SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DAVID CROSBY – FOR FREE

David Crosby
For Free
BMG

Sometime this August, David Crosby will turn 80. He has practically been around throughout the entire history of rock music in all its forms. That, along with working solo, working with such iconic bands as The Byrds, and CSN(&Y), or on a multitude of other projects and music legends he’s worked with should suffice. On the other, hand, what goes along is the archetypal rock lifestyle he’s lived throughout, from drug abuse, debauchery, to being, as he put it himself at one point, an asshole towards many people.

Still, even at his personal worst, Crosby was never less than a magnificent songwriter, singer, lyricist, among other things. And it all comes to light on his latest umpteenth album, For Free. Ripe age seems to have done little to lessen Crosby’s grip on either great songwriting, singing, or capability to surround himself with some brilliant musical collaborators. Here it is the blue-eyed soul stylist Michael McDonald, Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen (you can immediately recognize some of his arrangements) and amazing singer-songwriter Sarah Jarosz.

Throughout the album though it is still David Crosby who’s the main man here. He always tried to be anyways, and he never shied away from it. And yet, it is all substantiated with some wonderful music here.

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