The music of Seattle’s Wild Lips is loud and rowdy, and you might be surprised to discover it’s the product of just two guys — vocalist and guitarist Billy Barros and drummer Preston Darvill. True to their bare-bones musical setup, the Lips have also boiled down their songs to the most essential parts: big, bold riffs; driving percussion; catchy, anthemic choruses. But songwriter Barros isn’t afraid to throw in an acoustic ballad or two among fast-and-furious, mosh-ready tunes like “Sammy’s Song” and “Kerosene,” which are the kind of no-bullshit rock ’n’ roll best enjoyed while you’re being jostled around by a Saturday night bar crowd.
— Nathan Weinbender