On the other hand, there is a thin paper wall separating one Black Crowe CD from the next. This coming from someone with quite a few BC CD's on the shelf.
But let us not confuse things here. They have stolen their sound from all things grungy, circa 1970.
No shame in that. Many others have done the same. Hello, Aerosmith, John Cougar Mellencamp, anyone?
There is an old saying about Rock-N-Roll. The average borrow, the greats steal. Period.
Keith Richards trademark sound is lifted straight off every lick that ever rolled off Chuck Berry's fingers. He pulled it off, too.
But Keith took that and rolled on to his own sound. That's what the greats do.
Let's face it: excellent original music is a rare thing, indeed.
When a new group, with a new sound, that resonates with people, comes along, the imitators are never far behind.
Think Nirvana. You would be hard pressed NOT to name ten bands that have a identical sound to Nirvana.
They borrowed. And they sound like it.
About ten years later, along comes Jack White. Now it can be argued whether he stole from Nirvana. Maybe, maybe not.
Personally, I think Jack stole from a much wider variety of artists. But in the end, what comes out the speakers is a new, raw and undeniably catchy sound.
Just like Nirvana.
What does all of this have to do with The Black Crowes?
Simple. The BC's stole a good sound, alright. And it sounded pretty good. Not classic by any means, but not too damn bad.
Problem was and is, the sound has never changed. It is still a decent listen, but it all kind of rolls together.
So the reviewer from Maxim, obviously, feels comfortable enough reviewing their new CD without even hearing it.
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On the other hand, there is a thin paper wall separating one Black Crowe CD from the next. This coming from someone with quite a few BC CD's on the shelf.
But let us not confuse things here. They have stolen their sound from all things grungy, circa 1970.
No shame in that. Many others have done the same. Hello, Aerosmith, John Cougar Mellencamp, anyone?
There is an old saying about Rock-N-Roll. The average borrow, the greats steal. Period.
Keith Richards trademark sound is lifted straight off every lick that ever rolled off Chuck Berry's fingers. He pulled it off, too.
But Keith took that and rolled on to his own sound. That's what the greats do.
Let's face it: excellent original music is a rare thing, indeed.
When a new group, with a new sound, that resonates with people, comes along, the imitators are never far behind.
Think Nirvana. You would be hard pressed NOT to name ten bands that have a identical sound to Nirvana.
They borrowed. And they sound like it.
About ten years later, along comes Jack White. Now it can be argued whether he stole from Nirvana. Maybe, maybe not.
Personally, I think Jack stole from a much wider variety of artists. But in the end, what comes out the speakers is a new, raw and undeniably catchy sound.
Just like Nirvana.
What does all of this have to do with The Black Crowes?
Simple. The BC's stole a good sound, alright. And it sounded pretty good. Not classic by any means, but not too damn bad.
Problem was and is, the sound has never changed. It is still a decent listen, but it all kind of rolls together.
So the reviewer from Maxim, obviously, feels comfortable enough reviewing their new CD without even hearing it.
And you know what?
He's right.
Two and-a-half stars.
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