"What’s in a name?" Well, if you’re Rob Crow, it’s a lot. Maybe too much. And when a "III" is in there, as in Robertdale Crow III, his new son, it means everything else takes a backseat. Living Well is the result of a change of pace in Crow’s life. It’s not about Pinback or all of the side projects, the time on the road, or the constant creation of material. It’s about home and living there well. As it turns out, Living Well, the most personal album of Crow’s solo efforts, features the sound most essential to Pinback – hinting that he’s focused on what earned him the most fame and that he’s in a comfortable spot these days.
Let’s be clear. Living Well is not a Pinback album. It’s like the equivalent of Beatles’ Anthology cut: the building blocks of melodies and rhythms stripped of the effects a full band layers on. There’s a calmness pervasive throughout the album that aspiring rockstars don’t have. Only the overworked veterans express it. The most noticeable track on Living Well, "I Hate You, Rob Crow" (either version), is like an early-’90s alternative cut, but instead, it’s free of the angst and full of protected sarcasm. It comes from experience, and with a new perspective, a smug disregard of haters.
While maturity levels differ, there’s still a connection running back and forth between this album and Pinback’s most recent material. "Over Your Heart" is rolling and organ-driven with similar vocal style and guitar effects to "3×0". "Up", with it’s circular pendular riff and breathy vocals recall "Fortress". The rest of the tracks are generally smoother and difficult to distinguish from Pinback’s chill side. Living Well solidly exposes Crow’s essential contributions to Pinback while elaborating on the distinct guitar work and patterns that are their signature.
Both Pinback and solo Crow fans should appreciate the album for its intricacy and consistent quality, but also for the fact that Rob Crow is able to find new ways to get better. Situations and priorities change, but as this album reveals, Crow has the innate ability to create a distinct, refined sound in any surrounding. What’s in a name? Hard to say, but Crow’s talents extend way beyond just his.
