Fleurs du gall

The fuzzy, lysergic-laden garage-band sound of the Black Lips has previously been described as “flower punk”—dispel the Frank Zappa connotation—and 2005’s Let It Bloom deftly lives up to the sobriquet in title and content. Their dizzy, unabashed sound comes across equal parts “acid-sloshed” Stones and proto-punk Troggs. Possible influences aside, the Black Lips are a reminder of a time when genuine songwriting skills were needed to outshine shitty recording conditions. Of course, the red-lined garage sound has a nostalgic cache now, but the lyrical wit—on, say, “Hippie Hippie Hoorah”—and the playing—check out the tune “Boomerang”—of these Atlanta boys are too honest to ever accuse them of sonic affectation-for-profit. The Black Lips will play the Blue Lamp, 1400 Alhambra Boulevard, Tuesday night at 9pm. Tickets are $8. For more info call the club at (916) 445-3400.