Manassas - MANASSAS***

Song Of Love/Rock & Roll Crazies-Cuban Bluegrass/Jet Set (Sigh)/Anyway/Both Of Us (Bound To Lose)/Fallen Eagle/Jesus Gave Love Away For Free/Colorado/So Begins The Task/Hide It So Deep/Don't Look At My Shadow/It Doesn't Matter/Johnny's Garden/Bound To Fall/How Far/Move Around/The Love Gangster/What To Do/Right Now/The Treasure (Take One)/Blues Man

Manassas was a sprawling double album by a group of musicians led by Stephen Stills. Although musically competent, representing a number of genres, overall it is bland and lifeless containing no standout tracks. (US:4 UK:30)

“I like the bluesy, country folk sound, the twangy, slide guitars and piano accompaniment. The problem is that none of the songs sound particularly strong, compelling or exciting.”

“This is a collection of soulful roots rock, country and folk songs that represent precisely what American styled seventies rock did so well. There are few standout tracks, but the overall level is very consistent. All is well performed and well recorded. I like the fact that the four sides each have a focus on a different style.”

“I don't really think of it in terms of songs, more an extended jam through American music forms. So it starts off with some muscular, funky southern rock and blues with Latin influences then heads into country and bluegrass, coming out of that into mellow, acoustic folk ballads and resolving with some of the same west coast rock.”

“Though Stephen Stills' songwriting remains too flat to make the album a masterpiece, it's all well arranged and it's played by musicians who can really play. It's hard to pick out a favourite song, because there really aren't any stand outs.”

“There's something for every mood here. If you're not sure how you're feeling, listen to side one, The Raven Suite. You get rock, Latin, blues and romantic ballad. If you're in the mood for country, do up side two. The best track on the disc, the impeccable So Begins The Task will sweep you away. Side three is folk, and leads off with the next best track, the plaintive It Doesn't Matter. This side also features a pioneering, and entirely appropriate use of the moog synthesizer on Move Around. Side four will blast you away with one solid rock track after another. Stills signs the work with the closer, a tribute to lost artists such as Duane Allman, Blues Man.”

“Most of the time this is all pretty lifeless. It lacks soul, the harmonies are astoundingly boring. Smooth, but boring. And the songwriting is not really that strong either. It's all a hefty step down from his CSN material.”