Lord, they just wanna testify!
 
Welcome, children, to the Church of the Crowes. Everyone's favourite southern rock 'n' soul band hasn't quite gone Christian on its fifth album (in stores Tuesday), but it sounds like it's at least one step closer. The band has made the kind of record even the most devout southern Baptists wouldn't feel too guilty about banging their heads to on a Saturday night. While you can nearly smell the beer and cigarette smoke while listening to this swampy fare - great stuff if you're in the right mood - there are unmistakable themes of joy and hope in the music.
 
The basic sound is the same - Chris Robinson's distinctive three-note drawl backed up by chunky beats and duelling guitars jostling each other like drunks at the bar before last call - but the messages are loftier than just sitting around drinking and smoking marijuana. The opening blast of speedy swamp rock, Go Faster, actually seems to have an anti-drug message, as Robinson brays, "I took all I need/I don't need no more."
 
While the focus wavers at times, the songs that work the best tend to have the biggest gospel influence. The Motown-flavoured Only a Fool is one of the best. Horsehead is a funky bit of fun that takes shots at the devil, who "ain't no good at all." And Go Tell the Congregation is another winner, and probably the most "religious" song of the lot.
 
Fear not, fans. Just because the Crowes found God doesn't mean they've lost their edge.