Black Lipstick’s second album, Sincerely Black Lipstick, has become one of my favorite records in the last six months or so.  I initially found the band based on a misunderstanding when my cousin recommended that I check out the Black Lips.  I still haven’t had a chance to listen to the Black Lips.  I do think, however, that Black Lipstick is a better band name than the Black Lips. 

Black Lipstick draws heavily on underground rock influences like the Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth, and, especially, Television.  And you are probably thinking: didn’t The Strokes do that?  Well, yes and no.  I think that The Strokes were adept at taking certain elements from the sound of classic art-rock bands and making these elements sound new.  Their contribution was, I believe, quite original, even though the influences are pretty easy to detect.  But The Strokes were missing some things that Black Lipstick has in spades: ideas, real coherence, and experience.  There is a song on one of the later Strokes albums in which the refrain is “I’ve got nothing to say.”  And, as Willie Nelson put in “Shotgun Willie,” “You can’ make a record if you ain’t got nothin’ to say.” 

Sincerely Black Lipstick is, simply put, a great rock album in a day when very little of the “alternative” music people listen even qualifies as rock music at all.  The lyrics of Sincerely Black Lipstick are interesting, and there is a refreshing amount of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll in them.  There’s also beautiful song about lost love; but it’s somewhat aloof at the same time -- as Black Lipstick’s songwriting and singing technique couldn’t be farther from the over-the-top sincerity of the modern Emo schlock that permeates the airwaves.  Thanks to Black Lipstick from bringing some irony back to rock music!  Most of all it is the sound of the album that does it for me: Phillip Niemeyer’s voice; the ugly-beauty of the fiercely rhythmic guitar and bass lines; and the crack of the drums.  It’s a sound I find highly addicting and extremely well done.  It envelopes you, and all the registers seem to find the sweet spot.  I hope they put out more albums like this, and I hope they make it to Atlanta on tour soon.  

Band Website: http://www.peekaboorecords.com/artist.aspx?id=17

# posted by Jeff @ 2:41 PM