Crowin’ Around is a new showstopper of a song collection from one truly inventive and refreshing musical collectives. Professor Louie and his illustrious band of Crowmatix deliver a jovial bunch of blues, rock and roll, funk, and soul epics with an astounding amount of charm and confidence.
Tight performances grace each song on this 11-track listen. A brilliant showcase of a passionate group of veteran musicians coming together to have a bit of fun supported by immense talent and musical chemistry. Professor Louie & The Crowmatix are fronted by the titular Professor Louie, vocalist, keyboardist, and accordionist, the band’s sole main collaborator for 17 years. The Professor is backed by Miss Marie on percussion, more vocals, and even more keyboards, Frank Campbell on the bass, Dan Hickey on the drums, and Todd Mihan on the guitars. The album is also supported by a quartet from Woodstock horns from the Scranton and Woodstock Chapters.
For the length of Crowin’ Around, 45 minutes divided on 11 songs, there’s a steady stream of upbeat cheerfulness, honky tonk pianos, characterful vocals and meaningful, lighthearted lyrics, easy going grooves, and whole heaps of fun. The album’s starter ‘Elevate Yourself’ is a deliberate and slow-paced piece of sleazy blues and rock and roll that is defined by a hard hitting bass riff and a terrific groove. From the beginning, Professor Louie & The Crowmatix are comfortable showing off immense knack for layering their characterful keyboards with Louie’s soulful vocals and the occasional horn stabs and juicy leads. ‘Too Much Fun’ is exactly what’s written on the box. This pure unadulterated piece of rock and roll features a bouncy walking bass line, a fast paced groove, and the album’s most outstanding guitar solo. An efficient and capable piece of classic rock and roll goodness.
‘Monday Boogaloo’ features more horns in a more prominent positioning in the mix with rich and textured arrangements and riffs. The cut features a delicious syncopated groove that gives it a special taste, and its tasteful lead sections, featuring guitar and bass solos are masterfully subdued and just lush. More syncopated beats with the album’s first touches of melancholy can be found on the meaningful and ska-inspired ‘A Million’. With its colorful and prominent melodies and potent chord sequences, ‘A Million’ is the album’s first foray into lush, melodic songwriting. ‘Johnny’ is a quick return to the album’s true rock and roll form but with a melodic flair that the album will not be able to do without for most of the remainder of its runtime. With its build based on a sick vocal riff, ‘Johnny’ showcases more of the band’s exceptional chemistry through the group-yelled riff.
Bisecting the album is its first piece of true melancholia. Utilizing a hypnotizing blend of creamy keyboard sounds to deliver its rich and strong melodies, this drumless instrumental is the album’s first and last, and is easily one of my personal favorites. With its Tom Waits-level darkness and truly mesmerizing blend of steady, bass-delivered rhythm and keyboard parts, ‘Bird’s Lament’ is up there with the album’s absolute best offerings. ‘Rag Mama Rag’ reintroduces honky tonk rock and roll pianos and killer grooves after the touching respite that is ‘Bird’s Lament’. A welcome return to shape, this edgy and fast-paced cut is driven by the rhythmic piano hits and leagues of confident character that have graced each single of the album’s songs thus far. ‘Steadfast & True’ can be safely called the album’s first pop ballad. With its base built around warm acoustic guitar lines, familiar, gentle chord progressions, and saccharine swift vocals and words, this cut is soft and pretty and easy to fall for.
‘Stick To The Plan’ is a fiery piece of classic rock-tinged rock and roll that would be safely disguised as an outtake from Physical Graffiti, especially with its short and majestic blues solo, rock solid backbeat, and wealthy, varied, and energetic keyboard parts. The penultimate ‘Watch The River Flowing’ introduces a touch of sleazy, soft rock near the tail end of the record. This emotive blues ballad is fully loaded with touching solos, characterful organ playing, and terrific, heartfelt vocals that elevate this rather dramatic piece. The album ends with the sweet and cozy Christmas-themed ‘A Different Christmas’. A soft song and a sweet, heartfelt closer, the gentle rim shots, chill pacing, and melodic warmth on this song make it feel like a warm and soothing conclusion to a rather fiery and heady listen.
Crowin’ Around by Professor Louie & The Crowmatix is a joyous and fulfilling listen from a band of seasoned musical veterans. The group deliver an excessive amount of solid chops all across the board. Tight performances and raw, immersive mixes, Crowin’ Around is an immediately gripping album that does not let go until its very last seconds.