lambchops's Full Review: Three Snakes and One Charm by The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes are what many listeners like most about ‘real’ rock and roll. Their sound has remained intact since their first major album twelve years ago. Rather than bending over for the boy bands or breaking to the stresses of the early 1990’s grunge movement, these Southern boys have kept churning out consistently good material.
With a vintage sound and a retro attitude, the Black Crowes burst on the scene in 1990 with the simply amazing Shake Your Moneymaker. That album rushed to the top of the charts and eventually sold over three million copies. Songs like ”She Talks to Angels”, ”Jealous Again” and the cover of Otis Redding’s ”Hard To Handle” planted the band at the top of the charts. Despite having just released a single album, the band sounded like old pros. The Black Crowes consisted of five members: Chris Robinson (vocals), Rich Robinson (guitar), Johnny Colt (bass), Jeff Cease (guitar), and Steve Gorman (drums).
Despite never becoming as popular as the band’s first album, 1992’s Southern Harmony and Music Companion was popular among target audiences. The equally great ”Thorn in My Side” and ”Remedy” were never top-40 hits, but managed to chart in the top-100. Following the release of this album, the Crowes sold out concert dates all over America. Amorica debuted in the top 10 albums, but immediately slipped away from the music psyche. No singles from this 1994 album managed to chart.
Three Snakes and One Charm was critically lauded and briefly had a spot at number 15. Despite being seen as one of the best Crowes albums, it was met with lackluster sales in 1996. Since this time, the band has released By Your Side, Live at the Greek with Jimmy Page, a greatest hits compilation, and 2000’s Lions. They continue to be popular in live venues, but their albums don’t sell like they used to. Shake Your Moneymaker will likely be remembered as ‘the’ Black Crowes album.
Back to Three Snakes and One Charm. It is impossible to call this work the best thing from the Black Crowes. As I mentioned in an earlier review and above, their debut was awesome. This album features twelve songs, among which are minor hits like ”Good Friday” and ”Blackberry”. This album really didn’t get much attention, although it at times merits a listen by the discerning rock and roll ear. During this same time, the Robinson brothers fought to the point that they threatened a breakup. Fortunately that never happened.
This album is a cleaner studio recording than earlier offerings. The Crowes have upped the ante in songwriting and have bridged the otherwise huge gap between traditional soul, Southern hospitality, and good ol’ fashioned rock and roll. Some people pass over them with the assumption that they are too cliché and too retro. I think not! The Black Crowes are what is right about rock and roll. They sing with emotion and without diluting their sound to appease the masses. Hurrah for them...but what about this album?
”Good Friday” is an obvious choice for the album’s standout track. It’s booze-washed, slow, and full of Southern soul. Robinson wails away with great vocals. What really makes this song great is the chorus. Now, I realize that sounds really stupid. Choruses are supposed to be good. This one is great. Driven by a harmonica and an acoustic guitar, the words are pointed and precise.
I will not forgive you
nor will I accept the blame
I will see you on Good Friday
On Good Friday
Another perfect nominee for ‘best song’ is ”Blackberry.” This track is reminiscent of earlier songs from these guys. The sound is actually a mix between traditional music and soul. It’s funky and freaky with keyboards, heavy electric guitars, and a stop-gap way of performing that makes this song infinitely interesting. I personally like the sentiment that You got to be L-U-C-K-Y to get with a girl like Blackberry. A simply great, infectious, and addictive track.
”Nebakanezer” is also a decently well-executed song. It begins with what I can only call a freakin’ annoying five seconds of feedback. Completely unnecessary, and if you ask me that much high-pitched wailing leads to clouded judgment. The song’s topic actually sounds more like something in a country (kuntry) track rather than a rock and roll tune. It talks about a man whose wife ran away…and coincidentally all of his friends complain they got the flu
Leading off this album is ”Under A Mountain”. I personally can see the merit in this track, but it really lacks any appeal to me. It’s oddly midtempo, something that usually polarizes audiences. I don’t want to say to skip this one, but you may be better off that way. The only even semi-interesting thing about this song is the electric-guitar soaked chorus. That aside, it’s mediocre at best.
”Bring On, Bring On” has a truly great beginning. It seems like the song should continue on a really strong note, although it seems lost among lackluster musical elements. ”How Much For Your Wings?” is about as pretty as Crowes tracks get. There is very simple instrumentation…just dueling acoustic guitars and a brilliant vocals track. This song is one of the few really great tracks on this album of only moderately good tracks.
The only truly awful track is the strange and obviously drug-induced ”Girl From the Pawnshop”. It’s too slow, too soft, and too boring for it’s own good. Even the usually excitable Crowes can’t save this song for certain doom. One word of advice: SKIP!
There are five remaining tracks on this album. None strike me as standout songs of any kind. Therefore, I won’t waste my time and yours to talk individually about such blah tracks. For reference, these songs are: ”One Mirror Too Many,” “Halfway to Everywhere, (Only),” “Let Me Share the Ride,” “Better When You’re Not Alone,” and ”Evil Eye”. I hate to be so iffy about the elements of these songs I don’t like, but they all have the same problem. When the Crowes make tracks they have a tendency to sound alike if they aren’t careful. These ones are too boring for their own good. Nothing strikes me as being outstandingly good or bad.
I’m not exactly sure what to say about this album. Critics picked it, but I lean towards a resounding pan. There are some really good examples of great music here. But, there are too many average tracks to make those songs standout. So far as recommending the album goes, I cannot bring myself to tell people to buy it. If you like the Black Crowes, then you may have to buy it to complete your collection. If you are looking to buy only one Crowes album, pick up either their greatest hits album or their first one titled Shake Your Moneymaker.
Despite my love of ”Blackberry” and ”Good Friday”, I have to say that this album is overall only average (3/5 stars). As I just said, I will not recommend it to most audiences.
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