The first time I listened to Buffalo Springfield’s second album, Again, was exactly how it was meant to be heard: with the pop-click of a record followed by the sudden, blaring intro to Mr. Soul. Now, no matter how many times I’ve listened to Again, it still grabs my attention as though I was listening for the first time.

So often Buffalo Springfield is admired solely for the careers it launched: Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay, and Jim Messina, and not nearly often enough for its brilliant songwriting and innovative sound.

If anything, look at Again as the epitome of the art of the album. Where every song stands on its own, together the tracks are essentially… that: a track, a trail, a journey through interpretation of several musical genres and the creation of an entirely new sound.

Again was a bit like the beginning of the end for Buffalo Springfield. The band was only around for two years and could easily be painted as the stereotypical rock band. Drug charges, changes in lineup, absent band members… it’s a bit of a miracle Again was ever recorded. And even more of a miracle it turned out so good.

For as youthful the sound (Young was only 23,) Again truly shows the genius of its songwriters and their willingness to experiment. Young recorded his orchestral “Expecting to Fly” alone with Jack Nitzsche, who arranged the piece. “Bluebird” was one of the first rock songs to feature a banjo in its winding progression.

Perhaps what qualifies Again as such a great album is its timelessness. Released in 1968, the album in no way feels 40+ years old.