THE BLACK CROWES – Happiness Bastards (2024 Silver Arrow)
One could not help but be struck by a mixture of happiness and healthy skepticism when the Black Crowes announced yet another reunion. With a mostly new band, Chris and Rich Robinson didn’t ask drummer Steve Gorman back. Instead they asked bassist Sven Pipien (who they once famously edited out of the photos for the Black Crowes & Jimmy Page album). On the album are Nico Bereciartúa (guitar), Erik Deutsch (keyboards) Brian Griffin (drums). It’s not really a “band”, but maybe the Black Crowes always were Chris, Rich and whoever was along for the ride?
The good news is, no matter the motivations, the Crowes succeeded in putting out another fine studio album. It’s not a “back to basics” record, like “Here’s Shake Your Moneymaker Part II“. It’s also not a rootsy, The Band-like record such as Before the Frost… Until the Freeze. It’s more like the next step beyond those two. Happiness Bastards is also shorter than either: 10 tracks, with one additional Record Store Day B-side to discuss.
Opening with “Bedside Manners”, it’s the classic Crowes rock and roll sound, but with a slide guitar lick to make it a bit more southern. It actually sounds a little like Deep Purple Mk IV. A strong opener, Chris has barely aged and still belts much like Young Chris did 25 years ago. The lyrics sound cool, but the booklet is printed in such a way that you will never want to read the words.
A smoking riff kicks off a groove unlike any the Crowes have some before. “Rats and Clowns” clearly recalls Aerosmith, but not “hit” Aerosmith. No, this recalls “deep cut” Aerosmith, riff-based and snotty. This will go down as one of the most memorable Crowes tunes in the discography.
A really surprising number is “Cross Your Fingers”, which begins as an acoustic soulful ballad. It then transforms into a bass-driven groove. This is a sound that the Crowes do so well, when they choose to do it. Rich’s abbreviated closing solo is gravy. Three tracks in, and the Crowes have done three different directions, on three awesome songs.
The single “Wanting Waiting” has an AC/DC (Bon Scott) groove, mixed with Hammond organ and the Crowes’ own swagger. The drummer even has a Phil Rudd vibe. It’s clear why a song like this was chosen as single. Though it sounds like something from another band in another decade, the soulful rock and roll here is timeless. A “greatest hit” kind of song to be sure.
Side One ends with “Wilted Rose” featuring country singer Lainey Wilson. Though it’s only the first ballad, the Crowes do have a lot of more memorable songs like this.
The second side opens with another rippin’ riff backed by Hammond organ. Then Chris struts his way through the verses, sounding as cool as a cat. It’s a song called “Dirty Cold Sun”, but again the Crowes have captured a really solid groove, before they go off experimenting again.
“Bleed It Dry” is pure blues, acoustics and pedal steels crying away with some honky-tonk piano and a moaning Chris Robinson. The harmonica blasts, telling the timeless tale of woe.
It’s off on another direction again. Pop rock inflects the jubilant “Flesh Wound”! This high speed blast sounds like the Crowes travelled back in time to the new wave era of the 80s, wrote a song, and came back to the present in order to record it. It’s an absolutely brilliant song. Wait until you hear the chanted chorus accompaniment at the end! If it wasn’t so different for this band, it probably would have made a better single. “Flesh Wound” is the diamond of a deep cut that you will find when you play the album through.
“Follow the Moon” takes us back to a bluesy groove, with a funk Rich riff leading the way. When Rich plays his lead solo, the rhythm guitar drops out just like a 70s record, allowing the bass to come up. Great song, slick playing, and very much a traditional Crowes sound.
The sequencing of the album leads us to feel like a ballad would be the way to close. And so, “Kindred Friend” ends the album with acoustics, slide, and harmonica, done up with sentiment and nostalgia. It has a similar feel to a previous Crowes closer, “Time Will Tell”.
Happiness Bastards feels like a journey. Listening to it, you are taken from peak to valley, and a variety of colours and sounds. It doesn’t feel like a cash-in, a sell-out, or a phone-in. It legitimately sounds like the Black Crowes moving on to their newest incarnation.
It’s wonderful.
4/5 stars
THE BLACK CROWES – “Wanting Waiting” / “Morsels for Mongrels” (2024 Silver Arrow RSD single)
One bonus B-side to Happiness Bastards can be found in “Morsels for Mongrels”, the B-side to the “Wanting Waiting” single. The most different of all the songs, it’s still based on bluesy slide guitar, but with a distant distorted lead vocal. It’s like the Crowes doing their version of garage rock. You can understand why it wasn’t included on the album, as it’s just a little too far out there for the record. Yet it’s a valuable add-on; a fun additional direction that the Crowes explored with typical joie-de-vivre. A blast to slide into your file folder as a bonus track.
3.5/5 stars
And that’s the latest from the Black Crowes. An unexpectedly excellent comeback. Keep it going, guys.
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