Album Review: Wolfmother-"New Crown"

RATING: 4/10

Wolfmother has a unique, retro hard rock sound that I've always likened to Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. They emanate the hazy 70s in a way that waters the American classic rock roots in us all--even though the band is Australian. While their first two albums had a relatively mainstream appeal by way of groovy, stomp-your-feet choruses like in their 2006 hit "Joker and the Thief (Wolfmother)," New Crown is a bit more of a deep cut. It slathers on sludgy chords, clearing the way for impromptu solos and steady, echoing drums. I definitely get more of a true stoner rock vibe on this album; there isn't too much complexity, and the tracks really get a chance to breathe. Listening to "New Crown," I'm drawn in by a strong, cymbal flanked jam that one might expect to be on the back end of the track. On the actual back end though is an intimate, bass heavy segment briefly fueled by a wailing Andrew Stockdale, before ushering in a guitar solo that I wish would drag on and keep my high in a Ted Nugent stranglehold. I can deal with the compromise though. In fact, a few of the shorter songs on the album resonate with me the most. "She Got It" has some almost humorously regurgitated lines as far as rock music goes ("I like the way that you walk down the street/You look like somebody that I'd like to meet"), but it's that unshakable nostalgia factor that draws away from the lyrical content and places a holistic emphasis on the music's raw power. "I Ain't Got No" has the same appeal, and sounds exactly like something Brian Johnson or Mick Jagger would have orchestrated. That's okay with me, because I tend to take a hipster mentality when listening to these types of classic rock revival bands-- antiquation is innovation now, right? For some, yes, but Wolfmother definitely could have done more on this album. It doesn't feel like the third album in their discography. It feels demo-ish and lazy, like they're living in the past. While that might have been what the band was aiming for with the fuzzy, tapestry-laden garage approach, it's pretty clear what Wolfmother is capable of doing musically, and it's a lot more than this. Taking a five year hiatus only to release this project is pretty disappointing, and while New Crown isn't terrible as an overall album, Wolfmother should definitely take it as a gut check.