Wine Lips - 'Super Mega Ultra'
Plant your feet and prepare your ear canals.
When I heard Wine Lips' 2021 album, I remember thinking 1) Mushroom Death Sex Bummer Party is the perfect title and 2) the music itself supercharged my system to the point of almost shattering my physical frame. Not only does this spring's Super Mega Ultra lack that certain titular awesomeness, it also doesn’t leave me feeling quite as consumed by ravenous cosmic energies. That's because songs like "Killjoy" and "Six Pack" render out some of the psych-centric pomp and grandiosity of the Toronto outfit's spin on garage rock. What's left, then, are these tight, sharp ditties that emphasize the band's giant-sized attitude and technical prowess. "Fried IV" shows how the band can actually play around with scope and scale, but in a way that emphasizes more intimacy in its garage-ian romanticizing. Similarly, "Stimulation" and "Stella" exemplify how the band's psychedelic underpinnings are best when tamped down and contextualized. Still, it's not just about paring things down for mass consumption; the instrumental "Lemon Party" becomes this smorgasbord of emotional hues and tones. And "Burn The Witch" may not be more "happy," but there's a wit and brevity to a song with such sturdy subject matter. Now, none of this is about one album sounding better (even if I do prefer Super Mega Ultra). Rather, it's using this record as a barometer for Wine Lips. They're clearly more cohesive as a unit; interested in a tighter, leaner sound (without sounding any less big and robust); committed to new angles and inspirations; and fully willing to let things ride out as big/small, intense/playful, etc. as necessary. It’s not about evolving the sound but giving it the energy and intent to grow it where it needs and to still be be continually truthful and engaging. The end result is "better" because it affirms Wine Lips in a more vulnerable, daring, inventive, and poised state, and that’s the backdrop for garage rock packed with purpose and power just as much as it's still weird and endearing. This is a record that absolutely lives up to its title: super mega ultra rock 'n' roll, folks.
9.2/10: The Toronto band goes bigger, bolder, braver, and more bananas.
LIYL: The Coathangers, Osees, and slamming PBR in denim short shorts.
Get The Album Here.