WE DO THE MASHED POTATO AND THE FUNKY CHICKEN

The Black Crowes

Warpaint

  • AMG Review of Warpaint

    Amg
    Stephen Thomas Erlewine
    All Music Guide

    Looking back, it seems inevitable that the Black Crowes would suffer a rocky middle age. Young bands yearning to be old tend to stumble when the years start to pile up, once hunger and ambition start to fade into the ceaseless grind of the road, and the Crowes were no exception. After they mapped out the furthest reaches of their world on 1994's Amorica they slowly spun their tires, turning out records both respectable and tired, before internal tensions slowly tore the brothers Robinson apart, leading to a split in 2002, not long after the release of their sixth album, Lions. A few years of solo wanderings led the Crowes to a reunion in 2005, but they had to go through a few more lineup changes -- including the addition of North Mississippi Allstar Luther Dickinson as the replacement for guitarist Marc Ford -- before they buckled down to record their seventh album, 2008's Warpaint. All that turmoil and trouble are felt on Warpaint, as are the years the band spent paying dues on the jam band circuit after Amorica. Warpaint shows that the decade of hard struggle gave the Crowes soul and chops, turning them into the band they've always wanted to be. The Black Crowes haven't changed their basic sound -- ever since Shake Your Money Maker the band has always drawn deeply from the Stones and Faces, tempering that British swagger with Southern-fried blues borrowed from the Allmans, then slowly threading hippie mysticism throughout -- but the feel of the band has changed, as the Crowes have turned from reckless ruffians into seasoned veterans, with the group feeling lived-in and genuine. There's depth here, highlighted by an instrumental suppleness that slightly recalls Little Feat -- particularly on the slow-rolling "Oh Josephine" with its gently cascading choruses -- an evolution that could only be earned during those years on the road, building the band through nightly jams and a slow cycle of membership turnovers. This is a suppleness that has grit, thanks especially to Dickinson's glass slide runs that give this music some welcome grease. The Crowes also pull off a couple of sly moves here, weaving some swirling psychedelia through the chorus of "Movin' on Down the Line," turning the Reverend Charlie Jackson's "God's Got It" into a heavy, heavy backwoods stomp, then spinning the closing "Whoa Mule" into a roiling blues raga. These are the turns and tricks of veterans, who can slide these flourishes into their signature sound without calling attention to their changeups, but these numbers are enough of a departure to garner attention -- what may not get as much praise is how the Crowes write compellingly within their standard sound, as they do here, beginning with the opening gambit of the down'n'dirty "Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution" and the crawling "Walk Believer Walk." From there, Warpaint continues to gain momentum, as this album is not only their strongest set of songs since Amorica, it has a depth and presence that is rare for a digital age creation and, best of all, the album has a true narrative thrust, making it feel like a true classic rock album. What the Black Crowes have done here is what true journeymen do: they don't renounce their past, they build upon it, finding hidden depths within it, shaping tradition after their own image to make it sound fresh. They're old-fashioned, but in the best sense: they're in it for the long haul, which the superb Warpaint proves beyond a shadow of a doubt.

The Black Crowes - Warpaint
about 1 year ago
Blog post image preview

The Black Crowes have grooved out their best Lp since Amorica.Can't get this one out of my head.Warpaint is the first studio album from the Black Crowes in seven years.On Warpaint, the driving force is the blues. Warpaint marks the recording debut of two new band members - guitarist Luther Dickinson and keyboardist Adam MacDougall - who join Chris, Rich, drummer Steve Gorman and bassist Sven Pi...

More >
The Black Crowes - Warpaint
about 1 year ago
Blog post image preview

The Black Crowes have grooved out their best Lp since Amorica.Can't get this one out of my head.Warpaint is the first studio album from the Black Crowes in seven years.On Warpaint, the driving force is the blues. Warpaint marks the recording debut of two new band members - guitarist Luther Dickinson and keyboardist Adam MacDougall - who join Chris, Rich, drummer Steve Gorman and bassist Sven Pi...

More >
New Video From The Black Crowes; Digital Back Catalog Available Soon
about 1 year ago
Blog post image preview

The Black Crowes' video for their new single, "Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution", can be viewed by "CLICKING HERE":CH. The track comes off the group's new album, ??Warpaint??, due on March 4 via the band's own newly formed label Silver Arrow Records through Megaforce/Sony Red BMG. ??Warpaint?? will also be available on the same day as a limited-edition vinyl package.On March 4th The Black Cr...

More >
Black Crowes Start Record Label, New Album + Tours In 2008
about 1 year ago
Blog post image preview

The Black Crowes haven't released a new studio album in seven years, but 2008 will change that. The band is finishing up an album of all-new material titled Warpaint. It will be released on a record label recently created by The Black Crowes themselves. The label is called Silver Arrow Records which will be distributed through Megaforce/Sony Red BMG.Warpaint Tracklist:Goodbye Daughters of th...

More >
MAXIM MAGAZINE REVIEWS ALBUM WITHOUT HEARING IT
about 1 year ago

Wow. This takes balls... and not exactly the 'good' kind of balls. Like if I ran across enemy lines in a hail of gunfire....that might be 'good' balls. This is not that. Oh, and the Pulitzer goes to: "It's either an educated guess preview or no coverage at all, so in this case we chose the former." -Maxim editor via email, in response to a seemingly fraudulent album review of an a...

More >
The Black Crowes Cancel Two Gigs
about 1 year ago

Musicians be dropping like flies these days. Oasis aren't the only ones "canceling gigs":http://mog.com/Charley_Rogulewski/blog/193911?from=latest_news left and right. The Black Crowes have also called off two concerts this weekend citing illness. The band canceled their weekend shows in Las Vegas, NV (September 13th) and Santa Cruz, CA (September 14th). The weird thing is tonight's show at the...

More >
Walk Believer Walk
about 1 year ago
Blog post image preview

WOOOOWOOOOMUTHA FUKKERSlick me n my dicki am going to see the crowes n graceWOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

More >
Maxim apologizes to Crowes
about 1 year ago

And well they should.However "*they claim that it was a "preview"*":http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/307549, a prediction of what the album would probably sound like, based on the band's previous output and the one song available for preview (which is presumably typical of the album).What they're really apologising for, actually, is giving a rating to the album, and saying it was a ...

More >
Stream The Black Crowes "Goodbye Daughters Of The Revolution"
about 1 year ago

The new album, Warpaint, is out and this is the lead off track, which finds the group sounding damn good.

More >
Anticipation...
about 1 year ago
the black crowes - live from the borgata casino
11 months ago
Blog post image preview

I recently saw the black crowes at the borgata casino in atlantic city...after a rare opener in 'take off from the future', they tore it up with this 'movin' on down the line'. this is from the borgata's soundboard. enjoy. and....i broke even.

More >
Warpaint
about 1 year ago

I want to go to a church that has music like this:

More >
Download Black Crowes' "Goodbye Daughters Of The Revolution" For Free
about 1 year ago
Blog post image preview

For those of you anxiously waiting to get your hands on the new Black Crowes album, you can own a little piece of it today. Spinner.com is offering a (legit) FREE mp3 of "Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution" for you to download.This is the same song that MOG has been streaming on the front page and Michael Goldberg's MOG, so if you know it and love it, don't hesitate to own it! Chris Robinson...

More >
The Black Crowes Putting On "Warpaint" This March
about 1 year ago

The Black Crowes will release their first album in seven years Warpaint independently on March 4th via the band’s own newly-formed Silver Arrow Records. Warpaint is the follow-up to the Black Crowes 2001's flop Lions which peaked at Number 20 in the US and sold less than any other Crowes album. During the seven year hiatus frontman Chris Robinson formed Chris Robinson & the New Earth Mud and rel

More >
Luther, we're not worthy!
about 1 year ago

Warpaint is the blues and southern rock at its best. After six years the Crowes haven't lost it at all. I was a little hesitant about getting it but once i heard Luther Dickinson joined, i quickly changed my mind. This album has exceeded my expectations and i love it all. His slide guitar rifts keep your foot tappin the whole way through. Here is my favorite song on the album "Whoa Mul...

More >
eightchbee
eightchbee of An (introspective) Digital Symphony
When I Grow Up, I Want To Be...
about 1 year ago

On Friday previous, I drove an hour up the road to London, Ontario to pick up my dear friend Blake. It was a great chance for me to catch up on some old favourites as I was trucking down the highway. What I didn't realize, is that I seem to have standardized driving music (which is a playlist entitled "Ass-Kickery," comprised of all my heavy metal favourites as to keep my awake on a boring driv...

More >

Top Warpaint Listeners

© 2006-2009 Mog Inc. All Rights Reserved