It’s been a while since I’ve recommended an album that was actually recorded in the past 20 years. However, this week, as I scaled my extensive collection of CDs, I picked up one of the greatest rock albums of its time.
I’m sure there’s plenty of people out there that might disagree, but The Black Crowes’ “The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion” stands as a Southern rock/blues masterpiece.
The brothers Robinson (that’s Chris and Rich) co-wrote all but one song on this 10-track CD.
The Black Crowes are one of the few contemporary rock bands that add poetic lyrics with incredible musicianship.
“ Are you wanting inspiration? You spill your secrets on me. Then you tell me with a whisper ...of things that will never be” wails Chris Robinson with his exceptional soulful voice (if you’ve ever seen him, you know what I mean.) Those are just a snippet of the lyrics from the third track “Thorn In My Pride.”
The song tells of the heart-wrenching feeling when you love and hate someone equally.
The pleasant surprise in this song, as with several from this album, is the use of piano and organ during the bridge. These simple chords, with the shuffling percussion, add a type of suspense that soon bursts into an all-out jam.
“Hotel Illness” and “Black Moon Creeping” provide twanging guitar and harmonica as the backdrop for the melody.
“Remedy,” probably The Crowes most well-known tune from this album, oozes feelings of voodoo and bayou, even though these guys hail from Georgia.
These sweaty, nasty jams combined with spiritual lyrics make The Black Crowes the kings of contemporary Southern boogie.
