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BANDS: Punk
& Ska INTERESTS: Venues ETC... About LOTD
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The Black Lips:
Self-Titled
The Black Lips come screaming out of Atlanta, GA where the boys are, word has it, known for their raucous stage show and exhausting antics. Their self-titled debut album is currently out on BOMP! Records, home of the Battle of the Garages compilations and records by Stiv Bators, as well as Iggy Pop. This record is not a very mixed bag, consisting heavily of 60s-type psychedelica and a term both overused and overrated, and that isnt going to stop me, so here it comes: garage rock. What does that mean anymore? Yeah, BOMP! is known for discovering and nurturing garage bands, but The Black Lips isnt really a garage rock record. A label like garage rock would certainly steer me clear if I wasnt reviewing it. I prefer comparison to The Cramps; it is definitely more fitting here, and The Black Lips wear it well. The Black Lips play all their songs entirely on the same three chords throughout the record, which gets monotonous if you arent down with it however if you think listening to the same three chords, over and over again is wicked cool, then you should buy this album. There is a track entitled Crazy Girl, which is very 1990s grunge and a complete departure from the rest of the record, so that provides a nice break. Im glad to own this record simply for the track Freakout, that although sounding completely ripped off, still kicks ass in a sonic explosion kind of a way. The vocals on most of these songs leave much to the imagination, as you cannot understand most of what vocalist Cole Alexander is saying. Theres some stuff in there about being Down and Out and another gem, which again sounds ripped off: Living at home is such a drag wait for it oh yeah, the Beastie Boys did that line, and I dare say it was better used in developing their frat staple of a hit Fight For Your Right than it is in the three-minute opus by The Black Lips entitled Everybody Loves A Cocksucker. One of my favorite things about this band is their use of the harmonica. If I havent said it to yall before, I do love the harmonica. The Black Lips use the harmonica often and that is another good reason to purchase this record. And before I finish, you should know that this album was recorded as a four piece. In addition to Cole, there is Jared Swilley, Joe Bradley and Ben Eberbaugh. The record is dedicated to Eberbaugh, presumably because he died in a tragic car accident shortly before the record was to come out. The Black Lips are currently touring about America catch em if you can.
This album can be purchased at Bomp! Records LEFT OFF THE DIAL's Black Lips page About LOTD Contact/Staff Advertise Home All content © LEFT OFF THE DIAL 2001-2005. All rights reserved. |
