Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

Royal

 

  • Artist: The Amazing Crowns
  • Rating: StarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: June 06, 2000
  • Total Time: 37:07
  • Type: Lyrics are included with the album
  • Genre: Rock

Review

The loss of original guitar slinger Johnny McGuire and his red-hot Gretsch hasn't slowed down or significantly altered the adrenalinized retro country/rockabilly quartet. It sounds like the hard-touring Rhode Island rockers worked a little harder on their typically no-frills production for their third studio release, as occasional overdubs and guest appearances of sax on the hyperactive "Greasy" and even pedal steel guitar on the album's only ballad "Flipping Coins" pushes the rockabilly rebels envelope, if only slightly and temporarily. Unsurprisingly, the album is filled with the caffeinated, hiccoughing vocals, sputtering guitar, and slaphappy stand-up bass that characterizes the Crowns' raw, rocking sound. While this won't set new standards for a genre ruled by Rev. Horton Heat and his disciples, the unpretentious Crowns inject just enough subtlety and change-ups, like the jazz-inflected intro into "Halos and Horns" and the Gene Vincent styled "Hat Size," to keep these roughnecks a smidgen ahead of the pack. When they open up all the stops on the impossibly driving "Chop Shop," with its 2:34 of pure in-your-face nervy punkabilly complete with jittery slapping bass and a wild, unexpected slowdown in the song's middle section, they sound every bit as unstoppable as the nitro-fueled hot rods that pepper their lyrics. At 14 tracks and 37 high-energy minutes, this is just enough of a good thing. ~ Hal Horowitz, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Still Royal Jason Kendall The Amazing Crowns (2:50)
Mr. Fix It Jason Kendall The Amazing Crowns (2:32)
Perfect Sin Jason Kendall The Amazing Crowns (2:49)
The Ride Joe Gittleman The Amazing Crowns (2:19)
Halos & Horns Jason Kendall The Amazing Crowns (2:53)
Flipping Coins Jason Kendall The Amazing Crowns (3:18)
Hat Size Jason Kendall The Amazing Crowns (2:18)
Invitation to Alienation Jason Kendall The Amazing Crowns (2:30)
Out the Door Jason Kendall The Amazing Crowns (3:25)
Greasy Jason Kendall The Amazing Crowns (2:00)
Losing Streak Jason Kendall The Amazing Crowns (2:30)
Bitter Life Jason Kendall The Amazing Crowns (1:53)
Blue Light Jason Kendall The Amazing Crowns (3:16)
Chop Shop Jason Kendall The Amazing Crowns (2:34)

Credits

Joe Gittleman (Producer)
Search unanswered questions...
Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics
 
 

 

Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more