GRAHAM NASH

Now (BMG)

As the title Now implies, Graham Nash is very much in the moment. He occasionally looks to the past, but he’s plowing full speed ahead, living life to the fullest at 81 and in fine voice. There is a lot to reflect on, and it can be heard in songs such as A Better Life – which harkens back to Teach Your Children, a song he wrote as part of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; It Feels Like Home does likewise with Our House, another CSNY number of his.

Now is a mix of country and MOR rock, featuring some pretty piano, mandolin, steel pedal and strings. Ballads take up almost half of the record, the best being Love Of Mine. Never one to shy away from politics and activism, Nash lets serial liars Trump, fellow Republican lawmakers and violent MAGA conspiracy ranters who tried to overturn a legit election have it with the searing Golden Idol. Can’t help feeling, though, that this long-anticipated autumnal offering is somewhat underwhelming on the lyric end of its songwriting.

words RHONDA LEE REALI