Review
The Lippies
Pop 'n' Lockdown EP

Red Scare Industries (2020) Loren

The Lippies – Pop 'n' Lockdown EP cover artwork
The Lippies – Pop 'n' Lockdown EP — Red Scare Industries, 2020

I have to admit that I’ve heard a few songs by The Lippies in the past, but never sat down with their 2016 debut and absorbed it in any sense. This EP is kind of my introduction beyond a passing song here and there. And I enjoy it, though I doubt it’s the best first taste of the band given how it came together.

Originally the song “On Your Mind” was written for a compilation of songs about Trump. The comp never panned out, and The Lippies had a song they were proud of and no immediate outlet. Given the topical nature (pre-election and whatnot), the band decided on a 7-inch.

There are only three songs here, but “On Your Mind” is definitely the big one to me. It kicks off with a powerful hook with some street punk vibes, segues into a cheer of “F-U C-K T-R U-M-P, Hey!,” and then shifts gears again into more of a fluid pop-punk melody that cuts through the man’s deceptive facade and shows the pile of goo at its gore, asking “Who knew 6’3” could be so small?” It builds him up -- as he builds himself up -- then it tears him down. It mixes social commentary with humor. That’s all good on its own, but it’s also a winning melody that transcends the lyrics, which will give the song lasting power after we’ve (hopefully) forgotten about 45.

Curiously, b-side “Get Out Of Bed” is about being stuck in the house and losing momentum -- but it was written prior to the 2020 pandemic. It’s a slice of lo-fi acoustic punk. Again, the melodies are the winning formula and noting this songwriting strength I’m definitely curious to dig into the band’s back catalog. “I’m A Reactor” closes it out with some serious pipes on display that remind me a bit of Tilt in how it balances power with pure emotion. As the title implies, this song feels like it’s brimming with rage, just ready to explode.

As a teaser, Pop ‘n’ Lockdown hits hard, offering a range of emotion and variety over three songs that are still easily classified under the punk umbrella. It feels a little too short and disjointed to be a really strong EP, but if you consider it a single with two b-sides it’s a rager.

7.5 / 10Loren • January 5, 2021

The Lippies – Pop 'n' Lockdown EP cover artwork
The Lippies – Pop 'n' Lockdown EP — Red Scare Industries, 2020

Related features

Guest Column: The Lippies - Uncanny Indeed

Regular Columns / Running on Nothing • February 21, 2021

Related news

The Lippies cover Jay Reatard

Posted in MP3s on May 7, 2021

It's a new Lippies EP

Posted in Records on April 18, 2020

Red Scare updates, The Falcon tours

Posted in Labels on February 11, 2016

Recently-posted album reviews

Sexfaces

Bad Vibes OST
Slovenly (2025)

Best thing about writing reviews is finding out about new stuff that I otherwise might not have heard. Also writing reviews for bands that aren’t friends of mine is pretty cool but when I hear a band I really like, like Sex Faces, it makes me want to be friends with them, I can't help it! I’m not even halfway … Read more

Unseemlier

I Have A Screw Loose, Somewhere
Sell The Heart Records (2025)

What does Unseemlier sound like? I've been mulling that question as I listen to I Have A Screw Loose, Somewhere for a while now. As I listen to more and more Sell The Heart releases, The band is from Boston, but seemingly influenced by late '80s DC. It's heavy, but more with hardcore-like vocals shouted over moving, building guitars and … Read more

Personality Cult

Dilated
Dirtnap (2025)

I had a hard time starting this review. I can’t help coming back to the fact that it sounds like Marked Men. It does, maybe intentionally so, as Dilated is the second of Personality Cult’s albums that is produced by Jeff Burke of Marked Men and Radioactivity. But I don’t necessarily like to say a band sounds like another band … Read more