There's Gold In Them Hills

I was initially skeptical when I heard that the Black Crowes were going to be finally releasing a new album. The last time the Robinson brothers came out with new body of work was in 2001, when they gave us the very dismal Lions. The Crowes hadn't experienced much commercial success since 1994's Amorica, and this bombastic effort was supposed to launch them back into their "Southern Harmony" glory days. The album was a unanimous flop, and this apparently rattled a few cages. The band had experienced irreconcilable creative differences, and it looked like the boys were on the verge of calling it a career. Before you knew it, the Black Crowes went on an indefinite hiatus and would not even play a live show together until 2005. When the dust finally settled and the band reconvened (with a new lineup in tow), old fans came out in droves. Tours sold out and band realized not all magic was lost.

Which brings us to 2008 and the Black Crowes' first independently released album, Warpaint. A quick sidenote: before the record was even heard by critics, it had managed to garner bad reviews by Maxim Magazine (of all publications). Apparently, the reviewer was forced to make an "educated guess" of how the album would sound like into order to meet deadline. The critic panned the record, obviously taking a hint from the Crowes' previous efforts. So basically, Warpaint was already down in the count before even being heard.

And to be perfectly honest, if you are to judge the album by its mediocre first single ("Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution"), then yes, you get much of the same late-90's uninspired work. However, if you muster up the courage to get past the first track, you will discover something glorious -- the triumphant return Southern-roots Black Crowes! Hell, it only took about a decade and a half, endless inter-band turmoil, and already one breakup, but the Crowes hit the nail on the head with this one. After listening to such standout tracks "Oh, Josephine" and "Wounded Bird", you'd swear this was the follow-up to The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion -- the Crowes' most definitive work. First the Drive-By Truckers and now this!

What I find most amusing about the Black Crowes is that they have already built the career credentials to make up a VERY entertaining archetypal Behind The Music special (drug addictions, celebrity marriage, lineup changes -- you name it). You would think this band had been around for decades, and this this revival is simply nostalgic reunion that will fade faster than a fart in the wind. But when you consider how strong an effort Warpaint is and the relatively young age of the band members (Chris & and Rich Robinson are 41 and 39, respectively), it looks like this is only chapter two in what will hopefully an ever longer, more illustrious career.

My Rating: 7.0/10