Seven years since their last studio album and, after being officially on hiatus since 2002, the news that the Black Crowes were back in the studio and putting down new material most definitely led to a sense of anticipation. After all the Crowes were one of "the bands" of their generation. The question is though has the wait been worth it?. Well the honest answer to that is yes with a little bit of no mixed in for good measure. To justify that you have to say that seven years is a long time, time during which the band has been through a lot and come out the other side as a slightly different animal than they ever were previously.  The Crowes were always purveyors of music that was organic, sincere rock and roll in its most simple form. Fast forward to 2008 though and “that sound” has changed. It’s not as hungry, raw and urgent as it once was but it's still the sound of a “real” band, honest, sincere and still grooving like there is no tomorrow. It’s now the sound of a band who feel comfortable with where they are at and also with how they have grown as musicians. It’s still tasty with melodies and lyrics that entertain and enthrall but as a package their sound is more Madras than Vindaloo. The band going for the subtleties more than the in your face bravado of the early years.

So what does the new album provide? Well opening track “Goodbye Daughters Of The Revolution” gets things off in typical Crowes style, a gentle groove moving along with greasy slide guitar accompaniment. Likewise “Walk Believer Walk” is blessed with some nice filthy guitars,  a slow blues stomper if ever there was one. After the slow and mellow “Oh Josephine” “Evergreen” sees the band nudging things onto the heavier side with an almost Cream like vibe in places thanks to some rumbling bass lines that would make Jack Bruce proud. Then there's “We Who See The Deep” which is the Crowes at their most steady and solid.

“Locust Street” is another slow and mellow track, which keeps its head above water thanks to great storytelling and also strong melody lines and “Movin On Down The Line” begins like a song that Robert Plant would love to grace but as the song develops it proves to be a song that only a Southern rock child like Chris Robinson could do justice, perhaps the track which has the most in common with the old Crowes than at anything else here. There's just a bit more fire in it's belly.

“Wounded Bird” is a meaty mid-tempo rocker with cool guitar tones and “Gods Got It” sees the band going back to stomping blues although it seems to outstay its welcome a little, starting the way it finishes with nothing to get too excited about in between. “There’s Gold In Them Hills” is a slow song with a story to tell at its heart, the unusual and authentic instrumentation keeping the attention rather than the actual delivery. Another slow song follows, and closes out Warpaint, in the shape of “Whoa Mule”, a song with a nice arrangement that will have you whisked off to a dusty track in the desert with only you and your trusty mule for company.

As an album “War Paint” has much to please but, if there is something missing, it has to be the fire of old. As a whole Warpaint portrays a band who seem to be in a comfort zone and one that have laid all their demons to rest. For their next outing hopefully they will try to bring back some urgency and rawness to the songs but, in the meantime, it’s a wholehearted welcome back to one of the best American bands of the last two decades.

Let us know your views on Warpaint

Track Listing

Goodbye Daughters Of The Revolution
Walk Believer Walk
O Josephine
Evergreen
We Who See The Deep
Locust Street
Movin' On Down The Line
Wounded Bird
God's Got It
There's Gold In Them Hills
Whoa Mule

Line Up

Chris Robinson – Vocals
Rich Robinson – Guitars
Luther Dickinson – Guitar
Steve Gorman – Drums
Adam MacDougall – Keyboards
Sven Pipien – Bass