Shake Your Money Maker

Annoying bar music.

Give me the Stones or give me Hootie but don't give me both. D+

This album was a breath of fresh air in a period that had hard rock / hair metal being pushed aside by grunge. Along come the Robinson brothers with their blues-base true-rock record.

This was a very important album for me. I bought it right when it released and listened to it constantly. I also saw them on this tour, at a small club in Oakland called The Omni. Sadly, not around any more. They are an amazing live band. I've always loved how loose and bluesy this album is. It definitely deserves to be on this list.

Fantastic blues rock record. A classic.

This album is full of typical bar rock. Southern band raised on the Stones, Humble Pie, and Otis Redding. Nice to listen to, sing along to, listen to while downing a few beers at your local watering hole, maybe gaining enough courage to go on stage and karaoke to one of these tunes. Mostly, this album could be indistinguishable from any other southern bar band album, although I do love Chris Robinson’s voice. The songs are familiar feeling in a way that made them feel like Insta-classics. Seeing Things is the bluesiest track. I love the song, but I don’t love Robinson singing it. The Otis Redding cover Hard to Handle fits his voice well and I recall it being a big hit. Thick n Thin is a swinging bop. She Talks to Angels has a special place in my heart forever, and this album gets a whole star just for that song alone. I’ve both been that girl and I know that girl. Overall, solid album.

I legitimately forgot this album and band existed. It's weird how some bands stick around in the Zeitgeist while others fade completely despite having similar track records. The album starts out really strong, but then the songs start to sound a bit samey. It's good, but it fades into the background because there's not a lot of tempo variation. There are some slower songs, but I can't say that I'm terribly impressed with songs like Seeing Things. Some of the other songs are good but start to feel like cultural appropriation (lookin at you, Hard to Handle. Talks to Angels is a good song that feels more original. 3/5

I don't own a combine harvester, so this album is not for me. There is no passion or originality here. Proof that being boring is often worse than being straight up bad. I had more fun listening to the Spotify ads in between.

<3

A real classic. This was already one of my favorites. It is full of great roots rock. She Talks to Angels is an all-timer

This album was fine, but I don't have a ton to say about it. It was probably refreshing at the time to hear a throwback to music from the early 70's (got a lot of Led Zeppelin and Rolling Stones vibes from the Black Crowes) so I can see why it was successful; however, the band didn't seem to take many chances to make themselves unique within the blues-rock genre. Interestingly enough, I feel like this group could have really only succeeded in that very specific year of 1990: this probably was a breath of fresh air in the aftermath of 1980s synth and glam rock, but I feel it would come off as boring or date the following year when grunge and alternative took over the scene. Their biggest song, Hard to Handle, and the opening track, Twice as Hard, were the standout tracks to me upon the first listen, and while the rest of the songs are solid, they do kind of blend together by the end of the record. Not a bad album by any means, but it ultimately did not give me a reason to come back. 2.5/5.

One of my favorite albums, from one of my favorite groups. Not to mention one of the best debut albums

Decent southern rock. Not genre defining, but solid. Love the voice, good hooks.

I’d make the argument that this is one of the best debut albums ever. And “She talks to angels” is one of the best written a beautiful rock ballads ever.

Hit after hit after hit after hit: Twice as Hard, Jealous Again, She Talks to Angels & the incomparable Hard to Handle. What a debut album for the kings of southern rock. The instrumentation and harmonies and laid back, summer saturday BBQ groove of this album gets an A+ from me. Need this one on vinyl!

Amazed. Perhaps not every single track was perfect, but the first one hits so hard and there are lots of good ones scattered throughout the album. Not just the singles. So much so that I went looking for bonus tracks and other albums as soon as this was done and I never have energy for that. This is a keeper for life now.

No need to skip any, very enjoyable. Love the piano rock

I enjoyed the Black Crowes when I first heard them in the early '90s. Some of their songs are superb in my opinion, and I think most of my favorite Black Crowes songs are on this album (e.g., Hard To Handle, She Talks To Angels, Jealous Again, Sister Luck, and more). I love the guitar work on this album but I never know if it's Rich Robinson or Jeff Cease I'm hearing when I'm admiring what I hear (like that real sweet bluesy lead in 'Sister Luck'). I know Jeff Cease is named lead guitarist for this album, so I'll give this another couple listens to see what I pick up (no, that's not meant as a guitar pun). I hadn't listened to this album in a very long time - probably decades - and, dang, it really holds up well. Love the rootsy-bluesy-gritty-rock-meets-gospel sounds. Chris Robinson is a really great singer. I would've loved to have seen them in concert when they toured to support this album.

Always been a favorite.

Awesome southern/blues rock album

Safe for Hard to Handle, I had no idea this band was a thing and loved being able to find hard, bluesy rock in the 90's as opposed to having to travel in time to Led Zeppelin.

At the top of their game!

Bloody excellent album!

This is a jam, got this blues rock thing.

🖤🖤🖤

O álbum é uma homenagem ao rock dos anos 70, captura a essência crua e energética da banda, com destaque para os riffs contagiantes.

I can see why this band is called the most rock and roll band in the world, this album is a brilliant album that just does everything right. It’s nothing complicated just great rock. Favourite song - Hard to Handle

No matter how hard I try I could never get into this band. Nice cover of Hard to Handle

Decent album! No remarks! No goosebumps but no bad tracks either…

This is alright rock music. Some nice riffs, some nice choruses, singing's teetering between good and decent. "Hard to Handle" is the obvious highlight here, and easily the best song on this album. I kept wishing I liked this a lot more but I just didn't. It was fine

These guys are fine. I guess they opened the door for others to borrow some pretty recognizable sounds of the 90s. Nothing really stood out to me, but I was also fully immersed in that decade as I was growing up and all of the bands kinda blended together as their sounds washed over me.

Not for me. Didn’t mind some of the songs in a ‘dad rock’ kind of way, like Hard to Handle was pretty cool. But I wouldn’t listen to this again.

Boooo!

Kyllä meikä ennemmin laittaa Guitar Slingersin Hard to Handle -coverin soimaan kuin tämän.

It's a generic early 90's hard rock album with 60's rock influence. The old school influences aren't enough to set it apart, in my opinion. Not bad, just mediocre.

“The Black Crowes are to the early Rolling Stones what Christian Slater is to the young Jack Nicholson: a self-conscious imitation, but fine enough in its own right.”

Love it! So much energy and distinctive voice. Some of my favorite songs

Lovely, lively.

Super fun album that has a bluesy, swamp rock sound.

Really enjoyed this. Not the most interesting or different, but that doesn’t matter when the music makes you feel great. Great Southern bluesy rock n roll sound. ‘Jealous Again’ is brilliant.

Great album, but Southern Harmony is my favourite of theirs. I'm hoping that's on the list too.

Holy!! This is legitimately everything I love about rock music.

I can’t believe I’ve never given the Black Crowes a chance. I loved this album and will definitely be adding it to my rotation.

Came out in the 90s, sounds like its from the 70s, still good in the 20s. Its classic rock made 20 years after classic rock stopped but they put their own twist on it, very soulful.

:)

Too often overshadowed by the genius of their sophomore effort, The Black Crowes' Shake Your Money Maker stands confidently alongside albums like Are You Experienced and Appetite for Destruction as one of rock's greatest debuts. Caw!! 5

Good, solid, slammin' rock and roll! Kind of a surprise 5 stars for me. I knew I liked their songs that I'd heard before, but didn't realize they all came from the same album! Hard to Handle has been one of my favorite rock songs since their version hit. Jealous Again & Twice as Hard are nearly as good, with great edge, wonderful hooks and tight playing. She Talks to Angels show a bit of a softer side, but still packs a punch. Even the lesser songs on this album show off the strength of the ensemble, with the fantastic organ sounds bringing a feel of the best of The Band or Procol Harum. This album, simply, rocks and will be in my collection in regular rotation, esp. for road trips with the windows down!

The Black Crowes are a band I drifted away from and then came back to (Stone Temple Pilots is another). Their hits really "hit" but their b-sides and album tracks are middling. But the first album is very solid. I recently picked up the anniversary edition (if you can, try to get the Target version. It is basically the music in the box set without all the extra crap, trinkets and tchotchkes.) It's funny how everyone assumes "Hard To Handle" was a Crowes original. I never understood why they couldn't play that one with Page (they couldn't do any Black Crowes material on that fantastic album they did because of recording rights, but "H2H" could have been done...?) Although my favorite track of theirs is not on here, this is a very good (if not great) album. Solid all the way through.

Really surprised here. I have always loved the Black Crowes on the radio but I also always asked myself whether they were just a band with a bunch of good singles. I have never listened to any of their albums cover to cover. Even before I started listening to this album I looked at the track listing and thought whoa. That was the surprise - this album looked stacked. It did not disappoint. Big sound, lethal guitar work, heavy southern and blues rock (honkytonk piano to boot), great vocals. Turns out most of the songs I love from these guys (Twice as Hard, Jealous Again, Hard to Handle) are on this album. And if I ever get good enough to play guitar in front of people I will play She Talks to Angels - my singing also sucks but if I can pick & pluck my way through that song it won't matter. A true classic (can't believe Rich Robinson wrote that at 15). The non-hits were just as good (Sister Luck, Think N Thin, and Struttin Blues were particularly good). So I have my answer - they were amazing on one album. I still say they were largely average the rest of their career (second album was alright). But THIS album! A beauty.

The Wolfmother paradox - the ability to imitate your influences with such perfection that the final product is devoid of any personality or imagination. What should be an oil painting becomes a blueprint. His mumbling and at times incoherent singing is actually kind of endearing to the point of hilarity, especially on Hard to Handle - so fun to sing along with. (also my album highlight, verging on perfect rock song). Five stars for making me think about it so much

Definitely on my list now💪😎🤘

Fantastic! I didn't think I would like this album much, but I was proved very incorrect. It's a lot of fun. The drums are tight, the vocals are energetic, the guitars are rocking, I like it a lot. "Hard to Handle" is obviously the best known song of the album, but pretty much every song is good too. Very glad I heard it.

Love this album. Honestly feel it is one of the most underappreciated of the 90s. Absolute classic. 5/5

wow, this is a far better album than i remembered... solid, straight-ahead rock and roll

Feels like a CD I should have bought in my 20s

Not exactly groundbreaking stuff in 1990, but new doesn’t always mean good and I’d rather listen an album like this than a lot of the “music” released in the cursed decade that followed

Decent rock music

Some really good stuff here

It reminds me of a 1970s album. It's classic rock that sounds like even classic-er rock. Imagine this playing on a bar patio on a Summer Night. Favorite Track: "She Talks To Angels".

Classic, would listen again

Solid bar album

Cant argue with rock n roll

Love the Black Crowes. They’re stronger on other albums.

I’m not usually in the mood for this type of thing, but this would be a perfectly acceptable option for those times when I am. Vocals are Steven Tyler-esque without the Aerosmithiniess of it all.

Thoughts before listening: One of my favorite bands of my youth although I didn't love them at first. I was into punk and alt rock so their southern rock jams weren't for me. As my tastes changed into my adult years I revisited the band and realized just how good they are. This is one of their quintessential albums so I am glad to see it on the list. Review: 70s style rock n roll from Georgia that was likely a breath of fresh air in 1990 with hair metal and new wave still dominating the radio. The Black Crowes aren't the most original band in the world, but their songs are catchy and they have become anthems on par with many of the earlier bands they were emulating. 4-stars

Great album 4/5

I enjoyed that after a slow start; the southern / blues elements just do enough to overcome the cliched rock parts & I suspect they'd be a great live band in a small club.

Great album

An album that made a lot of noise in my world back when it came out. It still gets a lot of play on the pop rock radio stations. I like it, and I think I like the second album better.

One of the best 70s blues/Southern rock albums, and it came out in '90. Really enjoy this one.

Decent. Better than I thought. I really dislike "Hard to Handle" so I thought the whole album was gonna be like that and thankfully it wasn't really. Dude was very hard to understand for most of it but musically it sounded really nice and my kind of southern rock. Wish the vocals were more intelligible but otherwise solid.

Great album and it landed right when it was most needed. We were coming off the hair-band era and needed some southern rock that everyone could get behind. I was never a big Chris R fan in the day, but his scoopy vocals really add character and grit to their otherwise clean sound. 4.0

Great stuff, thin Lizzy meets wolf mother, first track is exceptional

Not what I was expecting after judging this book by its cover. Felt very long for its runtime.

As a non-American, this is the kind of music I imagine is playing in a typical dive bar. I didn't really mind it. Sure, it got kind of repetitive as it went on, but I usually like this type of music, so it wasn't annoying. Also, I would have never guessed this came out in the 90s. Feels very 70/80s to me. Highlights: Hard to handle, Twice as hard, Sister Luck 3.5 stars

With a sound like classic American rock, that my brain right away wants me to like and enjoy, nothing actually stands out past the two songs that still get radio play today. And hard pressed, I probably couldn't have said those songs were by The black crowes prior to listening to this album

Black crowes Magnus opus doesn’t separate itself from the other hundreds of rocks on here in anyway but it is polished energetic and hard well well done and to my taste …

It's pretty good, standard "I love this woman because she is sexy" sort of music. Really solid riffs for lead guitar, good rhythm section, music videos looked pretty funny at a glance.

sha sha sha shake it like a dog in the rain

Another ‘90s record. What’s up with the preponderance of ‘90s albums on this list? Must I continue to be reminded of the years when I most frequently played in rock bands? Anyway. Reviewers here that say this record has “no passion” are just looking in a mirror. You don’t like it. That’s fine. Here’s hoping you hate everything on this list, and find no joy or passion in life at all. But, The Black Crowes are fully committed to an earnest throwback kind of rock and roll which, believe it or not, wasn’t in vogue in 1990. 100% committed to potentially looking foolish playing a kind of music that saw its heyday in, say, 1973. Which is why it’s a little weird to me that this record would be on a list of records you have to hear before you die. Fast forward 25 or 100 years, and the records you should hear that sound like this are, well, the “source material”… the rock bands from the early ‘70s (“Exile On Main Street” would do fine), and the R&B, soul, and blues cats that came before THAT. [Why do people keep mentioning Led Zep? None of these songs sound like Led Zeppelin, except, MAYBE, “Struttin’ Blues”. The Black Crowes aren’t the slightest bit adventurous sonically, songwriting-wise, lyrically, or anything else, like Zeppelin was. These guys wanted to be the Stones, or maybe the Faces.] This record, however, was a huge, huge hit, and especially for a debut album, that’s impressive, so I guess that’s why it’s here. And might have introduced some folks to Otis Redding, who didn’t know him before hearing “Hard To Handle”. Which is a good thing. And “She Talks To Angels” was an undeniable hit and tons of people connected to it. Say what you want about these guys being a “just another bar band”, but there are thousands and thousands of bar bands that never came close to a song that was meaningful to people like “She Talks To Angels” was/is to so many. Other than that song, this record to me is essentially top-quality pastiche… if I can’t get the originals, I’ll take this over 90% of the bar bands I played with in the 90s.

Okay, not my cup of tea. Piano + rock doesn’t do it for me.

Good but didn't age well

Sounds like early grunge. Like creed.with a little bit of rockabilly rock.

хуй знает что это за вороны, но вполне себе

Me gustó, pero tampoco me volvió loco. Tiene algunos buenos temas de Hard rock, pero siento que le tengo que dar un par de pasadas más o se me va a olvidar pronto. No mal banda, claro.

It was Ok

Black Crows hold a lot of strength in their work, this album is their first releasing in 1990 and rocks, standing as one of their best

southern rock that was played all over the summer it came out. I remember it well. given what was popular when it came out, it wasn't a huge surprise they got lots of air time.

I was too cool for this album when it came out but picked it up in the mid 2000s. Now it reminds me of Napster and bud light, both of which are gone from my life, but this album lives on.

picks: hard to handle, she talks to angels

It's an american blues rock album. It's alright, nothing too special and i liked the songs with piano which gave it a lil ragtimey feel but it just ain't my cuppa. would be fun in an american pub played live tho fav song: seeing things

This might be the most nothing album I've heard so far. Like there are some cool moments, particularly Hard To Handle and the bit where the tempo speeds up at the end of Stare It Cold, but ultimately it just sorta faded into the background for me. There are enough albums in this style and these guys don't really do enough different for me to want to come back. Fave Songs - Hard To Handle, Stare It Cold

rock, with a little roll. plenty of swagger, not many actual songs. If you need to hear music like this, you will be far better off listening to an LP by The Faces, who did it first and did it much better

This kind of Americana rock ‘n’ roll isn’t for me. It’s accomplished enough, it just feels so painfully generic. 2.5 rounded down.

Crowes can competently cos-play classic cock-rock.

I had no idea the sound recording in town halls could be so good. Who's responsible for capturing this 70's country-rock tribute act? Where was it recorded? Has anyone tracked down members of the audience to get their take on this historic moment? Surely these aren't originals. Not in 1990.

A mish mash of corporate schlock and pretentious blues rock that tries so hard to sound like Exile on Main Street but has nowhere near the grit or energy. Rock radio loved this album when it came out. Just another reason why rock radio is dying.

Incredibly generic Seeing Things is good. Thick N Thin sucks so much. That sound is everything I dont like about this genre. Woefully bad Hard to Handle is a pale imitation of the original Even the good parts are quite cringey It's actually worse second time around

a collection of cleanly recorded, highly derivative Stones song-types. They can play their instruments well but they forgot to bring anything new to the table.

The exact non-descript music you've heard playing faintly on the speakers of your local terrible dive bar on a Tuesday evening - nothing even remotely worth paying attention to and you're only there because the drinks are dirt cheap.