Austin’s Black Books hit a pretty big high right out of the gate, touring with the Flaming Lips behind their 2013 self-titled debut. The match-up seemed perfect at the time; while Black Books don’t share the Lips’ absurdism, they do write sky-reaching choruses that sound best in packed arenas or festival grounds.
For their follow-up, Black Books hunkered down in singer/guitarist Kevin Butler’s studio, Test Tube Audio, and the result is Can’t Even. The title clues you in to the ride: this is deeply-felt space-rock, tackling big, universal weariness but with U2-esque sheen. “Golden OK” focuses on the spaciness of that equation, building itself around dramatic synths before down-shifting into a cavernous, crowd-pleasing refrain.
“Golden OK” appears on Can’t Even, out now. Black Books play the Mohawk on Saturday, February 25.
–Art Levy // host, Sunday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m, producer, My KUTX
