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Written by David Lichius Thursday, 04 January 2007 12:24

Touted jokingly as "the best Pinback album that Pinback never made," Living Well certainly lives up to that qualifier on a technicality, but it also marks the best solo record that Crow has ever made.

From the cheeky metal stylings of Goblin Cock to his collaboration with Hella's Zach Hill (the Ladies), Pinback's Rob Crow has proven himself to quite the versatile fellow. While this flexibility lends itself well to side projects, on solo records it frequently results in rather difficult listens. Hence was the quandary with Crow's previous solo record, 2003's My Room Is a Mess.  While the disc had multiple tunes to feed the hungry palates of Pinback fans, its genre crossing made it rather frustrating as well.

While 2007 will bring a new Pinback LP to the masses, Crow's Living Well—inspired by the recent birth of his son (Rob Crow 3) and his own courtship and marriage—has ditched the previous disc's musical side trips...in favor of an album packed full of nothing but Pinback-esque numbers. Touted jokingly as "the best Pinback album that Pinback never made," Living Well certainly lives up to that qualifier on a technicality, but it also marks the best solo record that Crow has ever made. While it doesn't quite reach the level of Pinback's best work, it does serve as a rather solid stopgap for those clamoring for their next disc. B+ | David Lichius

RIYL: Pinback, Black Heart Procession, Three Mile Pilot