The Black Crowes
Lions

THE REVIEW

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...