Loose Lips
Talkin’ Trash
(TKO Records)

Dust off your Chelsey boots and pinstriped stovepipes, it looks like another garage band revival. The Lips opt for a sleazy non-psychedelic, non-mod blues sound. They don’t aspire to be the Nashville Teens or The Who, it seems they acquired their name from the Stones logo. The trash they’re talking about seeps from the drums, guitars, vocals and especially the lyrics. Be forewarned, if you are offended by crass lyrics, this is not the music for you, move on to the next review. The songs are about fun, drugs, and sex and sex and sex and sex.

A guitar riff stolen from Cornershop’s "Brimful of Asha," and Stones "hoo, hoo" backups by way of Urge Overkill, start "Young Girl Tease." I trust the juvenile references to cherry pie in pantyhose aren’t a Warrant tribute. Here are a few terms you don’t here often enough in music, "My good friend known as Jism Jim, tried to tried to nuzzle down on your coozy quim." The cymbals rattle like loose lids. I was expecting more fuzz. Singer Shane White is sounding a little like Jim Carroll on "Jones St Boneyard." An intentionally misfiring guitar chug to the line, "Older is bolder, I threw her over my shoulder and proceeded to have my fun." Think the woman on the cover as Brown Sugar. OK, can’t deny the NY Dolls feel on tracks like "Lipstick Heart" with its nasty bass line, and snide guitar. And then, "I Need More": "She was starting to claw, I was getting raw."

"Borrowed Time" sounds like a borrowed line from the MTV clips. Adequate, but forgettable 3-chord stuff. A plodding piano and T-Rex roll into "Tumble With Me," a slowed-down solid cut that Mick would feel natural singing, "Wake up little Susie. Stop picking your nose. Cut out that high-heel pose."

Just a touch of Ramones hits "Baby Talk" and "With You." I can make out some Tell-Tale Hearts/Miracle Workers on "With You." As a package, it’s a lot of fun, especially if you’re planning to have a lot of frat boys or junkies over. Don’t let the kiddies dance to it though.

-Ewan Wadharmi

Track Listing:

1. Young Girl Tease
2. Jones St. Boneyard
3. I Need More
4. Borrowed Time
5. Your Lies
6. Tumble With Me
7. On My Way
8. Lipstick Heart
9. Baby Talk
10. With You
11. Not Enough
12. Let’s Go