Apparently Maxim’s two-and-a-half star review of the Black Crowes new CD, Warpaint, was just an “educated guess.” From their web site:

How is it that a magazine can review an entire album–and assign a star rating to it–without actually hearing the album?

Case in point: the “review” of Warpaint–the new album by THE BLACK CROWES–in the March issue of Maxim magazine. The writer–who has not heard the album since advance CDs were not made available–wrote what appears to be a disparaging assessment anyway, citing “it hasn’t left Chris Robinson and the gang much room for growth.”

Incredulously, the magazine gave the album a two and a half star rating–although neither the writer nor the editor could have heard more than one song (the single “Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution”).

When approached for an explanation, the magazine described the review as “an educated guess preview.” Huh?

Black Crowes manager Pete Angelus says, “Maxim’s actions seem to completely lack journalistic integrity and intentionally mislead their readership. When confronted with the fact that they never heard the album they are claiming to ‘review’ in their music section–with a star rating, no less–they attempt to explain that it was an ‘educated guess.’ In an email correspondence, Maxim went on to state: ‘Of course, we always prefer to (sic) hearing music, but sometimes there are big albums that we don’t want to ignore that aren’t available to hear, which is what happened with the Crowes. It’s either an educated guess preview or no coverage at all, so in this case we chose the former.’”

Angelus continued, “It speaks directly to the lack of the publication’s credibility. In my opinion, it’s a disgrace to the arts, journalism, critics, the publication itself and the public. What’s next–Maxim’s concert reviews of shows they never attended, book reviews of books never read and film reviews of films never seen?”

Here at Synthesis, we pride ourselves on listening to at least two songs of an album before giving it a disparaging review.

I really, really, really hope they had a good supply of Afghani black tar heroin, because I want to hear a good album from The Black Crowes. They just finished tracking 16 songs and will begin mixing in September. Expect a Robinson brothers feud to follow.

“THE BLACK CROWES have completed the recording of their new album and will start mixing in September for a Spring 2008 release. Sixteen new tracks were recorded, none of which have yet been played to a live audience. The album was recorded at Allaire Studios in Shokan, New York and was produced by Paul Stacey and The Black Crowes. Prior to the start of recording, The Black Crowes brought in Adam MacDougall to perform on keyboards and are proud to announce that Adam will be joining The Black Crowes for future touring. In addition, The Black Crowes invited guitarist Luther Dickinson from North Mississippi Allstars to perform on the record.”

In other news, 10 people still care about the Black Crowes. And I am one of them.

I remember thinking this video was sick. I also remember liking guitar solos.

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