The Albums of Winter : **** Great Balls of Fire *** Good Vibrations ** Maybe Baby * Running on Empty

DAVID CROSBY “Oh Yes I Can.” A&M.;

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The key songs on Crosby’s first solo album since 1971’s spacy “If I Could Only Remember My Name” essentially form a road map of Crosby’s trek back from the depths of drug abuse. But it’s a map without a compass--specifically, the song “Compass,” the definitive account of his new inner strength that’s the highlight of the disappointing Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young “American Dream” reunion LP.

“Well now I don’t want to bore you / With a bunch of dialogue,” he sings here in the churning “Monkey and the Underdog.” And for the most part, he keeps the promise. But most of the lessons of the album boil down to just simple truths (“Fire and ice make water” he philosophizes in the title song) carried by pretty melodies.

And even if the dialogue isn’t too boring, the music too often is. With help from the usual list of suspects (including Graham Nash, Jackson Browne and keyboardist/producer Craig Doerge), Crosby favors an overly pristine sheen, even on the rockers. And his voice, though strong and clear, has always fared better in group settings than as the lead.

Still, the landmarks of Crosby’s recovery are prominent here: love of music (the Wave-ready “Melody”), love of country (the Liberty ode “Lady of the Harbor” and a stylized version of “My Country ‘Tis of Thee”) and just plain ol’ love (the title song). Oh yes, he’s proven he can. Too bad he couldn’t tell us about it better.