It can’t be almost three decades since The Black Crowes shuffled onto MTV’s A-list, heavy rotation with a salacious cover of Otis Redding’s ‘Hard To Handle’. The foot-kicking follow-up single ‘Twice As Hard’ and of course ‘She Talks To Angels’ still hit the spot as does the imperious ‘Jealous Again’. The Brothers Robinson’s Crowes hit the bullseye once more with follow up album ‘Southern Harmony And Musical Companion’ which boasts (possibly) the best ever opening duo of album tracks ever in ‘Sting Me’ and ‘Remedy’. The Stones chic, swaying hips and faraway rasp dripping in white trash soul have been tempered but much like his British equivalents, Liam Gallagher or Paul Weller, Chris Robinson still has that burning desire to play the music he truly loves. So onto his seventh studio release with CRB ‘Servants Of The Sun’. Opening cut ‘Some Earthly Delights’ sways into view with a liberating stride of ‘Top Gear’ psychedelic keyboards and the that unmistakeable vocal Robinson delivery which naturally whisks into the track with a seamless curtsey.
Next up is the funk kissed ‘Let It Fall’ which pushes ‘n’ pulls the Crows feathers with a clipped get back, jump back wordplay and some barn brushing guitar, it envelopes the ears with a gentle nostalgic tickle. ‘Rare Birds’ is a bathtub full of hooch, dirty converse and laconic Sunday loving all mixed with effortless CRB style. The multicoloured bubble keyboards return for a floorboard tapping ‘Venus In Chrome’ before the hazy vintage of ‘Stars Fell On California’ has a trippy R’N’R vibe that inhales the sixties before exhaling the seventies. A cowboy kissed ‘The Chauffers Daughter’ is glazed in southern longing while ‘Dice game’ meanders through the corn fields with neon thoughts for company. The tenth and final track is beautifully titled ‘A Smiling Epitaph’ which is has a hallucinogenic Jesus Christ Superstar feel as spoken and sung words melt into the songs freeform base. CRB is the perfect sixties/seventies road trip sound for those born in the eighties and thereafter. Be grateful, not dead.
CHRIS ROBINSON BROTHERHOOD
‘Servants Of The Sun’
(Silver Arrow Records)
7.5/10