***Both an open letter and a tribute to a profound, human experience, the aptly titled Sincerely, Black Lipstick explores the passing of loved ones. Sincerely also retains and reinforces many of the traditional values Black Lipstick upholds, like living for the moment and appreciating it more than most. Listen to the swelling, crashing crescendos at the end of "All Night Long Forever"-- one can't help but flick one's Bic. Other highlights include the bombastic, driving "Bob Fosse," a life-affirming celebration that would definitely have Tom Cruise sliding around on a hardwood floor in his underwear. Having grown musically and emotionally, Black Lipstick has recorded an album that is more confident, emotional and personal than ever before. The most notable difference between this and previous releases is the increased presence of renaissance elf Steven Garcia, who set aside his bass and stepped to the mic and guitar to contribute three songs and majestic riffage. Nowhere does he shine more brightly than on "Grandma Airplane," which boasts some of the most intricate, dense guitar layering on the record. Yes, Black Lipstick loves ZZ Top and the Fucking Champs-- plop that shit in the blender, sparkie. Black Lipstick has been widely lauded by the independent press for raunchy riffs, tasteful beats, a four octave monotone and clever lyrical wit, centered on topics which seemed important at the time. Some stoner dude from a liberal arts college once said they sound like a cross between the Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth, The Clean...
CD $9.50
03/08/2005
MP3 $0.00
03/08/2005
***Pardon the gratuitous pop-culture reference, but Converted Thieves is the record the Royal Tenenbaums might've made if they were 20-something Texans living dangerously close to the poverty line. Like a chorus of punch lines without a joke, the voices on this record are inevitably preoccupied with getting loaded and just getting by, and strive to create something meaningful, tender and true. Beneath a deliberately dated, stylized veneer lurk some of the wittiest "rock" lyrics since the demise of The Smiths. Puns crack at every beat. Low jokes mesh with high motives to craft a tone that is more serious for its refusal to take itself seriously, like 1965 Bob Dylan fermented and distilled. Reviews of Black Lipstick's debut EP place the band on par with its vaunted influences, a short list of rock's great trash-poets (VU, TV, Modern Lovers, The Fall). On Converted Thieves, Black Lipstick progresses from these starting points to find a voice all its own. Chock full of stoned-Stones wailers, southern rock chooglers, sardonic ballads, post-punk dirges, soaring Marquee Moon guitar solos and even the occasional (and occasionally convincing) drunk Nicky Hopkins impersonation on rock piano, Converted Thieves' depth sets it apart from garage rock contemporaries without sacrificing an unpretentious, all-too-Texan party spirit. It is made to matter by people who care, deeply, passionately and truly. A voice from the present urging one to live in the now. So roll the tops down and turn the AC on. This is one for the Jeeps, friends. "A makeshift...
CD $9.50
04/29/2003
MP3 $0.00
04/29/2003
***The debut full-length outing from this new Texas quartet fronted by KISS OFFS guitar slingers PHILLIP and TRAVIS comes out rocking with some serious, cool-headed retro-pop and noise-rock sounds. A melodic and upbeat smackdown of tasty Velvet Underground, Television, and Modern Lovers-inspired tuneage delivered with a happy-go-lucky aplomb that begs to party.
CD $6.75
10/16/2001
MP3 $0.00
10/16/2001