The Mother Hips - Kiss the Crystal Flake
Reviewed by mike
The Mother Hips are a rare band to the ilk of My Morning Jacket in that they both have a sound that's equally welcome within many musical circles. Even though six years have passed since their last full-length, they've returned with a tight record that's a welcome hybrid of Matthew Sweet alterna-pop, the jammier side of the aforementioned MMJ, Buffalo Springfield California-rock nostalgia and Elvis Costello melodic sensibility. Even with such a smorgasbord of styles, the Hips never lose sight of songcraft and successfully deliver a comeback that's completely fresh. Then again, good rock and roll is timeless. [www.motherhips.com]