The Black Crowes - Warpaint
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Free Music Notes for Warpaint
Free Music Review: Diary of a Crowes fan
Hit: 5 Stars
This review was created at the day of release, after long anticipation for this effort to come out.
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It is now two and a half weeks since I moved to Sydney, the big city. Brand new city, brand new people. The road is rough, and I still didn't find a home, and am staying on a couch at a friend's home. Much like the Crowes, the last year in my life was transition, and these days the transition comes to a peak. But all along, the fact that a brand new Black Crowes album was coming, and especially with Luther on guitar, got me dreaming. Literally. It got to a point that in the last week I kept dreaming about the album at nights. I refused to listen to the samples, because I wanted the full experience of the album.
I woke up at 6:30am this morning, still on the couch, and had to travel an hour and a half to the other side of the city in order to look at a room which I might rent. Of course, the only thing that was on my mind throughout the entire train ride was those new sounds that are going to enter my life. I listened to Joni Mitchell and John Hartford along the way, and watched other people's homes go by in the morning sun.
The train back to the city was cathartic. Although it was now getting closer and closer, and I waited for this album for so long, I no longer felt anxious. I had a smile on my face, knowing that even if it will take me another month to find four walls and a ceiling, I'm on my way home now, to the sounds of the Crowes. I got off the train at Town Hall station in the middle of the city, and made my way to the record shop with a smile across my face. As I walked in, a woman who worked there was just organising the new releases - among them, of course, Warpaint.
I walked out of the shop with a big grin on my face, and went to the nearby Hyde Park. Sydney has many parks, and this one lies in the middle of the CBD. There was not a cloud in the sky, and I located myself on the grass in a perfect pastoral combination of place and time. I pulled out the album, ripped the nylons and studied carefully every aspect of this product.
I pulled out my CD player, put it in, and started to trip into our common home.
For me, this album picks up where Three Snakes and The Band left off. Paul Stacey's fingerprints are obvious, and I'm just thrilled that the brothers have found someone who shares their vision and with whom they can develop throughout the years.
In this album, the Crowes feel once again like a band, and not like the Brothers and a few other people. This is quite surprising, as these sessions were recorded with two new members. Adam is doing a very good and solid work throughout. Luther's chemistry with Rich is just amazing. He fits the Crowes like Wiser Time fits Ballad in Urgency. I once wrote, after the Circle Sound shows, that if Luther would one day join the Crowes, then that day would be a great day for music. Today is a great day for music.
Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution sounds much better in the album version with the extended intro and the keys higher in the mix. Quite frankly, I don't know why they bothered with a shorter version as a single. The second song, Walk Believer Walk, really caught me by surprise. Rough and nasty hard blues-rock song, with Chris showing off his range magnificently. This song can very easily fit before Black Moon Creeping in a long jam in live shows.
Oh Josephine is the Pawnshop of the album. A beautiful autumn song that you can just get lost into. and if Oh Josephine is Pawnshop, than Evergreen would have to be the Evil Eye of the album: a mid-tempo rocker that kick you upside the head, and that sounds like nothing you've ever heard before.
Wee Who See The Deep sets out to explose even more psychedelic southern rock. The Crowes are not rehashing the same old thing. They are exploring, but with every bit of connection to their music heritage. Then you enter Locust Street, with the beautiful sound of the mandolin. A perfect country ballad, which leaves you completely disconnected from the outside world. Don't try to cross any roads while listening to this song. It is a road on its own.
And then starts Movin' On Down The Line. One of the most unique songs the Crowes have done. It starts as psychadelic as Spider In The Sugarbowl Blues, until it explodes to a full-blown classic-rock classic Crowes extravaganza, with a great climax solo by Luther. Wounded Bird continues the spirit of the end of the previous song, with a swift, charismatic rock song which will become an instant anthem in the live shows. It is followed by God's Got It, which goes back to the blues. Great cover, which gives the band a chance to strech their blues organs.
But nothing in the first nine songs had prepared me to the final two songs. Chris always had a flare with road songs, and in his solo years he developed it into troubadorian tales of past in the south (for example, Train Robbers). Both There's Gold In Them Hills and Whoa Mule continue this tradition with every bit of flare as you would expect. There's Gold In Them Hills is a heart-ripping ballad, a sad story of myths and unfulfilled dreams. Whoa Mule carries the same vein, but with much more optimism. A man sings to his mule that, we are maybe dirty, but we're dreaming, as a way to stay optimist that one day he will get to his desired destination.
In this album, the Crowes understand that it is not a destination which they desire. It is the road itself. The road and the music is their, and our, home.
Free Music Review: The sound of a wise and respected band. Finally, they break free of the 'retro' tag.
Hit: 5 Stars
The Black Crowes finally return from a long slumber with their first new album in 7 years, Warpaint. What have they been doing for the last 7 years? Well, for starters, let's look what happened after Lions...
First off, Lions didn't do too well. Maybe it's because it wasn't that great. So, after touring all that year, the Crowes said bye-bye for a few years. Chris and Rich both had pretty good solo albums, but they both realized that they missed each other. Thus, the Crowes reunited in 2005 with the original lineup (except for their bassist at the time, Sven Pipien).
Unfortuantly, problems arose again, and guitarist Marc Ford and long time keyboardist Eddie Haryrsch both left the band, and were replaced by North Mississippi Allstars leader Luther Dickenson and Adam MacDougall, both great musicians. The band then scrapped all the material they had written in 2006 onwards, and wrote all new material as a band for Warpaint.
Listening to Warpaint, it's hard to believe that By Your Side and Lions were ever made. This sounds like Three Snakes Pt. II. The band sounds wiser and older, making music that sounds like what a band should be making 20 years down the line. No, it's not as heavy as their older material, but it is more rootsy and tighter than the earlier days. For the first time since Amorica, it sounds like the Crowes have something to say.
Goodbye Daughters Of The Revolution kicks things off, and the Crowes sound is there, but there is a contemporary sound too, what with Luther's Allman-esque slide fills clashing with Rich's open-tuned Stones-worship riffs. Chris Robinson doesn't really scream like he used to, instead, he has a voice full of respect and he knows when to lay back when needed.
Walk Believer Walk is a vicious blues, the darkest and dirtiest song the band ever recorded. Luther lays down some venomous licks, Chris gets into deep Southern preacher mode, and Rich brings the hammer down. Fantastic song, one of the best they've ever wrote.
Oh, Joesphine might be the best song Little Feat never wrote. Some great lyrics from Chris (Diamonds hold the mirrors/Spoon it holds the stars/Been a long time, baby, since I seen the sun rise like this). There's beautiful poetry in his simple words, and the music definetly taps an imagery of Southern love, laying out in the woods with your loved one, smoking a joint and letting it all ride. The outro is cathartic, the band laying down a moving 6/8 riff with such power and energy not heard in years.
Evergreen continues the spell with a touch of psychedelia. For the first time since Three Snakes, Chris is writing some intelligent poetry. No more "Let's get it started, y'all!" on this record. Very moving stuff.
Wee Who See The Deep gets things a little funkier, this one being a great live staple for some awesome jamming. Chris taps into hippie mysticism in the words (I have come from the hurricane/A messenger that the tempest brings/Eyes full of sun, hands full of seeds/At one with the night just to help me see), while a thick Zeppelin funk riff permeates the senses.
Locust Street is just a bittersweet song, some very tasteful mandolin playing from Luther. It's a song for people who are lost in this world (And it's easy pickins/On locust street/There's no place to hide), and the message is very resonant in these dark times.
Movin' On Down The Line...wow. What an intro! Very psychedelic, very soulful, very rocking! Almost every musicial idea is present in this song. Blues, rock, psychedelia, country, it's all here. And Chris is one of the few people to sing "It's alright, brothers and sisters" without sounding cliche. Brilliant song.
Wounded Bird, the big "single" off the album, showcases where the Crowes are now. At once powerful and menacing, at other times light and loving, this is a song for the ages. Set your mind to fly.
God's Got It is pure Southern-fried blues. This could almost pass for an R.L. Burnside song. You can definetly feel Luther's love of North Mississippi Hill Country Blues in this song. And the marching band drums really give it an authentic flavor.
There's Gold In Them Hills is another surprising twist for the Crowes. They could never have written something like this for Shake Your Moneymaker, it's got too much old wisdom throughout. A slow tear-jerking ballad, it's one of the most honest and heartfelt ballads the brothers Robinson ever put to pen.
Whoa Mule leaves on a hopeful note, a song and an album bridging the gap between old and new, and east & west. An almost bluegrass raga, if you will.
Warpaint is an incredible listening experience, and one for the generations to come. It sounds like a band with a purpose, a meaning, and a message. Buy it today, and you can't go wrong.
Free Music Review: The Black Crowes are BACK!
Hit: 5 Stars
It's Been 7 years, but we finally have some actual "New" Black Crowes material. Not alternate takes, cutting room floor scraps, or rejected songs from previous album projects. Ten All new Black Crowes songs (one cover). Warpaint is a good mix of what these guys do best: bluesy, country, southern rock music. You can definitely hear the influences of their predecessor's that they have been compared to: early Stones, the Faces, Allman Brother's, and even a little bit of those laid-back southern-California Eagles of the 70's. Yep, I'm giving it 5 stars. As a Long-time Black Crowes Fan, I can tell you, this is way better than their last album (Lions)!
Warpaint kicks things off with "Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution", a song that incorporates everything that the "traditional Black Crowes style" has to offer, at it's Bluesy, Country, Rockin' best. As soon as you get a few minutes into this opening track, you will start to smile and think "Damn, the Crowes are BACK!" Things keep going good thru "Walk Believer Walk". One of the heavier songs on Warpaint. More like "Black Moon Creeping" off So. Harmony. Heavy blues guitar and strong vocals by Chris. Speaking of the vocals, this album, as other reviewer's have already noted, has Chris' vocals right up front and very clean and clear. Nothing like the distorted vocals he had on some tracks from By Your Side and especially Lions.
"Oh Josephine" is a soft acoustic/electric number that harkens back memories of "She Talks to Angels" or "Angie" by the Stones. Has some great slide guitar work and piano accompaniment.
"Evergreen" has a real southern rock, Allman Brothers/jam feel to it. Swirling keyboards, guitars, and Chris' vocals spin together and meander along. A number of slower tempo breaks and some smooth electric guitar solos.
"Wee Who See the Deep" is another great classic sounding Black Crowes song with some great electric guitar work. This one's still growing on me.
"Locust Street", a quiet, slow, country sounding ballad. Nice tune.
"Movin' On Down the Line" is a medium tempo rocker, with some good electric guitar interplay between Rich and the new guy, Luther Dickinson.
"Wounded Bird" gets a little rowdy at times, but then mellows down again.
"God's Got It", the only non-original song here, written by Reverend Charlie Jackson.
"There's Gold In Them Hills" - this is a slow acoustic song which has kind of a story-line to it. Reminds me of Desperado by the Eagles, just without all the lush string arrangements.
The album closer, "Whoa Mule" - An acoustic folk song
Be Warned: This is not an album of "rowdy, raucous, rock `n roll" as the early Crowes leaned towards. It is a much more laid-back affair. More like Amorica too me. Remember how the style of "Ballad of Urgency, Wiser Time, and Descending" made you feel? Most of this album is like that.
About the line-up changes. Any band that's been around for over a decade is bound to have a few lie-up changes. In the Crowes 18 year history, they have more "former members" than actual band members now. Sven Pipien on Bass has been with them long enough to be considered a veteran. Their former, long-time keyboard player, Ed Harsh finally called it quits in 2006, and has formally been replaced by Adam MacDougall. On again, off again, lead guitarist Marc Ford left again in 2006 and has also been replaced by the former North Mississippi Allstars Luther Dickinson, who seems to be doing a great job. Casual fans won't even notice a difference.
I didn't think the Robinson brothers would ever get back together as the Black Crowes and do anything more than a reunion show or two, much less a whole new album! As a long-time Crowes fan from the very beginning. I am grateful for the new music.
Recommended. Now get out their, buy this disc and support the band.
Free Music Review: There's Gold in Them Hills!
Hit: 5 Stars
The Black Crowes are back after a seven year absence with Warpaint, a mix of blues, country and rock. One thing is clear upon listening to the album and that is the fact that the Crowes have done a lot of maturing in their songwriting over the past 7 years. The lyrics are deeper, the music sublime and the overall atmosphere of the record is of a band who is making sounds that they enjoy and not a band trying to keep up with whatever is current. Sales are going to reflect this but I don't think the Crowes are concerned with sales at this point in their careers. What they ARE about is putting together the best songs they can for a coherent listening experience, which is what Warpaint delivers. Don't expect the 'boogie blues' of old on this release. You WILL be disappointed. Like most bands, as they age their style has changed developing into something much more mature and something that they NEVER could have done back in their twenties. The Crowes are now wise with the wisdom that comes along with daily life, they have loved and lost, been set up just to be let down and have had their fair share of disappointments.
The sound of the CD is wonderful, with great separation of all instruments and thankfully, the compression is kept to a minimum. There is not a clunker on this little gem and it contains some of the best ballads of their entire career. Some of the highlights include, "Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution", "Oh Josephine", "Locust Street", "Movin' on Down the Line", "Wounded Bird" and "Whoa Mule." This record is not about to change the world in any major way but my five star rating is based upon what the Crowes have given us in the past.
The Crowes on Warpaint have put out a release that is among their best works and quite possibly, their best ever..that is if you're willing to accept that we must all grow up at some point. Eventually there comes a time for everyone where we must learn to be accepted on our own terms and not from what everyone expects us to be. If you're ok with that, as the Crowes seem to be, then give this CD a spin and be drenched in the beautiful southern harmonies it will reveal. Sit back and reminisce good times that have come and gone, bandage up those battle scars and imagine yourself out in the wild frontier, a land occupied by outlaws and thieves, to find your mountain in the sky.
Free Music Review: Whoa Crowe
Hit: 5 Stars
The Black Crowes have dealt with a whole lot of static since their early days, maybe because they initially shot for party boy rock stardom. (Remember "Hard to Handle" anyone?) They're still being dogged by that same old criticism, which hasn't been relevant since at least 1992, after which they evolved into a much different band and traveled a confusing road of lineup changes and reunions. Well now it's time to (finally) just accept the Black Crowes for what they truly are - a solid and capable southern blues-rock band. Sure they're not the most original songwriters in the world (and never have been) but their performances all compelling and honest, and their delivery is flawless with no messing around. They're good at what they do and that's all they need to do.
The Robinson Brothers are soldiering on as valiantly as ever, it's great to have drummer Steve Gorman back on board, and new keyboardist Adam MacDougall seems to be fitting in fine (and even adds a few unexpected touches, like the Wild West saloon piano in "There's Gold in Them Hills"). The big lineup news here is the addition of Luther Dickinson on lead guitar, and anyone familiar with his fulltime band, the North Mississippi Allstars, may be surprised by his subdued and unassuming sound here. Luther has either been forced to conform to the Crowes method or has graciously surrendered to their mellow groove - I suspect the latter. Overall, the music on this album truly reminds me of Amorica and Three Snakes, with a country blues vibe that is both laidback and insistent at the same time. "Walk Believer Walk" and "Wee Who See the Deep" are surprisingly moody and even a bit sinister, and the mid-tempo winners "Evergreen" and "Wounded Bird" combine the best of the Crowes' solid rock rhythms and hippie mysticism. The seven-year hiatus seems to have allowed the Crowes to revamp their attack, rediscover their future, and return to their greatest strengths. [~doomsdayer520~]