Customer Reviews

Three Snakes & One Charm

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Why this album is often reviled is beyond me as "ThreeSnakes" is a [great] album, second only in the Crowes catalog to "Southern Harmony" (An absolutely perfect album). While this disc is jammier and looser than other Crowes affairs, the songs are full of emotion. This album is similar in style to "Amorica" & like that album showcases the band's divergent styles & influences, but "Three Snakes" has much more warmth & vitality. The songs here feature sprawling arrangements, but the interplay between Chris & Rich Robinson is still the focus. I can't recommend this album enough, especially with the inclusion of the "bonus" tracks (Just Say You're Sorry, Mellow Down Easy), both of which rank among the best Crowes' numbers.

I dont understand why so many people and critics give this album down the road. This is a terrific album and is a great contrast to the big hits of the earlier Southern Harmony... Whats wrong with a band changing up their sound a little. Anyway the album opens with a great song in Under a Mountain. My favorite on the cd is Girl from a Pawnshop. Overall, a great cd and really shows how creative musically the Black Crowes really are. I recommend this to all Black Crowes fans that need something different from the Crowes or just any classic rock fan.

Three Snakes and One Charm. There is a moment of clarity when the true nature of a work is revealed. It is at this instant you come to understand why something is righteous, and what its creators were thinking and feeling during its birth. I had such a moment - and that association grows with every listen of Three Snakes. No, not on the first listen, but that's my cross to bear, not theirs.

This album is purple goodness, tubey joy. From the first note of "Under a Mountain," it creates a space to live and breathe. Breathe it does. Chirs Robinson sings with depth and knowledge. This is a man talking, my friends - and God Bless America. "One Mirror too Many" will burst from your body, commanding attention. "Blackberry" bounces, and what can you say about "Girl from a pawnshop?" Guitar with meaning, it's scarcely common these days.

Side 2 - they're not through. "How much for your Wings" - I can only spare a tear, or two. Give it three chances, you're still upside down on the deal. Enjoy...

THREE SNAKES AND ONE CHARM once again show the BLACK CROWES evolving their sound, while still being able to still show their influences. Yes, it does sound different than their first two albums, but different doesnt mean worse. Yes, you have to give this album a few listens to get used to it, but I think thats what makes this album good. UNDER A MOUNTAIN and GOOD FRIDAY, help to start the album off. These songs are slow with some good melodies and I think that Chris Robinson's vocals sound real well on this songs. GOOD FRIDAY just might be the best song from this album. NEBERKANEZER has a rough sounding, rockin beat that rocks. Another hit. ONE MIRROR TOO MANY, and BLACKBERRY are just straight rockin songs that are also hits. GIRL FROM A PAWNSHOP is another ballad type song that once again shows off the vocal abilities. I also like the organ playing on this one, way to go Ed!!! I also recommend that you give a listen to (ONLY) HALFWAY TO EVERYWHERE, BRING ON, BRING ON, LET ME SHARE THE RIDE, BETTER WHEN YOURE NOT ALONE, and the bonus tracks JUST SAY YOURE SORRY and MELOW DOWN EASY. Out of the 14 songs, there were only a couple that I couldnt really get into, but this is still a great album and it does deserve some merit.

Personally, I love this album, but it is not up to par with their prior outings, Amorica and Southern Harmony, although both are a tough act to follow. The band was in turmoil for this one. Interviews with some members indicated that Marc Ford appeared only sparingly for the recording because of personal problems. However, the album is consistently strong with some great tunes. How Much for your wings, Let me share the ride, good friday, evil eye, and Nebakhanezer make this album a great listen. This album, whose songs aren't played live much anymore, made for great live performances at the time the band was touring. Better when your not alone sounds kinda lovey dovey, but I heard them open with it in concert and have loved it ever since. Great lyrics and some really original tunes (i.e. evil eye, nebak., and wings). Only thing missing is a consistently strong lead guitar which prior recordings had.

The Black Crowes are one of just a handful of true rock and roll bands today. Although a strange album, Three Snakes has a good assortment of songs . A personal highlight is How Much For Your Wings. I would recomend Amorica or Southern Harmony over Three Snakes, but if you have those you have to get this one.

It's too bad the Black Crowes are best known for their work in the early 90's. Their later work (that includes this album) truly shows their songwriting ability and musical genius. It's a great album to listen to all the way through. It shines the best in the middle with the songs "Girl from a Pawnshop," "Halfway to Everywhere," and "Bring On, Bring On," although not a song on there is bad. I strongly recommend this album.

This band throws away so many killer songs that and I don't know why - The flow of this album is where the problem lies, but there are at leaat 8 amazing tunes that are musical and lyrical bliss - If you're sick of the usual Crowes "full throttle" approach, then this record is a great listen - A lot of drugs are incoroporated into this album, which makes some tunes classics and others a little silly - With 3 Snakes, you'll find a mixed bag of music including some jazz and funk, and as always the usual soul from Chris - But you won't be dissappointed with the interesting direction the boys have decided to go with a more selfish approach.....

I grant you it's not perfect, but why has it been labeled the Crowes's nadir. It has soul, beauty and grace(particularily the second half). Take "Bring On, Bring On," it starts with gentle sturmming guitar and a sing-along chorus, and shifts into an uplifting tone with vocals that are simply soaring and heavenly, all accented with exquisite piano, guitars and drumming. Plus they sum it all up with a perfect touch of brass work. Three Snakes And One Charm is filled with variety and densely layered music which can both rock and reach the soul. It's sad few people will ever appciate it.

While I've been a die-hard fan of the Black Crowes since day 1, it took me a long time to like this album. Compared to the first three albums, and especially the follow-up "By Your Side", "Three Snakes and One Charm" is incredibly laidback. It seems strange that this is the same exact line-up that gave us the band's magnum opus "Amorica".

"Laidback" is really the best way I can describe it. There's no shortage of slow numbers here. Even with the few upbeat numbers like "Let Me Share the Ride" (featuring the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, an opener of theirs on tour), "Blackberry" and "One Mirror Too Many", there's still a strange looseness and lax feel to the playing. It's hard to put into words. But as Chris Robinson said in an interview at the time, while "Shake Your Money Maker" might be more of a "Friday night" album, this one is more of a "Sunday afternoon".

I had a real hard time getting into this album when I bought it. It just didn't grab me the way that the others did. I kept returning to it every once in a while, and eventually grew to really love some of the songs. The loud guitar-driven "Nebakanezer" is still one of my favorites, and "How Much For Your Wings" is a beautifully catchy ballad. "Girl from a Pawnshop" has a nice country ballad feel to it.

The rereleased version (which was included in the "Sho 'Nuff" box set and also released separately) includes the two B-sides "Just Say You're Sorry" and "Mellow Down Easy". It also acts as a multi-media CD and contains the video for "Blackberry". Die-hard collectors might be curious to know that there was also a limited edition release as a box of vinyl 45s.

While the Black Crowes were always compared to bands like Rolling Stones and Faces when they started, the truth is that they always had a diverse number of influences, and their sound evolved from album to album. So in retrospect, a change like this wasn't too surprising. One paradox of many Black Crowes fans is that what we want from the Crowes is them doing what THEY themselves want to do, not necessarily what the public wants.