THE BLACK CROWES
A Pound Of Feathers (Silver Arrow)
The Black Crowes returned two years ago with the very good Happiness Bastards, and a more aggressive sound than the southern rockers’ previously more relaxed delivery. A Pound Of Feathers is even edgier, and even better. Chris Robinson’s voice is biting in a London punk style at times, bellowing in a Red Hot Chili Peppers way at others; the riffs from brother Rich are as heavy as any he’s written, and the pounding drums and epic production only add to the big feel of this album.
There are too many standouts amongst the all-killer track list to name, but the range from acoustic ballad Pharmacy Chronicles to reality-check rocker Do The Parasite and profound gut-puncher High And Lonesome is pretty incredible. There are those who will always prefer the original lineup and its classic early-90s output, but it’s a challenge to name a Black Crowes album that is actually better than this one.
words JOHN-PAUL DAVIES
