Just Like Gravity
Cut loose from the artistic shackles ofCrosby, Stills, Nash, and sometimesYoung,David Crosbycuts loose with this side project. The one-timeByrdis more animated and less vocally constrained here than when he sings with the old gang, taking more creative risks and pushing his gorgeous voice to new heights and depths of emotion. CPR's third album (the group also features Crosby's son--keyboardist James Raymond--and guitarist Jeff Pevar) is a rich collaboration, with the three musicians penning many of the dozen songs together. But the best track is "Jerusalem," an anthemic, quasi-New Age spiritual penned by Raymond. Crosby's "Kings Get Broken" is almost painfully self-revealing, but succeeds because of its unflinching honesty. This is a grand effort.--Jaan Uhelszki