APRIL ALBUM OF THE MONTH
For the last decade, there has been much talk about the latent promise of bands from the rising rock scene – and Those Damn Crows could well be the band from a new generation that go all the way and bag a Number 1 album. And this could well be the one.
The Crows have a special place my heart. Back in mid-2016, I heard about their then forthcoming debut album ‘Murder And The Motive’. On my rock show, I played most of the album tracks but ‘Rock n Roll Ain’t Dead’ was the one that got a life all of its own – and it ran every week for months, years even. More than a great song, it became an anthem for a rockshow on a local station that didn’t really care for rock. The song went on to become a rally cry for what was to become the whole rising rock scene: A statement of defiance against the lethargic status quo of mainstream music – and also a song about the promise for better days ahead. And better days ahead the Crows have enjoyed – a success story that today serves to inspire a new generation of rock bands on what is possible.
My early interviews with the band were such fun. The 2016 Christmas card special at Camden, the chats with Clive in Scotland and so on. They turned heads winning GMS Band Of The Year back in 2017. A sign maybe of things to come and powered by the committed, early fans who now are the proud owners of that rare – and probably very valuable – black first edition of their debut album; different cover, different track listing.
In those early years, I saw the band at many grassroots venues but their support slot for The Quireboys at Kentish Town in 2018 was a defining moment. A young band that just grew into a bigger stage and got bigger and better. Like many of the greats, the Crows rise to the occasion – the bigger the venue the better the band.
And the rest is history. Powered by Earache Records, good management and a committed fan base – the crow family – here is a band that, in truth, left the ‘rising scene’ years ago. They’ve made smart choices playing signature shows at castles, arenas and sports grounds. Add to this an innovative lockdown podcast that allowed the band to grow at a time when many artists scratched their heads during an era of no gigs. There is a clear trajectory with this brand. They’re moving up. And probably all the way to the top.
Back in 2016-17 on my rockshow, we coined the phrase “headline killers” as each Friday night listeners would jump on Twitter and relay news from a gig – that the Crows were better than the bands they supported. Well now The Crows are the headliners but, more than that, they are the torch carriers of and for a new generation. They have proven in nine years that Rock n Roll is anything but dead.
A bit of a nostalgic introduction, but this trajectory is important to understand the context of the band’s journey – their essence; hard working lads, closely committed to their fans, and show-stealers on stages of any size. There is such popular support for the band today, but ultimately their rise is all about the music. And so on to this fine new studio album…
To start out, I didn’t read any of the PR blurb. Like most music fans, I like to put a record on and savour that first experience with a free mind. Those first listens are special, and it’s about your personal connection to the music and how it makes you feel. I will also be at pains to say I will avoid citing which bands Those Damn Crows might sound like as, to me, that’s largely missing the point. Those Damn Crows are like Those Damn Crows; they have their own personalities, their own mix of repertoire styles and their sound is their own.
‘Dancing With The Enemy’ opens the album and it also feels like it might be a perfect show opener, with a moody intro, a steady vocal build – and then a song that bursts into life and invites you to jump up and down and pour beer over the person standing next to you (please don’t try this at home without a responsible adult).
It’s clear from the album opener that the band’s sound has evolved, matured even, since the 2016 debut – it’s deeper, more rounded and full-blooded: Heavy but melodic, hard-edged but also catchy, here is a band that has mastered how you can give the heavy rockers what they want but also have room to appeal to the more popular tastes of a mass audience.
‘Glass Heart’ struck me as a heavy pop song. And there’s nothing wrong with the word pop because many of the great rock bands went beyond a classic rock or metal niche to broaden their audience.
The vocals on ‘Fake’ are superb. Shane is not just a good technical singer, the range of the moods and emotions he conveys are heartfelt and sincere. The vocal palette is broad but you believe what he’s singing and that’s down to the emotional resonance he packs into his performances, time after time.
‘Fake’ is a song full of drama and I liked the changes of mood and intensity between the verses and choruses. A well-arranged song.
‘Dreaming’ is a soft melodic rocker, presenting the commercial side of the band – a radio friendly track that’s accessible and with rounded-edges. This is important nowadays because lots of radio stations play the Crows – and that’s a cool thing. As evidenced on ‘Dreaming’ and, in fact across the light and shade of this album, Shane’s voice is hugely adaptable. He can belt out the heavy ones but with the melodic tracks and ballads you see a fuller bandwidth to his vocal range and talents: Like Freddie, who often really shone on the quieter numbers.
‘Let’s Go Psycho’ closes side one with a thumper – and yes I’m listening to ‘God Shaped Hole’ on vinyl. A format of music where track sequencing is key, and this track is a perfect end to the first half….
[Break for half-time oranges]
Hello side 2! ‘No Surrender’ opens side two of the album and it’s a track that takes me back to early Crows. Great vocal arrangements crowning intense but warmly dark music, with growling rhythms and great drumming.
‘The Night Train’ is an absolute delight. I will say no more here, you’ll have to buy the album and judge for yourself. Perhaps the surprise package of the album and it sees the Crows taking their repertoire into a new ‘style room’ in their musical house. A really nice surprise on the album, and one that makes the first listen of an album such fun.
Next up, we have a pair of solid, signature Crows staples with ‘Turn It Around’ and ‘Spit And Choke’. In truth, I was probably still thinking about my reaction to ‘The Night Train’ while these two bangers let rip – admittedly with power and conviction. Good songs.
And finally, with ‘Still’ the best is saved ‘til last. A beautiful close to the album. With recent Crows albums, many people have come to love the stripped back and vulnerable side of the band. I remember the piano version of ‘Blink Of An Eye’ that Earache sent me for an early play on my rockshow years ago. The band just does these songs so well – songs where less can be so much more. With The Dust Coda’s former lead singer off on solo adventures, this song does suggest that one day Shane has a solo side-project in him with the potential of big hit singles. An outstanding vocal performance, framed by a good narrative – for me ‘Still’ is hands down the best song on the album.
This album is another bold step forward for Those Damn Crows. It’s also a popular album which bands have to make when their appeal broadens and diversifies. And becoming popular is absolutely fine and with it comes a slight change of sound. Take one of my favourite bands, Queen. Classic rockers always bang on about Queen 2 but albums like The Game and The Works had the big hits that people still listen to – and radio still plays – 40 years later. So the Crows are a heavy band that has evolved. They also have a frontman who can work the crowd better than any of his peers, again like Queen. And on top of that, the Crows are serving up a rounded balance of songs that can turn a rock band into a band for everyone. This is the Crows today – and a serious shout for Number One beckons in less than a week.
Order the new album via Earache Records at
https://earache.com/collections/those-damn-crows
Early days on Great Music Stories: A selection of early Crows interviews
Shane: Band of the Year interview 2017
2018: Three festival preview interview
2018: Crows in Scotland playing the Great Music Stories stage
Spring 2017: The year ahead interview
October Tour Dates
Fri 17th Oct – Leicester O2 Academy
Sat 18th Oct – Leeds Stylus
Mon 20th Oct – Newcastle Boiler Shop
Tue 21st Oct – Glasgow SWG3
Wed 22nd Oct – Manchester Albert Hall
Fri 24th Oct – Bristol Crane: Prospect Building
Sun 26th Oct – Plymouth Plymouth Pavilions
Tue 28th Oct – Southampton Engine Rooms
Thu 30th Oct – Birmingham O2 Institute
Fri 31st Oct – London O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Social links
www.thosedamncrows.com
www.facebook.com/thosedamncrows
www.twitter.com/ThoseDamnCrows
www.instagram.com/ThoseDamnCrows
