Over 20 years into their career, The Black Crowes have earned the right to write and record on their own terms. So when they decided they wanted to record their new album LIVE, in front of an audience of 200 lucky fans, at a barn in upstate New York, who could say no? The only downside – they had way too many songs.
Hence the double album. Today they release the two-part Before the Frost… After the Freeze, recorded live at Levon Helm’s (of The Band) barn in Woodstock, NY. “It’s off the grid” says lead singer Chris Robinson, in an exclusive sit-down with Street Date last week.
Here’s Chris on why they created this album in such a different way:
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Listen to and download the new tune I Ain’t Hiding:
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No warmongers, these Crowes -- Peace Rules!
Wait there’s more! ENTER HERE for a chance to win a Black Crowes poster signed by the entire band!
“We’re not a part of the corporate music business.” Not anymore, that is. Robinson relishes the creative freedom the Crowes now have, and they sought to make the most of it with this new record. Here’s Chris on what the process was like:
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Listen in as Chris describes the songwriting process within the band, and why they’re still at the top of their game:
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Lastly, listen as Chris takes us through Shady Grove, the mystic setting for this conceptual album, and describes the characters we’ll encounter there:
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You listen to some decades-old bands and discover they make the same album over and over again. Sometimes it works; often it doesn’t.
It’s refreshing when you have a band such as the Black Crowes, which has always sprinkled bluegrass, folk and even country into its signature sound, making it the musical equivalent of a glass prism.
Such is the case with the band’s very-much-under-wraps release “Before the Frost,” which comes with a code that allows purchasers to download a free companion disc, “Until the Freeze.”
The new album, which will be released Monday, was finalized and recorded before 200 guests at the Levon Helms Studio in Woodstock, N.Y. It’s an audio beauty.
The Black Crowes chose an unconventional way to make its ambitious new two-CD set, “Before The Frost…Until The Freeze…” Setting up shop in the barn that serves as a studio/performance hall for Levon Helm, the band recorded the CDs live in front of an audience of 200 over the course of five weekend nights.
Fans who buy “Before The Frost…” will get a code with the disc enabling them to download the companion disc, “Until The Freeze…” for free.
TRACKLIST
1. Good Morning Captain
2. Been A Long Time (Waiting On Love)
3. Appaloosa
4. A Train Still Makes A Lonely Sound
5. I Ain t Hiding
6. Kept My Soul
7. What Is Home
8. Houston Don’t Dream About Me
9. Make Glad
10. And The Band Played On
11. Last Place That Love Lives
I just bought this record. Listening to Chris talk about the record it seems like the vinyl version is really the one to get.. and they do a good job of making it special with the re-arranged tracklist. If you get the CD version, you should re order your mp3s in the order of the vinyl... it makes a lot more sense as a piece of music... great record. Better than Warpaint by a mile (and I really thought that was a return to form for these guys after writing them off for By Your Side and Lions)... Before the Frost is right up there with the Crowes' Strongest work (Amorica, 3Snakes, SHMC). WAy way good.
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