Before the Frost...Until the Freeze


Before the Frost...Until the Freeze is the eighth and most recent studio album by American rock band The Black Crowes. It was recorded before a live audience at Levon Helm's Woodstock, NY studio, The Barn in late February and early March, 2009.
The album was produced by longtime band collaborator Paul Stacey, and released on Silver Arrow Records. The CD itself is designed to have the appearance of a vinyl record. Originally, only the Before the Frost portion of the double album was available on CD, and the CD purchase came with a code allowing download of the Until the Freeze portion from the Black Crowes website. A vinyl version was also released, featuring all songs but in a different running order. Before the Frost...Until the Freeze would be the band's last album to feature longtime drummer Steve Gorman, bassist Sven Pipien and keyboardist Adam MacDougall.

Track listing

All tracks written by Chris and Rich Robinson, except where noted.

CD version

;Before the Frost...
  1. "Good Morning Captain" – 3:24
  2. "Been a Long Time " – 7:47
  3. "Appaloosa" – 3:35
  4. "A Train Still Makes a Lonely Sound" – 4:23
  5. "I Ain't Hiding" – 5:57
  6. "Kept My Soul" – 5:23
  7. "What Is Home?" – 5:13
  8. "Houston Don't Dream About Me" – 5:05
  9. "Make Glad" – 4:18
  10. "And the Band Played On..." – 4:12
  11. "The Last Place That Love Lives" – 4:57
;...Until the Freeze
  1. "Aimless Peacock" – 6:40
  2. "The Shady Grove" – 4:42
  3. "The Garden Gate" – 4:21
  4. "Greenhorn" – 7:12
  5. "Shine Along" – 4:47
  6. "Roll Old Jeremiah" – 4:40
  7. "Lady of Avenue A" – 5:20
  8. "So Many Times" – 4:53
  9. "Fork in the River" – 4:11

    Vinyl version

;Side 1
  1. "Aimless Peacock" – 6:40
  2. "Good Morning Captain" – 3:24
  3. "Been a Long Time " – 7:47
  4. "Greenhorn" – 7:12
;Side 2
  1. "Appaloosa" – 3:35
  2. "The Shady Grove" – 4:42
  3. "The Garden Gate" – 4:21
  4. "Shine Along" – 4:47
  5. "Roll Old Jeremiah" – 4:40
  6. "Houston Don't Dream About Me" – 5:05
;Side 3
  1. "I Ain't Hiding" – 5:57
  2. "Kept My Soul" – 5:23
  3. "Lady of Ave. A" – 5:20
  4. "Make Glad" – 4:18
  5. "And the Band Played On..." – 4:12
;Side 4
  1. "What Is Home?" – 5:13
  2. "So Many Times" – 4:53
  3. "A Train Still Makes a Lonely Sound" – 4:23
  4. "Fork in the River" – 4:11
  5. "The Last Place That Love Lives" – 4:57

    Reception

Before the Frost...Until the Freeze received generally favorable reviews upon its release, receiving a 75/100 critic score and a 9/10 user score on Metacritic. Paste noted the album "captures the best aspects of one of rock’s finest eras: a balance of structured songwriting and loose grooves, catchy choruses and meandering solos, hard rocking songs and easy-going attitude," while All Music Guide note that the band "wear their years proudly on this terrific album, sounding like the veteran roadhounds they've always aspired to be." Many critics also noted the renewed stylistic approach of the band on Before the Frost..., Uncut calling the album "an inspired move" and The Record Review commenting that the record "feels right, as if this is exactly the record that they needed to make at this point, both to separate from their musical past as well as to open up the future."

''Cabin Fever''

The Black Crowes also released a film on DVD documenting the recording of the album, entitled Cabin Fever, which included several songs not featured on the album.
;Track listing
  1. "Aimless Peacock"
  2. "Good Morning Captain"
  3. "Shady Grove"
  4. "Oh Sweet Nuthin'"
  5. "Garden Gate"
  6. "Roll Old Jeremiah"
  7. "Appaloosa"
  8. "Little Lizzie Mae"
  9. "What Is Home"
  10. "Been a Long Time "
  11. "Shine Along"
;Bonus tracks
  1. "Shady Grove"
  2. "The Dolphins"

    Personnel

;The Black Crowes
;Additional personnel
;Production