Customer Reviews

The Black Crowes: Live

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Yes, the Black Crowes have always excelled live. And this is a great, long over-due gift to their fans. My complaint? Anyone who saw the "Listen Massive" tour last year (from which this was recorded) will testify that the highlight of the shows usually ocurrred in the middle of the set when they launched into either "Thorn in my Pride" or especially "My Morning Song." On some rare nights, fans were treated to both. Anyway, on these two songs, the band took OFF!! The songs stretched out for 15 minutes or more and left the audience drained afterward. This is a 2CD set; there was plenty of room to include one of these.

Otherwise, it's about time that we get a live helping of Crowes music with professional recording quality. Live at the Greek doesn't count.

Many live albums... This one doesn't! I've seen the Crowes in every type of venue from large arenas to very small clubs. This album captures the powerful, funky, bluesy, hard rock sound that the Crowes deliver in their best performances. There is no doubt that these songs are live, as the band changes them up just enough to give them that "in your face" flavor. The Crowes have a lot of great songs. There is no way that a compilation of songs can please everyone. But the recordings here are phenomenal. It really makes me feel like I'm at the show. I own a lot of live albums and this one ranks second only to Bob Seger's Live Bullet (in my humble opinion).

This is by far the worst Black Crowes album ever. I like all the studio recordings, and have an extensive bootleg collection from the Ford/Colt era. Freed's guitar style is WRONG for the Black Crowes. there is none of the intricate interplay between the two guitarists as was always evident in their live shows, and specifically on the Sno Nuf box set live EP. I felt terrible listening to "Live" the first time, it sounds like a band that has sold out to stadium excess. The mix is muddy, Chris' vocals are neither soulful or bluesy. Even the "set list" is less than spectacular. Maybe in ten years the original line up will regroup, revive their original sound, and once again, be the most rock and roll rock and roll band.

This live album by the Black Crowes came out right after they decided to go on a hiatus for a while (It didn't last long; the band reunited in 2005 after a few solo albums by the brothers Robinson). While not the best document of a fantastic live rock and roll band, it comes across pretty well and there are some truly inspired jams throughout this 2CD set.

The Lions material REALLY works best in a live setting. Midnight From The Inside Out, Greasy Grass River, and Lickin' are just great barnstompin' rock songs, full of passionate energy, loose raw playing, and powerful vocals by one of the of the greatest rock singers of all time, Chris Robinson. The Southern Harmony material is pretty sweet too. Sting Me always gets the crowd moving, and I love the little soul intro into Black Moon Creeping (although I always prefered the Black Moon Jam on later bootlegs.)

The Amorica/3 Snakes material though...here's where the album faulters a bit. Wiser Time sounds a little rushed and sloppy, not reaching the grandeur it had in the Marc Ford days. Girl From A Pawnshop suffers the same fate. They can't all be winners though.

Fortuantly, the collection makes up for it with one of the best songs the band never released, Title Song. This song alone is worth the price. A slow heart-wrenching souful burner, it has to be heard to be believed. This is the Crowes' Stairway To Heaven, folks. One of their great opuses.

Also, the Shake Your Moneymaker material ain't bad either. My only complaint is that there's no material from By Your Side. Seems that the band ain't too proud of that album. I always liked it, but I guess we can't all be pickers.

All in all, yeah, it's not the greatest thing the band has ever released, but it's a good album nonetheless. It's not gonna win any new fans, but for fans of this great rock and roll band, it'll do just fine.

Having seen some of the more scathing reviews of this on the site I thought I should weigh in with some positive feedback about it. As a rock fan I rate the Crowes up there with the best. Led Zepplin, The Stones, et al are nowhere near as powerful or passionate as them, even on their supremo stuff (does anyone else dislike Robert Plant's singing as much as I do - clue: I hate it a lot). This recording is from 2001 but the date really is irrelevant to the music. Admittedly, something live from earlier in their career would be a whole lot better than this, but there's nothing from that perioid available so we're left with this as a live document. So what is this like? Well, it's like the Black Crowes live, isn't it. Chris Robinson sings his heart out, particularly on the big ballads like Girl from a Pawn Shop (which blows the studio recording completely away). The band is tight and funky and LOUD. What more could you want? I took a star off becuase Chris tends to ramble a bit between songs, and he seems to run out of steam towards the end of disk 2, but so would you after the hours worth of energy he's already dished out on disc 1. If you like them, get it - if you don't, leave 'em alone!

I am not a huge fan of the Black Crowes, yes I like them, but nothing more than that. In 2001 the Black Crowes and Oasis co-headlined the Tour of Brotherly Love, one of the best "package tours" I have seen in a long time (I am a huge Oasis fan). I enjoyed that evening tremendously!

"Live" is culled from that tour. CD1 (10 tracks, 55 min.) is heavy on tracks from the "Lion" album, which I actually like a lot. "Midnite from the Inside Out" is the show opener and a terrific track. CD2 (9 tracks, 49 min.) is heavier on the hits, including "She Talks to Angels", "Hard to Handle" and of course "Remedy". In all, a nice remembrance to a joyful evening I had a few years ago. The quality sound is not as good as it could be, but that's minor quibbles.

With the Black Crowes on indefinite hiatus (and Chris doing solo stuff), who knows whether we'll ever get more of the brothers Robinson. This is a good, but not great live album. But for me this album carries some emotional attachment, and that's good enough for me.

The good (Cursed Diamond, Girl From a Pawnshop, Title Song, awesome "Miracle to Me")outweighs the bad (too many "hits", no "By Your Side" stuff, where's "Thorn"?) on this BC live disc. A must purchase for all fans. However, if you want the best live Crowes out there, check out the "Souled Out Live" Japanese import from the By Your Side tour. The fourteen minute version of "My Morning Song" on that disc is not only the greatest live performance from the Black Crowes but one of the greatest live versions of any song, ever.