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Rating: Mmmmhhhhh... yeah, that very mmmhhhhmhmmmh, that sound we make when we're unsure, when we have doubts about something. This is what comes to mind when I listen and listen again to this "Lions," the latest chapter in the discography of a band called The Black Crowes. In fact, the Georgia crows disbanded after this 2001 album due to increasing divisions from the infighting between the Robinson brothers, Chris Robinson's desire to pursue a solo career, and perhaps, who knows, just like in any relationship, they might have gotten tired of being together, and maybe (those who admire them might wonder if they were right?!?) they thought it was time to put the Crows back in the cage. But anyway, what has happened has happened, let’s forget the past, as someone used to say...
I remember that when this album was released, much of the "Official" critics had decidedly trashed it, and I remember even better some friends who were disappointed by this "Lions." I was among them, but subsequent listens, luck, open-mindedness, passion, whatever you want, made me change my mind. Well, today I think this album is somehow the sum of all the Black Crowes' production and above all, it's the ROCK of 2000. Suddenly everything that came before seems to have vanished into thin air, seems never to have existed so strong and powerful is the energy of this record. I said I was disappointed by it because musically we are faced with a big rock guitars with sounds and distortions completely new compared to what the Crowes had accustomed us to. Furthermore, the singing seems to lose its aggressiveness, it’s less gritty but gains in melodicity. Almost synth keyboards peek through, softer echoes, and distortions accompanied by decidedly more pop snare drum sounds... oh how disgusting!!! And instead NO, NO, NO.
"Losing my mind" confirms what has just been said and gets into your head for its sad beauty. The next track "Ozone Mama" seems more like a soul-rock piece with singing in full Hip-Hop style... and yet you go down saying... "How the hell is it possible???", and yet it is because here there's an essence of funky-soul melody with a nod to the blues and excuse me if it’s not a small thing. "Greasy Grass River" with a full wah-wah start that even old Jimy would have been happy with... and here the chorus explodes, accompanied by a syncopated rhythm and an almost stoner-rock distortion and excuse me again if it’s not a small thing. If we then add Chris Robinson's vocal performance or rather his interpretation... In a moment, a very catchy arpeggio begins... accompanied by a voice and a riff that make the song extremely circular, swaying, almost psychedelic and now comes the chorus "Soul Singing"... damn what a choir, what a voice, and what a song it is. It is Rock, but it is veeeery black, very Soul. But where’s the rhythm, the Rock... come on, here you go "Come On," a Rock fury that grabs your head and quadriceps and installs there and makes your leg move... wow this is what I call music. Do you want the Ballad?!? Here you are served "Miracle to Me," simply to listen to, it's chilling to hear how acoustic and electric guitars play. "Cosmic Friend" takes you to an interstellar old west saloon, the guitar wakes up, and the piano starts to play and spit notes on a drum that fires gentle bursts... here we breathe with full lungs the 2000 Roots-Rock. "Lay it All On Me" I would describe as one of the strangest tracks... maybe the comparison doesn't hold, but it reminds me of Elton John... the piano reigns supreme and amiably dialogues with Chris's increasingly delicate voice... more Rock-soul-Roots and loads of Blues.
Really, you can’t ask for more. Concluding, if tomorrow the Martians come down to earth and ask what Rock is... well, for the decade in question, this CD must be played at full volume on the spacecraft of our friend E.T. New decade, New Rock, Black Crowes. Ah... if you're wondering why the mmmhhhhhmmm at the beginning of the review, well, here’s the explanation: I am indeed doubtful, did America’s Crows do the right thing by splitting up?!?? In my opinion, no... and the doubt remains...
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Lickin' (03:42)
Written by: R. Robinson & C. Robinson
Your eyes they look like two bullet holes
And you don't ever say maybe
You knock me out with the way you talk
I like the way you say "Baby"
You want a mouthful of scorpio
Yeah, but my poison be tasty
You bite my finger and say 'control'
You won't let me be lazy
Chorus:
Night and day like a mule I'm kickin'
Girl you gonna catch a lickin'
Fire out of the mouths of babes
Got you actin' so crazy
Doorknob queen of the underage
Got me rantin' and ravin'
See the bruise you left on my page
Now the game's getting tricky
Left alone in my own parade
While the bomb just keeps tickin'
Chorus
Do you want to do it all with me
Do you want to scream and bleed for me
You can have all of me, all of me
Your teeth taste just like razorblades
Yeah you got my tongue ready
You fill me up with your politics
And leave me so heavy
09 Miracle to Me (04:42)
Written by: R. Robinson & C. Robinson
So come on off of your rooftop
Come on down to the street
I've got something to tell you
You're secret I will keep
Tell me why have you been crying
Why won't you look me in the eye
I'm just trying to help you
I just need to know why
Please won't you let me try
Chorus:
Be my secret, be my joy
Be a miracle to me
Be my lover, be my friend
Be a miracle to me
I want to sleep in your moonglow
In my mind you're smile I keep
Head over heels I go
Like a dream from a peaceful sleep
This time I know I'm in deep
Chorus
12 Cypress Tree (03:40)
Written by: R. Robinson & C. Robinson
So you found yourself a killer
The one with blue eyes
I guess the bloodstains on the blanket don't lie
Well I guess I saw it comin'
Like a boy I just kept runnin'
But through this crime I have survived
Chorus:
They're gonna hang you from the cypress tree
The crowd gonna cheer when they see you swing
Yeah they're gonna hang you from the cypress tree
Tell me now do you believe?
Glory Hallelujah
I raise my glass up to you
And I bow my head with utmost respect
But I think it's only fair to warn you
That there's a storm that's coming up on you
And like the wind and the rain
My words are direct
Chorus
It's a funny word 'friends'
You get beginnings and you got ends
I guess I'll see you when we're ashes again
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