Lick Lick: Lick Lick

Lick Lick
Lick Lick
Australian Cattle God
2007-11-06

Just when you thought all the last holdouts from quirky ’90s power-pop were gone along comes Lick Lick, a band whose sound is just as obnoxious and perplexing as their celestial raccoon cover art. Lick Lick claims to be inspired by the likes of Frank Zappa and The Minutemen, but it seems that this Austin five-piece has drained all the least likable aspects out of these groups and created an awful version of Presidents of the United States. Lick Lick includes everything from ugly gang vocals; staid, distorted guitar licks; predictable breakdowns; and awful, bombastic lyrics (“Stop makin’ that face!!”). There are also times when a female vocalist chimes to give just the slightest whiff of the Pixies. But this whiff is too faint to hold any interest in this apparent atrocity. Boys and girls, save your eardrums. D. Boon would not be impressed. This is one loud, raucous effort you might want to sit out.

RATING 4 / 10