Acoustic guitars and Croweology: A Review of Black Crowes Latest Album

Acoustic guitars play a huge role in Black Crowes’ latest album entitled ‘Croweology’.

Black Crowes is an American rock and roll band that has been in the music industry since 1984. Several music newspapers and magazines such as the Melody Maker and the Rolling Stone hailed the band as “The Most Rock ‘n’ Roll Rock ‘n’ Roll Band in the World” and the Best New American Band during the 90s. The band underwent hiatus, changing of members’ lineup and then back to making new materials and going on tour.

‘Croweology’ is their 9^th studio album, which is a double, all acoustic album. The idea behind this album is the 20^th anniversary celebration of the band. The album also depicts how far their music and their lives have gone.

According to Steve Gorman, the band’s drummer, all of their songs in this new album will begin on acoustic guitar. In an interview with Standard-Examiner, he shared that “If you are writing a song on full volume with an amp, that is not likely a song that will last. If it is a real song, you can sit with an acoustic guitar and play it and it’ll sounds good.”

Gorman also added that for this album, the vibes for each song were different compared to the past materials they have done. “I think it (Croweology) is the most cohesive unit ever,” he shares. He also commented in that same interview that one of those things that sets Black Crowes apart from other bands is the fact that they work in a classic yet undated manner.  “Someone said to me recently, ‘You guys don’t seem to blaze new trails,’ and I said, ‘If you want to look at it like that, at least we are keeping the old trails passable.’

Acoustic guitars will also play a huge role on their upcoming tour where they will play two sets, one all-acoustic and one plugged-in.

Q AND NOT U

JOHN DAVIS – Drums / Percussion / Vocals / Etc.

HARRIS KLAHR – Guitars / Vocals / Synths / Etc.

CHRISTOPHER RICHARDS – Guitars / Vocals/Bass / Synths

THE BASICS

Q and Not U, comprised of John Davis, Harris Klahr and Chris Richards, formed in the summer of 1998 (along with former member Matt Borlik) and began playing out in November of that year. The band’s first release, the Hot and Informed single, came out in April 2000. The band’s second release, the No Kill No Beep Beep full-length record, was released in October of 2000. Following extensive touring on behalf of No Kill No Beep Beep, the band parted ways with Borlik in late 2001. Q And Not U released a single on vinyl and compact disc, called On Play Patterns, in April of 2002. In May and June of 2002, the trio returned to Inner Ear Recording Studio to record a new full-length, Different Damage. It was released in the fall of 2002 and, like their previous recordings, it was produced and engineered by Ian MacKaye and Don Zientara. Following the release of Different Damage, Q And Not U embarked upon extensive touring of the U.S., Europe, Canada and Japan. In June of 2003, Q And Not U re-entered Inner Ear with Ian and Don to record two new songs for a single. This single, “X-Polynation”/”Book of Flags,” was released in September of 2003 and coincided with another large U.S. tour. In 2004, Q And Not U played shows in the U.S. throughout the spring in preparation for the recording of their third album, Power. Power was recorded in June of 2004 in Brooklyn, NY. with Rafael Cohen and Pete Cafarella. It was mixed in July ’04 at Inner Ear with Rafael and Don Zientara. Power was released in October of ’04 and was followed with more touring of the U.S. and Europe. Q And Not U played its final show in Washington, D.C. on September 23, 2005.