MattA75's Full Review: By Your Side by The Black Crowes
OK, so I admit it. Back around 1995 or so, right after Amorica came out, I lost a lot of interest in The Black Crowes. Yes, I was one of the thousands (millions?) of fans who turned their back on this band because quite frankly, I was 15 and too immature to really understand where the hell they were going with their music. I remember when Three Snakes and One Charm, the band's fourth album and the follow up to Amorica, came out in 1996 or 1997 or so. I paid no attention other than to think to myself, "wow, I'm impressed their still around." They seemingly had decided to become the next Grateful Dead or something, playing long meandering jams that went nowhere, and Chris Robinson sported that ridiculous looking beard that just made me wonder about what exactly happened to the band I used to know and love.
I got my answer in December of 1998. I was flipping channels and I came across VH-1. "Live From the Hard Rock Cafe" was on, and all of a sudden I see the Black Crowes. Wait a minute, Chris Robinson has shaved. Interesting. Seeing as it was 5pm on a Sunday night, and the football games that were on sucked, I left this on, hoping I'd hear some of my old favorites. That's when Robinson stepped up to the microphone and said "this one's off the new album that comes out soon, STOP KICKING MY HEART AROUND!" My f*cking god what a song. I immediately knew I had to buy the new record when it came out.
That record, the band's fifth, was entitled By Your Side, and it is, for the most part, a return to the dirtier sound of their first two records, Shake Your Money Maker and the band's best effort to date, The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion.
I've heard the criticisms about this record, including those of the band themselves. About how they feel this record is a big mistake, 4 or 5 songs excluded. That's fine and dandy. The fact is is that the band is wrong about this record, ALL wrong.
The opening number Go Faster is a superbly rocking tune, featuring sweet guitar riffing by Rich Robinson and powerhouse drumming by Steve Gorman. Chris Robinson's voice sounds really good on this track, and it's obvious on the first listen the band has been waiting to rock out like this for a while.
Next up is the previously mentioned Kickin' My Heart Around. I love the guitar intro, and the melody on the verses is second to none. It's a defiant song, a song that says "F.U." to a former lover (current lover?), and the whole song drips with attitude like the Old Crowes had.
The title track follows, and this song is a monster. (Interestingly enough, the first 3 songs are all still popular enough with the band to appear on their constantly changing setlists.) I love the bluesy guitar intro, the simple yet effective drumming. By the time you hit the chorus, a rush of vocal energy is put forth by Robinson that will literally make you feel like he truly is By Your Side. The ending is brought to a tremendously anthemic crescendo thanks to Rich Robinson's deafening chords and Gorman's simplistically powerhouse drumming.
The awful Horsehead is next. Musically, I really do like this song. It's got snarl and attitude. But Robinson's voice, which on the last track was full of energy and reassurance, here, it just gets on my nerves. He sounds like he has post nasal drip or something.
With the 5th track, Only A Fool, you begin to see where the detractors get their ammo for shooting this album down. This is an admittedly sappy song, and this is one of the two or three songs the band is definitely talking about when they say they want to erase this era from their history. With lines like "Only a Fool would let you go," I can see how it wouldn't appeal to some people, especially given the more bitter nature of a song like Kickin My Heart Around. However, the composition of the song is excellent, featuring a horn section that adds a nice flavor to the song.
The band hits a lull in the middle of the album, stretching from the 6th song, Heavy, to the 9th song, Diamond Ring. Heavy is a lot like old school Black Crowes, but the lyrics do nothing for me. Welcome to the Good Times is a fun little jingle with some nice ringing guitar tones, but it probably won't hold up that well after a few years. Go Tell the Congregation has a lot of energy behind it, but there's just something about it that grates on my nerves at certain times when I listen to it. It's certainly not a bad song per say, it's more of a "mood" song if you know what I mean. Lastly, Diamond Ring would probably be THE song the band is most embarrassed about. They played it only 2 times on their 1999 tour, although it was played in April of this year, most likely as a tribute to Kate Hudson or something. This song is the sappiest song Chris Robinson will ever write. The music is fine, in fact, I really like the music. But the lyrics are just so sappy that it's hard to really get by those.
Thankfully, the album closes just as strong as it starts with two rockers entitled Then She Said My Name and Virtue and Vice. Then She Said My Name is a fun, rollicking rock song that should have you singing along. Sure, the lyrics are kind of weak, but they are fun, which is exactly what Diamond Ring is missing, the element of fun. Virtue and Vice is just a thrashing rocker that evokes wails of passion from both Robinson brothers, Chris' voice and Rich's blistering guitar.
Admittedly, By Your Side has some low points. However, those low points all have some very strong points to them, and had the band maybe spent just a bit more time on the lyrics to these songs, they wouldn't consider it such a bad album in their history. The truth of the matter is is that this is a fabulous rock album that should get you singing, dancing, and playing some mean air guitar. And in the end, that's what a good rock album is supposed to do.
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