STEPHEN STILLS

 
By Stew Strauss 

The Album
Man Alive

The Track
"Drivin' Thunder"

The Label
Titan-Pyramid Records/Universal

Liner Notes
The Stephen Stills discography is long and legendary. Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills & Nash (and sometimes Young), Manassas and of course his own solo outings. The history of his music is rock 'n' roll itself. But, ofcourse, not all of Stills recordings have been stellar. It has been a long time since his last solo effort Stills Alone, released in 1991. It did have some fine work on it, including "Tree Top Flyer," a song that remains a staple at many AAA radio stations and was an early inspiration for singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne. A new track, "Hearts Gate," an acoustic ballad on Man Alive, shows the best of his solo work and reminds me of his finest from Stills Alone. Man Alive even harkens back to the flavor of Stephen Stills, his first solo record, tracked some 35 years ago. That album covered several styles and included the aching acoustic blues tune, "Black Queen." Man Alive is another journey into an artist who can't be pigeon holed as a "classic rock" artist, or any other label for that matter. Stills shows his chops on the monster-riff first single, "Drivin' Thunder," and other standout's "Ain't It Always" and "Round The Bend," then turns and does a simple acoustic duet called "Different Man" with his old buddy Neil Young. "Old Man Trouble," an R&B treasure written by Booker T. Washington that Stills makes his own has the feel of "Church," or "Sit Yourself Down" from Stephen's first solo album. This album was in the can long before Live 8, the recent benefit to bring awareness to African and world poverty was scheduled. The song "Feed The People" deals directly with the same issues and sounds the most like a radio-friendly "CSN" tune.
The highlight of this recording, however, could be "Spanish Suite," an extended (11:20) acoustic jazz piece where Stills is joined by jazz legend Herbie Hancock on piano and array of other fine musicians. The lyrics begin in Spanish and work their way into English. The nylon string guitar playing by Stills is among his finest and the arrangement grows on you with each listen. "Spanish Suite" is like no other recording in the Stills library. It may take a listen or two to get used to where his singing voice is today, but he's always been able to keep his raw edge and deliver a great melody. Stephen Stills has proven to be a true "journeyman." Man Alive is his best album since the '70s.

Site
www.stephenstills.com

On
WFUV New York
KCUV Denver
Acoustic Cafe
KTHX Reno
WYCE Grand Rapids
KNBA Anchorage
...and many more!

Press 
"Tracks like the rousing opener, "Ain't It Always," and the bluesy "Wounded World" (featuring Graham Nash) recall past classics without sounding like freeze-dried ripoffs. Young makes Man Alive even more lively, trading riffs with Stills on the musical autobiography "Round the Bend" and playing the perfect rootsy sideman."
—Rolling Stone

"Man Alive! runs the spectrum from full-on rock to mellow acoustics with ease and energy to spare."
—BBC.co.uk

"Stills is at his best on the blues, particularly acoustic blues Americana like the very good "Piece of Me." But he's better still when he teams up with his old friend and adversary Neil Young, sounding like another Stanley Brothers on old-time folkie, 'Different Man.'"
—SFGate.com

Retail
Man Alive is now in stores.

Contact
Christian Unruh, Titan-Pyramid Records