Apparently written and recorded in a mere eight days, The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion is the follow up to THE BLACK COWES' debut Shake Your Money Maker, and wisely it's no ...Money Maker Part II.
Potent gospel influences, courtesy of church gospel pals Babs and Taj and pianist Ed Harsch, seep into the music. Although, ironically, "Remedy", the first single, has a sleazy, hard edge groove, ala THE STONES that so informed much of ...Maker. Additionally the acquisition of the talented Mark Ford on guitar has not only energised the band -- he's an ideal foil for Rich Robinson -- but given them an extra dimension; let's call it the powder keg effect. BANG! Smokin'...
Moreover, it's those much abused terms, like 'passion' and 'faith' that are at the wellspring of their creativity. Sure, Robinson and Co. don't have a monopoly on soul, but such is the heartfelt raging intensity in Robinson's ragged and raspy vocals, that only a rotten-to-the-bone cynic would claim he's faking it.
The aforementioned qualities of the Crowes '92 combine to best effect on a song like "No Speak No Slave," a ZEP-heavy, foot-down-on-the-wah-wah-pedal-propelled monster, which builds up to a frenzied ending in, dare I say it, an almost "Free Bird" SKYNYRD kinda way.
"Bad Luck Blue Eyes Goodbye" is perhaps the most personal song the gangly one has written, Seemingly concerning a long distance, bittersweet romance... Elsewhere, there's the jaunty, bluegrass feel of "Hotel Illness," which almost serves as a harbour in the tempest, and the schizophrenic "Thorn In My Pride," which veers from gentle acoustic to frenzied psychedelia. A loose-limbed version of the BOB MARLEY tune "Time Will Tell" heralds in the curtain call.
All well and good, but aren't they derivative? True, the Crowes borrow unashamedly from there dyed-in-the-wool Americana roots and rock n' roll influences, but it's how those elements are assimilated and the new fire breathed into them that counts. Something these southern Mavericks accomplish better than most.
Grade: A
Mark Liddell
Riff Raff
July 1992
All well and good, but aren't they derivative? True, the Crowes borrow unashamedly from there dyed-in-the-wool Americana roots and rock n' roll influences, but it's how those elements are assimilated and the new fire breathed into them that counts. Something these southern Mavericks accomplish better than most.
Grade: A
Mark Liddell
Riff Raff
July 1992
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