Black Lips

Underneath the Rainbow (Vice)

With 2011’s Arabia Mountain, Black Lips signaled the second phase of their decade-long career, tightening up their shambolic garage sound with producer Mark Ronson. The Atlanta quartet’s latest keeps that focus, but returns to more raucous roots. Backed by Budos Band and Dap Kings’ Tom Brenneck, and produced by the Black Keys’ Patrick Carney, the band somehow remains degenerately disheveled and brilliantly bombastic in a way that belies their tightness. One stripped-down cop car anthem gleefully declares “yesterday we went too far,” while “Waiting” celebrates the juvenile delinquency of wrecking the classroom. A throwback to the Sixties vibe of the Seeds on opener “Drive-By Buddy” sets the tone for the gonzo racket of “I Don’t Wanna Go Home” and scuzzed raw rhythm of “Dandelion Dust.” Professed Skynyrd ode “Boys in the Wood,” meanwhile, cuts Southern guitar with banshee backing vocals. High-water mark for a down and dirty band. (5pm, the Gatsby)

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This article appears in March 14 • 2014.

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Doug Freeman has been writing for the Austin Chronicle since 2007, covering the arts and music scene in the city. He is originally from Virginia and earned his Masters Degree from the University of Texas. He is also co-editor of The Austin Chronicle Music Anthology, published by UT Press.