The Black Crowes‘ “Happiness Bastards” Album Download Leak MP3 ZIP Files
The Black Crowes, an American rock band, are releasing their ninth studio album titled “Happiness Bastards” on March 15, 2024, through Silver Arrow Records. The album was produced by Jay Joyce and will be their first album since their 2019 reformation and the first album of new material since 2009’s “Before the Frost…Until the Freeze”. The album was preceded by the single “Wanting and Waiting”, released on January 12, 2024.
Starting a band with your brother may not be the best idea, as history has shown us. While some sibling collaborations have been successful (such as Sparks, early Allman Brothers Band, The Bee Gees [mostly], Devo, and others), many have been troublesome at best (such as The Kinks, Oasis, The Beach Boys, The Everly Brothers).
The Black Crowes, founded by brothers Chris and Rich Robinson as Mr. Crowe’s Garden in 1984, fall into the latter category. The two have had a notoriously troubled relationship since the success of their debut album “Shake Your Moneymaker” in the 1990s. This dysfunctional relationship has resulted in multiple breakups, re-formations, sabbaticals, and uneven performances.
Both Chris and Rich have had successful solo careers between their Black Crowes stints. Rich released a few albums featuring his name, while Chris has nearly a dozen titles under his own name, along with the ever-changing personnel of The Chris Robinson Brotherhood. In between, they occasionally regrouped for either a tour or another Crowes collection, but that also stopped after 2009’s “Before the Frost/Until the Freeze”, their last set of originals before the twosome once again called it quits in 2015.
The Black Crowes reunited in 2019-2021 for a tour, playing their entire debut album, with pandemic time off resulting in 2023’s double live album “Shake Your Moneymaker Live”. Only the Robinson brothers were present for most of those dates, with a new batch of backing musicians.
For the studio follow-up, previous bassist Sven Pipien returns, and three other musicians handle second guitar, drums, and keyboards. Roots producer Jay Joyce (Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson) is producing the album, providing professional guidance behind the board for ten freshly penned tunes.
The good news is that little has changed in the Crowes’ approach over the 15-year gap. They haven’t gone hip-hop, heavy metal, or even country (although Wilson contributes harmonies to one tune), preferring to reference old standby influences such as the Stones, the Faces, Aerosmith, and the Georgia Satellites. Singer Chris is still channeling Humble Pie’s frontman, rugged soul shouter Steve Marriott. Those influences are especially prominent on the tough opening rocker “Bedside Manners”, where he lambasts an ex-lover with “If you don’t want my diamonds / Don’t shake my tree” as Rich delivers nasty slide work.
They move to grimy blues-rocking on “Bleed It Dry”, with Chris blowing hard-boiled harp and singing with a passion seemingly restrained since the Crowe’s last studio outing. “Dark Cold Sun” adds maracas and a thimbleful of soul/funk undertones to the rugged rocker, yielding one of this disc’s gritty highlights.
The songs fly by with enthusiasm as the band thrashes and burns with Chris’ words often getting blurred by the raucous, animated playing. You’ll need to check a lyric sheet to understand the plentiful, often slurred, singing.
Backing vocals from a trio (two female and one male) bring depth on the hard riffing “Follow the Moon”, another breathless rocker that compensates in sheer adrenaline what it lacks in a memorable melody. Chris shouts “If you’re gonna make an accusation / You better point your fingers soon / To leave the sun and follow the moon”, but it’s hard to know who he’s accusing. It’s best to go with the organic, guitar-heavy flow.
A few ballads such as the Wilson-enhanced “Wilted Rose” provide much-needed breathers. The closing “Kindred Friend” also dials down the jittery intensity by referencing Neil Young’s Harvest-era folk/country, again aided by Chris’ harmonica, gospel backup, and a widescreen sound suggesting the Crowes’ earlier achievements.
Existing supporters eagerly anticipating the Crowes’ return will find plenty to enjoy on “Happiness Bastards”. It’s encouraging to have the Robinson brothers back writing and performing some solid new material as the Crowes try, generally successfully, to re-create past glories.
TRACKLIST
- “Bedside Manners” – 3:41
- “Rats and Clowns” – 3:33
- “Cross Your Fingers” – 3:49
- “Wanting and Waiting” – 4:15
- “Wilted Rose” (featuring Lainey Wilson) – 5:06
- “Dirty Cold Sun” – 3:05
- “Bleed It Dry” – 2:56
- “Flesh Wound” – 3:34
- “Follow the Moon” – 3:26
- “Kindred Friend” – 4:29
The Black Crowes is a renowned band that emerged from the 90s jam band movement. Unlike contemporaries such as Dave Matthews or Phish, they had a more blues-influenced sound. The band was led by brothers Rich and Chris Robinson, with other musicians joining and leaving over the years. They are best known for hits like “She Talks to Angels”, “Remedy”, “Jealous Again”, and a cover of Otis Redding’s “Hard To Handle”.
As of August 2023, the band’s current lineup includes the Robinson brothers, longtime bassist Sven Pipien, and new members Nico Bereciartua (lead guitar), Cully Symington (drums), and Erik Deutsch (keyboards). Their latest album, Happiness Bastards, is set to be released in March 2024.
The Black Crowes have sold over 30 million albums and are listed at number 92 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. Melody Maker labeled them as “The Most Rock ‘n’ Roll Rock ‘n’ Roll Band in the World” and the readers of Rolling Stone voted them ‘Best New American Band’ in 1990.
