Album Details

• Artist: The Black Crowes
• Album: Warpaint
• Label: Silver Arrow
• Year of Release: 2007
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: kev_stev on 2008-03-04

The Black Crowes' new album, Warpaint, has been so shrouded with controversy that the hostility between the band and Maxim Magazine has overshadowed the hype surrounding their release.  Maybe the feud will be a good thing for the band; it attracts publicity and attention, sparking thoughts and opinions on the matter from other artists and fans alike.  Ideally, The Black Crowes would have wanted these emotions to surface after one's listening to their album, but their country-twanged, radio-friendly rock will not create nearly as much hype as the controversy surrounding it.

Warpaint does have its bursts of excellence: "Walk Believer Walk" beckons for an immediate revival of classic-rock with its searing organ and heavy guitar riffs, which blend into a bluesy guitar jam that builds toward a Led Zeppelin-like crescendo.  "Walk" raises eyebrows and expectations after its opening single, "Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution," falls flat, and it leads perfectly into the acoustic "Oh Josephine," a slow-moving but charmingly intimate song that tops off the six minute mark without any indulgence or painful repetition.  From then on, though, the album spirals downwards: the songs begin to lose their distinctive qualities and mesh into a collection of banal alt-rock, while the album's pace is constantly stifled by the numerous acoustic songs scattered throughout the track-listing.

Warpaint is not a failure, though; it will be a great gateway album into the realms of classic-rock for a younger audience, and it has easy-listening characteristics that will help some songs find their way onto the radio.  Overall, though, the album is not consistent enough for anyone to spend their money on, but downloading a select few songs would not be discouraged.

User Reviews and Comments

on 2008-03-04 dscanland Said:

Have you even listened to the album? lol

Nice review. Did Maxim set you up to give the Black Crowes 2.5 stars?
Not Rated