It’s not easy being a Black Crowes fan. Since its debut in 1990, the
now-legendary bluesy rock ‘n’ roll band has created some amazing music,
most notably the first three albums (including the immortal
Amorica, released in 1994) and a wonderful live collaboration
with Jimmy Page. But other recordings have felt either indulgent or
uninspired. The band even lost interest for a while, breaking up from
2002 to 2005.
The brothers Robinson (singer Chris and guitarist Rich) and company
have returned to form here, possibly influenced by the fact that they
recorded this album in front of a live audience at Levon Helm’s barn
studio in Woodstock, N.Y. The Crowes have not sounded this relaxed
and vital at the same time in many years, tackling classic rock,
psychedelia, blues, country and R&B. There’s even some disco on the
surprisingly limber “I Ain’t Hiding,” which sports a classic rubbery
funk bass line by Sven Pipien on the verses, but rocks seriously on the
choruses.
The Crowes take on The Band on “Good Morning Captain,” the Allmans
on “Been a Long Time (Waiting on Love),” primordial Stones on “Kept My
Soul” and alt-twang on “Appaloosa.” Guitarists Rich Robinson and Luther
Dickinson nail down all the different textures and tones necessary to
bring the diverse material alive.
It’s not as if the Black Crowes sound exactly like those artists;
with this album (and the accompanying nine-song download, … Until
the Freeze), the band gathers the same scattered grains as do their
musical forefathers.
This article appears in Oct 15-21, 2009.
