THE BLACK CROWES: Happiness Bastards (2024)

A long time ago, a rock magazine, now defunct, reviewed records by advising to classify them "next to"... The new and unexpected Black Crowes, you can classify them everywhere, everywhere but near the legends (they are one by the way); near the Stones, Led Zep, Allman Bros, Faces, Humble Pie... and the guitar of Rich, a musician too little known, has nothing to envy the greatest purveyors of riffs. Unexpected therefore, because after 15 years after "Before the frost", album in two parts (one on CD, the other to download), we had indeed been treated to an equally unexpected tour based on the entirety of their first album and a live, but given the relations between the two brothers, how could we expect such a gift? This album will, without a doubt, join the top of their already brilliant discography, with a completely revamped line-up except for bassist Sven Pipien, managing to be a synthesis of their influences, their sound but also to offer fabulous pieces, from the country touch on "Milted Rose" supported by the vocals of Lainey Wilson, to "Bleed it dry" sounding like an old blues and especially the fabulous "Rats and clowns" groovy as desired, "Cross your fingers" carried by the beautiful guitar of Rich, "Wanting and wanting" immense and in the vein of a "Jealous again"! And what about the two titles in reference to the stars "Follow the moon" and "Dirty cold sun", two pure wonders stamped with the DNA of the group that we eagerly await on stage? "Bedsides manner" is not to be outdone and the album closes with a ballad, "Kindred friend", as the group has always known how to write. In the presentation bibliography, the band declares that they have left 15 years of wandering behind them; well it was definitely worth the wait (the only tiny downside concerns the cover).

Chris MARQUIS
Translation : Y. Philippot-Degand