The Ceaseless Sight

As a solo artist, Rich Robinson, the guitar-playing brother in the Black Crowes, has been a gathering storm, closing in on a lyrically spiritual, musically earthy balance of electric-blues bravado, psychedelic-country exploration and almost courtly vocal cool. The Ceaseless Sight, his third effort, is the bull's-eye, so rich in textures and assured in the writing that it sounds like a true debut. As the sole guitarist, Robinson scores the layered grind of "I Know You" and "The Unfortunate Show" as if Ry Cooder, Ron Wood and Fleetwood Mac's Danny Kirwan all walked into the same song. But Robinson's wild card is his singing, a clear, earnest vigor that counters the dark brawn of "In Comes the Night" with hopeful light.