Flaming Lips get dark and moody

thedelihaus

thedelihaus

Nocturnal transmissions
The new Flaming Lips disc, Embryonic, is one dark, moody, brooding trippy record indeed.

No "Vaseline" pop song here, and no upbeat electric experimental "Yoshimi vs. the Pink Robots" with romanticized hit singles snuck in (though I enjoy those greatly), this album sounds like a Moody Blues album gone electronic, experimental, and sinister, all under the influence of psychedelic mushrooms and piloting a space ship, alone and desperate and introspective, across a barren Buck Rogers planet.



While many artists the collective median age of the Flaming Lips are living off royalties, greatest hits compilations, or planning reunion tours, the Lips continue to progress and grow as artists.


Perhaps the best thing to come out of Oklahoma. Ever.
 
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I've been meaning to pick this up...this only makes me want it more. I love when they get dark and moody.
 
JohnVF said:
I've been meaning to pick this up...this only makes me want it more. I love when they get dark and moody.
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Very nice but not one ounce a commercial disc.


Would go well with an animatronic puppet creepy space movie 3 am in the morning, with a bottle of Absinthe and a pack of clove ciggies....
 
I know! This record is incredible! I really disliked "At War with the Mystics," and was afraid they were just going to start cashing it in from here on out. But man, this new one came out of left field. Thing is, even though it's more trippy and psych-y than anything they've done in years, it's also not even just a return to or rehashing of the psychedelia of "Zaireeka" or "Clouds Taste Metallic." It's a progression from their 2000s sound. They continue to grow. Outstanding.
 
not to be contradictory, but this Tulsa born young lady is the most amazing artist to come out of OK, IMHO... her second album, out this year "Actors' is soooo good...starting another US tour next February, too...playing the 9:30 Club, for you DC AK'ers...

I'm as prog/avant/jazz/fill in the blank as it gets, but I've never been able to pick up what Flaming Lips is laying down...millions of people can't be wrong, though..:scratch2:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Vincent_(musician)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALaE7ymqrU0
 
thedelihaus said:
Very nice but not one ounce a commercial disc.


Would go well with an animatronic puppet creepy space movie 3 am in the morning, with a bottle of Absinthe and a pack of clove ciggies....
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Well, I did in fact bring back a bottle of Absinthe from Prague that I've yet to bust out....

But I can't stand clove cigarettes. Reminds me too much of the goth girls I dated in college.
 
kneeOhFight said:
not to be contradictory, but this Tulsa born young lady is the most amazing artist to come out of OK, IMHO... her second album, out this year "Actors' is soooo good...starting another US tour next February, too...playing the 9:30 Club, for you DC AK'ers...

I'm as prog/avant/jazz/fill in the blank as it gets, but I've never been able to pick up what Flaming Lips is laying down...millions of people can't be wrong, though..:scratch2:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Vincent_(musician)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALaE7ymqrU0
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St. Vincent is awesome. I've seen her live three times now. Puts on a great show, although unfortunately she's dialed back the guitar heroics on the tour for her new album.
 
Is this the one with I Can Be A Frog and Watching the Planets is on? If so.. I'm just not getting it compared to how they used to be...

As a side note, There are some cool noise tracks though.. I do like that...
 
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kneeOhFight said:
not to be contradictory, but this Tulsa born young lady is the most amazing artist to come out of OK, IMHO... her second album, out this year "Actors' is soooo good...starting another US tour next February, too...playing the 9:30 Club, for you DC AK'ers...

I'm as prog/avant/jazz/fill in the blank as it gets, but I've never been able to pick up what Flaming Lips is laying down...millions of people can't be wrong, though..:scratch2:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Vincent_(musician)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALaE7ymqrU0
Click to expand...

St. Vincent is awesome. I've seen her live three times now. Puts on a great show, although unfortunately she's dialed back the guitar heroics on the tour for her new album.
 
I have no clue about what is being played on the radio anymore. My boy turned me onto the Flaming Lips and it took me a while to get them...but I dig 'em now.
Same scenario for Modest Mouse, The Shins and Port Obrien.
Looking forward to hearing the new release :thmbsp:
 
kneeOhFight said:
not to be contradictory, but this Tulsa born young lady is the most amazing artist to come out of OK, IMHO... her second album, out this year "Actors' is soooo good...starting another US tour next February, too...playing the 9:30 Club, for you DC AK'ers...

I'm as prog/avant/jazz/fill in the blank as it gets, but I've never been able to pick up what Flaming Lips is laying down...millions of people can't be wrong, though..:scratch2:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Vincent_(musician)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALaE7ymqrU0
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That was cool! I'll have to check out those tour dates. Hopefully she'll stop in her home state.

I haven't picked up a copy of the new Lips album yet. I've heard a couple of the singles on-line, and wasn't terribly impressed. I'll have to listen to the whole album before I make any judgments though. I love The Soft Bulletin, and I'm glad the Lips have revisited their experimental roots.

*Edit*
A few full tracks from Embryonic are on their MySpace. Actually, it's not bad so far.
 
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I feel the album as a whole is greater than the sum of it's parts.

While the songs are able to stand alone and by themselves, they, when together, form a full and cohesive wholeness that really changes one's perception.


Listening to the songs on a one on one basis would leave me luke warm. It's when they are all linked together and you have time to listen to it as a cohesive whole, that a form of magic happens.


But be forewarned- the album is never one to wow you or impress you blatantly.


It's a subtle beauty to it, a listening experience slow and languid and rewarding in a very humble and understated way.
 
thedelihaus said:
I feel the album as a whole is greater than the sum of it's parts.

While the songs are able to stand alone and by themselves, they, when together, form a full and cohesive wholeness that really changes one's perception.


Listening to the songs on a one on one basis would leave me luke warm. It's when they are all linked together and you have time to listen to it as a cohesive whole, that a form of magic happens.


But be forewarned- the album is never one to wow you or impress you blatantly.


It's a subtle beauty to it, a listening experience slow and languid and rewarding in a very humble and understated way.
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I'm glad to hear that. That's exactly why I wanted to wait before passing any judgments. Maybe good 'ole Santa will bring me the vinyl for Christmas. ;)
 
Paul,

Yoshimi was the first LP played on my current Advents when some close friends brought them to my house. I had never heard The Flaming Lips. I was very moved. This album never left my mind. I had to have the vinyl. My friend brought me the LP recently as a gift and I am awed of his generosity. It fetches fancy prices nowadays. I am an admirer of the band forever more. It changed my mind about techno music forever. :tresbon:
 
Yoshimi was on heavy rotation at my pad for quite a while.

I have a vinyl copy on cherry red vinyl. Delish!

But be forewarned, the new one has quite a different mood and feeling than Yoshimi does....
 
thedelihaus said:
Yoshimi was on heavy rotation at my pad for quite a while.

I have a vinyl copy on cherry red vinyl. Delish!

But be forewarned, the new one has quite a different mood and feeling than Yoshimi does....
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I just got the red vinyl Yoshimi two weeks ago...really enjoying getting back into this one. Still haven't picked up the new one, but I might go record/CD shopping tomorrow.
 
grillebilly said:
I have no clue about what is being played on the radio anymore. My boy turned me onto the Flaming Lips and it took me a while to get them...but I dig 'em now.
Same scenario for Modest Mouse, The Shins and Port Obrien.
Looking forward to hearing the new release :thmbsp:
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It was the other way around here for Flaming Lips and Modest Mouse.

I'm digging this new Flaming Lips CD.
 
Not sure about Wayne Coyne. I know they are popular on the jam band circuit.

It's more of a theatrical act isn't it? I have never seen them.
 
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