THE BLACK CROWES, FREAK 'N' ROLL INTO THE FOG CD REVIEW ON ROCK N ROLL UNIVERSE

Recorded live in August, 2005 at the legendary Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco, California during their reunion tour, this 2 CD set shows that even after several years apart pursuing solo projects that these high flying (in more ways than one) birds came back with a vengeance, showcasing all the talents that made them one of America's finest rock n roll bands. A wonderful representation, this shows the band going from strength to strength as they go from full throttle Faces styled rockers, more instrospective acoustic based fare and long extended jams which are sure to thrill both long time fans and Crowes newcomers as well.

From the beginning to the end of this 2 and a half hour set, the audio companion to the DVD of the same name, the band is never less than interesting, and there are plenty of moments that are stunning. One thing you can't say is that they don't give you your money's worth. Things start off a bit ragged with "(Only) Halfway To Somewhere," but by the time this 8 minute plus version concludes, it's clear that they're fully warmed up as they tear into a ferocious version of "Sting Me", and from that point they never look back. There's plenty of time during many of the extended versions of familiar songs such as "Soul Singing",(extended to almost 10 minutes), the nearly 14 minute jam of "My Morning Song" and the 10 minute plus "Non Fiction" for some serious musical interplay. This is a band which clearly lives for the stage, and they show the talents which made no less than Jimmy Page take notice and have the Crowes join him for a much vaunted tour and live album several years back. Despite Chris Robinson's hippie leanings, the band is so tight that he can get away with it, and the guitar team of Rich Robinson and Mark Ford combine to form an incredible duo, interlocking at times reminiscent of The Allman Brothers at times, others Humble Pie at their peak. Even the acoustic set in the middle is stellar as they add to the proceedings, lending a shade of light recalling Led Zeppelin ala 'Zeppelin III'. The efforts of drummer Steve Gorman and bassist Sven Pipien cannot be overlooked as they drive the band on, maintaining a solid presence throughout, providing an anchor from which the band can soar. By the time they end the show with a cover of The Band's "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" there should be no doubt that they truly are one of the U.S.'s finest ever. The only drawback is the omission of "Thorn In My Pride" which ranks among their best songs, but a slight like that can be overlooked when the rest of the results are so good.

In conclusion, if you're a Black Crowes fan, this is absolutely essential. If you've been curious, but never gave the band a chance before, this can be one live album which can be certainly recommended as a fine place to start, and to see what all the fuss is about. Although Marc Ford, Steve Gorman and keyboardist Ed Hawrysch have all left the band since this recording, there's no doubt that there's plenty of life here yet, and it will be interesting to see where they go from this point forward. Losing that many members in such a short period of time might decimate many lesser bands, but this is one who can never be counted out, and I certainly look forward to a brand new studio release in the hopefully not too distant future. 9/10 http://www.blackcrowes.com/