Croweology

VINYL FORMAT. Limited to 5000 copies; on 180 gram vinyl triple gatefold! 'Releasing a compilation of acoustic material to mark the twentieth anniversary of their mutli-platinum selling debut Shake Your Money Maker, the Black Crowes - America's most viable rock 'n' roll band - are leaving fans with Croweology, the last piece of studio material before embarking on an extended hiatus in 2011. Recorded in Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles, California and produced by Paul Stacey, the collection of unreleased material, fan favorites and classics serves as an intimate portrait into the creative aspiration of the brothers Robinson. "Jealous Again," starts the recording in a pretty straight forward manner before "Share the Ride," off the 1996 release of Three Snakes and One Charm, is altered from its electric fury and transformed into a hand-clapping country romp. "Remedy" remains its traditional locomotive with the vocals of Mona and Charity accompanying the addition of wah-funk. Once the radio singles are off the plate, the oozing cool of the Black Crowes' cosmic-cowboy psychedelic brilliance comes into view. "Nonfiction" goes spacey before a blindsiding version of Southern Harmony's "Hotel Illness." Chris Robinson's harmonica on this track is particularly inspirational. The grass backbone of Luther Dickinson's guitar picking drives the dynamics of the acoustic numbers, while Rich Robinson holds steadfast, fat and firm. "Soul Singing" appears as the only track from the 2001 release of Lions, before the epic combination of "Ballad in Urgency" and a bombastic "Wiser Time" sends the recording into outer-space. But within the classics, there resides an unreleased gem dating back from 2005 and the buried writing sessions following the Black Crowes reunion. A beautiful interlude leads into "Cold Boy Smile" where Chris Robinson's vocals shine.

Disc two shines just as bright. The Shake Your Money Maker single "She Talks to Angels" leads into the first acoustic version of the colossal "My Morning Song." The foundation of Rich Robinson's lick acoustically is very similar to the Open-G blues pull of Jimmy Page's interpretation of "Traveling Riverside Blues," complete with the three-note walk-down. The band breaks the shed during the reprise with hand-claps and a sizzling piano. The sermon in the church of rock 'n' roll is full-blown. The moment in which the band returns to the chorus is a slice of salvation, bringing the faithless to their knees. "Downtown Money Waster" includes Appalachian fiddles and a burning banjo before opening up with the melancholy of "Good Friday." Luther Dickinson walks away with the leads on this number. "Thorn in My Pride," the By Your Side gem "Welcome to the Goodtimes" and "Girl from a Pawnshop" round out the mix. Croweology is capped with ballads starting with a Gram Parson's cover of "She." For Chris Robinson, Gram Parsons and the Flying Burrito Brothers 68-70 have been a common thread that has permeated his artistic influence throughout his catalog of the Black Crowes and his solo projects as well. A sorrowful "Bad Luck Blue Eyes" bids farewell to the bad boys of American rock 'n' roll, at least for now.' - Martin Halo / TheWaster.com