Lamps

Lamps

People With Faces

In The Red

“These days, good news is hard to come by, but here’s some: Lamps, LA’s notoriously unprolific noise-merchant trio, are ready to release their spectacular fourth album called People With Faces, out on In The Red Records. Produced by Ty Segall at Val’s, Lamps’ first recorded output since 2012’s landmark LP Under The Water, Under The Ground finds them breaking adventurous new terrain. I’d say they’ve matured, but I’d only say it behind their backs. Stalwarts Monty Buckles (guitar, voice, keyboards!!!) and Josh Erkman (drums, voice) double down on Lamps’ trademark cloak of effects-laden guitars and hammering drums, and new(ish) member Denée Segall jumps into the fray with her Poly Styrene-wail and monolithic bass, add-ing depth both sonically and lyrically. Their trademark abrasiveness is still present, but it’s bur-nished it into something richer, more layered. Don’t worry, it still kicks your head in…”  —KD. Feb 2020

Lamps

Under The Water Under The Ground

In The Red

“This is Lamps’ third album and since the last one was called Lamps Lamps, they missed a hell of a chance to call this one Lamps Lamps Lamps. But they’d like to call it Under the Water Under the Ground, which implies a depth unimaginable by anyone but ‘scientists.’ Do they get there? You bet. “A look at the structural components of a rock trio reveals some hidden logic, resolved by concepts related to physics: if you plot three points (one per band member, if you want), and put the musical concepts of power, precision and melody into each of those slots, and you move the point where melody exists closer to the axis on which the other two points reside, you get something resembling an icepick. It’s still a triangle, but it’s long and wide, and its bottom angles are like knives. If they lived anywhere but Los Angeles (or Austin, or the nowhere in between) they might need a device that employs angles much like those to scrape the ice off their car windshields, or as a shiv.  “There are some catchy hooks here—some of the catchiest Lamps have written to date, and vastly improved by an industrial strength recording by Chris Woodhouse—but they compress that element of their sound into a dynamic that favors power and precision as its most acute points, amplified / distorted / corroded to the point where it only knows how to hurt. The rhythm section is straight-up gorilla goon shit, muscular...

Lamps

All Seeing Eye

Sweet Rot

***“Los Angeles band LAMPS has been one of our favourites here at Sweet Rot for a while. This single, their first release in a couple of years, solidifies their place as one of the best angry punk bands in America. Title track ‘All Seeing Eye’ is a two minute romp that finds Lamps at their catchiest, while the flip ‘G.B.D.’ (an alternate mix of a song to be found on their upcoming Under the Ground Under the Water LP on In the Red Records) is perhaps the bands most punishing and sinister song yet with its five minutes of pure aural torture. Enjoy.”

Lamps

Lamps

In The Red

Throwing sparks like two gigantic rocks grinding against each other, Los Angeles’ Lamps seem intent on doing things their way. Fronted by the unimpeachable Monty Buckles, the Lamps’ music alternately careens, crashes, throbs and urges.  This is mongoloid frenzy music. Are they paranoid, frustrated, or merely disgusted with humanity? The truth is usually somewhere in the middle. When a band has a dash of Necessary Evils, a dollop of Karate Party, and a fairly heaping mound of their own chemical blend, we should always be available. The trio’s debut LP had primitive, cavernous aggression that pounded asses into submission, while their released follow-up shows a very nice progression. Phase two of the Lamps’ recorded journey is marked by more adventurous and expanded sonic approaches, while retaining the thuggish essence that satisfies the planet of the apes.  • New full-length from Los Angeles trio, following 2005’s vinyl-only debut  • Primitive with a hint of progression, though still (un)satisfyingly ugly  • Reminiscent of Necessary Evils, Karate Party  • No export restrictions

Lamps

S/t

In The Red

***It is with pride that In The Red announces the debut release from Los Angeles-based Lamps. This ten-song vinyl-only debut takes awkward discomfort and good times to new lows. L.A.'s answer to a stupid question, Lamps bring a new definition to the term "power trio," while rewriting the book on "Fuck Everything." There's something of genuine fright, intimidation, and confusion when three completely unassuming, painfully normal-looking young men get on stage and the first thing out of singer Montgomery Buckles trap is, "The next time I see you, I'm gonna push you down the stairs," sung the only way he can-- like the most abused, agitated, salivating pitbull behind chainlink that's ever made your stomach drop. He is angry for too many reasons to name, but you can find one of them in the form of bassist Tim, who does everything in his power to subvert all seriousness by way of extreme clown-like antics of a certain homosexual mental illness, while drummer Josh keeps the best primitive, metronome beat since Nick Knox. This all culminates in some of the best anti-wanking, anti-poetic, anti-anything that'll be taken away from us by the same people who beat us up in high school, irresponsibly mean and ugly music for those of us who are through with trying to be cool cuz tomorrow's gonna suck, regardless.