Professor Louie and the Crowmatix remind me of one of those bands that you’d see playing on the sidewalk during a small-town street festival. Except that while you’re walking passed the stands selling hand-made knick-knacks and barbequed corn on the cob, for once, you might actually take the time to stop and listen to these guys.

The five members of this band have been in the music business for years and have accumulated a pretty good track record. The two vocalists, Aaron “Professor Louie” Hurwitz and Marie Spinosa, have both worked with influential rock and roll group The Band on some of their later releases, while bass player, Frank Campbell, toured with The Band’s Rick Danko and Levon Helm on their duo tours. Guitarist Josh Colow had a #1 hit in the 90’s in Italy with his group TiPiCal (which is worth looking up if you, like myself, find any amusement in 90’s pop music). And drummer Gary Burke had a great career as the drummer for Bob Dylan.

For this album, the experienced rock and roll-ers collected 15 of their most requested songs and added two new ones, Need For You and Sons and Daughters, to create the perfect album for their fans.

All of the songs on this album pull you right in with their easy to follow lyrics and melodies. I found myself singing along with literally every song after only hearing the first minute or so. Songs like Need For You and One More Day show the groups talent for very up-tempo, classic rock and roll style songs that make you want to dance and snap your fingers. The group also shows that they have a knack for the blues with smooth and sensual songs like Motherless Child and Century of the Blues. But then you have the song No Division (Heart & Soul) that sounds to me like every other cheesy and overdone love song from the 90s.

A talented group? Yes. Very. Unfortunately, though, I find this album sounds like a bit of a novelty from time to time rather than just having been influenced by 70s era rock and roll.

TRACKLISTING

Need For You

Daughters And Sons

Motherless Child

Century Of The Blues

Some Bad News

Clouds In My Heart

One More Day

Look What You Done

Bull Frog

Jackie

Sailin’

Mr. Luck

Restless Islands

Over The Edge

Tear Of The Clouds

No Division (Heart & Soul)

Life Is A Carnival