Back to basics but not as good

Review Score: (6/10)
This one is a real dissappointment after 3 great albums in a row. A lot of people consider Southern Harmony, Amorica, and Three Snakes to have been self-indulgent releases. For me, their appeal was that the best songs on these albums crept up on you and got under your skin and into your head after a few listens. The new disc takes a few steps back - the more easily accessible tunes recall filler on Shake Your Moneymaker, and even then are not as good as the original. There really are no gems on this record. No "Wiser Time", "Descending", or "My Morning Song". It's retread rock of the kind that I thought the Crowes were well above. This one might have been worthy of Lenny Kravitz, with it's throwaway riffs and simplistic ballads. Too bad it only demonstrates that the Crowes are losing it. Here's hoping this is not the start of a trend. They were one of my favourite bands.

I'm also dying for a b-sides release from these guys. I know that their old "throwaways" are much better than anything on this record.

More Reviews:

• So-so
• Best they ever did
• This is the worst Crowes album. Where's Marc Ford?
• Good rock n' roll
• Still Kickin
• WOW!--no other word describes it.
• Great return to form
• A Highly Underrated Album
• It rocks, but it's sterile and soulless.
• great first half
• Shows Crowes True Talent
• Masterpiece!
• what happened to the lyrics? and all the other stuff?
• Can't get it out of my car!
• Back on Top
• This is the best band of the '90's worst album.....
• Decent but not their best
• Very pleased
• it's quite good
• Not MONEY or HARMONY, but a welcome return to the old days
• VERY AVERAGE
• return to form
• I haven't heard music like this in years...
• By Your Side & In Your Guts
• STOP, P*T AND ROLL
• good,but not their best
• ITS NO SOUTHERN HARMONY-BUT IT BEATS THE BACKSTREET BOYS
• Two game losing streak
• The Black Crowes Rock Again
• ADDICTING!
• Best Crowes CD yet !
• Great! For It's soul (entire) music content! Great!
• Disappointing
• terrific
• Not up to their standard
• Still rock but too commercial next to the others
• retirement is a brilliant idea
• A band on the downside of its career....
• The boys are back in town
• Powerhouse Riffs.
• Back to their roots.
• Don't Just Dismiss These Guys
• A good disc
• Not as good as Three Snakes and One Charm
• Worse than Amorica, and that says a lot
• The Crowes are Back in the action, back in the Sterlite
• The Black Crowes are RAW
• BAD Crowes
• Best since "Shake Your Money Maker" - and they're all good!!
• Great !!! If I could rate more stars, I would !!!
• HERE SIND AM BESTEN
• Best CD I've Bought in a Long Time
• BY YOUR SIDE is what the Crows second album should have been
• Great Band, Poor Effort.
• best cd I've heard in a long time
• Good ol' 70's Rock n Roll in the 90's
• HIIIII-YAAAAA!!!
• Crowes ROCK on this album!!!!
• Bring back Marc Ford
• B.C fan
• "By Your Side" continues to disprove "retro" criticism
• Well done boys! That is a great staff.
• it ain't amorica, but hey-- it's still damn good....
• An "all 'round" good album
• What the.....?
• The Black Crowes are back on top
• One of there best Cd's yet.
• Who said Rock N' Roll was dead?
• Shake Your Moneymaker revisited
• Rock & roll is back again!
• Back To Their Roots
• 'By Your Side' falls by the wayside
• Outstanding...feel good southern rock and roll
• Let the music be by your side !!!!
• Thank you, thank you, thank you!
• new band members, but same old sound
• New stuff from the only rock band that still rocks
• Black Crowes Flying High with By Your Side
• A true classic from America's greatest rock'n'roll band!
• Wll the real Black Crowes please stand up?
• A welcomed return to form.
• Yet Another Lousy Crowes Album
• A return to top form.
• Back to the basics
• Not quite up to Amorica, but better than the last...
• Feels Good, Crowes are Back in business
• One Kick-butt Album!!
• Excellent- a return to the old Crowes
• Return to form
• Straight forward Rock n' Roll
• From a Fan
• great. i loved it exspecially with sven. one of the best.
• The Black Crowes are incredible!!