The Black Lips: Artist You Should Know

With Mark Ronson at the reins as producer, The Black Lips’ new album takes their dark, bluesy style to an entirely new place. Up until this point my favorite Black Lips’ track was “Veni Vidi Vici” off “Good Bad Not Evil,” a slow, sexy crawl of a song that seduces you and drives crowds wild. (in fact, the band is famous for getting naked on stage and various other antics).

For their latest full length, “Arabia Mountain”, the Atlanta group stashes their punk leanings in energetic splashes of 60’s style rock, more akin to the ramshackle bar band sound of The Faces and early Stones (the keys and guitar solo on “Dumpster Dive,” especially), with most songs clocking in at just over two minutes.

From the scrappy, jangly sound of “New Direction,” cascading chorus of “Noc-A-Homa” and propulsive sing along “Modern Art,” Ronson corrals their rowdy, fun loving tendencies into a collection of songs well-suited for summer listening.

Stream “Modern Art”:

It’s out now on Vice Records.

RR

Black Lips Tour Dates

6/9/11 – San Diego, CA – The Casbah

6/10/11 – Santa Barbara, CA – Velvet Jones

6/11 & 12 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall

6/14/11 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom

6/15/11 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom