Black Lips "Satan’s Graffiti Or God’s Art? (Vice)"
Atlanta’s scuzzy psych-garage rockers Black Lips are back and as swagger-y as ever. Also, as blissfully all over the place as ever. Maybe that has something to do with having Sean Lennon produce the album, and bringing mom Yoko around to contribute (and contribute she does). Satan’s Graffiti Or God’s Art? (VICE) if full of freak flags waving proudly; country shuffles while Yoko screams here, ‘60s stripper saxophones sounds there. This is a bawdy, distorted, reverb soaked time. Flip the collar on your jean jacket. You’re gonna need the extra cool, and also so it can protect your neck from rock vampires. Check out the Eric Burden meets Ellery Roberts sounds of the first single from the album, “Cant Hold On.”
Moon Duo "Occult Architecture Vol. 2"
It seems like it was just a few months ago that I was writing about a new Moon Duo album. Oh, right. That’s because I was. Occult Architecture Vol. 1 came to us in February of 2017, and here we are, 3 months later, and Occult Architecture Vol. 2 is already gracing our ears. Is what I said about the first album true for the second album? Let’s see… “Swirling psychedelia mixes with a minor key version of the Dandy Warhols (with all the pop bliss nods intact). Throw in some heady, spaced-out Thurston Moore-esque guitar experimenting, some two part harmony vocals, a little sinister synth work; and if you can figure out a way to stop yourself from nodding along then you are stronger than I am…” Well, sort of. The band considers Vol. 2 the light yang to Vol. 1’s darker Yin. So although most of my adjectives still hold true, this time around the effect is more airy, light. It’s like the last album was a head-y high, and this time around it’s a body high. Check out the driving synths of “Sevens.”
Juliana Hatfield "Pussycat"
Those of you expecting Juliana Hatfield to be excited about the election of Trump have not been paying attention very well. Pussycat, her latest album, is as anti-Trump as it gets. Thankfully, besides bringing her well-deserved Trump vitriol to the album, she also brought a batch of tunes that are as catchy as anything she’s ever written. They are also surprisingly upbeat. Just because things suck, she isn’t gonna let that get her down. Look, I’m not gonna sit here and tell you what Juliana Hatfield sounds like, that’d be silly. Just check out “Impossible Song.”
The Building "Reconciliation"
The Building is a new band from The War On Drugs’ guitarist Anthony LaMarca and his (I’m assuming) brother Angelo LaMarca. Reconciliation is a folk record in the same way that Neil Young is folk. The same way that Kurt Vile is a folk artist. Sure, it’s mostly guitar and vocals. Sometimes that guitar is acoustic, other times it’s distorted. But independent of the effects on the guitar, this is a lovely, pastoral album even when it’s in the red. Check out the Red Red Meat meets WOD strains of “If I.”