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analysis w/e 14.5.11 |
DVDs out 9.5.11 |
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@ DVDfever Youtube |
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May 11 2011 
DVDfever co uk
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Rock? Not as you might recognise it. God knows why, but sometimes you hear something that wouldn’t normally register on your music radar. It really is inexplicable. And so it is with Black Lips. These self-confessed ‘flower punks’ from Atlanta Georgia now release their fifth album. Black Lips make me think of the band that reputedly created garage rock and punk, Detroit’s protopunkers – MC5. Having recently, and for the first time, listened to one of the greatest live albums of all-time kick Out The Jams (1969) you can see where Black Lips are sort of coming from. Their ruff’n’ready swagger is reminiscent of the early Rolling Stones (still), though no direct musical comparisons exist. There’s also darkness to their mood that seems to emanate from The Doors. Released on Vice Records, 20 Million..brings a totally refreshing take on 21st century rock, despite being rooted in the 60s. In part, apart from an apparent sloppy attitude, their music has a naivety missing in today’s rock. Don’t be fooled these boys can play, even if the singer’s a bit, well, not that good, though in a wacky way, suits their ramblings.
If Black Lips could come up with consistently good songs they might make some serious headway. As they stand, they probably won’t. Often shambolic - Big Black Jesus Of Today, The Drop I Hold, Body Combat, Elijah, I Saw God, and unnecessary final untitled track, they can counter this some decent rock. It opens with freewheeling Take My Heart, and they soon find their mojo on a comparatively (lightweight by their standards) soft-rock tinged Drugs, though as with many of their songs, the lyrics are barely understandable. Starting Again is possibly their best organised song as they jangly guitar work owes much to late 60s. Pity the singer’s wailing destroys it. They hit their peak on almost popified ballad I’ll Be With You and riffy Short Fuse. Most interesting track ? The hippy styled Old Man is a classic, where they actually appear to be taking things seriously. Black Lips can be a very, very frustrating band. With some guidance they have potential be a really good band. The verdict - 20 Million… should have been cropped down to around nine or ten tracks.
Weblinks: blacklips.com / deadocenas.comRadio: Hear tracks soon on THE PLUG at wrexham.com
The full list of tracks included are :
As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B 37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier. PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
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Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
