ALBUM REVIEW: Super Mega Ultra - Wine Lips

For those who still care about rock n roll – and I mean rock n roll and not just poseur-y corporate label schlock or avant pop with guitar in the mix – Wine Lips are that exciting band that skirts the line between punk and garage rock. This means there are traces of both The Sonics and The Stooges, no matter how mixed, muddied, or cut up and pasted back together. It's still there – that glorious feeling of danger, excitement, and sheer fun that sounds out of control like a runaway train on fire. Only this train is conducted by the fun lovin' rock n roll lunatics to the north - Canada's Wine Lips. Made up of Toronto's Cam Hilborn (vox, songwriter, guitar) Aurora Evans (drums, vox), Jordan Sosensky (guitar), and Charlie Weare (bass), Wine Lips are a psychedelic garage rock band that got my attention last year when I heard a Hives-ish sounding song that was a little more rough and lot more new. That song was "Eyes" off 2021's Mushroom Death Sex Bummer Party.

For anyone late to the Wine Lips' party – the Mushroom Death Sex Bummer one or the Super Mega Ultra one, their live shows are already becoming legendary and each new release brings more audio joy to be had and heard. Wine Lips play music that are full of all manner of rock, garage, punk-adjacent, psychedelic songs that excite your molecules and have you head bobbing, head banging, and/or singing along. Super Mega Ultra up for anything and down to party, Wine Lips kicks it off classic with fitting intro "Derailer," that tells you what you're in for - big loud fun – with a straightforward killer monster riffs and those aforementioned sing-along choruses you can dance to or just jump around to, drive fast to or even clean your bathroom to faster.* For some, this will call to mind the classic Spike Jonze directed music video for Beastie Boys, but Hey, that was the 90's, after all. (Be sure to check out all of Wine Lips videos, too)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPT11C8iU-w

Across all 12 boppin' and breakneck killer tracks (with the slow burning groovy exception of "New Jazz" that seems to light the fuse, makes us look around nervously with anticipation and finally explodes at the 2:30 mark), Super Mega Ultra offers anyone listening a wild ride, a good time and no doubt, countless calls for repeat listens. Standout tracks getting the most spins and views right now are singles "Derailer" "Fried IV," and "Stimulation" but "Six Pack" is my vote for best track, It's such a big dumb wonderful rock song with an easy chorus "Got a six pack, drinking with my best friend / Got a six pack, drinking with my left hand." Whether enjoyed ironically or earnestly, this song is smooth and tasty and it's only aided by the Aurora Evans' cheery delivery and surprising (but welcome) turn at the mic.

"Lemon Party" is the economical instrumental jam you didn't know you needed. If you were a cool talk show host looking for theme music, you'd find it here and if you were a Mazes fan, you might spot the similarities (or influence).

And get ready for the most meme-able song and outlier on the album - the 30-second metal AF guttural growler "Stella."

All in all, Wine Lips new album is Super Mega Ultra amazing and you should buy the vinyl, get the tickets, and listen til your heart's content. Super Mega Ultra is out now via Stomp Records and streaming everywhere. Get it at your favorite local record store. Wine Lips are on tour now.

*-Can confirm.