The Black Crowes started 1999 with a bang.
Their fifth album, first on Columbia Records, By Your Side, was released on January 12, 1999. The first single, “Kickin’ My Heart Around,” has hit the airways, returning The Black Crowes to commercial stardom.
In the year and a half leading up to the release of By Your Side, The Black Crowes lost two valuable members of their lineup.
Guitarist Marc Ford was ousted from the band due to his increased drug use, and bassist Johnny Colt left as a result of commercial decline.
However, this was not enough to hold back The Black Crowes. For this album, the Crowes added bassist Sven Pipien and have taken on second guitarist Audley Freed for their live shows.
In the summer of 1998, The Black Crowes, with Aerosmith producer Kevin Shirey, began recording what is perhaps the Crowes’ best album since 1992’s Southern Harmony and Musical Companion.
The album’s opening track, “Go Faster,” steps up the tempo and sets a rocking mood for the rest of the album. From there, the album only gets better.
In addition to Young Rich Robinson’s flaring guitar riffs and Chris Robinson’s soulful singing, the use of horns adds a flavor to many of the albums’ tracks that had not been present on past albums.
By Your Side looks to be more of a commercial success than their previous effort. 1996’s Three Snakes and One Charm, and a return to the Crowes of the early 1990s.
So, welcome to the good times.
The Black Crowes have “Gotcha Moving.” The Crowes have released an album that any fan of music, even those who are not die-hard Crowes fans, can appreciate.
For more information on The Black Crowes, connect to their web site at http://www.tallest.com or http://www.blackcrowes.com.
Grade: A
