The new Black Crowes album, “A Pound of Feathers”. If you are a Black Crowes fan they work within a very specific lane, but they do it with overwhelming personality. You can hear the Stones, the Faces, and a dozen other classic-rock touchstones, but that kind of swagger and soul can’t be carbon-copied. You either have it or you don’t. The Robinsons have it.
I was so psyched when they got back together (again!) a few years back, and thought 2024’s “Happiness Bastards” was a strong, if somewhat straight-ahead, comeback album. Even better was last year’s “Amorica” box set reissue, a deep dive into what’s arguably their creative peak.
Based on the two songs they’ve released from “A Pound of Feathers” so far—which dropped I’m fully in. “Profane Prophecy” in particular opens with a killer Keith Richards-style riff, features some smoking slide guitar, and finds the band sounding looser and more playful (those call-and-response backing vocals) than they have in years.
In the video for “Profane Prophecy“, the Black Crowes have conjured seven devils (representing each deadly sin) to wreak havoc on this little fairytale world of stark morality and harsh retribution. In creating this world, they leaned into uncanniness with hyper-unrealistic theatrical set pieces and life-size dioramas.
Chris: “We made this record in eight to ten days. Bringing the high and inspiration
from our previous LP ‘Happiness Bastards’ into this album, it was a natural progression.
We experimented more, we wrote on instinct and how we were feeling in the moment. Rich brought a spontaneity to the record that I can’t describe, but it’s the best shit he’s ever done.”
Rich: “This album feels transformative to us. Going back to our roots, we felt that spark
in the studio and how we work together. Lighting a fire that hits harder, more jagged but
is still true to our musical essence.”
THE Black Crowes with brothers Chris and Rich Robinson as the bands prominent members, started their sonic odyssey in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1984. The new album their 10th full-length, called A POUND OF FEATHERS is recorded and ready for release on March 13th.
The Fat Angel Sings 