From the opening moments of Deja Vu, when Stephen Stills’ iconic acoustic guitar kicks in and the three-piece harmony hits your eardrums, it’s evident you’re about to bear witness to musical greatness. Out of all the iconic protest folk rock that entered the American consciousness during the late 60’s and early 70’s, Deja Vu stands alone at the top of the mountain, buoyed by its songwriting and musicianship. There is simply no better album at delivering a tiny slice of Americana in such a pure form, with every single goddamn track hitting an emotional chord (pun intended) that moves the spirit in a way that only music from the heart ever can.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (henceforth referred to as CSNY) was America’s first supergroup, drafting off the concept that first started in the UK with bands like Cream and Blind Faith. The group was riddled with in-fighting and tumultuous personal relationships, first between Neil Young and David Crosby and later extended to other members of the group, and had a profound impact on the recording of this album. Stephen Stills once described the process as “pulling teeth” with all the disagreements plaguing the band, and the album was also marred by the death of David Crosby’s then-girlfriend. In other words, this was an album recorded in the midst of a highly charged emotional environment.
What came out the other end was nothing short of brilliant. Deja Vu‘s 10 songs are all classic cuts, from the downhome swing of “Teach Your Children Well” featuring the legendary Jerry Garcia on slide guitar, to the moody fuzz of “Almost Cut My Hair”, to the simple elegance of “Our House” which was written as an ode to the incomparable Joni Mitchell by Graham Nash, to the sentimental walk down memory lane of “Helpless” that features a chorus that sounds like a summer breeze.
Deja Vu is a seminal moment in music history, a rare album that not only demands but absolutely requires a full listen all the way through in a single sitting. 53 years later, it’s only gotten better with age.
Standout Songs: “Almost Cut My Hair”, “Helpless”, “Our House”, “Carry On”
