Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 03/10/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I arrived a bit late to this party. I recall seeing this CD in a used CD bin, picking it up because of the interesting cover, not really knowing what it was, and putting it back. Fast forward to 2003 when I read an article that mentions David Crosby's new band. Wow! What a great disc. It opens with the tribute to the Doors' Jim Morrison who lived and was buried in Paris. "I have seen that movie & it wasn't like that; he was mad & lonely & blind as a bat," Crosby sings with the pulsating groove the band lays down; this is my favorite track, essential listening. David's lyric on "That House" matches the band's melody and vocal harmonies on this slow dreamy track. "One for Every Moment" is a romantic rock-tango. David's vocals have that soft forlorn quality on "At the Edge." David's son James Raymond lays down adequate lead vocals on "Somebody Else's Town" as Leland Sklar's bass pulses with urgency. Jeff Pevar's electric lead has a blues tinge on "Rusty & Blue." David wrote "Somehow She Knew" with Craig Doerge, "It's what you do with a thing you can't handle, a picture you just can't frame." "Little Blind Fish" is a bouncy toe tapper while "Yesterday's Child" features James Raymond's piano on a pensive piece. The rocker "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" sounds like an answer to "If I Could Only Remember My Name." The CD concludes with "Time is the Final Currency," a wispy cosmic spacetrack. CPR is excellent music any David Crosby fan will consider essential. Enjoy!"
Brilliant!
Brad Ouellette | Bay City, MI United States | 12/18/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I remember David Crosby remarking on Vh1's "BEHIND THE MUSIC" that CPR was the finest or some of the finest music he has ever made" (words to that effect. I remember thinking "Whoa David, better than my beloved CSN??") David was correct. CPR is the finest music he has ever made, in my opinion. From the shimmering harmonies, to the jazzy chords and rythms to that unmistakeable Crosby tone...this album is landmark for the poetic songsmith and his compadres. Often times a father/son project will be less than great, and people stumble across it out of curosity. This is NOT a typical "uh we should do an album, you're my kid" kind of thing NOT AT ALL. The great thing about this album is not only David Crosby in fine forum but his son James is a gifted pianist and songwriter, and sings very well. Like his dad, he writes soulful tunes in that haunting Crosby sound complete with "open" tuning. Jeff PeVar is a fiery, biting guitarist who adds alot of soul in his writing and playing. Furthermore, their is NO FILLER on this album. Every song is dynamic, each song BELONGS. It's a record you'll play again and again."
Crosby reaches new heights (this time without drugs!)
Brad Ouellette | 12/07/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I just cannot get over this CD--the best thing Croz has done since "If I Could Only Remember My Name", which was almost 30 years ago! His new-found son James Raymond's jazz sensibilities and fantastic piano and composition skills shine brightly, as does Jeff Pevar's smokin' original guitar work. Bottom line: The songs are fresh and catchy, the vocal harmonies brilliant, and the musicianship and production are top-notch; this recording leaves you with a warm'n'fuzzy feeling all over! It's kind of like the best CSN music, but mixed with something more adventurous, possibly akin to Steely Dan. A glorious fusion with no weak spots. Buy it!"
The Cros reaps and sows
michael d. bado | Bloomingdale, IL | 05/03/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"After the unjust failing of CSN's "After the Storm" -- (and the subsequent dropping from Atlantic Records), many CSN fans held their collective breaths. "What's next?", they wondered.The answer was CPR. While the sheer talent of CPR probably scared many CSN fans into thinking there would not be another album or tour by the three beloved gunslingers of the "Cowboy Movie", life would prove otherwise.The fear, however, could've been real. In reality, CPR was (and is) possibly better than CSN since 1977. The debut, "CPR" proved that with a nail that was a deeper than any coffin could bear.On June 23, 1998, David Crosby released "CPR", and set the musical world (those in the "know")on its collective ear. In some ways forgotten, "The Cros" was remembered again. His album, somewhere between the Dead, Steely Dan and CSN, was the best thing many had heard in a long time. And for good reason, too!"CPR" is an album that only builds in its majesty. The second "side" is better than the first. Not often does one see that.Kicking off with the "hold on tight" strength of "Morrison" that he showed off on numerous talk shows, Crosby only gains strength with the indescribable strength of "That House". The lyrics of "That House" hit many homes -- drugs? abuse? insecurity? all of them? Crosby is back!The second half of the first side brings "Rusty And Blue". While many die-hards loved this song on Daivd's solo live LP "It's All Coming Back To Me Now ..." (Atlantic 1994), this song rewards the faithful in its studio birth. It's powerful ... and more ... in its studio incarnation. As with Paul McCartney and his hired bunch of henchmen, Wings, David tries to allow his band the opportunity to shine. Only in these moments does this album falter. The James Raymond tunes "Sombody Else's Town" and "Yesterday's Child" are not up to Crosby's dreamy tapestry. Because of that, the album suffers only a bit.What may be best about the "CPR" album, though, is David's unimitadable ability to unnerve the listener. Never is this more clear than the resurection of the "Fisher King Song". Renamed here as "Somehow She Knew" the song becomes -- well -- scary. Originally penned in 1993, about Crosby's inability to deal with Christine Hinton's tragic death in 1969, it lives again here.The albums's final movement comes in a song named after the legenday David Crosby Live LP -- but reaches a head with its final track. "Time is the Final Currency" is a song about growing old and dieing. A song too personal to me to even review.The Cros did the unimaginable ... he didn't recreate "If I Could Only Rember My Name .... ", he re-defined himself. It's enlightening for the listener to even try to understand it."