July 2008Warpaint is
the first studio release in seven years from southern roots rockers the Black Crowes, and
its with open arms and eager ears that we can once again get down to their
swaggering sound. Long hiatus aside, the boys are back with aplomb, dropping this
rock'nroll bomb featuring ten original tracks and one gospel gem by Rev. Charlie
Jackson, "Gods Got It." The Crowes sound has beefed up and branched
out over the years, and while theyve had their share of membership rotation, the
core remains virtually unchanged: brothers Chris and Rich Robinson on vocals and guitar,
ex-fired (now re-hired) bassist Sven Pipien, with drummer Steve Gorman still smacking the
skins. New to this album are keyboardist Adam MacDougall and North Mississippi Allstars
guitarist/southern young one Luther Dickenson. The latter addition is cosmically suited,
his electric guitar squealing perfectly alongside the Crowes' veteran-rocker sound.
"Walk Believer Walk" is chunky and bass heavy,
with sassy, soul-fused vocals. "Locust Street" and "Oh Josephine" both
have a Stones-meets-Dead sound, while "Movin on Down the Line" is good
ol country funk. The guitars and keys leak sustained sound, bleeding true red, white
and blue, while the bass and drums rock with heavy resonance.
While the first half of the album is decidedly stronger
than the second, it all grows together with multiple listens. Indeed, its hard to
believe (and refreshingly impressive) that the band has been so long on the scene and can
still release an album like Warpaint -- no slowing down, no selling out, no
laurel-resting to be had.Give it a spin and give thanks -- the Black Crowes are back.
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