THE BLACK CROWES

Lions [V2]

The Robinson brothers and their Jack Daniel's swilling buddies are thankfully among the last few true blue rock ’n’ roll evangelists still left in ripped jeans and power chords. There ain't no embracing of electronic nonsense to be found here, no Sir-ee. This is straight no chaser rock announcing itself with a howling held note that could go on forever. 'Midnight From The Inside Out' lives up to the renegade promise of its title, perfectly pitched backing vocals swirling around Chris Robinson's

unmistakeable hi-octane drawl. Its also probably the most Black Crowes thing they've laid their raw rock hands on since 1990's Shake Your Money Maker.

The fortchmoing single 'Lickin' mightn't be a sing-a-long treat to rival 'Remedy', but it's still a good giggle. 'Come On' is exactly the bombastic bombshell that only the Black Crowes or AC/DC can humanly get away with, as the Crowes teeter along a very thin line between being embarassing uncles and shit cool cousins. They don't get off the hook too lightly, as the likes of 'Losin' My Mind' and 'Soul Singin' are precisely that irritable blend of Southern rawk ballad that got boring since the Scream's Give Out But Don't Give Up phase. If that’s not enough, 'Greasy Grass River' just goes one cliché too far. Leather-clad redemption comes in the rock out shape of 'Young Man Old Man' (ace line – "Young man crazy/old man wise/some folks crazy/some folks jive") complete with a mini choir of funked up soul girls and boys letting it all hang tough. The hip kids will hate this, but you gotta remember its only rock ’n’ roll… and I kinda like it.

Eamon Sweeney