Disco de The Black Crowes: “Warpaint [Digipak]”

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.

It may have taken 7 years but the Crowes have returned with one of their strongest efforts in their career. After two so so albums (By Your Side and Lions) and a highly experimental album (Three Snakes). The Crowes brought in Luther Dickinson from the North Mississippi Allstars and it's clear he has this band re-energized. This is a very rootsy album, if you had Levon Helm and Rick Danko singing you could swear this was The Band. This album is their most consistent since Amorica and provides some highlights of the Crowes career. "Goodbye Daughters", "Oh Josephine", "Walk Believer Walk" and "We who see the Deep" are up there with some of their best work. The intimacy of "Whoa Mule" was one of the highlights for me. Recorded outside, you can hear the birds chirping outside and you get the feel of all the members sittin around a campfire getting tall and playing from the heart. It felt like a religious experience for me. It shows the emotional power the Crowes can evoke through their music.

Being a die hard Crowes fan, this album is exactly what they needed. A strong rootsy album that will appeal to lovers of rock music from The Stones, to the Allmans to the Band. The Crowes remain rocks best band today and this album is a phenomenal addition to an already strong catalogue of work. Highly recommended.

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~]

I have been disappointed with a number of new music releases in the last year. That being said, I was a little apprehensive about this release. I was excited for a new Black Crowes record, but I was sort of flinching at the potential to not impress me. I was primarily worried about the sound due to Eddie Harsch leaving the band. I expected his lack of presence to leave a huge void and along with a newcomer on lead guitar...I wasn't sure The Black Crowes getting back together was a good thing. Well, I was wrong...

This album is a strong release by the Robinson brothers and company. The sound is familiar being Black Crowes blues-rock, but the songs are rich and mature. There is more thought and sincerity to the lyrics. There is more complexity in the guitar playing and background vocals. The new lead guitar player (Luther Dickinson of The North Mississippi All-stars) has a nice sound that fits in well with the BC. He is fluid and melodic and fits in nicely following Marc Ford. The same can be said of Adam MacDougall on keyboards. I didn't sense a big difference between the sounds to notice that Eddie Harsch wasn't playing with them. You can tell that the Robinson brothers have aged well. They have figured out how to work well together versus fighting like they did previously.

I would agree with many other reviews that say this album will grow on you. It will indeed! However, I don't think it is one that you won't like at first listen. I think people will like it at first, but love it more and more with each spin.

Also, I saw The Black Crowes Unplugged on MHD (Music High Definition channel), and they played songs from the new album. The performance was really quite amazing! The songs on Warpaint will be great to see live. I hope they release the unplugged performance on DVD, because I will buy it in a New York minute!

There have been quite a few good albums that have been released in 2008, which raises the hopes of many that good music is coming back. One of the highlights is the highly anticipated Warpaint by The Black Crowes. Their best album since Amorica, the Crowes go back to their roots and even though the brothers Robinson don't get along socially, they have always had a spark musically, and it's never been more apparent than on this album. Songs like Movin on Down the Line, Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution, Whoa Mule, and a cover of Reverend Charlie Jackson's God's Got it, are highlights and shows a whole other spectrum of unexplored ideas the band previously had not endevored. Warpaint has everything a good Crowes record should be. It's not contrived, they still have their authentic classic rock/blues sound they have perfected over the years, and it's an album that grows on you through multiple listens. You notice something different each time. Overall, this is a flawless record in the sense that there are no bad songs on it, and it brings back redemption to a band who, for many, lost their way. Well, they've found it.