The Black Crowes: Live

The Black Crowes | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: August 20, 2002
• Label: V2 Records
• Copyright: 2008 V2 Records
• Genres: Blues/Live Recordings, Classic Rock/Live Albums, Classic Rock/Southern Rock, Hard Rock & Metal/Live Albums, Pop/Live Recordings, Rock/Blues Rock, Rock/Live Albums
• ASIN: B0017QTD5O
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Could have been better, December 7, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Live (Audio CD)

I love the Crowes and have always anxiously anticipated their albums. But this one left me with a somewhat lukewarm feeling. Several of the performances are terrific. The album has the best version of "Pawnshop" I've ever heard, "Cursed Diamond" is great, and so is "Remedy" closing it out. Each is very high energy, which is always what you get at the shows. But I would disagree somewhat with what one of the other posters here says and suggest that the album should have been more of a "best of" live album, and not just taken from the last tour as is. It really could have had much better song selection. The fact is, live albums are for the fans, not for the average listener who doesn't follow the band and only knows a couple of songs. And I don't think real Crowes fans, if they could chose the line-up for a Crowes live album would pick six songs off of "Lions". At least certainly not if a vastly superior album like "Southern Harmony" only gets four slots. Clearly "Lions" should be represented, but a double-live Crowes album should have been culled heavily from "Southern Harmony" and "Amorica"--in my opinion, the albums that marked the band's creative high point. And please, regardless of the mix, spare us "Hard to Handle" and "Twice as Hard". They are two more songs that I don't think most serious Crowes fans really care about hearing again and it's high time they were retired. These discs should have dropped five of the six "Lions" tracks, "Hard to Handle", and "Twice as Hard". And in their places should have been added "Virtue and Vice" and maybe "Kicking my Heart Around" from "By Your Side" (which is not represented at all in this set), and "No Speak No Slave", "My Morning Song", "Thorn in My Pride", "Ballad in Urgency", and "Descending". And maybe a 20th track of "Conspiracy" or the rocking version of "Nonfiction" they play in shows sometimes. The only thing about the selection that pleases me is that a "best of" live collection I think would have hinted more strongly that the "hiatus" they are currently on is permanent. That they put out a collection that is more tour album than coda leaves me encouraged that we may hear from them again. Their last three studio albums suggest that their best music is now well behind them, but they are still a great band and it would be unfortunate to not have the chance to see them again.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Much Flight Left in These Old Birds, September 1, 2002

By 

doomsdayer520 (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Live (Audio CD)

This double live set is a useful addition to any long-time fan's collection of Black Crowes releases, but you can clearly tell that things ain't like they used to be. During the 2001 tour recorded here, the Crowes really sound tired and past their prime. Apparently the frequent personnel changes (they never really recovered from the loss of Marc Ford back in '97) and the general deceleration of the Crowes party were beginning to take their toll. I try not to dwell on the past, but I saw the Crowes three times prior to 1995 and they were far better than this. In fact, even in 2000 they still had the fire, as you can clearly see on the Jimmy Page/Black Crowes collaboration *Live at the Greek*.

But here, normally rock-solid drummer Steve Gorman sounds sluggish and unenthusiastic. Rich Robinson is soldiering on admirably, but recently added second guitarist Audley Freed, while a great player, sounds hesitant and afraid to step up into the spotlight. Worst of all, Chris Robinson sounds absolutely exhausted (not just on stage but with the whole business), only occasionally showing traces of the passion and energy that were once effortless. His good-ole-homeboy banter with the audience sounds forced and perfunctory, as if he said the exact same thing every night. One good aspect of this live collection is that it covers all periods of the band's career equally, and the inclusion of several ballads give a good representation of an actual Crowes show. Unfortunately, the ballads mostly fall flat into dreariness, except for "Girl From a Pawnshop" and maybe "Cursed Diamond." Other than that, there are some great energetic moments here like "High Head Blues," "Hard to Handle," and "Remedy," but they can't quite save this album. As a long-time fan, this release is more than a little disappointing. If recent events hold true, this may very well be the last Black Crowes release. If so, it's not an entirely flattering conclusion to their catalog.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars If only they hadn't waited until it was too late., August 24, 2002

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live (Audio CD)

The Black Crowes have gone down hill ever since the firing of guitarist Marc Ford and the departure of bassist Johnny Colt, and now drummer Steve Gorman . With albums like The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion, Amorica, and Three Snakes and a Charm, the Black Crowes were out to define a generation with their brand of mystical, intelligent, country-fried rawk and roll. Sadly, they never made a live album during the most creative and inspirational period of their career.
It's sad that the Crowes sold out to Sony with By Your Side and even sadder is the result of Lions (I actually couldn't listen to that album and ended up smashing it in horror). Chris Robinson is and will remain one of my all time favorite vocalists, poets, and lyricists! EXCLUDING ANY ALBUM AFTER 3 SNAKES! (what the heck was he thinking while writing the words for lions? NSYNC? O-Town? Just plain awful!) However, I can forgive them for their releases with the V2 lineup and I am glad that the albums they made after Three Snakes brought them the recognition, fame, and money they deserved. It just makes me sad that they had to sell out to do that. I wish them all the luck in the world and hopefully they will make music again that I will gladly pay money for. Save your money on this album and consider searching out one of their older live recordings. Well, at least I never get sick of listening to Southern Harmony, Amorica, and Three Snakes. If you don't own these albums, buy one of them instead.