Mini-Listen #20
Published June 16, 2004
Amorica - The Black Crowes
Now, first of all...I have to admit that I used to hate the Black Crowes. For whatever reason, "Hard To Handle" would come on the radio and I would: 1. cringe and 2. change the station.
At the time, their music struck me as a rip-off of the Small Faces/early Rod Stewart. It seemed like every song threatened to morph into "Every Picture Tells A Story". Hey, I don't really know what my problem was. I mean, it's not like every rock band that comes along is gonna start a revolution.
So at some point I end up watching one of the VH1 Behind The Music things on the Black Crowes. Somehow, despite the drugs and general rock excess, I see that these guys really carry a passion for the music. Not long after this I'm visiting a friend and in the middle of pawing my way through a bunch of used CD's I find a copy of Amorica. Since I have no other Black Crowes albums, I'm in no position to judge this with respect to the rest of their catalog....but Amorica is chock full of snarling guitar riffs, bluesy leads and all-around snotty fun. It's dark and nasty, yet full of soul too...kinda like an Americanized version of the Rolling Stones (as if the Stones weren't Americanized enough).
(First posted on Mark Is Cranky)
Mark Saleski is a writer and music obsessive based out of the Monadnock region of New Hampshire. On his best day, he hopes to channel the ghosts of Lester Bangs and Jack Kerouac. He spends the hours of 9:32PM to 1:37AM carving out music reviews and essays for Jazz.com, Blogcritics.org and other publications.
- Mini-Listen #20
- Published: June 16, 2004
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- Section: Music
- Writer: Mark Saleski
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I've never listened to the Black Crowes, I figured if I had to listen to southern boogie, instead of recycled Hustler photos, I would go for real naked tits and flame-throwing from Nashville Pussy and the Butthole Surfers. Plus Jon Wayne "Texas Funeral" as a guilty pleasure.
I'm not a huge fam of the Crowes, generally, but The Southern Music & Harmony Companion is actually a near perfect album as you'll find in rock 'n' roll, right up there with Sticky Fingers, Blonde On Blonde, or any other classic you'd care to name. The reissue includes a cover of "99 Pounds" that would've fit just fine with the rest.
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Amorica is one of my favourite records of all-ever. I fully reccomend that you grab hold of The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion, also.
Chris Robinson once talked about how weird it would be if someone said to him that Amorica was their favourite black crowes record. It was so dark, he presumed, that no one could love it.
Well, Chris Robinson, The Duke loves the record with the pubic cover. Thank you Black Crowes.