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Rating: (This is my very first review that I wrote, which I had already developed way back on October 2, 2011. So, for pure correctness, I am reporting the review as I had finished it, as a beginner and "bimbominkiosa", without making any changes. I hope you like it)
Before diving into the analysis of the album, let's take a short step back in time.
It was January of 1990, United States. The hair/glam metal movement was on the verge of collapse, enjoying its last moments of glory thanks to bands like Whitesnake, Skid Row, Slaughter, Cinderella, Poison, etc. This musical movement would soon be superseded by the explosion of the grunge phenomenon (as journalists called it), represented by bands of the caliber of Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, and Pearl Jam.
In the midst of these two phenomena, however, there was another musical genre that wasn't faring as well. In fact, since the early 80s, southern rock, or as I like to call it in translation, southern rock, was experiencing a marked decline in both quality and popularity. Lynyrd Skynyrd had disbanded in 1977 (due to the death of Ronnie Van Zant and part of the band in a plane crash), the same fate befell the Eagles and the Allman Brothers Band. Despite this, bands like ZZ Top, Molly Hatchet, .38 Special, and Grateful Dead managed to survive, thanks to modifications they made to their sound to adapt to the trends of the time and still manage to sell something. For some, this change proved to be an optimal choice, both for critical success and musical and artistic quality ("Eliminator" by ZZ Top is the clearest example).
In this context, the Black Crowes from Atlanta, led by brothers Chris and Rich Robinson, stepped into the scene, accepting the challenge of reviving southern rock, the TRUE southern rock, and revitalizing the ancient and boisterous spirit of rock 'n' roll, drawing inspiration from their childhood heroes: Rolling Stones, Buddy Guy, Otis Redding, and Humble Pie.
What the Black Crowes offer with their debut album, which is also their biggest success, Shake Your Money Maker, is an essential rock, raw, hard, yet easy to listen to for everyone. But above all, it is impactful, it gets into your head and doesn’t get out that easily. The decent opening track Twice as Hard immediately makes the listener understand what they are facing, and this album couldn't open any better. Continuing to listen, we come across various rocky and blues-infused pieces like Jealous Again, Stare It Cold, and the soul cover by Otis Redding Hard to Handle, here performed with an almost Lynyrd Skynyrd-like style with a very pleasing result even to ears accustomed to completely different genres. It is precisely this cover that will bring abundant fame to the Black Crowes, being considered one of the best rock bands of the first half of the '90s. Going forward, we can enjoy real southern blues tracks, such as Sister Luck and She Talks To Angels, the latter being another anthem in the band's concerts and discography. To complete an already more than excellent album, the cheerful and rhythmic rock 'n' roll of Thick N' Thin, and the harsh and raw Struttin' Blues, with a guitar riff immediately reminiscent of the legendary Australian masters of dirty hard rock AC/DC, intervene.
In conclusion, there are few music albums, rock or otherwise, that manage to enter not just my brain but also my heart. Shake Your Money Maker is one of them. This album truly marks the rebirth of a genre that was born with Free Bird and Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd and seemed dead and buried with Van Zant's departure. An album to highly recommend to all rock lovers, and even to the more metallic listeners, hoping they are not the usual "trvE".
RATING = 95 / 100
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Jealous Again (04:34)
Cheat the odds that made you brave to try to gamble at times
Well I feel like dirty laundry sending sickness on down the line
Tell you why
'Cause I'm jealous, jealous again
Thought it time I let you in
Yeah, I'm jealous, jealous again
Got no time, baby
Always drunk on Sunday, trying to feel like I'm at home
Smell the gasoline burning, boys out feeling nervous and cold
Oh yeah
I'm jealous, jealous again
Thought it time I let you in
Jealous, jealous again
Got no time, baby
Stop, understand me
I ain't afraid of losing face
Stop, understand me
I ain't afraid of ever losing faith in you
Never felt like smiling sugar wanna' kill me yet
Find me loose lipped and laughing, singing songs ain't got no regrets
Oh yeah
I'm jealous, jealous again
Thought it time I let you in
Jealous, yeah, I'm jealous again
Got no time, baby
Stop, understand me
I ain't afraid of losing face
Stop, understand me
I ain't afraid of ever losing faith in you
Don't you think I want to, don't you think I would
Don't you think I'd tell you baby if I only could
Am I acting crazy, am I just too proud
Am I just plain lazy, am I, am I, am I, am I
Jealous, jealous again
Thought it time that I let you in
Jealous, jealous again
Got no time to let you in
Oh yeah, I'm jealous, jealous again
Got no time now to let you in
Jealous, yeah, jealous again
Got no time, baby
Oh yeah
03 Sister Luck (05:13)
Worried sick my eyes are hurting
To rest my head I'd take a life
Outside the girls are dancing
'Cause when you're down it just don't seem right
Feeling second fiddle to a dead man
Up to my neck with your disregard
Like a beat dog that's walking on the broadway
No one wants to hear you when you're down
Sister luck is screaming out
Somebody else's name
Sister luck is screaming out
Somebody else's name
A flip of a coin
Might make a head turn
No surprise, who sleeps
Held my hand over a candle
Flame burnin' but I never weep
Sister luck is screaming out
Somebody else's name
Sister luck is screaming out
Somebody else's name
What a shame
(Repeat 2nd Chorus)
04 Could I've Been So Blind (03:44)
How could I've been so blind
So empty that I've never felt warm
Can I spell it out
Turn myself out of my home
Lookin' like a fool
Feelin' even worse than it seems
Tryin' hard as nails
Believin' only in myself
And now it looks like innocence is gone
I know right and I know what's wrong
Feeling lonely that's the way it goes
Sometimes
But my greatest fear
Paint a smile from ear to ear
Alone and cryin'
Living like this is no better than dying
I tell you baby things are gonna' change
Looking like we were caught out in the rain
Feeling lonely
That's the way it goes
Sometimes
Chorus:
Could I ever have been so blind
Could I ever have been so blind
Could I ever have been so blind
Could I ever have been so blind
Solo
Could I ever have been so blind
Could I ever have been so blind
Hardest thing I ever had to do
Was stand up straight and tell it all to you
Look you right in the eye
Tell you baby sorry but I have lied
And now it looks like innocence is gone
I know right and I know what's wrong
Feeling lonely that's the way it goes
Sometimes
(Repeat Chorus 4 times)
05 Seeing Things (05:18)
I find it hard to shed a tear
You brought it all on yourself my dear
Wrong, yes I may be
Don't leave a light on for me
'Cause I ain't comin' home
It hurts me baby to be alone
Yes, it hurts me baby
A hundred years will never ease
Hearing things I won't believe
I saw it with my own two eyes
All the pain that I can't hide
And this pain starts in my heart
And this love tears us apart
You won't find me bent down on my knees
Ain't bendin' over backwards baby
Not to please
'Cause I'm seeing things for the first time
I'm seeing things for the first time, oh yeah
I'm seeing things for the first time
In my life, in my life
I used to dream
Of better days that never came
Sorry ain't nothin' to me
I'm gone and that's the way it must be
So please I've done my time
Lovin' you is such a crime
You won't fine me down on, on my knees
Won't fine me over backwards baby
Just to please
'Cause I'm seeing things for the first time
I"m seeing things for the first time
Seeing things for the first time
Oh I'm seeing things for the first time
Yeah, seeing things for the first time
I'm seeing things for the first time
Yeah, I'm seeing things for the first time
In my life, in my life
06 Hard to Handle (03:07)
Baby, here I am, I'm a man on the scene
I can give you what you want, but you got to come home with me
I forgot some good old lovin' and I got some more in store
When I get through throwin' it on you, you got to come back for more
Boys and things that come by the dozen
That ain't nothin' but drugstore lovin'
Hey little thing let me light your candle
'Cause mama I'm sure hard to handle now
Yes around
Action speaks louder than words and I'm a man of great experience
I know you got another man but I can love you better than him
Take my hand, don't be afraid, I'm gonna prove every word I say
I'm advertising love for free, so you can place your ad with me
Boys will come along a dime by the dozen
That ain't nothing but ten cent lovin'
Hey little thing let me light your candle
'Cause mama I'm sure hard to handle now
Yes around
Yeah, hard to handle now, oh baby
Baby, here I am, I'm a man on your scene
I can give you what you want, but you got to come home with me
I forgot some good old lovin' and I got some more in store
When I get through throwin' it on you, you got to come a-runnin' back for more
Boys will come along a dime by the dozen
That ain't nothing but drug store lovin'
Hey little thing let me light your candle
'Cause mama I'm sure hard to handle now
Yes around
Hard, hard to handle now, oh yeah
Boys will come along a dime by the dozen
That ain't nothing but ten cent lovin'
Hey little thing let me light your candle
'Cause mama I'm sure hard to handle now
Yes around
07 Thick n' Thin (02:44)
Got a chainsaw buzzin'
Who's that cussin'
Eyes start blinkin'
The boys all start their wishing
Left holdin' the bag again
Buring it at both ends
Don't believe she's a friend
Chorus:
Thick, thick & thin
Let it loose now, let it go to the wind
Got my clock tock tickin'
Hear the madame start bitchin'
See the boys itch itchin'
Do girls ever know what they're missin'
But it sounds like shit to me
Last laugh mine will be
I don't believe she is clean
Chorus:
Thick, baby, yeah, thick & thin
08 She Talks to Angels (05:29)
She never mentions the word addiction
In certain company
Yes, she'll tell you she's an orphan
After you meet her family
She paints her eyes as black as night, now
Pulls those shades down tight
Yeah, she gives a smile when the pain comes
The pain's gonna make everything alright
Says she talks to angels
They call her out by her name
Oh yeah, she talks to angels
Says they call her out by her name
She keeps a lock of hair in her pocket
She wears a cross around her neck
Yes, the hair is from a little boy
And the cross is someone she has not met, not yet
Says she talks to angels
Says they all know her name
Oh yeah, she talks to angels
Says they call her out by her name
She don't know no lover
None that I ever seen
Yeah, to her that ain't nothing
But to me, yeah me
It means everything
She paints her eyes as black as night now
She pulls those shades down tight
Oh yeah, there's a smile when the pain comes,
The pain's gonna make everything alright, alright yeah
She talks to angels
Says they call her out by her name
Oh yeah-eah-eah, angels
Call her out by her name
Oh-ooh-oh-oh angels
They call her out by her name
Oh-oh, she talks to angels
They call her out
Yeah-eah-eah, they call her out
Don't you know that they call her out by her name?
10 Stare It Cold (05:14)
Under the weather
I never got better
Wrapped up in my disease
Mile away, she want to count my day
Look a little older in the light
Under the weather
Feelin' very heavy
Never up for no air
Sea legs start to wigglin'
And sick I'm still feelin'
Just know I never cared
Don't you want to feel it
Don't you want to stare it cold
Don't you want to feel it
Don't you want to stare it cold
Never thought about it
And never no questions
Seein' where I've gone wrong
No kiss made it magic
'Cause that old girl has had it
Then it's time for me to run along
(Repeat Chorus 4 times)
(Repeat verse 1)
(Repeat Chorus 4 times)
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Other reviews
By shooting star
From the first notes of the distorted guitar in "Twice As Hard," it is clear that the group is not used to frills but to a raw, hard, and especially direct style.
The gem of this album, and one of the most beautiful songs in their entire discography, is "She Talks To Angels," where acoustic guitar and organ transport the listener on a decadent yet profound journey.
By claudio carpentieri
"We are absolutely not just talking about simple replicants driven by an irrepressible desire for revival; the class is all there and can be perceived with a naked ear."
"Forty-five minutes of high caloric power that mostly feeds on the musical abc generated during those two magical decades (the 60s and 70s...)."
By LendryWhite
"Shake Your Money Maker is one of those albums I would definitely take to a desert island and never tire of listening to."
"It manages to combine in a rather original mix, genres like Blues, rock, and hard rock, all spiced with a bit of American Spirit."
