Their 1994 album "Amorica" was the last album I bought by this band. I appreciated the turn they took away from being a Led Zeppelin / Rolling Stones hybrid. In the next 30 years, it is not surprising that cannabis advocate Chris Robinson's voice might not retain the same piercing tenor quality. Smoking anything will do that to you. He is still plenty soulful which has really given the spotlight on "Cross Your Fingers", The band which is really the Robinson Brothers, and bassist Sven, still possess a great deal of authentic rock swagger.
What was last with age is the firey explosive energy that made them shake their money-makers, to begin with. The opening track is upbeat, but not as hard rockin' as they once were. The guitars are produced in such a way that on "Rats and Clowns" it feels like they are certainly trying to turn the clock back to the early 90s. "Wanting and Waiting" proves that they still can groove in a meaningful manner. The first Southern rock ballad comes by way of "Wilted Rose". Lainey Wilson lends her voice to the song without taking the spotlight from Chris. They use an impressive dynamic build to jam this song out which is the sort of thing that became the band's forte.
"Dirty Cold Sun" is the kind of boogie you expect from the band. Takes fewer chances than some of their previous work and stick to the blues-drenched formulate they have been working off for decades. The second half of the album sticks much closer to the barroom take on gospel this rocked out a little more on "Flesh Wound" which also benefits from the flourishes of the piano. They get back to a more riff-driven strut for the more effective "Follow the Moon" which might be the band's best song. They close the album with the Bob Dylan-like ballad "Kindred Heart". I will give this album an 8.5, not on the level of their more classic work, but they are still able to do what they do in a way that still is relevant in 2024.
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