Montreal four-piece Pale Lips don't drop their debut full-length Wanna Be Bad on vinyl until next week, but Exclaim! is giving you the chance to hear the whole thing early.
The 12-song set showcases the band's blend of classic '60s girl group soul, power pop and punk rock, kicking off with the endearing old-school feel of "Doo Wah Diddy Shim Sham Shimmy (Bama Lama Loo)" before moving on to crunchier fare like "(You Make Me) Wanna Be Bad," bad-ass gambling ode "Queen of Spades," the ridiculously rapid-paced "1-2-3," and the classic punk-tinged closer "Rock N Roll Dipshit."
Sugary melodies, clap-along drumbeats and jangly guitars breathe refreshing, upbeat energy into the gritty punk rock bones of every song, making for a record that manages to come across as bright and bouncy without ever losing its edge.