Random Order - Black Lipstick Kiss (Self-Released)

Random Order is a rock band from Toronto offering an exciting blend of styles on their new album, Black Lipstick Kiss. To more fully understand Random Order’s sound, imagine an alternate universe where The Cramps watched James Bond films instead of B-horror movies.

Ironically, most of the material on the album was written by lead singer Lynn Philips in a hotel room over five days watching 24 hour Horror movie marathons during Halloween. With enough twang in their guitars to make Duane Eddy jealous, songs like “Black Lipstick Kiss” and “Do In In Quattro” could have easily been found in a 70’s spy flick.

The band’s name is a fitting one, because the band seem to pull influences left and right from as many different styles and genres as they desire, seemingly at random. Songs like “Subway Girl” have trace elements of surf, while “Pink Cloud” is a pure ska rave-up. It doesn’t always work—“Excess or Rise” is one of the few slight misfires here, but when it does work, it’s magic. Regardless of whatever style they’re going for on whatever song, they’re always full of a strong conviction that instantly wins you over.

The band has been around since 1995, and on Black Lipstick Kiss they don’t show any signs of letting up. It’s a fun, high energy album with nary a moment of quiet to be found. You just might find yourself breathless by the time its over, but that is the band’s very intention. The album is a subversive, somewhat devilish party, and every moment of it is as fun as the one before it. The album will be released July 29th.