No band likes to be called "derivative." It's synonymous to being
classified as "unoriginal."
It's a label The Black Crowes have struggled to overcome since the
release of their debut album, "Shake Your Money Maker," in 1990. Since
then they've drawn comparisons to The Rolling Stones and The Faces
because of their blues-based riff rock that grooves along with '70s
swagger.
Ironic, then, that every album they've released sounds like a
conscious effort to veer from that comparison with the band
screaming for their lives away from musical expectations
and the sound of the albums that came before. Never the
darlings of critical acclaim but always finding a strong fan base, the
Crowes have always been one of those bands that stylistically changes
their hat with each album.
Where "Shake Your Money Maker" was straight ahead bluesy rock, "The
Southern Harmony And Musical Companion" took on a harder edge with
some funkier moments and allowed them to shine through the element
known as "jamming." Longer songs, longer solos, more intricate
acoustic parts. The songs were a little more sophisticated without
losing their visceral edge.
"Amorica" offered more ballads and drug-induced freak-outs while
"Three Snakes And One Charm" felt like coming down. Exit guitarist
Marc Ford and enter backup singers. "By Your Side" was a return to
those bluesy origins with a hell of a lot more soul and even a bit of
gospel. It was like an old school R&B album thrown together with slide
blues.
"Lions" was a cosmic hodgepodge more akin to a Parliament album and
"Warpaint" gave us the band's first true country rock effort.
Caught up yet? Good.
Now let's get to the point. With each move in a new direction, you'd
be hard-pressed to call the band "uninspired." How could you? They
change styles about as often as I change underwear, yet they never
lose their roots, that uncompromising heart-on-your-sleeve honesty.
Well I think I've changed my mind after hearing "Before The
Frost...Until The Freeze." For the first time in my life, I wonder why
they even bothered making a new album. It sounds like leftovers from
"Warpaint" re-heated and served up to their audience in an effort to
justify touring without another "Greatest Hits" album.
It's country rock. It's slow, there are no standout tracks and it
sounds, quite frankly, uninspired.
Where's the excitement?
Lead singer Chris Robinson said of "Warpaint" that the band had
finally found the sound they'd always wanted. The problem is, there
are no dynamics. Like most country music, it all starts to blend
together after a while, and like all of the worst parts of acoustic
folk music, it tries painfully to verge on the melodic without quite
reaching it.
The album was recorded live at Levon Helm's Woodstock studio (he was
in The Band, you know, the one that backed Dylan) before live
audiences on about four different nights.
The sound quality is there. Unfortunately, the songs sound burned out
and forced, like the life's been sucked out of them with a Dyson.
Here's to hoping their concert at The Riviera in Chicago will be
better this Friday. Stay tuned to check out a review after the show.
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