Search - Black Crowes :: Three Snakes & One Charm

The Black Crowes caught the wave

Adam Briggs | Burlington, VT | 12/21/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This band understands rock n' roll for all it's depth. I truly believe that if they had been a 70's band they would be considered in the same league as The Stones and Skynyrd. Of course, they're much more musically talented than bands such as The Beatles, but that's pretty obvious to anyone who loves bands who actually have the balls to play live rather than just hide behind their celebrity status. I'm so glad they're out there again preaching the doctrine of soulful music. Every album they've ever put out has been a masterpiece and this is no exception."

A VERY laidback Crowes album. Took some time to grow on me.

Bill M. | MA, USA | 01/15/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"While I've been a die-hard fan of the Black Crowes since day 1, it took me a long time to like this album. Compared to the first three albums, and especially the follow-up "By Your Side", "Three Snakes and One Charm" is incredibly laidback. It seems strange that this is the same exact line-up that gave us the band's magnum opus "Amorica".



"Laidback" is really the best way I can describe it. There's no shortage of slow numbers here. Even with the few upbeat numbers like "Let Me Share the Ride" (featuring the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, an opener of theirs on tour), "Blackberry" and "One Mirror Too Many", there's still a strange looseness and lax feel to the playing. It's hard to put into words. But as Chris Robinson said in an interview at the time, while "Shake Your Money Maker" might be more of a "Friday night" album, this one is more of a "Sunday afternoon".



I had a real hard time getting into this album when I bought it. It just didn't grab me the way that the others did. I kept returning to it every once in a while, and eventually grew to really love some of the songs. The loud guitar-driven "Nebakanezer" is still one of my favorites, and "How Much For Your Wings" is a beautifully catchy ballad. "Girl from a Pawnshop" has a nice country ballad feel to it.



The rereleased version (which was included in the "Sho 'Nuff" box set and also released separately) includes the two B-sides "Just Say You're Sorry" and "Mellow Down Easy". It also acts as a multi-media CD and contains the video for "Blackberry". Die-hard collectors might be curious to know that there was also a limited edition release as a box of vinyl 45s.



While the Black Crowes were always compared to bands like Rolling Stones and Faces when they started, the truth is that they always had a diverse number of influences, and their sound evolved from album to album. So in retrospect, a change like this wasn't too surprising. One paradox of many Black Crowes fans is that what we want from the Crowes is them doing what THEY themselves want to do, not necessarily what the public wants."