After releasing two albums that made them big stars, each having hit singles and radio staples,
the Black Crowes
headed a little bit out to left field on their 1994 album
Amorica
. Instead of moving further into the pop/rock mainstream, they made a classic album instead. Crafting a sound that's rich and full, with guitars ringing like knockout blows and the rhythm section equally sturdy and flexible, they wrote songs that had dynamics to spare, space to roam, and a rock-solid core. Over the top,
Chris Robinson
became a great vocalist before the listener's very eyes. Where sometimes in the past he seemed to be singing over the music, here he sounds wrapped up in it and secure enough in his place to cede ground to the instrumental prowess the group so clearly displays. Guitarists
Rich Robinson
and
Marc Ford
especially write their names into the history books here as they twine together like kudzu, unleash ferocious solos, and belt out mighty riffs. Even the ballads feature incredible guitar work, "Wiser Time" being a fine example of how the guitars shine while also forming a perfect backdrop for one of
's more affecting vocals. The record truly does seem to have some heavier emotional stuff going on and that helps give the lyrics some real impact. The songs that at first feel like good-time jams, like the stuttering, swaggering "Gone," have an extra level of fire and brimstone, and maybe even some danger lurking in the grooves. To that end, there is definitely a little bit of jam band looseness creeping into the mix, but it's counterbalanced by the intensity of their playing and by the intricate arrangements found in songs like "A Conspiracy" or "Ballad in Urgency." The former song is the album's highlight: the tempo shifts, the amazing wah-wah guitar riffing,
's absolute triumph on vocals, and the staggeringly good production make it an all-time classic. The album as a whole is the band's best work; they're at the pinnacle of their powers, and their relationships were still intact enough to make it work. Rock & roll didn't get much better than this in 1994, or any other year. ~ Tim Sendra