Last Time Around (1968) |
The final album of the group, appropriately titled Last Time Around, is generally considered the least successful of their releases though I consider the songs and styles quite good. Although Furay's very highly regarded "Kind Woman" has been seen as the start of the country-rock genre, the overall tone of the album actually steps away from the folk/country blending and guitar strength that made Buffalo Springfield such a sensation. Instead, the songs seem to pull more from blues, smooth jazz, and old-time ballads for inspiration. (Furay demonstrates the latter in the laid-back "It's So Hard to Wait".) Stills' contributions to the album are very clearly tied to what would become CSN in the future---not just the obvious "Questions" (which was later turned into "Carry On" for CSN)---- but also songs such as "Special Care " and "Uno Mundo" with a lot of harmony call-response and rhythm. Even later comer Jim Messina gets to add his own song (and decidedly odd-sounding voice). Young's influence is largely absent from this album (though "I am a Child" is a standout). The fracturing of the group led to this being a very different album from the one prior and is probably why many fans like it less. I find the variety interesting, however, and think it rounds out the Springfield catalogue quite well. |