“The Mother Hips are divinely inspired by the four great (North) American B’s: The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, The Band and The Beach Boys” – Rolling Stone

Kiss the Crystal Flake, the latest studio album by California’s The Mother Hips, was released April 3rd, 2007 on New York based-indie Camera Records. It is the follow up to the acclaimed Red Tandy EP (Camera Records, 2005) and the first full album for The Hips since 2001’s Green Hills of the Earth. Featuring 12 new songs Kiss The Crystal Flake reintroduces the world to The Mother Hips’ own brand of California rock, blending a natural psychedelia with their own 21st century musicianship and songwriting. It is produced by The Mother Hips with Badman Recording Co. founder Dylan Magierek (Mark Kozelek, Call and Response, Erlend Oye.)

"This album is almost like a debut album for us,” said singer/guitarist Tim Bluhm. “It is very different from anything we recorded in the past. You know that saying about wishing you knew then what you know now? Kiss The Crystal Flake is that coming true."

Formed in 1991 at Chico State in Northern California, The Mother Hips have run the gamut of experiences as a band - from dorm band to buzz band to cult favorite. They took an extended break which nearly became a permanent one after the 2001 album’s release, but decided to reconvene a few years ago, first playing shows, and now as a full-fledged band, writing, recording and releasing new music.

“Many things have come our way,” explained singer/guitarist Loiacono. “Opportunities, challenges, gifts, hard times, misfortune…. Kiss the Crystal Flake is about embracing everything. It's about standing face to face with whatever comes.”