• Record Label: V2
  • Release Date: May 8, 2001
Metascore
50

Mixed or average reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 15
  2. Negative: 3 out of 15
  1. When the Crowes stumble into the right place, they soar. Indeed, at its best, their sixth album delivers the same streamlined pleasures that the group rediscovered on 1999's By Your Side.
  2. There's precious little of the extravagant muso twiddling and indulgent nonsense that has waylaid the band sometimes in the past.
  3. Revolver
    60
    While Lions roars with all of the classic rock bombast and Stones-y swagger we've come to expect from the Crowes, the album is sorely lacking in the magic that can only be achieved when the innately talented drive themselves to distraction in the pursuit of perfection. [May/June 2001, p.110]
  4. Lions has got style to spare, but ends up light on meaty hooks.
  5. With the exception of 1999's By Your Side, which showed flashes of the band's original brilliance, in recent years the songwriting of brothers Chris and Rich Robinson has deteriorated into a muddled mess of hard rock cliches. Lions is the low point of that decline.
  6. Entertainment Weekly
    42
    Chris Robinson and crew get artier with their arrangements, but sacrifice the lived-in feel of previous work. [11 May 2001, p.81]
  7. Blender
    40
    The line between this credible Faces-cum-Skynyrd jam band's best and worst material remains slimmer than even their most ardent fanatic might hope. [Jun/Jul 2001, p.105]
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 40 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 40
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 40
  3. Negative: 3 out of 40
  1. AxeS.
    Mar 4, 2008
    7
    The Crowes continue their foray into alternative rock (three snakes part II). 'greasy grass river', 'losin my mind', and The Crowes continue their foray into alternative rock (three snakes part II). 'greasy grass river', 'losin my mind', and 'cosmic friend' rank among the band's best songs. the whole album has a psychedelic feel, due in part to the post-post modern album artwork. like most Crowes albums, though, there are a couple of clunkers on lions. Full Review »
  2. KenI
    May 3, 2007
    10
    Great album. More hard Rock than other Crowe's albums.
  3. tracey
    Jan 16, 2007
    10
    the fact that the Real listeners have rated it higher than the critics says it all!another classic,all i can say is WOW!i can't stop the fact that the Real listeners have rated it higher than the critics says it all!another classic,all i can say is WOW!i can't stop listening to it. Full Review »