“Walk Believer Walk” is a wonderful swamp blues, dark and deep, that has to be led by new addition Luther Dickinson from North Mississippi Allstars. The organ sounds fantastic, filling the rhythm section, offering glimmers of sacred through the profane. This one will be fantastic live.
As well as they rock the house, the Crowes have always been able to slow it down and create wonderful ballads. “Oh Josephine” fits the bill as the music’s melodic beauty is likely to make it a fan favorite and will obscure the story of the junkie torn between his love for her and his addiction. The coda is a great close, allowing you to drift off and learn the ending of the story without it being revealed in words.
“Evergreen” follows in contrast. Rather than love on the rocks, it’s a positive love song that rocks. Dickinson’s solo is almost too good; I was completely captivated and didn’t want to return to the song.
The album continues rocking and rolling with the band slightly altering their sound as they segue throughout the album’s remainder, from the southern rock of “Wounded Bird” to the mandolin-embellished country-rock of “Locust Street” and even slipping in a rousing cover of Reverend Charlie Jackson’s gospel number “God’s Got It.” In the end, The Crowes reveal all the labels can be stripped away because at the core it’s all just music, plain and simple.
The Black Crowes work for many because the listener knows what they are going to get: good music that’s comfortable and familiar. The band is that old favorite t-shirt or pair of jeans, quite possibly out of fashion, but damn, if they don’t always feel right when you slip them on.
[On second thought, save the offer. My integrity is not for sale and I don't want to be tainted by being associated with your magazine. Thanks anyway.]
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
So who you callin' old?
Besides, you forgot to mention Humble Pie.
gawddam whippersnappers...
-Glen
2 - El Bicho
I know The Faces, so we're in the same demographic, man.
3 - Pico
If I had to describe gritty, raunchy rock without comparing it to Ron Wood-affiliated bands, I'd be speechless ;&)
4 - El Bicho
As would many, many music writers who have come before you, Pico.
Imagine if The Crowes did some shows with Wood the way they did Jimmy Page a few years back. The music they make might would be so dense from Wood-infusion it would likely collapse in on itself like a black hole. Best to save the mushrooms for that night. Might be the only thing to prepare you for what's on the other side.
I still need to d-load that NMAS show, but I really liked Luther on this disk.
5 - Eric Whelchel
nice work, really freakin funny.
6 - El Bicho
Thanks, Eric.
7 - Josh Hathaway
First, you really did brilliantly nail the pathetic fraud perpetrated by Maxim. It's an outrage what they did to the Black Crowes, their readers, and journalism in general. Shit like this reinforces the band's decision not to make their records available in advance for honest writers to review and that's a real shame. This is a stain.
To the review, I'd never thought of the Crowes' ballads but you are right; they do them well.
Dickinson is a fantastic addition to their sound, Ronnie Wood comparisons or not.
8 - El Bicho
Thankfully, The Crowes outed Maxim and Peisner. It turns out they pulled the same thing on a rapper named Nas.
There are way too many lazy, untalented hacks who just spew their chum in the waters of pop culture criticism and the 'net has given more of them access. They really don't care about writing; they just want the label. They are focused on getting free stuff, making some dough, and drawing attention to themselves even though they don't do the heavy lifting required.
What's funny is incidents like this and that idiot DJ Electra from Chicago, who played the entire Icky Thump before it was released, are the ones who cause artists to turn away and say, "Screw you, we are going straight to the fans."
While everyone wants to blame the music industry for what's wrong in music today, it is just as much the fault of thieves, hucksters, and the music-buying public who have helped shaped the direction of where things are headed.
Thanks for the comments.
9 - Alesssandro
Stupid T&A magazines.
Great fun this piece.
Off to buy the CD first thing tomorrow.
NO, I do not "download" man. I buy the music. Call me a sucker.