Black Crowes: Before the Frost/Until the Freeze

Artist: Black Crowes
Album: Before the Frost/Until the Freeze
Date Released: September 1, 2009
Genre: American trad rock, blues-rock, rock & roll, hard rock, blues
Rating: 8.2

Few people have noticed, but the Black Crowes are awesome again. It all started last year when the veteran band got back together to put out the outstanding War Paint album; the momentum has been carrying them forward ever since.

Witness this year's effort: An ambitious double album of new material recorded in front of a live audience at Levon Helm's barn in upstate New York. The tracks are vintage Black Crowes with distinctive hints of The Band, The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan (Chris Robinson sounds downright Dylanesque on "Appaloosa"). And the production values are exquisite; rarely does a live album sound so damn good. Add some incredible performances and strong tracks and you have an absolutely stellar album.

Given their surprising resurgence and reinstated relevancy, the Black Crowes are making a strong case for being one of the best blues-rock bands of all-time.

The Dead Weather: Horehound

Artist: The Dead Weather
Album: Horehound
Date Released: July 14, 2009
Genre: alt-pop, alt-rock, garage rock revival, blues rock
Rating: 7.8

Review: The Dead Weather is an American supergroup composed of Alison Mosshart (The Kills), Jack White (The White Stripes and The Raconteurs), Dean Fertita (Queens of the Stone Age) and Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs and The Greenhornes). The music on Horehound is raw and bluesy, and at times reminiscent of early Zeppelin (including plenty of sexual innuendo).

Mosshard and White trade vocal duties, while White also performs on the drums. But the real standouts on Horehound are the guitars and the most evil sounding organ work I've heard in quite some time (check out "Treat Me Like Your Mother" to get a sense of what I mean). This album has too much attitude and confidence to ignore.

The Derek Trucks Band: Already Free

Artist: The Derek Trucks band
Album: Already Free
Date Released: January 13, 2009
Genre: blues rock
Rating: 7.7

Review: An excellent album with 12 solid tracks, Already Free ventures into blues, folk and all-out rock 'n roll. It's got brilliant arrangements and outstanding performances. Recorded right in Derek Truck's home studio, Already Free features a diverse mixture of covers and originals. This could be the best blues-rock CD of the year.