Lipstick Machine

Looking like a Pixies and Breeders mash-up, these loose lo-fi Toronto rockers play a sort of twangy reverb drenched power-pop-punk, sounding like the Ramones rolled in Robert Smith’s ashes and taken horseback riding by the Edge. Much of the music is familiar straight eighth-note power chord chugging, but some inventive variations in the drum patterns freshen up the sound. When embracing their quirks, the band were much more effective, particularly in the Eastern-tinged chorus of the set’s final song, which was easily the best in their repertoire. With a bit of screw tightening and work on pitch control from the backing vocals, Lipstick Machine could become a potent act.