KISS THE CRYSTAL FLAKE
Album Review

Criminally underrated as an Americana band, San Francisco's Hips have turned to spirited pop-rock on the full-length follow-up to 2005's Red Tandy EP. Instead of Burritos/Band/Beach Boy elements, we get Crazy Horse, Stones at their most American, Jayhawks at their most British and, on excellent opener "Mission In Vain", Beatles via Aerosmith mashed with Killer Queen. 4 Stars.