Austin Lounge Lizards

Home and Deranged (Blue Corn)

Following founding member Tom Pittman’s departure from Austin’s beloved Lounge Lizards in 2011, the future of the satirical outfit seemed uncertain after a three-decade run. On Home and Deranged, fellow founders Hank Card and Conrad Deisler haven’t missed a beat. With Darcie Deaville and Bruce Jones filling out the Lizards’ first LP since 2006’s The Drugs I Need, the political and social wit remains timely and sharp, from the TSA-dedicated “Thank You for Touching Me There” to the false-flag flying send-up “Black Helicopters” and recent fan favorite “Too Big to Fail.” “If I Saw You All the Time” and “I Lied” turn on more personal parodies. Eclecticism through folk styles emerges amid double entendres, rolling into a sea shanty for “My Bonnie Johnson” and cutting Tex-Mex for “Spelunking with Joe King Carrasco,” featuring Carrasco himself providing spirited gritos. Still wonderfully absurd and necessarily pointed.

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This article appears in June 14 • 2013.

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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.