David Crosby, ‘Laughing’ (1971)
In 1971, Crosby launched his completely atmospheric solo debut album, “If I Might Solely Bear in mind My Identify,” backed by members of the Grateful Useless and Jefferson Airplane in addition to Joni Mitchell, who joined the backup harmonies on this music. Crosby sings a few failed non secular quest — discovering “solely reflections of a shadow that I noticed” — and Jerry Garcia’s pedal metal guitar floats above him as he finds acceptance.
David Crosby, ‘Orleans’ (1971)
On this elaborate miniature, an eerie chorale of vocal harmonies carries the names of locations in France; then guitar counterpoint takes over, sketching a melody simply as soon as earlier than letting it fall away.
David Crosby, ‘Holding On to Nothing’ (2014)
There’s greater than a touch of Crosby’s lifelong admiration for Mitchell in “Holding On to Nothing,” with its calmly strummed, eccentric chords and asymmetrical melody. From “Croz,” which was his return to creating solo albums after 20 years, “Holding On to Nothing” meditates on time, longing, despair and persistence, feeling like “a stranger simply passing by means of.”
David Crosby, ‘The Us Beneath’ (2016)
In a music from “Lighthouse,” the album that inaugurated Crosby’s years of collaboration with Michael League of Snarky Pet, Crosby gazes on the huge distances between stars and wonders, “Why should we be eternally alone?” However step by step, layer by layer, guitar patterns and vocals waft in and interlock, suggesting that we’re not.
David Crosby, ‘Curved Air’ (2017)
Even in his final years, Crosby was attempting new approaches. “Curved Air” — written along with his son, James Raymond — is briskly percussive and rhythmically unpredictable, with flamenco-like handclaps and a bass line that talks again to him. The lyrics want for “a bit of traction right here/Slightly strong floor,” but because the melody hops round, Crosby is solely sure-footed.
David Crosby, Michael League, Becca Stevens and Michelle Willis ‘Balanced on a Pin’ (2018)
Written with the members of the Lighthouse Band, “Balanced on a Pin” contemplates fragility and mortality: “Touchdown’s the toughest half/The connection comes aside,” Crosby sings. For a lot of the music, his solely accompaniment is the choosing of a lone guitar, suspending his voice above the inevitability of silence.
