Happiness Bastards Explained

Happiness Bastards
Type:	studio
Artist:	the Black Crowes
Cover:	The Black Crowes - Happiness Bastards.png
Alt:	The album title written across four lines in black text on top of a murky blue-grey background.
Released:	March 15, 2024
Length:	37:54
Label:	Silver Arrow
Producer:	Jay Joyce
Prev Title:	1972
Prev Year:	2022

Happiness Bastards is the ninth studio album by American rock band the Black Crowes, released on March 15, 2024, through Silver Arrow Records.^{[1] [2]} The album was produced by Jay Joyce.^[3] It is the band's first album since their 2019 reformation, the first album of new material since 2009's Before the Frost...Until the Freeze, and the first without longtime drummer Steve Gorman. The album was preceded by the single "Wanting and Waiting", released on January 12, 2024.^[3]

Critical reception

Happiness Bastards received a score of 80 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on nine critics' reviews, indicating "generally favourable". Classic Rock Magazine said "A rock'n'roll record that's funkier than a tramp's kacks, more soulful than a gospel convention, warmer than a mother's love and groovier than the Grand Canyon."^[4]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Chris Robinson and Rich Robinson.

1. "Bedside Manners" – 3:41
2. "Rats and Clowns" – 3:33
3. "Cross Your Fingers" – 3:49
4. "Wanting and Waiting" – 4:15
5. "Wilted Rose" (featuring Lainey Wilson) – 5:06
6. "Dirty Cold Sun" – 3:05
7. "Bleed It Dry" – 2:56
8. "Flesh Wound" – 3:34
9. "Follow the Moon" – 3:26
10. "Kindred Friend" – 4:29

Personnel

The Black Crowes

• Nico Bereciartúa – guitar
• Erik Deutsch – keyboards
• Brian Griffin – drums
• Sven Pipien – bass, vocals
• Chris Robinson – lead vocals, harp, artwork, design
• Rich Robinson – guitar, vocals

Additional contributors

• Jay Joyce – production, mixing, guitar, keyboards
• Pete Lyman – mastering
• Jason Hall – mixing, engineering
• Daniel Bacigalupi – mastering assistance
• Alex Grimm – engineering assistance
• Jimmy Mansfield – engineering assistance
• Josh Groppel – engineering assistance
• Camille Robinson – artwork, design

Charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"

Peak position
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)^[5]	31
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)^[6]	47

Notes and References

1. Black Crowes Prepping First New Album in 15 Years, Happiness Bastards . Gil . Kaufman . January 12, 2024 . January 30, 2024 . Billboard.
2. Web site: The Black Crowes Announce Their First New Album in 15 Years Happiness Bastards . The Black Crowes . January 11, 2024 . January 30, 2024.
3. Web site: The Black Crowes Announce New Album Happiness Bastards . . January 11, 2024 . January 30, 2024.
4. News: Carty . Pat . March 19, 2024 . "More soulful than a gospel convention, warmer than a mother's love and groovier than the Grand Canyon": The Black Crowes return in righteous form on Happiness Bastards . April 19, 2024 . Classic Rock Magazine.
5. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of March 20, 2024. Billboard Japan. ja. March 20, 2024.
6. Web site: The Black Crowes – Happiness Bastards . March 31, 2024 . Productores de Música de España.