Black Lips Prepping "Finely Tuned" New Album

BY Alex HudsonPublished Mar 25, 2010

Might want to keep this one away from the Indian police: controversial rockers Black Lips are currently hard at work on their sixth album and are projecting a back-to-school release date.

In a new interview with Billboard, guitarist Ian Saint Pe revealed that the band have already completed two recording sessions: one at their own studio in Decatur, GA and a second with longtime friends/collaborators Bradford Cox and Lockett Pundt of Deerhunter. The next session will take place at the Distillery in Costa Mesa, CA, the same studio where they recorded 2005's Let It Bloom.

As for when recording will be done, Saint Pe said, "I'm hoping by June." He added, "I'm hoping we can get the record out by the end of summer, September-October, when school gets back in. That's my prediction."

The reason for the broken-up recording sessions is that the band are still touring regularly. They're currently in the midst of a North American tour, and this weekend will be playing shows in Montreal and Toronto.

Still, Saint Pe said, "They've been focused sessions," explaining that the band are "a little more fine-tuned" than on previous efforts.

"I'm already digging what we've got. I've read reviews where people say we haven't changed, but, man, the wheel ain't broke, don't fix it. We do what we do. It'll sound like a Black Lips record; I can't say much more than that. It's got garage stuff, punk stuff, a little of that Atlanta hip-hop. It's just who we are. I think it sounds good."

While the title and tracklist are still unknown, live audiences have been treated to the new song "Raw Meat. "It's like a punk song, and the hook's a whistle," said Saint Pe. The next "Young Folks," perhaps?

The Black Lips will resume recording when their tour wraps in late April.

Tour dates:

3/26 Montreal, QC - Le Studio Juste Pour Rire
3/28 Toronto, ON - The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
3/30 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick
3/31 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom
4/1 Chicago, IL - Logan Square Auditorium
4/2 Madison, WI - The High Noon Saloon
4/3 Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater
4/5 Omaha, NE - Slowdown Jr.
4/6 Columbia, MO - Mojo's
4/7 St. Louis, MO - The Firebird
4/8 Louisville, KY - Headliner's Music Hall
4/9 Memphis, TN - Hi-Tone Cafe
4/10 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club

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