Stephen Stills/Manassas

Author: Sid Griffin
Journal: Q Magazine Issue #82
Date:July 1993

MANASSAS is both the initial land battle of the American Civil War and a short-lived seven-piece rock band under the leadership of ex-Buffalo Springfield guitarist Stephen Stills. Formed after yet another CSNY fracas, MANASSAS was Stills's attempt to consolidate his financial success with a commensurate aesthetic stature. For the most part it worked. Touching on straight rock, Cuban rhythms, acoustic blues, synthesizer workouts and grounded in fine ensemble performances, MANASSAS is just about a forgotten classic. Just about. Unfortunately, there is a little too much Stills here, with our hero writing, singing and dominating almost every track. When he pulls back, letting ex-Byrd/Burrito Chris Hillman step out momentarily or giving Al Perkins room for another virtuoso solo, the entire project catches fire and it's easy to see what the fuss was all about.