Friday, June 3, 2011

Black Lips: Arabia Mountain ? review

(V2)

There's a good reason garage rock thrives in compilation form: it all sounds more or less the same, so placing different voices and tones alongside each other is an easy way to introduce the variety single bands usually lack. Black Lips, from Atlanta, have an advantage in that all four members sing, and they've mastered more than one song template of the early 60s: they alternate between jangling folk rock (Spidey's Curse), frat rock with honking sax (Mad Dog), and frantic pop oddly reminiscent in its unstoppable buoyancy of the early Beatles (Family Tree). The production, by Mark Ronson, perfectly captures the tinny lo-fidelity of  their source material. The melodies, too, are undeniable: this album is a step up from their previous efforts. But even at 41 minutes, these 16 songs become a bit tiring. There are four near-perfect EPs here, but it's a haul to listen to in one sitting. That's the insoluble conundrum of garage rock: the most perpetually exciting sound in rock easily outstays its welcome.

Rating: 3/5


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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/jun/02/black-lips-arabia-mountain-review

Bridget Moynahan Noureen DeWulf Nicollette Sheridan Amber Heard Veronica Kay

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