Quite Possibly The Best From Black Crowes
Jun 06 '02
Pros
Songs, words, music, swagger
Cons
Maybe a bit too short. Besides that, nothing.
The Bottom Line
Neatly combining blues, Southern rock, and soul, Black Crowes remain one of the most appealing rock bands of the 1990's...even if they do sound like something from twenty years earlier.
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It would have been easier for rock giants Black Crowes to fall into the same pattern that many other artists happen upon. Release an amazing debut album (Shake Your Moneymaker, 1990) and then fade into utter obscurity and rest on the shaky laurels from that first outing.
Black Crowes fortunately continued to make truly superb rock music throughout the 1990’s. 1992’s Southern Harmony And Musical Companion is a continuation of sorts to the band’s stellar debut. Led by the Robinson brothers (Chris-vocals, Rich-guitar) in addition to Mark Ford (guitar), Ed Hersch (piano/organ), Johnny Colt (bass) and Steve Gorman (drums), Black Crowes assembled a dirty rock and roll album that relies heavily on soul and blues roots while not staying stuck in the past. Sure, the Atlanta-based band (formed in 1984) may look retro…but the sound is something very contemporary and very appealing to rock fans of new and old.
Southern Harmony and Musical Companion wasn’t as immediately successful as the band’s debut. It did eventually hit number one although none of the songs were hit singles. Only Remedy and Thorn in My Pride made any particular dent in radio. Neither came close to cracking the top 10. More important than simple commercial success is the fact that the album remains the arguable best disc of the band’s career. I would go so far as to say that Black Crowes have never equaled the critical success of this under appreciated rock gem.
Southern Harmony and Musical Companion acts like a bridge between the brief yet powerful Shake Your Moneymaker and later, more free flowing albums like Three Snakes & One Charm and By Your Side. And, for listeners not particularly acquainted with their music, the album when paired with the debut is a lovely primer and a very necessary addition to a complete rock music collection.
Released on American in May 1992, this Southern rock opus boasts just ten tracks. Despite the admittedly brief runtime, Southern Harmony and Musical Companion is darned near perfect. With nine of the tracks original to Black Crowes and the last being a somewhat unknown Bob Marley song originally recorded for 1978’s Kaya, the album manages to be both diverse and exciting while not stepping over the boundaries into experimentalism.
As I already mentioned, the two most immediately recognizable tracks are Remedy and Thorn In My Pride. With an amazing swagger and guitar riff, Remedy is the perfect representation of the Southern Rock tradition that has best been carried on by Black Crowes. Seamlessly blending rock, blues, and soul the track resonates nicely on radio even today. I adore the vocal chorus that utilizes distinctive female harmonies. Absolutely amazing. Thorn In My Pride is quite different than the more rock-oriented tracks. It’s a light ballad with understated acoustic guitars and percussion. It’s in songs like this that Hersch’s organ can best be appreciated and Chris’ vocals sound the roundest and most fulfilling.
None of the tracks are obvious singles. Rather, this is a complete album and overall vision. Other tracks like the bluesy clap along Sting Me and the faintly psychedelic Bad Luck Blues Eyes Goodbye help to fill the gaps between the most popular tracks nicely. Possibly the most notable track on Southern Harmony and Musical Companion is Sometimes Salvation. The guitars are so amazing yet tightly controlled while the vocals are neat and tidy yet oozing with passion and deep emotion.
Continuing on, Hotel Illness is an upbeat harmonica driven Southern Rock masterpiece. The Black Crowes have a very raw and loose feel on songs like this and for that matter the uncharacteristically heavy Black Moon Creeping and the very characteristic washboard blues of both No Speak No Slave and My Morning Song. It’s really very difficult to go wrong with this sophomore effort.
Finally, Marley’s Time Will Tell is an unlikely cover from Black Crowes. The band doesn’t play it reggae, although some of the beats are reflective of the musical style. But, with layered vocals, instruments, and a very deliberate pace the song sounds original to the Crowes. It is truly amazing that a band with such a foothold in the rock market can successfully blend Marley’s words and style with that of the South and come up with an eventual style that is natural and genuine.
I’m a sucker for the Black Crowes and own a number of their albums. Each has its own merit, although Southern Harmony and Musical Companion is the most musically exhilarating and worthwhile of the heap. It in fact ranks just above Shake Your Moneymaker as the best album from Black Crowes. I very highly recommend this album to all fans of all kinds of rock music.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Track Listing:
1. Sting Me
2. Remedy
3. Thorn in My Pride
4. Bad Luck Blue Eyes Goodbye
5. Sometimes Salvation
6. Hotel Illness
7. Black Moon Creeping
8. No Speak No Slave
9. My Morning Song
10. Time Will Tell
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In early 2002, the Black Crowes announced that they would cease exist. Chris is pursuing a solo career while long time drummer Gorman was fired. Other albums from Black Crowes are as follows: Shake Your Moneymaker [1990], Amorica [1994], Three Snakes & One Charm [1996], By Your Side [1999], and Lions [2001].
Recommended:
Yes
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