The Black Crowes reunite with ninth studio album, “Happiness Bastards”
14 years after their 20th anniversary tour in 2010, The Black Crowes have released their 9th studio album, Happiness Bastards. This marks the first studio album with new material in 15 years, and the first full length project since their breakup in 2015. Led by brothers Chris and Rich Robinson, the current band line up includes bassist Sven Pipien, lead guitarist Nico Bereciartua, drummer Cully Symington, and Erik Deutsch on keys. With Happiness Bastards, The Black Crowes have no problem reminding fans how fun classic rock is, especially with that southern bluesy swing.
The record kicks off with “Bedside Manners” followed by “Rats and Clowns”, which waste no time proving that despite the time off, The Black Crowes sound at the top of their game. More than that, the opening tracks are pure rock, full of big guitars and steady drums.
The Black Crowes blaze into the next track “Cross Your Fingers” which is straight classic rock, with riffs that melt into shredding. They command the sound with ease, driving through catchy choruses that almost demand you jam along to them. Up next, “Wanting and Waiting” builds on the classic rock sound with a funky, upbeat rhythm led by the keys and drums in tandem.
Featuring country singer Lainey Wilson, “Wilted Rose” slows the record down with (mostly) acoustic guitar as Wilson and Robinson harmonize over the chorus. Guitar-led, “Dirty Cold Sun” perfectly captures the loose southern soul that defined the band from its inception. “Bleed It Dry” digs deeper into their southern roots and sounds straight out of a bar r oom where you can hear Chris Robinson’s cool charisma. The bluesy shuffle is dominated by slide guitar and honky tonk piano, sealed with the harmonica in between lyrics.
Banging drums lead “Flesh Wound”, continuing that bar room sound as it flirts through bluesy rock into an almost pop-punk sound and back again. Follow the Moon moves back to the no frills classic rock, all rhythm clearly reminiscent of seventies Rolling Stones.
Rounding out the tracklist, Kindred Friend maintains the loose groove of the rest of the record but offers a lighter, sweeter track to finish.
Despite their time apart, The Black Crowes are clearly at home in their own groove. They avoid overwhelming newer influences and go back to their classic rock roots to provide a fun, upbeat tracklist full of ageless songs. Check The Black Crowes out on their upcoming Happiness Bastards tour across North America and Europe starting in April.