Lions by The Black Crowes

Pros: Some of the best songs by the band since Amorica.
Cons: Their last album of original material (???)

2001 was a mighty crazy time for me. I just started a new job (actually my first real job), I was living by myself and I began to seriously date someone. Two of the three things have turned out well, the other not so much. I'll leave you to guess ...

Pros: A couple of note-worthy rock tunes to get your feet kickin'
Cons: And a whole lot of slush to kick 'em through.

In light of the recent controversy surrounding The Black Crowes new album, Warpaint, and a certain writer for Maxim Magazine who offered up negative reviews to said album without ever hearing a note of it, I’ve decided to take a look at one of the ...

Pros: a fabulous album full of great songs and diversity
Cons: it won't be "rock" enough for some people

Today, The Black Crowes released their 6th full length studio album, Lions, the follow up to 1999's By Your Side and their year long or so collaboration with Jimmy Page. If By Your Side was the band returning to their...

Pros: Hard hitting, powerful, fun, best outing lyrically (from what I've heard)
Cons: No pauses between tracks, takes a few listens to get into it

After the blockbuster release that was 'Shake Your Moneymaker,' an album that helped (along with Nirvana's Nevermind) to abolish the stronghold that hair-metal held on the masses, The Black Crowes pretty much faded from sight. Of course, they didn't...

Pros: More Great Rock, Blues & Soul Singin'
Cons: A Couple Of Lesser Tunes

The Black Crowes have not really been on the collective consciousness of the music world for some time now. While everyone and their grandma can pretty much sing all the lyrics from “Hard To Handle,” that was ten years ago. You’ll have a much harder...

Pros: A near-perfect rock album; the brothers Robinson are in top form.
Cons: Falters a bit towards the end.

So there I was. It's nearly 11:00 PM, and Barnes and Noble is ready to close. I want a CD. I need a CD. Problem is, this particular Barnes and Noble doesn't have the wonderful CD collection that the Barnes and Noble closer to home has. (In fact, the only...

Pros: Stand out tracks include "Soul Singing," "Greasy Grass River," and "Cosmic Friend."
Cons: An attempt to repeat early success when their last album shows they've matured since then.

The Black Crowes new album, "LIONS," is a rocking, gritty, bluesy good time, reminiscent of their first two albums which garnered them so much success. But at what cost? Their fifth disc, "BY YOUR SIDE," was possibly their most cohesive album to date,...

Pros: Excellent retro blues-rock with contemporary influences.
Cons: A few very poor songs upset the rhythm of the album.

One thing to appreciate about the Black Crowes is that they can play it fast and slow. On their landmark debut album, they did both amazingly well ('Jealous Again', 'Twice As Hard' or slowed down rock-ballads, 'Sister Luck' and 'She Talks to Angels')....

Pros: More hits than the last couple of albums
Cons: Some songs just don't work

Before buying this album, I had heard several of its singles on the radio, and had loved them. What sold me was when I saw The Black Crowes on HBO's Reverb show. They were in concert playing all their new songs and that was when I really got into them....

Pros: The diversity of styles.
Cons: That "Young Man, Old Man" song kinda sucks.

In the two years since their last studio release The Black Crowes toured with Lenny Kravitz and Jimmy Page, they headlined NetAid, an International one-day music
Festival and of course Chris Robinson married star du jour, Kate Hudson. The band also...

Pros: Crowes taking chances again. Far better the 99's By Your Side.
Cons: Only one guitar through most of the album.

After the release of 1999's By Your Side was greeted with an unenthsiastic thud, both critically and commercially, the Robinson brothers regrouped. They hired guitarist Audley Freed and fired bassist Sven Pipien, replacing him with Andy Hess. Following...