Warpaint

Sometimes new and/or improved isn't what satisfies. Often with 'new' comes angst and anxiety with the anticipation of what might lie ahead.

It's what works best, I suppose, that comforts.

It would be like traveling all day, and checking into the Ritz-Carlton and finding the bed made up with your perfectly worn, 15 year-old flannel sheets and holey old body fluid stained blankets.

It's just like that, huh?

What makes the new Black Crowes album, Warpaint, work for me is that it isn't new. I'm not expecting Sigor Ros or Deerhoof here. I want my Black Crowes southern goddamn rock and roll. It's not new, it's perfected. It's what's comfy. It's lush without being pretentious. It's beautiful without being weak.

It is not Panda Bear, okay? Plus, you get Luther Dickinson from NMAS and some other real pros on the record. Yeah, that's it, Warpaint is fucking professional, thanks. Wanna hear a professional album? Here it is.

And, bonus, it's produced by the very professional Paul Stacey.

[Speaking of "pro" and "produced," Beck "Bek David Campbell" Hansen is finally getting around to working with mystery producer, Danger Mouse. Thank God!]