Several months ago, the first Manassas album pulled off the surprising
feat of forcing me to say nice things about Prig of Prigs Stephen Stills. So I
approached the followup with trepidation: must I set aside my disdain yet
again? I prefer to wallow in scorn.
Well, hmm: it’s not bad. Down the Road has none of the epic sweep of the debut double-LP,
coming in at a concise half-hour. The first side has some strong moments;
opener “Isn’t It About Time” comes vaguely close to incisive social commentary,
while a rare Chris Hillman composition, “Lies,” approximates rocking. While the
second side begins to blur together, Stills is still at his best when drowned
out by his large, dexterous band, and there’s an ambitious multiculturalism
here, with some lyrics in Spanish (including all of “Pensamiento”). As always,
Stills has little to say but a big desire to say it, though the ego sprawl is held
in check by a rhythm section that knows how to assert itseslf, and it’s over before it can grate. Dig the cover art, too (though of course Stills poses himself like the lord of the table).
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