Croweology

I'm a big fan of The Black Crowes (TBC). It's strange because I'm not sure how or why exactly, they were just one band on whom I never gave up and every now or again, I'll just get on a TBC kick.  They have been called the "most rock-and-roll rock-and-roll band" by music critics, and I like that tagline, but I have usually thought they were the sexiest rock-and-roll band.  Not physically speaking, although plenty of ladies will vouch for either Chris Robinson or Rich Robinson (and Chris marrying Kate Hudson is proof positive) but their music is the sexiest music I've heard.  I cannot pinpoint it either, because the lyrics aren't necessarily more sexually charged than other bands or genres, but the blend of so many styles probably has something to do with it.  The band itself is an intercourse of music.  Maybe that makes it sexy.

The Sexiest Rock 'n' Roll Band?

They released a new CD of old songs at the beginning of this month called "Croweology."  It features hit songs and deep cuts from their first five albums, which is cool for a flashback.  I find myself digging total remakes like "Let Me Share The Ride" where it sounds wildly different, at least more than basic updates like "Jealous Again" which were good enough the first time.  Highly recommended if you're a fan, but there's always the Best Of album from 2000 if you aren't.

The strange part about this band is that I can hear a CD and think it's a sub-par effort and put it away for months or even years, only to pull it out later and dig it instantly.  Such as "The Lost Crowes," which I bought on August 1, 2009, and I never enjoyed until this weekend when I was looking for new TBC songs.  I did the same thing with "By Your Side" and especially the first Chris Robinson (New Earth Mud) back in 2002, and I love those albums now.  I think I've bought New Earth Mud two or three times now, giving copies to various people like Raegan Sonnenberg (Kyle's wife) and Jeordie.  For the record, I dig other TBC albums instantly like "amorica." in 1994, "Lions" in 2001, or last year's "... Until The Freeze."

Listening to TBC while driving Jeordie home from a gig made me think of this last night, and I don't know where I developed this mentality, but I've always believed if you're a fan of a band, then you support the band.  Whether that means buying their new album, as I've done for TBC, Great White, and Overkill, or whether it means offering to help the band load up their equipment after a gig, as I have done for Chris Hiatt, Caterwauls, Jeordie, and Fanny Grace.  Which reminds me, I still need to buy the new Ra Ra Riot release!  I don't know if I'm a fan of that band or its label (Barsuk), but it's definitely an album I need to purchase, even if I already have a musical backlog from buying TBC on Tuesday and "The Essential Ozzy Osbourne: Limited Edition 3.0" today.

Speaking of Ozzy Osbourne, if you have any interest in his career, then check out his autobiography "I Am Ozzy."  I bought the book on a whim, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Very easy read, great page-turner!