu (see above). There’s nothing new under the sun but it’s a bit like reaching the state of the art of something already heard before! We are at the pinnacle of American folk-country-rock. A piece of rock history, absolutely comparable in impact and importance to masterpieces like Led Zeppelin 1 or Are you Experienced? by Hendrix. Songs like “Teach Your Children” or “Carry On” have become classics of country music, and the psychedelic-folk outbursts of Déjà vu (the song) make us understand that these 4 lads had talent to spare! And they sold a lot. “Almost cut my hair” has become an anthem of the Hippy generation. Ten songs that unfold lightly and heavily at the same time. Ten timeless pearls fixed in time. This record exudes “west coast” from every pore, you can almost smell the lands of the American west just by pulling the vinyl out of the cover. The acoustic and clean guitars blend perfectly with the voices as different as they are perfectly amalgamated.

The warmth in Stills' deep, hoarse voice, the country passion in Crosby's, the high, nasal tones of Nash and Young weave that sound tapestry that made them recognizable among thousands. Of course, four solo singers together can’t be a perfect group, they can’t have that sound compactness that even then was the prerogative of the Who, the Floyd, the Led Zeppelin, or even The Byrds of Crosby. However, this record has an infinite emotional charge. Seeing “those four” play live at Woodstock was an experience that few of our generation have had, but I would pay gold to go back in time and see them there, guitar in hand, joking at the microphone for a bit, and start playing just like among friends but with the class that only four out-of-class individuals possess. A must-have. On vinyl! Categorically!