Premature Evaluation: Black Lips - 200 Million Thousand
Black Lips are savvy motherfuckers, ostensibly building a successful career by playing '60s and punk-inspired, lo-fi garage rock (or, what they call "flower punk") that isn't better or worse than the inoffensive garage rock (not called "flower punk") made by a zillion other bands. They mix in some lite elements of Southern soul and rap (take a listen to "The Drop I Hold") here/there, but you can dig into Estrus, Crypt, In the Red (Black Lips old label home), Get Hip!, Bomp (BL's other past label), etc., and find plenty of analogous acts. (To look backwards, their sound hits on the Vagrants, A-Bones, the Fleshtones, etc.) Yes, the Atlanta crew know how to write catchy, interestingly textured songs, but it's still surprising what an image can do, landing the ragtag rockers on Conan, their music on Dirty Sexy Money, and their itineraries booked the world over on various festival circuits, while their sonic brethren still play in, well, garages. (It's also impressive they got chased out of India just in time to promote their fifth studio album, 200 Million Thousand.) There's gotta me more than just pissing in each other's mouths selling these records, right? After all, G.G. Alllin, the Mentors, Slogun, and etc., never had this sort of "luck." 200 Million Thousand answers this with a "yes," but maybe not for the reason's you'd expect.
Jessica's Progress Report promised a more melodic, but not overproduced sound. This is true: The 200 Million's fuzz and hiss is one of its best attributes. And it all goes down easy. First single "Short Fuse"'s an immediate, jangly pop song that adds just enough whooshing space sounds to (a) remind you of the 13th Floor Elevators and (b) make sure it fits their "flower-punk" self-descriptors. Opener "Take My Heart" gallops along with a Doors-esque pulse and ragtag, scissoring guitar line. "Drugs" is a straight-up top-down garage rocker with a '50s prom dance pulse. Or there's the more down-tempo, elegiac Grease-ready "Starting Over." And, speaking of 13th Floor Elevators again, the guys get "Trapped In A Basement" filled with reverb and spooky background vocals. Tracks like the echoing "Old Man" and the aforementioned "Trapped" have a classic feel. Some of these songs could age nicely.
That's the thing: Black Lips sing about picking up prostitutes, taking drugs, and fucking shit up, but the end result feels about as offensive and edgy at this point as Elvis shaking his pelvis in 2009. They sample the Jonestown Death Tape, that old "Kid On LSD" clip, and they want us to believe they're bad-asses. OK, take a listen to "I Saw God": The bleep-bleep-bleepity-laced sermonizing of Cole Alexander sounds a hell of a lot like old-time Bright Eyes filtered through the Monks. See, that's the secret: At the end of the day, Black Lips make fun (and accessible to all ages!) music, music your parents might like if they were ever into the Sonics or the Vagrants, or whatever. Though they'd likely scold the guys for acting out so much.
200 Million Thousand is out 2/24 on Die Slaughterhaus/Vice Music.
Posted at 5:41 PM in Premature Evaluation
Tags: Black Lips
It's all an act with these guys.
Score = -20
This album is great. These guys are mad talented. I've been rocking this all month
Score = 4
all an act? i was seeing these guys years ago in dingy atlanta basements, and i can tell you without doubt that it's not "all an act". the black lips play maybe the most genuine rock music today, and if you can't see that, it's your loss.
Score = 8
great eval... really looking forward to this now.
Score = 2
Who cares what they act/sound like. Black Lips own.
Score = 8
if the act is writing totally catchy songs and causing near riots at shows, i agree. kind of like saying the beatles were full of shit (i'm not comparing the bands here, but you could say they had an "act," even at the end of their career)
Score = 4
wah, my name is meh and i like boring rock and roll shows where people stand around and just play their instruments.
you dont like the music fine, but to complain about one of the funnest live rock shows is just lame.
Score = -2
I really like it actually. I find their scuzziness charming rather than shocking, which I've always assumed was their intention.
Score = 4
i've heard a pre-release of this and it's great. i'm not a huge black lips fan but there are definitely some quality songs on it. i hope they continue to progress and don't get stuck in the rut i thought they'd be stuck in by now.
Score = 0
i like their music but all i really care about is that cole has a nice big wiener and he can play guitar with it
Score = 5
HEY
if you dismiss the band as an act you're missing out on one of the most genuine and raw live shows around.
LET IT GROW
LET IT GROW
LET IT GORW
Score = 3
Lamer than motherfucking a great album? Calling yourself "meh".
Score = 0
The fact that they are still around, playing shows where even newcomers are loosing their minds and still cranking out records that people are excited to hear (and equally excited to tear down in some sort of cooler-than-you review) should explain their "luck." The songs are good, they keep evolving/de-evolving and they don't really care what you think.
Also - I hate this idea of "luck" - like signing to Vice garnered them some sort of Orwellian access to "the kids." The Black Lips were making rad records without a single skip-it song long before they hooked up with a "real record label" and will be making rad records for as long as they want. From what I can tell, at the end of the day the Black Lips are still just a bunch of dudes who live to make tunes and drive around and play them for people.
And Jessica's all ages comment is true too. First time I played "Dirty Hands" for the parents my mom was singing along by the 2nd chorus.
Score = 3
I like listening to my music with Mom too. She's a huge Fucked Up fan now.
Score = 7
you should re-read the review, that wasn't jessica's "all ages" comment. i thought you knew books? sorta negates yr summary.
Score = -1
"raw and genuine"??!?!
come on now, REALLY?!!?
Yeah they make out and have distortion and sound retro. I'll give you that.
Score = -4
i'm over low-fi. it just get annoying. get a fucking good mic so i can hear that shit clearly.
Score = -15
It really doesn't matter what anyone has to say, but the Black Lips are still awesome.
Score = 4
You guys are slacking. How the fuck did you not post about Ryan "Douche" Adams getting engaged to Mandy "Talentless" Moore?
Score = -11
I'm getting a little sick of the PR stunts. It's hard to continue reading about them making out on stage with each other and playing instruments with their penises.
Score = 0
Ryan Adams is engaged to Mandy Moore
Score = -2
I would say that they are not the style of music that I like to listen to. You can't just say a band is just an act. That's just being a hater. You can see talent even in music you don't like.
Score = 3
black lips are cool.
this album is good.
i love lamp.
Score = 0
only misstep of all of their recordings...that pathetic "rap" song...is so shit to me. everything else is great per usual. the one about dont let the rain wash out yr sunny day = fucking aces.
Score = 2
It's a nice change of pace for the guys, but admittingly I like them better when they're playing music fast and loud enough to light their guitars on fire to on stage. I don't like the 2nd song but the rest of the album is very Brian Jonestown Massacre-y in the good ways. They had to make an album like this. It shows a lot of growth for them. For me, this album is a grower.
Score = 1
Can't wait!
Score = 3
I love The Black Lips. I play them all the time on my radio show. Can't wait for my copy of the new album :)
Score = 0
here's a napkin for the press release you vomit'd up in the first paragraph
Score = 1
"Oh no! I erroneously guessed that this was the Black Lips album that backlash was supposed to kick in for! My review is being refuted by everyone! This is terrible!"
Score = 0
that's lame
Score = -1
This album is flat out really good.
Score = 3
holy shit
lovely album
welcome back
Score = 3
yeahh albums gunna be wicked, their on their euro tour atm cant wait to catch up with them in bristol next week. go go go! - http://www.black-lips.com/live_archive.php
Score = 0
They tore it up again!
Score = 0
I totally agree with this evaluation. 200 million thousand is my first introduction to the Lips and after all the reports of their onstage debauchery I expected it be compeltely over the top. Turns out its just a really fucking good album, plain and simple
Score = 1
and even better than gbne
Score = 1
Can't deny it, this album is their best yet.
Score = 1
This record is dope. "Starting Over" is my jam. Sorry, haters.
Score = 1
way darker than the last one, definitely has some of their best tunes
Score = 0
i <3 cole
Score = 1
their show at merc when they opened for wolfmother.
fucking amazing.
i mean are they changing the world? no
are they putting out great records and putting on great live shows? absolutely
Score = 1
Black Lips! i can't till this comes out so i can ejaculate all over it
Score = 1
these guys are the rolling stones 2.0 - love them!
Score = -3
I'm so happy these guys are showing another side of Atlanta.
Score = 0
The album is fantastic. All the songcraft that people who actually listen to the band (as opposed to whine and bellyache from petty jealousy) have come to expect, and even better a layer of grime swathed over the whole thing so you can't see your reflection in it (you internet hipster fuck).
STONE CLASSICS include: Let It Grow, Old Man, Drugs, Starting Over and Trapped in a Basement.
But seriously, it's just another classic ALBUM from maybe the best band in the world.
Score = -2
Holy fuck, meh. Are you kidding? Do you even have a pulse dude? Yes, these kids' live shows are insane but it definitely reflects the depth of the music they produce. Rad album without a doubt.
Score = 1
One time I got drunk with one of the dudes in this band, Jared. He told me about an hour in that he'd taken a bunch of acid. 20 minutes later, he'd assumed the character of a hedonistic yet martial French colonialist. His next annexation was a an entire VIP bar at a shitty festival they were playing in the desert. The crown jewel of his avowed new territory was a Magnum bottle of Grey Goose. He was yelling at the top of the voice in what he thought was French, his desires for complete control and domination. While his language was off, his coercive imperialism was very much of the 1890s french style. Then looked at me, said watch my back. And jumped across three tables in front of 400 people to steal the bottle. Then jumped back. The only person who didn't notice was the bar tending staff (who were terrifying). After drinking the entire thing with about ten women Jared had managed to invite behind a port-o-potty, he then went on-stage and played for 2 hours in front of 600 folks. Around the time he set the stage on fire, I was too drunk to even speak. And he was still killing it. And he's the calm one.
Score = 6
commenter number 3 is surely their shitty manager
Score = -2
Shitty manager? Yeah, he's really doing an awful job. This band is going nowhere.
Score = 3
my mom is IN Fucked Up.
Score = 2
I saw these guys play with Osama Bin Laden's niece and it was cool. Also I herd they were going to play on Jerry Springer, is that true?
Score = -1
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I muthafucking love the Black Lips!
Score = 1
Black Lips will destroy the internet!!
Score = 1
200 Million Thousand is like The Sonics' "Boom" album, but better.
Score = 0
srsly can't wait to hear this. wait, why don't i have it yet?
Score = -1
hardest working shitbirds in atlanta / best thing since po boys.
Score = 0
Best album ever! Rape me Black Lips!!!!!!!!!!
Score = 0
can't wait for this album. i want those black lips on me.
Score = 0
perfect angel, no offense, but your comment doesn't make any sense,
Score = 0
Seems like Black Lips sent out a PR message, sudden rush of support between 8 and 9pm on the 12th. nice one guys.
Score = 0
Are you one of them?
Score = 1
Yo, I fucks with Cole, Ian, and all them niggaz
Score = 0
ill be glad when this recorded-on-a-boombox aesthetic dies out.
Score = 1
I'll be glad when you die.
Score = 0
I love Joe, he's the sexiest,
and that's an absolute truth
Score = 2
love starting over
Score = 0
I love "Drop I Hold!"
By the way for people who haven't got a chance to listen to the album yet, the whole thing is streaming on last.fm :)
http://www.last.fm/music/Black+Lips/200+Million+Thousand?autostart
Score = 0
Every band sound like something thats gone before. In the review you said "their itineraries booked the world over on various festival circuits while their sonic brethren still play in, well, garages". Well I saw The Lips 5 months ago, on a tiny boat in bristol in front of a crowd of 50 and I am seeing them in two days in a crowd of 100 in a dingy club. The reviewer here makes it sound like they've hit the big time while all other bands of their ilk are scrabbling around for a penny but thats hardly the case! They have been going since 2001 and it still only costs me £8 to see them. If they had 'made it big' I guarantee you they wouldn't be charging £8 a pop!!
Most bands quit after 8 years playing dives but the Black Lips carry on. Thats a class act an excellent live band!
They are also one of the hardest working bands around. Have you seen how many shows they play a year??
Score = 4
Hardest working band OTM
Score = 0
I avoided them for a long time...well, frankly, I got 'em confused with Black Kids who're a bit shit. But then I downloaded 200 Million, cos I got 'em confused with Black Dice. I dunno, they sorta fall in the middle of the 'black' bands clogging up the B section of my iTunes.
Score = -3
Black Lips, Black Kids, Black Dice, Black Keys. Black is the new black in the indie world.
Score = 0
SO glad to see that bands can still sale albums! way to go
xo publicity
kaytea mcintosh
Score = 0
I pre-ordered the album, but I don't know why. Wait, I do. Because the Black Lips are f-in badasses!
Score = 2
just got the leak and all i can say is this is a fucking great album
i do miss the faster version of "Drugs" that they play live
Score = 1
the guys are sickk, were brilliant in bristol on monday! u can have a listen to part of the new album here- http://www.last.fm/music/Black+Lips/200+Million+Thousand
Score = 0
cole is mental, crazy stuff in london last week! im so gunna enter their muxtape competition, looks brilliant. - http://www.black-lips.com/news_archive.php?newsID=31
Score = 0