The Black Crowes - Amorica (2 LP)

With their roots firmly planted in the alluvial top soil of '70s blues rock, The Black Crowes are truly enjoying their exile on main street. Because when all is said and done, The Black Crowes are a classic hard rock riff band, where the groove--the weaving of electric guitars/keyboards, with bass-drum dances--is paramount, much as it was for their mentors, Little Feat, The Faces and The Rolling Stones.

On AMORICA, The Black Crowes stretch out their throbbing grooves and dense retro mixes with taut, wiry bursts of electric guitar courtesy of Rich Robinson and Marc Ford, over a bumptious latin-inflected rock groove, as on "Gone." Eddie Harsch's rich Hammond B-3 and funky keyboard work adds body to each arrangement, while leather lunged Chris Robinson's vocals are less melodic focus than an extension on the blues riffing going on underneath. He's a soul shouter in the best tradition of Gregg Allman, Stevie Winwood and Rod Stewart--of white rock singers influenced by the likes of Otis Redding and Ray Charles--as on "High Head Blues."

At their best, as on the southern flavored jams of "Wiser Time," and the funky lascivious "She Gave Good Sunflower," the band evokes a powerful roots rock feel, with plenty of solo space for the guitars to stretch out. But on more laid back fare, such as the down home "Downtown Money" and the poignant "Ballad In Urgency," The Black Crowe's lyrics convey an enigmatic brand of romanticism that is more song-like than many of their arrangements.

Originally released in 1994, the songs on Amorica are some of the best the band ever wrote, stretching out into a hard, jam-oriented, funky bluesrock. No band celebrates the glory days of rock culture quite as enthusiastically. This 2LP set is now available on 180 gram vinyl in original packaging. The 12" insert includes artwork, credits and lyrics.

Recorded between May and June 1994.
All tracks have been digitally remastered

• Format: Vinyl
• Released: 12/18/2015
• Genre: Rock