The Black Crowes
By Your Side

We are in 1999, and the Black Crowes from Atlanta are not coming from a serene period: the departures of guitarist Marc Ford and bassist Johnny Colt threaten to undermine the band's balance, as they prepare to return to the studio to record "By your side", the new musical effort of our group, led as always by the charismatic and temperamental brothers Chris and Rich Robinson.

From the very first listen, all doubts are swept away: the band appears more in form than ever and pulls out a series of excellent tracks, capable of satisfying the many nostalgic fans of good old rock.

In the Black Crowes' musical recipe, there's certainly no lack of a good dose of inspiration from Seventies sounds, with nods to bands like the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, a particular taste for Southern Rock in the vein of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and some scattered soul hints here and there. Completing it all is the excellent voice of Chris Robinson, which perfectly suits hard rock and in which the influence of Robert Plant can be easily discerned.

The Black Crowes make no missteps with this album: eleven highly enjoyable tracks that slide by nonstop between an engaging riff by Rich (who on this occasion successfully takes on both the solo and rhythmic parts) and a catchy chorus that imprints itself in the memory from the first listens without descending into banality, not forgetting the important contribution of keyboards, as is Southern tradition, and the brass section.

There's room for everything: from the extremely engaging and intense "Go Faster", "Then she said my name" and "Kickin' my heart around" to the ballads "Welcome to the goodtimes" and "Only a fool", where the band's soul side emerges, from "Virtue and Vice", with its almost triumphant progression, to the pleasant single "By your side", not forgetting the other tracks, all capable in their own way of exciting the listener.

"By your side" is definitely recommended to all lovers of raw and no-frills rock, which, despite its "classic" influences, showcases a very fresh and current sound, with tracks that will keep you company for a long time without tiring you.