David Crosby of Crosby, Stills and Nash fame feels no shame in admitting that his newest album, “Croz,” will not sell millions of copies.
“I don’t think kids are gonna dig it,” Crosby said in a recent Rolling Stone interview, “but I’m not making it for them. I’m making it for me.”
Indeed, the 73-year-old has no reason not to make a personal album at this stage in his life, and “Croz” proves to be a calming, insightful look into Crosby’s varied experiences. The album’s intimacy is promoted through the fact that Crosby worked with his son, James Raymond, in Raymond’s garage studio in California, and the resulting lyrics are personal and hitherto private. The father-son duo have an unsurprising personal chemistry through the album, making “Croz” a delightful, mellow and perceptive look into Crosby’s life.
Each song represents a stage or moment in Crosby’s life, and this method proves to be deeply personal. For example, “If She Called” details Crosby observing a group of prostitutes, and throughout the song he is questioning and reflecting on their life choices. Unusual material compared to mainstream hits, but again, that’s not what “Croz” is about. The listener gains insight to Crosby’s prolific experiences, and “If She Called” is just one example of Crosby’s willingness to detail his good and bad experiences.
“Set That Baggage Down” is an obvious recollecting of Crosby’s time in Alcoholics Anonymous. From the very first lyric of this song, “That trunk is filled with dusty air / Ghosts that lived and still don’t care” is perfectly representative of Crosby’s dealings with his past mistakes and his efforts to fix them. In addition to delicate lyrics, Crosby fashions this track with a catchy distorted guitar riff, carefully placed underneath his lyrical reflection. When Crosby said in the Rolling Stone interview, “I have this stuff that I need to get off my chest,” songs like “Set That Baggage Down” are surely what he was talking about.
It is important to note Crosby’s musical skill on “Croz.” Contrasting his youthful voice with the decidedly age-appropriate lyrics, Crosby emotes reflection as only an older person can. Likewise, his guitar playing is subtle yet skillful, striking a careful balance with his emotional, weighty stanzas. “The Clearing,” “What’s Broken” and “Radio” are perhaps the most upbeat songs on the record, and even then their instrumentals don’t overwhelm Crosby’s vocals. This musical and lyrical dichotomy proves that Crosby was dedicated to creating a personal, insightful album first and foremost, and a popular hit second.
“Croz” never drags in its musical quality. Each song is important, something Crosby oozes throughout his carefully laid tracks. “Dangerous Night” and The Clearing” are two songs that accent the relationship between Crosby and his son. The album’s last track, “Find a Heart,” sees Crosby making a final plea for the listener to find love in life, a topic in which he seems authoritative. Lastly, “The Time I Have” is a slightly morbid and melancholy track about where Crosby would like to see his life go moving forward — another moving, intimate song that reveals more about Crosby’s personality and stance on life. The listener never feels overwhelmed by or dismissive of this weighty topic, which is a testament to Crosby’s songwriting ability.
In his relatively old age, David Crosby has released an album that is certainly not designed to be a bestseller. Using his life as a creative outlet, “Croz” reveals more about Crosby’s attitude and history than any album before it. “Croz” will certainly satisfy Crosby’s lifelong fans, but perhaps more importantly, Crosby himself seems satisfied now that he has thoroughly expressed himself. While the album is consistently listenable and relaxing, only die-hard fans will likely find “Croz” a worthwhile listen.