Our look at the closing lines of the week’s biggest new-music reviews continues with a look at reactions to 200 Million Thousand, the fifth full-length by self-professed “flower-punks” the Black Lips:
• “But whether or not Black Lips have changed their M.O. much, 200 Million Thousand is less consistent than any of their previous albums, with more winding paths than real peaks.” [Jason Crock, Pitchfork]
• “This smart if self-conscious album makes it clear who the Lips would like to be, but it’s hard to tell who they really are.” [P.V. Stump, Rolling Stone]
• “It just could use a little more teenage head and a little less brains.” [Tim Sendra, All Music Guide]
• “But the most intriguing tune here is ‘The Drop I Hold,’ a stoned, cosmic bum-out that features Alexander half-rapping, ‘Ain’t got no money, but the gods make it fuckin’ rain’ over slo-mo guitars and dubby atmospherics. It’s as if for a moment the Lips tried to be Lil Wayne instead of the Troggs, an idea so foolish that it actually suits them perfectly.” [David Peisner, Spin]
P.V. Stump
To me, the Black Lips are in that unenviable position of “CHANGE…no wait DON’T CHANGE” where a lot of bands their age end up. If they had put out just another Black Lips record they’d be pilloried for it, but so many of the reviews for this seem to suggest that’s what they want, another Black Lips record.
All I know is that those guys could stand to tune their guitars onstage now and again. There is fun rock and roll out of tune and then there is not even playing the same song as the other guy out of tune.