Sunday, November 25, 2007
A+E, Music, Reviews
The Black Lips
“Good Bad Not Evil”
(Vice Records)
Black Lips
CREDIT: Courtesy of Vice RecordsTHE BLACK LIPS
w/Deerhunter, Snowden and the Selmanaires
Friday, Nov. 30
$15
Variety Playhouse
www.variety-playhouse.com
404-249-6400
On “Lean” the vocal line wanders
through a thick fog, accompanied by a muddy guitar vamp and sparse
chords. This lackadaisical drugged-out feel is reinforced by a drummer
who slinks through the beat, not keeping time as much as providing a
wash of snare. “Veni Vidi Vici” functions on much the same level,
benefiting from an extra layer of handclaps, each with their own
spicing of reverb.
The band presents more than just music
on its album—“How Do You Tell a Child” wrestles with the idea of
telling children about death. It begins with a singsong refrain, with
spoken-word verses serving as ways to give children bad news. Easing
the pain of death is a touching sentiment that couldn’t be better
suited to the spaced-out accompaniment. THREE STARS—Jon Ross