[rating=4.50]
By the time The Black Crowes went on hiatus in 2002, their “soul singing” strut and dance routine was getting a bit tired. 2001’s Lions and 1999’s By Your Side failed to elevate the band’s aura, and even a tour with Jimmy Page couldn’t reignite the confident 70’s boogie swagger of their earlier recordings. Call it case of brotherly "I-Hate-You’s," substance abuse or newfound movie star lust, but the Robinson Brothers were inevitably headed for a halt.
Seven years later, Warpaint is arguably their most prolific and relevant work since 1994’s Amorica. With the addition of guitarist Luther Dickinson, Chris and Rich haven’t changed their sound, they’ve only revamped it, moving from a more dire mood to a refreshing focused rock n roll mission as Chris’ soulful vocals continue to set the standard within a dying breed of true rock and roll front-men.
From “Twice As Hard,” and “Sting Me,” the Crowes have always had a knack for knocking ’em dead with the opening track and the boogie rocker “Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution” is no exception to their song #1 urgency. The cantankerous blues of “Walk Believer Walk” with Dickinson’s scratchy blues guitar work gives the band a vital southern growl, while the psychedelic guitar groove of “We Who See The Deep,” is Exile on Main Street raunchiness. Warpaint’s highlight, the already memorable ballad, “Oh Josephine,” rivals an Allman Brothers Band “Melissa/Desdemona” classic, and is a sure to be Crowes’ show stopper.
It wouldn’t be a Black Crowes album without a few hippy dippy moments and the sparkling guitar pop of “Locust Street” provides that flower power and “Evergreen” treads down familiar Crowes straight-forward anthems. But it’s the cover of “God’s Got It” and the porch stomping version of “Whoa Mule,” where the band reveals an authentic Americana flavor. Call Warpaint a comeback, but The Black Crowes have proven that their best original music wasn’t just a thing of the past.
