25032014 - Wolfmother "New Crown"

None of us saw this coming. Just last month I bemoaned the fact that I hadn't checked out Wolfmother's second album at the time it was released, and here they are again with a new album! And without even announcing that they were back together again! Which, of course, they are not. This is Andrew Stockdale with the bass player/keyboardist from "Cosmic Egg" and Andrew's solo album, "Keep Walking", plus the rhythm guitarist from said solo album, now on drums. So, effectively this is Stockdale's solo band performing as Wolfmother, which obviously is what the people want. After seeing his stocks plummet, Stockdale has apparently seen the value of the brand name that is a band name, so Wolfmother it is. But is it any good? The verdict is still out, and it will take a lot more than just this one listen to decide. "Tall Ships" is a standout track, with its brooding dark psychedelia, but most of the album is rawer and more primitive than the first two albums. There's generally more garage rock, and even a Detroit-y punk edge to some of the material here! I really like parts of this album, but I'm not sure that "New Crown" benefits from being a Wolfmother release.