The Black Crowes - Warpaint
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Free Music Notes for Warpaint
Free Music Review: The Boys are Back
Hit: 4 Stars
The Black Crowes are back. After a seven year hiatus from studio releases, `Warpaint' represents a worthy addition to the body of work begun with the multiplatinum 1990 `Shake Your Moneymaker'. After four subsequent releases, the most noteworthy being `The Southern Musical and Harmony Companion', the superior followup to `Moneymaker' and 1994's truimph `Amorica', arguably their best work, the group in 2001 took an indefinite break and their core following has been limited to two live CDs and a collection of alternate takes and otherwise unreleased middle period tunes put out as `Lost Crowes' in 2006.
Chris Robinson, whose early Paul Rodgers-meets-Rod Stewart vocals have given the band its identity, is in great voice throughout. Also back is the familiar instrumental template of early `70s Stones/Faces-slide/rough edged guitars in both channels, keyboards, and prominent drums. With the opener and first single, "Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution", it is clear that the band has picked up right where it left off. This straight-ahead rocker is one of several on the disc that benefits from the addition of Luther Dickinson, from the North Alabama All-Stars, to accompany brother Rich Robinson on guitar. His slide playing evokes that of Mick Taylor on `Exile' period Rolling Stones albums, one reason why the disc's second cut, "Walk Believer Walk" brings to mind the tune "Ventilator Blues" from that landmark disc. Another favorable comparison can be made between the Stones' "Casino Boogie" and "God's Got It", a muscular gospel-blues cover by a Reverend Charlie Jackson.
The disc lacks a bullet-fast rocker, the superb "Daughters" coming closest, but the best tunes are several bluesy rock tunes that include "Movin'on Down the Line", "Evergreen" and perhaps the best, "Wounded Bird". The latter two in particular recall the range and song structure of the strongest cuts on `Amorica'. "Wounded Bird" takes flight with inspired slide guitar, upbeat lyrics-especially compared to the dark mood of many of the other songs; `can you taste the poison in your mouth/feel the weight of these chains?' asks Robinson in "Walk Believer Walk".
They miss the mark with "Wee Who See the Deep", an attempt at a power-chord driven anthem that sounds like a weak reworking of their excellent "Remedy"from their second disc. After two ballad-heavy solo outings, the disc has less slow material than the uneven 2001 `Lions', on which the ballads were the best songs. This time out, "Oh, Josephine" is forgettable and "There's Gold in Them Hills" fares better, but is placed after the rousing "Bird" and the pounding "God's Got It". "Locust Street" is a bit more brisk, and features excellent mandolin and guitar work by both Rich Robinson and Dickinson.
"Warpaint' features some of the best studio work in several outings by the band. The production and mixing by Paul Stacey is excellent, the layered sound bringing out a full sound without the horns that cluttered the weak `By Your Side' or the sloppy sound of many of the cuts on `Lions'. Though the overall sound is, like their earlier material, a trip back to 1973, there are no long jam tunes and the instrumental work is tasteful; artwork attributing the guitar solos and lyrics would have been a plus. This smooth new mixture may actually put off some of the core audience that likes the band's edgy approach, but it helps this disc sound better on repeated listenings. Clearly, "Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution" is a strong single, and "Evergreen" or "Wounded Bird" seem like good candidates for a follow-up.
This ranks as not only a solid comeback, but better than the last two studio discs, and at least, if not slightly above, the level of the `Three Snakes and One Charm', their 1996 release which featured the singles "Good Friday" and "Blackberry". It's clear that after all these years in hiatus, the Crowes still rock, and have come back strong.
Free Music Review: Well worth the wait
Hit: 4 Stars
Some may complain that the Crowe's new cd doesnt rock enough, but personally I was glad to see this direction. Chris's solo efforts and some recently released Crowe's songs that had been "lost in the vault" hinted that the Crowe's had some leanings toward country and folk. The spirit that Chris and Rich love to pour into their songwriting certainly comes alive in this more organic approach. The themes of love and loss and redemption and finally spiritual freedom are sweetened by the occasional harmonica and the slide steel.
I think any listener would be hard pressed to find a cd, by the Crowes or anyone else, that has a better first 3 songs than this one. "Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution" seems to actually celebrate the country around us going to hell ("dont you want to watch the ship go down with me"). Its a joyful and addictive rocker. "Walk Believer Walk" features nasty blues guitar lines while Chris sings about finding real salvation. "Oh Josephine" is a plaintive acoustic/electric number that rivals and arguably surpasses "Thorn in My Pride". You could almost say "Oh Josephine" attempts to answer some of the questions posed in "Thorns". Listening to both tracks back to back displays the growth of the Robinson brothers as songwriters.
Most may still say that Southern Harmony is the Crowe's best, but there is a gripe I still have with that release: Chris's vocals are buried in the mix. At several points on that album, you have NO chance to hear the words. On this outting, Chris's vocals are up fron in the mix and in my opnion have never sounded better. Without ever overdoing it, Chris has truly evolved into a "Soul Singer". He sounds vulnerable when he has to, and we already knew how confident he can sound. When listening to Warpaint, you will often find yourself singing along (e.g. "Set your mind to fly" from "Wounded Bird"). On "There is Gold In Them Hills", the band and the vocals come together just as beautifully as they did on "Thunderstorm 6:54"...this may be the most touching moment on the disc.
"God's Got It" shows the band knows how to pick a cool cover. The band could easily perform this one in a black church and bring the house down.
The album closer "Whoa Mule" may be the best album closer since "Descending"; the band here sounds like they've been playing together for years. The harmonica and dobro add a hair-raising touch. I know the Crowe's are not a religious band, but this song definitely has a hopeful eye towards heaven. "Whoa Mule" really gives this album a pair of wings.
Its too early to tell, but this release may end up being my favorite in the crowe's catalogue. In a year I may have to change my rating to 5. (I reserve 5 stars for complete perfection and only time can attest to that). I cannot imagine hearing another album this year I will like better.
Free Music Review: Put a little grease on my axle now, yeah
Hit: 4 Stars
"Hallelujah come and join the jubilee," sings Chris Robinson on "Goodbye Daughters of The Revolution," a line that could easily sum up the first Black Crowes album since 2001's Lions. "Warpaint" reconfirms all the reasons that The Black Crowes are a superb band, seamlessly melding their Stones Stomp and Faces Boogie to their American southern rock heritage. (Think of the best Kings of Leon songs for the Crowes' most recent decent comparable peer.) The two opening songs, the near perfect Stonesish "Goodbye Daughters" and then the hard stomping swamp rock of "Walk Believer Walk" would be enough to elevate "Warpaint" to coolness, but the rest of the album holds together just about as flawlessly. After all those years since Shake Your Money Maker of road-grind and sibling in-fighting, The Robinson Brothers have reunited to make one of their best records yet.
Once you're past those killer opening tracks, the songs mix styles and sounds within the framework of the Classic Rock the Crowes have always laid their stake on. From the psychedelia that infuses "Moving on Down the Line" to the Allman Brothers worship of "Evergreen" and "Josephine," "Warpaint" wears its love of classic rock like a carnation in a beat-up tux. There's an effortlessness here that Robinson hints comes from being freed from record company meddling, and it sounds terrific. When Richard Robinson wails out on a Keith Richards styled guitar solo (as he does on "We Who See The Deep"), old-time rockers missing that clean, gutsy rock will be in heaven. And as the tight blues of "Whoa Mule" wind to a close, you're gonna wish there was more. How many albums can you say that about lately?
Free Music Review: Prettiest Thing I Ever Seen
Hit: 4 Stars
Until Warpaint came out, it had been years since I listened to the Black Crowes. I never bought or have I heard By Your Side or Lions...when Marc Ford left the band, I stopped listening. I loved Southern Harmony & Musical Companion. I still feel like that was their masterpiece, but I liked Amorica alot and 3 Snakes not quite as much. When Warpaint came out, I decided 12 years was long enough to go between Crowes albums.
After listening to Warpaint 10 times or so, I can say that I believe that this is their best album next to Southern Harmony. While Amorica has some great songs, it doesn't really hang together as an album that well. All the songs seem to be separate entities. Warpaint flows extremely well and each song seems to be much more of a piece. Additionally, each song on Warpaint seems "lived in" much more, with a more organic quality. This has really great production. For example, in Evergreen, the vocals never get overwhelmed by the instruments, like they do in songs like Under a Mountain off 3 Snakes. The songs are never overdone, but have a real grit to them that makes it more authentic then previous albums.
My only qualm is that I am not a huge fan of Gold in Them Hills. I feel like it adds one more soft, sort of middling tune where a harder tune may have added a bit more backbone to the album. The itunes release came with 2 bonus tunes, one of which was "Hole in Your Soul", which I believe adds that extra grit in place of the "Gold" tune
Otherwise, really exceptional album that forces the world to reassess the Black Crowes & their legacy in the Rock n' Roll patheon..
Free Music Review: The time off did them good (4.5 stars)
Hit: 4 Stars
The Black Crowes' seventh studio album, Warpaint, clearly shows that the time off did them good. Before this, it appeared by their output that the band wasn't sure who they were. Their albums bounced from a loose rock band in the spirit of the Stones to more of a jam band and then to a straight out hard rock band. On Warpaint, the Black Crowes have become just a great American band that can take a variety of genres and create a sound that is truly their own. Musically, this is their best album and their songs are at their most consistent. While there is nothing here as catchy or memorable as "She Talks to Angels", "Jealous Again", or "Remedy", tracks like the countryish "Josephine", the ballad "There's Gold in Them Hills", and the woodsy "Whoa Mule" are among their best work. The opening "Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution" is a great dirty rocker while "Walk Believer Walk" has this cool chopping rhythm and tons and tons of slide guitar from Luther Dickinson. "Locust Street" is another strong melancholy ballad while "Evergreen" has a sick groove. "We Who See the Deep" has another cool groove with a riff to go along with it. "Movin' on Down the Line" and "Wounded Bird" are strong rockers as the former starts out with an eerie organ line before building in momentum while the latter is driven by more of Dickinson's killer slide work. Finally, "God's Got It" is a bluesy shuffle that works very well. All told, Warpaint is a return to form for the Black Crowes and you could argue that it is their best album. Highly recommended.