Songs For Survivors - a new release April 2002 by GRAHAM NASH Record Review 04/16/02 by Lorraine Kaczorowski for suitelorraine.com Special thanks to Loring Kohrt @ Valley Entertainment, for my advance copy of this release. Overall this is an excellent album filled to the brim with Nash-isms. It is classic Nash, yet contemporary. What Graham does best through his music is make us feel his emotion as our own and these songs are heart-felt, determined and timeless. Here is a man who at the delicious age of 60 is as fresh and driven as a 20 year old youth. The search is still on - the quest for music to feed the soul, his as well as ours - his audience. The audio quality is crisp and magical - hearing the creation of each song via each channel is outstanding. Some of these songs have surfaced over the years @ live shows I have attended - or that I have in my collection. Great to have them all together in this great studio presentation. The overall packaging is very nice. The booklet contains all the lyrics, interspersed with some of Graham’s photography. The back of the booklet has a nice portrait of Graham today, taken by friend and colleague Mac Holbert. When you launch the dvd you can view the lyrics, or view a slide show of Graham’s photography, which are some of the images that will be contained in Graham’s forthcoming book of photography, due out this spring 2002, entitled, “From Eye to Eye. The images are varied - self portraits, of friends CS&Y, family, and various other images from over the years. An interesting mixture to compliment the songs. I like the fact that he lists all the equipment used to record this album, including the mics et, al. This record has longevity. It is easily played repeatedly. (I am playing it in my dvd player in my mac g4 computer.) Critique - I wish the linear notes listed the players for each song. It just gives an overall summary of the players in general. I also would like to know the dates the songs were written / copyrighted. * * * THE SONGS Dirty Little Secret: Strong and powerful, driving - excellent opening for the record. Great lyrics. I think David (Crosby) sings on this one. It is a stunning song, that was the showstopper of the CSN summer 2001 tour. It explodes live and I hope Graham takes this record on the road for a spin of live shows. Blizzard of Lies: (Oh Camil, from the Nash solo album, Wild Tales comes to mind here) Interesting lyrics. Pleasant song that masks a darker lyric. Lost Another One: (Faster than played live, better, cleaner.) I’ve seen this one live by Graham over the years, just solo on keys. This treatment is more fleshed out and a faster pace. Very nice - classic Nash. Should be a CSN song, could have fit right with the similar production of the 1994 CSN album, After the Storm. The Chelsea Hotel: Contemplative classic Nash -  moody and melancholic I hear Crosby in here - beautiful. Could have been a Crosby - Nash song. Exquisite. I’ll Be There For You: (Reminds me of a James Taylor song, or the Crosby song, Oh Yes I Can, from the Crosby solo album of the same name.) Sweet. Written with Joe Vitale and Doug Ingoldsby (Joe has been the drummer for CSN, since the 70’s. Longtime friend and collaborator.) Nothing in the World: Classic Nash - Classic anthem - anthemic good pace. Harmonica here, (reminds me immediately of Unequal Love from After the Storm) Where Love Lies Tonight: (Has a similar melody to Clear Blue Skies, which appeared on the CSNY album American Dream.) This is a better song, a love song. Written with Joe Vitale. Breezy. Pavanne: A cover of a song by Richard and Linda Thompson. Graham’s reading on this is as if it were his own song, life breathed lovingly into this beautiful, stark, romantic and elegantly (Medieval) song. Graham covered this song on a solo tour in the 80’s. Liar’s Nightmare: An epic Nash wild tale. Dark brooding and compelling mantra. First saw Graham do this at his Mixed Media performance LIFE SIGHS in Philadelphia in 1996. Told a story that this song came from being in the hospital after having knee surgery. Brilliant and glad that this song finally sees the light of day. Come With Me: A quiet love song to close out the record - Nice. * * * Lorraine’s Standout Songs on Songs For Survivors: Nothing in the World Pavanne Dirty Little Secret The Chelsea Hotel Liars Nightmare This album is a must for the collection of every Graham Nash and CSN and related fan. Read all the lyrics, let it sink in and repeat play -  loud!   READ PRESS RELEASE HERE