Search - Crown of Thorns :: Crown Jewels

Great Anthology from an Under-appreciated Band

Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 09/20/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Crown of Thorns is another quality AOR/melodic rock group on the Frontiers label. Led by singer/guitarist Jean Beauvoir, who has ties to bands as varied as the Plasmatics and the Ramones to Doro and KISS, the band plays fairly straightforward, not too heavy, melodic rock with a few quirks. To my ears they sound like the offspring of TNT and Enuff Znuff with some trace elements of King's X thrown in for good measure. That, and a major Beatles infatuation.



The 3-disc compilation Crown Jewels provides a nice overview of the band's career, and features a total of 46 tracks, all of which have been digitally remastered. Among the highlights of the Crown Jewels set are a pair of Christmas songs (exclusive to this set), a brilliant cover of the Beatles' "Don't Let Me Down" and a duet with Doro Pesch on the song "Shed No Tears". A 24-minute video interview with Beauvior is also included, which is a nice addition. This is a great way to become familiar with the band's work, though it does have a somewhat hefty price tag. It's also a nice collection for long-time fans, as it is the first time we get to hear these songs with such improved sound quality."