The Soft Bulletin

Good listen - interesting mix of genres and pretty accessible. Not super memorable, but definitely a few good songs.

I've never heard the Flaming Lips before, but they sound like a Coldplay cover band.

I hate this band

Shame it’s only the one body part on fire

I really like the Flaming Lips and already have 23 songs liked by them on Spotify with 4 songs from this album. Songs liked going in on this one are "Race for the Prize", "The Spiderbite Song", "Waitin' for a Superman", and "Sleeping on the Roof". I also have their album "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" as a perfect album where I like ALL of the songs. That one already got a 5 stars rating on this site too. After the first run through I added several songs, by the end of the 2nd listen I had liked ALL of the songs. The 3rd time I just experienced it without thinking about it and just let it happen - listening on noise cancelling headphones. It's so good - musically, lyrically, vocally. One thing that stands out for me with the Flaming Lips is the drumming. I think I mentioned this on my review of "Yoshimi" - but it's just really good - doing unexpected things at times, sometimes very understated, sometimes completely jamming out. Really good! It was fun and insightful reading people's interpretations of the lyrics on the songmeanings website. I like the 2 instrumentals also - "The Observer" and "Sleeping on the Roof" - they fit really well into the flow of the album. Two perfect albums by the Flaming Lips - "I stood up and said hey yeah!" Liked songs on Spotify: 14/14 Rating: 5/5

Absolutely beautiful album. I love the idea of panning it like a 60s record, my right ear enjoy the drums blasting in it. Lots of incredible songs

Another classic for old me. This one is incredibly emotionally resonating. I may have listened to this one more than any other album in my life. Cohesively strong, no filler, and amazing lyrically, just beautiful. Always a worthwhile play. Miss you Steven Drozd

Some songs are decent. Sometimes good drumming. Solid 3.

Soft Bulletin isn't my favorite album from the Flaming Lips, but it is pretty damn good. It's kinda funny. Was literally listening to Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots when I refreshed the page for today. Glad it came up!

Mon dieu, c'est encore une fois pas très bon, c'est une streak hein

I loved the Flaming Lips when I was a teenager. Looking back this album is actually pretty weak. Strong front but it whimpers in the end.

Not much to this album; basically the same repetitive music & vocals with little or no variation. Mundane, nothing gripping here.

There's some interesting things here but still kind of boring

I mean, it was good but nothing that I'll remember. Good background music.

Never got the Flaming Lips until now. It was akin to being aurally swaddled.

This made truly no impression at all.

this guy can’t sing??

Es un gran disco. Realmente seria un 4-4,5/5 si no fuera tan pesima la manera en la que canta. Pero gran escucha, gran busqueda sonora. 3,75/5

3.6. Love the flaming lips when they are LIVE. Don’t miss their show, take psychedelics. Enjoy. You are going to see a hell of a performance. They are artists who are incredible artists, mediocre musicians, good song writers, fantastic innovators of new, weird, groundbreaking stuff with sound. The album is fine, so by my standards a 3. But giving lowest possible to bump it to a 4. I appreciate them as innovators and artists. The album, as a standalone is fine.

This is not the best Flaming Lips record. Its definitely a Flaming Lips record with this particular form of indie rock now ubiquitous as it became the acceptable 90s college equivalent of slightly edgy weird art indie practiced by the Modest Mouse, Shins, Grandaddy, Destroyer- you know the brand. Faceless white guys performing standard indie rock with some kinda out there lyrics. It was definitely a thing because it was pretty safe, low violence, good to hang out, drink a few beers and pretend to be cool. For me, the biggest failing of this record and frankly all their records is that you can’t connect emotionally to any of these songs. They are well played, sometimes interesting but always emotionally disconnected. Wayne doesn’t feel and nor will you. It’s just an average indie rock album that the cool kids told you would make you seem cool. Nope. You’re still a fucking loser. Go discover punk rock. This is music for people who have no opinions of their own. 2/5

A week ago we got to listen to Yoshimi Battles the Sleep Robots so my listen of the Soft Bulletin was a direct comparison to that. I enjoyed Yoshimi more because it felt like something I could throw on and listen to at length a few times a week. The Soft Bulletin is still great, don't get me wrong. But something about the energy and instrumentation felt slower and didn't grab me. This is some great indie rock! Favorite Tracks: Race for the Prize The Spark That Bled What Is the Light?

Life Without Death Is Just Impossible 1001 Albums Generator 330 (8/18/2026) The Soft Bulletin has higher highs and lower lows than Yoshimi. Race for the Prize is a perfect opener, and A Spoonful Weighs a Ton and The Spark That Bled are amazing chamber pop songs. The Gash is beautiful and full of energy, waiting to burst. Feeling Yourself Disintegrate is a heartbreaking two-chord vamp that takes a little while to build, but once it's there, it's really quite striking. Consistently interesting, full production and especially powerful drums throughout this album. However, nothing on Yoshimi is as boring as The Observer. And I don't really care for What Is The Light? either. However, besides those two songs (and the remixes which I'm not counting as part of the album), Soft Bulletin is a nearly perfect example of indie, psychedelic pop rock. 4.5/5, rounded up to 5 because I really enjoyed my time with it. Favs: Race for the Prize A Spoonful Weighs a Ton The Gash Least Fav: The Observer

It’s all a bit meh.

This is my favorite Flaming Lips album. The loud-ass drums on Race For The Prize alone would make this a five star album for me. Everything else is just gravy. Yes, the singing is not great, but it’s so earnest.

Starts off strong, but "A Spoonful Weighs a Ton" doesn't do it for me. So it'll be interesting to see which way the album ultimately goes. Overall it's not terrible but I'm not enjoying it too much. The vocals aren't for me in general and the string arrangements are very busy. It's kind of a lot. It's considered a masterpiece apparently but I don't really think it's for me. Far from the worst thing I've ever listened to, however.

Lots of really good moments in this. A bit too much atmospheric moments for me to be super duper jazzed about it, though.

His voice does my head in - shame some good tunes

Another Flaming Lips album, another 4. They make solid albums.

one of the all time greats

Really nice album. Got it a few days ago and have listened to it three times. Hell, I'll listen to it again right now.

This was okay. Nothing spectacular, a bit repetitive.

ok

I get why it's here, but I don't get it enough to really love it.

Pet Sounds if it were made at the turn of the 21st century

Warner Bros. Records doesn't want me to listen to this album as my CD player doesn't like their copy protection. 1/5.

One of the greatest gifts the Generator has brought me is acquaintance with The Flaming Lips. Their quirky music is right on my wavelength. I’m lucky that there are many hours of their catalogue left to explore. I added “Race for the Cure” to my playlist.

It’s all rather beautiful. I’m new to this. I know Yoshimi and this is clearly in the same vein. It’s proper Prog Rock. Too soon to say how much I’ll end up rating this one. It clearly takes multiple listens to open up. 3 for now

Zeikalbum

I had some glorious times at Flaming Lips shows in the 2000s, but this album has was too many wussy songs about getting beaten up or whatever

alright

Fun and quirky, but nowhere near Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

I found this quite interesting, but a step below Yoshimi. I might listen to this again, but I’ve already relistened to Yoshimi a dozen times.

Like Grandaddy without the je ne sais quoi

It's fine. I don't hate it. It's just a bit...meh.

i really did not care for this one. like i feel like they're trying to do something interesting and unique at least with the story-like nature of the lyrics but overall this was just background noise for me.

the orchestration of the whole album is really sublime but im not sure how i feel about the vocal performance

Was not my thing

Earned extra brownie points because of how much Waitin’ for Superman (both versions) is potentially the best new song I have heard since starting this project. This album swings from “enjoyable but just fine” to “sheer brilliance”, without much difference in how the songs sound, but I can’t put my finger on the differentiating factor.

I really liked the instrumentals, particularly the drums, but found the vocals to be hit or miss with more miss than hit. I also think the lyrics tried to be more profound than they actually were. Yoshimi is a much better album in my opinion.

This whole album felt like being dropped into a story in media res. Made it very compelling to keep listening to try and figure out what the story was. Never got an answer

Better than the last Flaming Lips and has some high points. But in the round a quite average album.

Альбом со светло-меланхоличным звуком вдруг попал прямо в сердце.

The spark that bled Buggin Feeling yourself disintegrate Race for the prize

I’m not familiar with the album. The opening sounds like the Beach Boys, only more electronic and modern. The singer uses a high-pitched falsetto. At times, the music feels psychedelic and ethereal, creating a soundscape of strings, keyboards, and choral vocals. I almost think my stereo is broken, as the music sometimes sounds distorted—not clean at all; I have no idea why it was produced that way. I suppose 1999 was a huge year for pop music. I remember the hype surrounding Britney Spears; my eldest daughter’s room was plastered with posters of her. I was immersed in "my old music" and didn't pay much attention to the outside world—though it was impossible to turn on the radio without hearing all those pop anthems. Only our old heroes brought us joy; as you know, Bruce went on tour with the reunited E-Street Band. Back to the album: it’s not bad—no question about that—but it doesn't immediately resonate with me today. Three stars is fair.

Didn’t enjoy at all soz

The music is incredible but really can’t stand the singer. Would love to listen to an instrumental version of this album. Would maybe be a 5/5 without him. Fave song: Buggin' (Mokran Mix)

The music was bland and uninteresting. The lyrics made no sense at all. American? I thought so!

Notable Textzeile: And though they were sad They rescued everyone They lifted up the sun A spoonful weighs a ton Beinahe jede Textzeile ist einfach wahnsinnig. Manchmal wahnsinnig brilliant, manchmal wahnsinnig abwegig oder lustig, genial, bekloppt. Begleitet, unterstützt, kontaktiert, ergänzt, defekt oder perfekt gemacht durch die Musik. Jedes Album von ihnen ist auf seine Weise so. Dieses ist es auf hervorragende Weise. Es battelt sich mit Yoshimi um den besten Platz an oder in der Sonne. So oder so glatte

Das ist fraglos brilliant, voller weirdness und layers of sound, wirklich einerseits das Pet Sounds oder Rain Dogs der späten 90er und Spearhead der weird-frickel-noise-alt-rock Bands die dann in den Zeltbühnen der Rockfestivals nachts um 2 Leute glücklich und verwirrt zurück lassen. Ich mag Transmissions... und Yoshimi noch ein bisschen mehr und manchmal nervt mich das whimsy in der Stimme sehr. Nicht für immer.

Wenn diese verhuschte, dröselige, gequetschte Stimme nicht wäre, hätte das aber sowas von Potential nen Knaller zu sein. Abzug für vocal torture.

Pure lo-fi fuzz electronic psychedelic indie rock genius. I love this album from the artwork to every song on it. I see in the reviews that this is a divisive album, seem to be a lot of Pavarotti fans or something because Wayne's vocal are far from the worst thing I have ever heard. I love the seemingly non-sensical lyrics, I think there is sadness presented with great beauty and love and hope. I like to think of them as hippie cosmonauts taking us listeners on a great inner journey to peace and understanding.

I’ve tried several times to get into The Flaming Lips, but it’s not really my thing. Some of the music is good, but I don’t like the vocals.

Race For the Prize The Spark That Bled Waitin’ For a Superman

A Spoonful Weighs a Ton Waiting For A Superman Sleeping on the Roof

5/10 Ragingly mediocre indie. The lead singer is guilty of doing that absolutely obnoxious 2000s indie rock vocal technique that is basically the equivalent of cursive singing, where he basically sounds like he has no singing ability and wants EVERYONE to know. This album really shouldn't be on this list.

Really solid album, I liked most of it. The points were the singer can’t reach. The high notes are a little offputting, whatever all pretty good. Not sure if this is a peak album the 90s, but definitely enjoyable.

zzzz

This is a tough one for me to rate because I spent a lot of time with Yoshimi and Mystics. This feels somehow lesser? It has moments of experimental brilliance, so it makes sense in the trajectory of the band for it to be so groundbreaking and well received. It's not quite profound enough to be a mainstay for me, but it is a clever album.

What is the Light?

I grew up on the Flaming Lips so a lot of these are so nostalgic for me, I love them so much. I had such a hard time picking a favorite, between Race for the Prize and What is the Light? I think the Flaming Lips have a very unique sound and are doing a lot of cool stuff but I totally can see how people may not like them or could find their voice grating, but it aint me. Highlights: Race for the Prize (favorite) A Spoonful Weighs a Ton The Spiderbite Song Buggin' What is the Light? The Observer Sleeping on the Roof

don't have super strong opinions toward. parts of it I really didn't like, but there were parts I really did like.

Awesome stuff ngl. Oklahoma City should be proud

Sweet indie rock, just what I needed.

There are some nice stuff in there despite that his voice is a bit too depressing and annoying !

Really good first song, the rest of the album didn't quite hit those highs again.

Enjoyed this

Rating: 4.9/5 Short Review: Hopeful, strange, and deeply moving. The Soft Bulletin took The Flaming Lips from psychedelic oddballs to one of the most emotionally resonant bands of their era. It’s lush, orchestral, and full of songs about love, mortality, and finding beauty despite life’s fragility. (en.wikipedia.org⁠) Favorite Track: “Feeling Yourself Disintegrate.” Gentle, heartbreaking, and quietly transcendent. One of the band’s finest songs.

meh. not my favorite album from them

The Soft Bulletin is one of those albums I change my mind on each time I give it a new listen. I'm feeling a bit more negative this time. While the songwriting is on a good, often great level throughout the majority of the album, some of the technical elements can grate on me. I'm definitely not against a more lo-fi sound most of the time, but The Soft Bulletin does sound awkward and almost, dare I say, unrealized at times. Additionally, while I consider Wayne Coyne to be an overall engaging and interesting vocalist, the strained delivery in some of these tracks sounds more awkward than intended. Still, I don't want to be overly negative, because this album really does bring a lot to the table. The lyricism is very good throughout and some of the hooks are so incredibly catchy. Not to mention how intriguing some of the songs are in their progression. It's just that I prefer Yoshimi in all of these departments, which would put me in a very strong minority in The Flaming Lips fanbase, as far as I'm aware. Race for the Prize sounds brilliant live, by the way, and it serves as a great closer to their setlist. Favourite track: The Spark That Bled

2.5

This album is fine. I just don’t get what all of the fuss is about.

I LOVED this.

Instrumentalmente falando, esse disco é um torpedo no meio da orelha. A bateria aqui soa como se fosse um rojão de São João, e todo o acompanhamento é tão ironicamente suave, que o contraste encaixa bizarramente bem. O vocal é dissonante, mas também entra ao conjunto que acaba combinando. Festa surpresa.

We all know Wayne Coyne can't sing worth a fuck, and I think I might slightly prefer Yoshimi, but this is the album that rejuvenated and reinvigorated their career. Greater than the sum of it parts, it remains a delight.

This album actually pissed me off, it actually started so well the opening track was so cool. And then. Nothin to else had that punch

Shit was lwk devastating on a Thursday arvo

Bit too screechy for my tastes.

broke the rules, only listened to 3 songs before I turned off.

Unremarkable. Good enough I guess, I don’t think it’s bad, but I’m just not convinced this is an album I must listen to before I die. For reference, this is how my rating system works: 5 - Need on vinyl/perfect work 4 - Would buy on vinyl/pretty damn good 3 - Neutral 2 - Not that great 1 - Pretty rough So I give out a lot of threes, because music is so subjective and a lot of this I don’t like or dislike, I just observe it and move along.

The Lips are one of those bands who's music I have a lot of admiration and appreciation for in an analytical way, but it doesn't give me much emotional enjoyment. And I can't really distinguish whether one album is better or worse than the next. Hence, for me, they will perpetually be stuck at a 4.

Not a fan, really. There's some okay stuff on here, but in the end it all kind of sounds the same to me.

I was a fan of the band well before this record. They were a guitar-centric indie band for the previous decade and I liked a lot of it. I saw the Boombox Experiments which proceeded this and Zaireeka. It made me physically ill. This album probably doesn't happen without both of those experiments, mixed results though they were. I didn't immediately love this album. I probably mourned the guitar band. After about two weeks, I was converted, confirmed, and evangelizing. I love the dirty drums and the prominence of the bass. Hell, I love the beatboxing. The album is propelled by the drums and bass with equal parts of orchestral pop, piano and guitar filling out the openings left over. They embrace production as art and marry it to great melodies, even if the lyrics lean too cute and silly.

I don't know these guys very well. Like the wall of sound approach on many songs, and the crashing drums, and the epic feel. Not crazy about Coyne's voice, but it's tolerable most of the time.

5/5 - Height of their powers, assuming you think they have powers, which I grant is a reasonable point of view to argue. I happen to think they have powers, acknowledging that Wayne Coyne is a better frontman than he is a singer. I love this album, and it got deep, deep in my veins 20+ years ago. If you think it's annoying as fuck, I also won't argue with you. Hint: Headphones

These guys are musical mad scientists, blending genres like they're brewing up some new sonic super-soldier. Spins: 3 Playlist Additions - Race for the Prize - A Spoonful Weighs a Ton - Waitin' for a Superman - Feeling Yourself Disintegrate - The Spark That Bled

Really good. Iay have been influenced by driving through Watsonville and other parts of HWY 17 in California, but I heard a lot of Beach Boys and Cheap Trick on this album.

Cool

3.5 rounded up. I like some songs of theirs or if I’m so messed up at a show that I need to crap walk out it. Full albums are a bit too much.

Yes! Yes! Fuck, Yes! Hands down my favorite album from my favorite band. Had a chance to see them play this album cover to cover back in 2011 at The Aragon Ball Room. Bummed I didn’t get a chance to make it out to Red Rocks to hear them play this accompanied by the Colorado Symphony Orchestra in 2016, but at least they put that out as an outstanding live album. It’s always a good time at the Flaming Lips show. Smoke em if you got em, and let’s get weird 😶‍🌫️🔥💋 Favorite Tracks: Suddenly Everything Has Changed and Race For The Prize,

Pretty enjoyable listen....not sure we needed two version of two songs on the normal release of the album. Also, the spider bite song sounds like some preschool shit. Otherwise, it's pretty groovy.

Could have been a 4, but Jesus his voice is verging on unlistenable.

Cuando empezó no le tenía fe, pero fue de menor a mayor.

Didn't love this, thought the vocal was a little pitchy and production wasn't great

Something about Wayne Coyne just bugs the shit out of me. Maybe it's this hippy-dippy shit he seems to exude, this feeling I can't shake of performative sincerity and depth. I can't take it. Just stick to stupid little shit like "She Don't Use Jelly," because that's what you're good at.

Boring. Tried twice

Kind of boring, but not bad in any way. I just skipped it when I was too bored to continue.

Meh

All hail The Flaming Lips! I was already a fan of them and this album coming in, so it's hard to take the bias out. I like to this this is the album that they figured out who they were and what their music was meant to be. Largely new sounds for them with interesting arrangements paired with Cohen's quirky lyrics and soft voice make for curious and delightful listen. I genuinely love this record and all it's left of center-ness.

Prize

not bad. i think it's better than the other Flaming Lips we listened to. i would listen to it again.

This was an interesting listen. Flaming Lips are a huge hit or miss for me, but this was mostly hit. I liked the songs. They weren't too crazy while still being 100% Flaming Lips. I really enjoy their sound and production quality. I love the uniqueness. These songs had some pretty interesting topics haha.

Good background music. Might have potential to be graded higher if I did a deep listen

It was alright listening, went quite fast for a full hour of music x Nothing else I can say, eh eh, eh eh

Was interesting. At risk of appearing elitist or undermining the lyrics appeared to be very simple. Parts I enjoyed and others I did not like. Decided to go down the middle with a 3/5.

This is the first Flaming Lips excursion where I can say I get it, I get how these dudes ate possibly the closest we'll get to a US version of Pink Floyd. It's not as overreaching as Yoshimi... and not as goofy as some of their other work. It's a band that's honed its chops, decided to push in a new direction, and run directly toward a sounds that's rooted in psychedelia but more open, more dramatic. It's a really great record, and actively makes me interested in more from the band.

really good, and there's always something unordinary about the flaming lips. makes for a really interesting listen.

Annoying. I don't like anything about it. Just simplistic. I would skip this even if it just served as background noise.

I can feel this album is already going to creep into my playlists. Loved it from the vocalizations, the lyrics, and the layered instrumentation.

An album whose sum is greater than its parts, with a wave of inspiration that flows fully throughout.

76/100. A soft bulletin is still a bulletin. Not every important message needs to shout. I enjoyed this, but not as much as I would've thought. The album feels mysterious in a way. The vocals didn't really work all too well, and the lyrics felt a bit nonsensical. Taken as a whole, I kind of got swept up by the album, not in a fully focused way but in a way that I stopped focusing on the individual parts, and that way I could really enjoy the instrumentation. I much prefer the album they released after this, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. One thing I really enjoy about this album and what it implies is the title, The Soft Bulletin. A bulletin often implies important news, but here with the soft added and the context of the songs it works as a reminder of stuff that happens in life that you might forget... Everyone suffers, dies and needs love, just to name a few.

A good album.

9 / 10

I went into this with few expectations and was pleasantly surprised.

Yet again more background music

A little bit twee but not too bad

Maybe inspiration for things I like?

Dreamy and mystical, maybe a little more consistent and even than "Yoshimi" Strange and one-of-a-kind, a big experience for its time

It's a tie between The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robot for the best Flaming Lips album in my book. It's an album with symphonic ambitions and it works. The tunes are catchy and the lyrics are silly but touching anyway. Favorite Songs: Race for the Prize ; The Spark that Bled ; Waitin' for a Superman

Decent pop album that is varied enough that it never gets boring. The two main singles are quite good, but the rest is nothing more than okay

Well, this was certainly fifty-eight minutes of music. Fifty-eight long, whiny minutes, to be exact. The Flaming Lips’ The Soft Bulletin is apparently one of those albums people choose to listen to on purpose. Me? I’m only here because the 1001 Albums generator told me to be.

I didn't hate this. I didn't really like it either. It exists and is on the list, so I listened.

The Flaming Lips are incredible live band whose records lack any real focus. I like this record, but it feels predictable in its quest for unpredictability. The weirdness seems contrived to me. But it is fun to listen to! THREE STARS

The opening album for our 1,001 challenge came from The Flaming Lips. I did not reread my thoughts on that record, but I imagine they would be similar to the ones for The Soft Bulletin. Wayne Coyne’s songs sound like they come from the perspective of a kid in a Tim Burton movie. Mystified, sad, magical tales filled with some interesting images. Depending on the song, and my mood, they connect to the characters Coyne describes. The best ones like “Race for the Prize” and “Waiting for Superman” burst open with rays of keyboards and a surging sound. “A Spoonful Weighs a Ton” creates a last man on earth or first person on Mars feeling. Not sure why, but lost wonderment makes for an effective piece of music. Too many songs fail to reach out in this manner. The altering of Coyne’s voice at best becomes part of the atmosphere. On other occasions the altered sounds start to grate whereas a strong tack like “Superman” features a more straightforward approach. I sense that the songwriting is not strong enough to carry an entire record. It might be the rare record where I would suggest outside musicians who could have brought a different take to the songs. My rating will not be generous if a third Lips album appears on the list.

I wasn't familiar with the band or their music. It could have stayed that way, and I wouldn't have missed a thing. Now that I've gotten to know the band, I know I won't miss a thing if I never hear them again. Even if it's only a minor annoyance, I just don't care. 3/5

Everything just blended together into nothingness in the background on my drive to work

mah

Could improve with further listens.

Like some of the melodies, but the singers voice isn't for me

I think we were all already familiar with the flaming lips from their 2002 album, but I think this is my first time listening to any other album by theirs. Despite relatively high expectations, I was still fairly impressed. This kind of tops the trifecta of albums we've heard recently that I've noticed have creative production. There is always some interesting electronic element to go with the acoustic/live instrumentation. The acoustic guitar goes so well with synths and things like that. The drumming in their songs is always very enjoyable. I like the singer quite a bit too; he has very good pitch, a soothing voice, and implements nice layered harmonies. I think I'm confident to give this a four.

Trying to keep up while on vacation, so this review will be short. Giving this 4 stars. Coincidentally, listened to this on CD just a month ago or so. Lots of creativity and interesting sounds (and lyrics), though possibly a bit lacking in coherence.

I appreciate the whimsy in their storytelling, although I didn't really follow what the songs were about. I didn't really care for the arrangements, though. As a percussionist, I have to acknowledge the Flaming Lips as the #1 tubular bell users

So many gushing reviews. I don’t get it. I find this dull and his voice is awful. Maybe sounds great when you’re off your face watching bubbles and lights. I’ll never know

Found it so boring I questioned why I gave another one of their albums 5 stars.

Race for the Prize (Mokran remix) 4.2 A Spoonful Weighs a Ton 4.1 The Spark That Bled 4.1 The Spiderbite Song 4.2 Buggin' 4.1 What I the Light? 4 The Observer 3.7 Waitin' for a Superman 4.3 Suddenly Everything Has Changed 3.8 The Gash 4.3 Feeling Yourself Disintegrate 4 Sleeping on the Roof 3.7 Race for the Prize 4.2 Waitin' for a Superman (Mokran remix) 4.3 Score: 4.071428571

I hated the other Flaming Lips album so I expected similar here, but it was surprisingly more tolerable. The instrumentation is still not my style but it was at least interesting. Vocals still stink but what can you do?

Not great, not bad - very much in the middle. It’s basically the OKest type of music possible. I enjoyed it a lot more than most of the albums on this list so far, but it was a little too soft and slow for me to be super excited about it. And it was repetitive, with a couple of the songs presented twice with different remixes. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Okay background music but not an album I would listen to again

Very similar to yoshimi. I think i like yoshimi more but they are nearly identical in terms of quality. Its just good indie rock. Thats not really my favorite genre. Its just too chill for my tastes. But I will say that it mixes it up alot. There are tons of different things going on all over this thing. I do like that. Im just not crazy about any of the things this does. I see that its good. Im just not that enthused. Worth a listen still though.

Bad vocals, and the idea of “creating an atmosphere” is used as a crutch for a lack of interesting musical ideas. Would probably have this down as a 3 for being a bland nothing were it not an hour long.

This was interesting. Good variety of instrumentation and styles. Will revisit. 3.5/5

I could listen to these guys anytime and this one is up there with Yoshimi. People say it took 15+ years for the band to break more commercially around this time. I like to think it actually took the audience 15+ years to recognize the unpredictable weirdness of the band that was always there.

I think The Flaming Lips are better in concert than in my car. A good listen. I liked it and appreciate the creativity but didn’t make my jelly jiggle. 3.0

Something about The Flaming Lips does it for me… I appreciate the weirdness. 3.5/5

This one's nuts. Always loved Yoshimi but I didn't care much for Cloud's Taste Metallic, so I never checked anything else out. Stupid thought, because this is that clear, giant step forward from their sound then. Kaleidoscopic, but a bit more accessible and easier to throw on than Yoshimi.

The vocals could be better, but I enjoy the lyrics and the general feel of this one.

This one is almost as fun as "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots," but doesn't quite reach that height. I think there are some tradeoffs here, and I think this almost feels more unique as it is a transition between two styles. It's still a great album, I just don't think I love it as much. Favorite track: "Race for the Prize (Mokran Mix)"

3.5

Vocals remind me of Neil Young, which isn't necessarily a good thing. This isn't terrible but I'm rather surprised it's gotten so much acclaim.

Good music but I can't get over his voice.

Una obra maestra de la psicodelia orquestal y un punto de inflexión sónico que ha envejecido bien en su ambición conceptual. Desde la perspectiva del diseño de ensamble, el álbum es una proeza; las capas masivas de sintetizadores, cuerdas, trompetas y percusiones gigantescas se presentan bajo un entretejido que da claridad absoluta a las melodías, evitando que el maximalismo sature el espectro. En el plano interpretativo, la fragilidad de la ejecución proyecta una fuerza y calidez incuestionables. La voz trémula y humana de Wayne Coyne en piezas fundamentales como "Race for the Prize" y "Waiting for a Superman" transmite una autenticidad desarmante, ganando una autoridad superior precisamente desde su vulnerabilidad frente a la tragedia. El viaje lírico, que aborda la mortalidad, la ciencia y la pérdida, opera como un potente llamado a la conciencia sobre la fragilidad humana, entregando un documento profundamente conmovedor, crudo y real. Un álbum de gran densidad intelectual que, bajo su constante sensación de paz y fluidez cósmica, ofrece una enorme versatilidad para múltiples usos diarios, destacando para potenciar el trabajo creativo o acompañar una reflexión solitaria.

Two flaming lips in 4 days

J'ai un avis très contrasté sur cet album. D'un côté, y'avait beaucoup d'éléments très bizarres, dans le meilleur sens du terme, que ce soit au niveau des paroles ou des sonorités. J'adore les groupes qui tentent des trucs et qui font un peu n'importe quoi, ça donne souvent des albums très intéressants et au minimum distrayants avec leurs bizarreries. Mais là, étonnamment, j'ai pas trouvé ça foufou. Est-ce que c'est parce que j'ai pas bien écouté ? Peut-être, oui. D'autres écoutes plus attentives m'aideraient à mieux assimiler l'album et, peut-être, à davantage l'apprécier. Mais c'est la meta du site. Un album par jour ne permet pas l'approfondissement, il y a un rythme à tenir. Et puis, il faut bien dire ce qui est, la voix du chanteur ne me plaît pas. Alors en vrai, je comprends pourquoi beaucoup de gens peuvent l'adorer. Il est créatif, original, il a de la personnalité, mais il faut bien se rendre à l'évidence. Sur la fin, je l'ai trouvé vraiment long et c'est jamais bon signe. J'ai vaguement été tenté de le noter 2, mais ça aurait été injuste avec les qualités que j'ai déjà citées, donc ça sera un 3.

Sorry, but I love The Flaming Lips. Totally get the complaints about Wayne Coyne's vocals, but I won't apologize. Not my favorite album of theirs, but still pretty good Favorite Songs: Race for the Prize, A Spoonful Weighs a Ton, The Spiderbite Song, What is the Light?

8/10

Not ao sure why this album must be in this list. I added nothing to my playlist, but the music was OK

I dig the psychedelic sound here. Not huge on the singer, but the melodies and production deliver.

7,86

Really weird album, I really liked it. I found it very enjoyable and engaging

Fav song: A Spoonful Weights a Ton

A good performance

i don't manage to get into them!

Love the Flaming Lips and this album. So cool.

Really enjoyed this one.

Vibeje Eigenlijk wel 3,5 sterren maar dat kan nier

Echt heel erg leuk, vooral de lyrics

I like bad singing

Lead singers vocals are so bad I had to stop. Awful.

It's fine I suppose. There just isn't anything super compelling about this album that would ever make me want to track it down of my own accord.

This was just a bit boring. Not much to say or much going on in this. I felt like it could be a big cringe in some bits. I felt it started well then just fizzled out by the end.

This is not for me, like the previous record from this band I find it twee and a bit self-serious. However, I can see how this was forward looking in 1999. It really feels like an album that can only be made in that neoliberal heyday when maybe everything will be fine after all. It needs that kind of environment to write 'whimsical' lyrics in a pseudo-psychedelic style without really having anything to rebel against

boring

I ended up being pleasantly surprised with this record. Favourite Track(s): Race for the Prize, The Spark That Bled Least Favourite Track(s): Sleeping on The Roof

After the opening 2 tracks I was expecting an album I would enjoy however the album just felt meh throughout. Not a lot more to say which is a shame. Fave track- ‘race for the prize’ Worst track- unfortunately lots of contenders but I suppose if you are going to put a track on the album with no vocal then musically it should be special and ‘sleeping in the roof’ was far from being any type of unique. Very underwhelming 2/10

Flaming Lips The drums!? The drums on this are massive. Huge cavernous thunder that underpins fragile melodies and delicate vocals. I guess that is why it's often referred to as an end of the millennium Pet Sounds. The Brian Willson-esque balance of the the elegant and the powerful. And for two thirds of the album it almost pulls it off. But we get to the close of Waiting For Superman and then it all turns to shit. Should have finished there. Cos after that it's just a run of flaccid so what starting with the line "Putting all the vegetables away" 🙄 Loved the first half, got bored in the second. Yet another advert of how the advent of the cd let bands release all their bloat. Best Track - Racing for the Prize is, of course, incredible but I'm going for the dual run of What is the Light transitioning into The Observer. Worst track - The Gash 6.5/10

Whilst I think Yoshimi is probably the best example of The Flaming Lips psychedelic indie rock, The Soft Bulletin is easily my favourite of their records. A gorgeous, transcendent record from start to finish.

Fui fisgado pela atmosfera que esse álbum cria logo na primeira música. Muito bom e com ctz entrou na minha lista de salvos.

Really enjoyed this. I always like the flaming lips, but never seek them out. This was great.

It's a weird blend of music styles and influences.

exactly what i want out of psychadelic album. so dense and detailed and it super catchy. this is so mesmorizing, love this band so much

Beautifully trippy. 4.5 bumped up to 5.

I think I’m at a 10. First: you need headphones. It won’t hit the same without it. I’ll be quick about this. The instrumentation is fabulous across the board, maintaining an R.E.M.-esque vibe with a bit of orchestral-leaning sophistication behind it, while blending in a multitude of production tricks that would define indie rock for years to come. Yes, Wayne Coyne’s vocals aren’t super impressive, but they’re very effective, especially when they do any kind of harmonization. I think the lyricism is simple but great, and if we’re using just the first 12 tracks as a 50 minute package, I don’t think there’s a skip or a flaw here. The sense of optimistic melancholy that underlines this album is appealing to me. For 2026, given the nightmare we’re in, it just feels comforting to have a mirror of sorts, or at the very least, something to provide hope for the pendulum to swing back in a way where a Superman could someday swoop in, & a lovely example of sympathy towards being able to experience the ups & downs of life, no matter how painful it can all get or however hopelessly small one might feel. I really can’t type out more than that. Sure, if you overanalyze the lyrics here, you could find bigger issues that make them look childish & trite, but I’ll take a finely crafted kids meal with a great taste over a word salad that’s too overformulated for its own good. To call this album a kids meal feels like an insult though; you have to be in the right headspace to catch this thing, and more than that, you need a sense of empathy to be able to feel these tracks past their very surface. Granted, something like “Buggin’” is just kinda goofy (yet lovely) regardless, but I digress. I think it’s a lovely 50 minutes, and well worth all of the praise given to it nearly 30 years ago. I’ll let someone else break down the whole thing track-by-track if they want; I think it’s one where you just have to hear it to understand it. For me, it’s a 10.

Always really enjoyed this Flaming Lips record; it's just so bubbly, colorful, and warm. It has that otherworldly feel but still manages to sound so human, a unique balance very few music acts have been able to pull off. It reminds me a lot of early Eno more than any psych record I've heard, especially when it comes to the abstract and surreal imagery over these sort of dusty but very eclectic bits of art pop instrumentation (dusty drums here also give a sort of trip-hop vibe). 'Race for the Prize' has always been a personal favorite, such an extravagant opener that's beaming with energy and joy, like the wonder of staring up at the city skyline after exiting a long, dark tunnel. This record in general is very theatrical like that, could be over-the-top at times with these sweeping string sections, but it all still comes off as sincere at the end of the day. The instrumentals here are standouts as well; 'The Observer' and 'Sleeping on the Floor' showcase the band's most textured soundscapes. You rarely find an album where the instrumentals are about as good, if not on the same level as, the regular, sung songs. Again, it reminds me a lot of what made the early Eno albums so amazing. 'The Gash' was another highlight here, love those grainy and almost distorted group vocals, and how they clash with the cleanish production. Fun and very easy album to get through, keeps your ears busy and warm like a pair of fluffy ear muffs.

Omaperäistä indierockia. Melko hyvä lätty, vaikka kiinnostus laski loppua kohden.

The was not a Flaming Lips album that I am familiar with

singer sounds like the hit band the simulations

Jag såg FL på Roskilde år 2000, då hade jag inte hört dom alls förut. Efter en inledning med några äldre spår som har ett helt annat uttryck, spelade dom igenom hela Soft Bulletin. Den konserten är däruppe bland de bästa jag sett. Bl.a. hade dom ingen trummis på scen, han var på en av storbildsskärmarna hela konserten, bara en sån sak, jäkligt snyggt. Soft Bulletin lyckas vara storslagen men ändå musikaliskt krypa under skinnet på en och kännas nära. Det finns flertalet bra låtar men det är helheten och jämnheten som imponerar mest. Jag tycker väldigt mycket om det här albumet. Opropertionerligt mycket faktiskt, jag brukar inte gå igång massor på den här typen av musik. Produktionen är en stor del av det tror jag Det är stort men aldrig överlastat och det känns inte effektsökande som t.ex. Arcade Fire. Det slammriga, nästan replokalsljudande trummorna. Den överdrivet separerade ljudbilden, det är som om alla instrument och vokaler befinner sig i sitt eget lilla hörn, det är oerhört snyggt. Jag tycker dom långsammare låtarna funkar allra bäst. "Feeling yourself disintergrate" är vansinnigt vacker musik, den ger mig fortfarande gåshud, det får bli favorotlåten

Jag har för mig att jag lyssnade en del på albumet då det kom och gillade vad jag hörde. Nu var det länge sen jag spelade FL, men visst inledande Race for the prize har sin charm i den omaka kombon av sköna stråkar och distade trummor. Samtidigt, det blir inte så mycket roligare än så. Det funkar i små doser, enstaka låtar. Men över ett helt album på upp emot en timme håller ett inte längre. Dessutom sjunger Coyne med den amerikanska dialekten vilken är störigare än gnällbältets. 1999 hade de säkert fått en fyra av mig. 2026 blir det en tvåa.

Jag har svårt att få grepp om detta. Skissartat men ändå bombastiskt. Det finns en viss charm i skevheten, men jag hittar inga låtar som griper tag i mig. Går utan problem att ha på i bakgrunden.

Oof. I just couldn’t take Wayne Coyne’s whine on this one. I appreciate that this album marked a new, more textured and symphonic direction for the band, which would reach its popular apex in 2003’s “Yoshimi” - though that record was hit or miss for me at the time. I’m afraid I got annoyed enough by the singing that it was hard to fully tune in to the music, which did some lush and interesting in parts.

7 - GOOD

whimsical und mystical aber immer noch langweiliges männer gesinge also nicht perfekt

p848. 1999. 1 star. Whiny Neil Young vocals with meandering songs with no memorable melodies. Fuck no. "Profoundly humane" my arse.

Alternative Rock is so hit or miss and wow buddy this misses. Maybe thats the point, though. Its not awful, but it is unpleasant overall. Just sour and moody throughout, and every song feels almost 2 minutes longer than they actually are.

It’s no Yoshimi

It was okay

It’s actually surprisingly good. I like it a lot better than Yoshimi. I’m gonna use this platform to rant about their latest release which is a Lullaby version of Yoshimi, which must be for the worst most pretentious babies on earth.

This album is really nice just like the previously flaming lips one!

The Flaming Lips are a lot less intense than I thought. There were some slow parts, but overall it was an upbeat, tight, and thoroughly engaging album. I would definitely listen to it again. Race for the Prize, A Spoonful Weighs a Ton, and Buggin were particular standouts

I ... do not like the lead singer's voice, which means by default this album will not get more than 3 stars from me. ETA after listening to a few songs: this is actively unpleasant

I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I anticipated. The opener and closer were fantastic, but most of the rest didn’t click with me. There were so many great moments but that was the problem, there were too many. I just wished they would explore each idea for a little longer. But this kind of problem is really only for first listens, it becomes a great thing after multiple listens, because you will always hear something new that you didn’t catch before

Pitchfork used to do these videos where they would have a band discuss one of their major albums. The history of it, how it was produced, stories behind the songs etc. They had one for The Soft Bulletin and the only part of it I remember is Wayne Coyne talking about the Spiderbite Song. One of their band members started coming to rehearsal with a really bad infection on his hand. It was so bad it affected his playing. He told them it was from a spider bite, but they knew he was injecting heroin and got an infection from a needle. They had to get him help for his infection and drug use. Wayne talked about how this whole situation affected him and the emotions he felt from it. He didn’t want anything bad to happen to his friend because well that would make him feel terrible too. Empathy is selfish in a way. That idea just always stuck with me and it’s something I turn back to any time I think about relationships and the joy and pain that can come from them. “I was glad that it didn’t destroy you/How sad that would be/Cause if it destroyed you/It would destroy me” Anyway this is an album I listened to a lot in high school, so if even if I haven’t listened to it much in the last few years I still know every song well

I don't love the echoey stuff they do with their voice.

A litte strange, but fun and very sweet.

About what I expected from a full Flaming Lips album based on the songs I knew. Most sounded very similar. Nothing particularly stuck out as really good or really bad.

4.5

4.5

(9.45) ★★★★½

A psychedelic pop masterpiece. 5 stars

Along with it's sister project, Mercury Rev's Deserter's Songs, this album really put Dave Fridmann on the map as one of the best producers in rock. Moving further away from the guitar heavy sound that put them on the map, the Flaming Lips incorporate a layered sound that gives it a symphonic feel. The whole thing feels super majestic, but retains the Lips' trademark weirdness. Highlights are "The Spark That Bled", "A Spoonful Weighs a Ton", "Waitin' for a Superman", and "Feeling Yourself Disintegrate". 4.5 stars.

4.5

Race For The Prize is of course the glittering prize here. A true Champions League winner amongst Flaming Lips tracks. Even though the other tracks borrow a lot of the same formula they tend to perform to Southampton or Fulham standards relatively. What made Race For The Prize so wondrous and magic just seems chintzy, dull and dragging on Waitin’ For A Pooperman and A Poopful Weighs A Ton.

I've never paid much attention to this band, but I was surprised by how much I did NOT like this. It was an actively unpleasant experience -- the guy's voice is unpleasant. I didn't like the melodies. I didn't like the instrumentation. This was a chore to get through.

Didn’t do it for me

Race for the Prize is an all timer

One of the best albums of the 90s. Flaming lips at their peak.

Est-ce qu'il y a de l'auto-tune sur Waitin' for a superman? Pourquoi il y a des tounes reprises dans deux mix différents, ils étaient pas capables de choisir? Je continue ma série de questionnements, pour un autre band que j'ai bien aimé mais qui m'a malgré tout laissé un peu tiède.

Je ne suis jamais certain d'aimer Flaming Lips ou être indifférent. Je les connaissait un peu de leur autre album Yoshimi battles the pink robots, et leur chanson Do You Realize. Mais bon Flaming Lips c'est toujours beaucoup de choses en même temps, ça m'étourdi. Vraiment aimé la chanson d'ouverture.

this is a blissful psychedelic 4.5 ^_^

I haven't listened to Flaming Lips in a while, and even then I only knew the stuff off of Yoshimi. I think Wayne Coyne has a cool voice, and it works well for the emotional performance, but at times I feel like he doesn't sit completely right with the music. This doesn't really detract from the project as a whole, though. There are some interesting creative choices regarding Wayne's delivery that are mediated by the fantastic psychedelic instrumentals. I think that sort of "whiny" vulnerability really helps out these gorgeous lyrics, too. It's so sad, but so lovely and hopeful at the same time. I knew the backstory of The Spiderbite Song going in and it was such a nice payoff, emotionally. It's the type of album that makes me wanna know more, not just for the songs themselves, but the rest of their work. Favorite track: Feeling Yourself Disintegrate

Absolutely loved this

Ok

too artsy of an album for me didn’t feel well made or easy to listen to , just not my taste I think

Možda su se trebali držati nekog new-age fazona jer čujem ovdje kvalitetu, ali kad lik zapjeva, posebno kad krene s nekim glasovnim egzibicijama, ne hvala.

А солист точно умеет петь?

Moody as growing up in OKlahoma

My interest peaked a few tracks in but seemed to wane as the album went on. I don't mind the voice that lots moan about, it is endearing and wholesome to me. I felt it was too similar at times, particularly pacing. It shone when it added in a bit more grit.

3/5

So wonderfully nostalgic, right on the cusp of being inaccessibly weird, but falling down on the line of being enjoyably idiosyncratic. They manage to combine great storytelling (Race for the Prize), whimsy and a real examination of the human condition (Waiting For Superman). I just love it and them. I saw them to this album in full with a gang of mates who I'd first met 20 years earlier, and for whom this album and Yoshimi were key pillars, and it was a transcendental experience.

When I saw "The Flaming Lips" I got excited. I'd never heard of this one, it immediately precedes Yoshimi which is probably my favorite of their efforts so far. The fact that they've taken the time to play it out throughout the years implies a strong following. I think a lot of it has to do with the right kind of music at the right time, people were ready to hear something like this, and it's executed pretty well. If I think about putting on a Flaming Lips record, though, I doubt I'll ever consider spinning this one again. It's average, by THEIR standards, and so I could see myself recommending it to someone who wants more of this 90s psychedelia sound, but it wouldn't be my first recommendation either. 3/5

I like this one but I don't find it dramatically different from other albums I have heard, especially on this list. There is nothing that is grabbing me in particular.

Sounds like something from the OC. Major Death Cab vibes

It’s been a while since I’ve listened to Flaming Lips and I always was familiar with Yoshimi. This was some Teletubbies ass Wiggles ass bullshit. I hated this.

Brilliant start to the album, but I couldn't help but switch off a little during the middle to end section. The songs were still a decent enough listen but they lost any edge that made the first section of the album so interesting for me. Ultimately though, the first few tracks are really great, and the rest wasn't terrible by any stretch. 6/10.

The Flaming Lips are a band I can’t quite get into and while this didn’t exactly change my mind Waitin for a Superman and Race For the Prize were really nice.

This album is fantastic. I’ve seen a documentary about it, the story is so interesting on how they came up with the song lyrics, their experimental phase that led them to develop such a catchy batch of songs engulfed in lofi-ish chaos. You completely ignore Wayne’s shortcomings as a singer by listening to his lyrics and the harmonies provided by the rest of the band. This is easily the definition of an album you have to listen to in your lifetime. It could’ve easily ended on Feeling Yourseld Desintegrate but it goes into Sleeping on the roof, perfect closer. Funny enough, it ends up feeling like a great movie that end and then you get a reprise of the main theme with the credits. I love this album, I plan on listening to this with my children at diferentes ages so they enjoying in all its forms with the passing of time, focusing on the silly side and later the much more serious aspect of it.

meh.

Here's a band I just don't understand. The music is messy, the vocals are strained, the songs are theatrical and disjointed. I could never sit around and listen to them, it makes me anxious. I respect that they have a following. The listener counts are pretty impressive for an album I've never heard of. Most tracks are over 1.5M, "Race For The Prize" is over 30M. The weird instrumentation and orchestral landscape is just not enjoyable - alt meets movie soundtrack. I don't know what compelled the compiler to include this album in a Top 1001 list but I don't agree. It's wandery and kinda boring, nothing is cutting edge or memorable, zero hits, etc. 3 stars but closer to 2.5

Me gustó mucho. Crean una atmósfera realmente atrapante. Por ahí los temas se hacen muy largos pero en vivo deben ser una locura. Por ahí es medio monótono, pero es algo que a la vez le rescato como conceptual. Es una experiencia en sí.

I was initially intrigued by the album cover, but I found the project itself underwhelming. I think what holds it back is the vocal performance. It doesn’t do the instrumental side justice. There are some really nice ideas here, but the howling becomes difficult to tolerate the longer the album goes on. With each song, I found myself trying to focus on the guitars and the way everything came together melodically, only to be pulled out of the experience by the vocals. I couldn’t even focus on the lyrics. I think "Race for the Prize" is stronger than most of the songs here, and the silence and shift in mood on "The Observer" were more than welcome.

Awesome!

ok

3/10 Fun music but not really my thing

not the flaming lips i would reach for

Not their best album, but I still enjoyed.

Modern psych rock classic

First time listening to this album and I loved it

Felt like a ride back home in the night. Had a great moment.

For me, personally, this is my favorite Flaming Lips album. Yoshimi is considered by many to be their magnum opus, but I hold this one slightly above it. Maybe it's just because this was my introduction to them - I'd known of them for years, but never listened until this one. While Yoshimi works great as a concept album, I think Soft Bulletin has better individual songs.

Much like my previous review of The Flaming Lips ... I have a hard time jumping into the middle of their discography without knowing the rest of the story. They are growing on me, but I really need to do a full discography run, to really form a solid opinion. Currently this is about a 3.5 star album for me, but that could change with time and growth.

Polarizing band for sure, but I love them, particularly this album and Yoshimi.

This entire album belongs on /r/im12andthisisdeep. Awful, strained vocals with cringe lyrics. The backing music is just... weird? I really noticed it in "The Spiderbite Song" in particular but it's just <sing some shallow phrase> <weird drum noise> <sing another shallow phrase> <weird sound effect>. I don't understand and I don't think it's worth my time to try.

I was excited for this album based on the genres but unfortunately it ended up being bedroom pop. I don't like bedroom pop vocals. The instrumentation somewhat save it from 2 territory but even then it's not anything particularly special. the last 2 songs were the standouts Mid 3

I walked into the office today for the first time in about four or five years and this album was conveniently enough long enough to last for the journey there and back again. It was a beautifully sunny day and gulls were circling over Poole Harbour. As I listened, I kept thinking to myself, how much I was going to enjoy this album even more on the next listen and the one after that. I’m going to give this four stars for now, and I may well come back and upgrade that at some point in the future. Can’t say fairer than that!

Could have been worse, but nothing to be excited about

Yeah this isn't very good. This album is not engaging. I just kind of wanted it to be over the whole time. It's fine.

7/10

The Flaming Lips make very pretty music with vocals that don’t live up to that music’s potential, at least here. Wayne Coyne has raw talent and a voice that can really fit this well at its best, but often sounds like he’s straining to make it work. A voice lesson would do him a world of good. However, like my rating of The Mars Volta, the music is good enough to keep the rating high.

Decent but yoshimi battles the pink robots is their best work

Liked it. 3.8/5.

It was alright. I see why people love it but it’s a little too trance for me

Nothing notable about this album. Lyrics and delivery not inspiring. Some of the music arrangements were fine but not enough to listen to again.

I had no idea Flaming Lips sounded like this! Definitely enjoyable, but not something I'd reach for.

Smooth, easy listening, never heard of this band but I was pleasantly surprised.

The soft bulletin was a very interesting record.

I've never listened to an album by The Flaming Lips before but I knew they were out there and I wasn't disappointed. It's a really interesting album that feels different and unique. Four stars.

This was so much better than I remembered it being.

*Nice psych-rock

after listening to Yoshimi, I was excited for this album. The musical layering here is fantastic. I did not enjoy the lyrics, however, and it holds back the album. Love the voice though and am forever a fan of the flaming lips

Never liked it much, gave it away many years ago.

I didn't get into this album like I did with Yoshimi. The whine aspect of his voice was present enough to distract me.

Isuse ovi bubnjevi tako očajno zvuče čak i na snimljenom albumi, mogu samo zamisliti koliko su smeće live. Usne i jesu jedino što tu gori. 1/5, 1/10

I remember how ubiquitous this was and it still confuses me as to why. Rock fans must have been desperate

Some songs this guys voice was good, other times he really grated on me. Nothing that really stood out here, nothing that screams that this was a great album. Overall, extremely mediocre in my opinion. Prefer their one hit wonder song.

I got into The Flaming Lips about a year ago. They make pretty solid alt/indie/psych rock. But honestly the singing always brought it down for me. This is the album that began their experimental and symphonic sound, but I’m more of a fan of their later efforts. Still a solid album I can play all the way through, though mainly as background music.

Siento que tiene bastante experimental, que me gusto, no me volo la cabeza, pero me gusto. Disfrute de escucharlo, me gustaron algunas bases mucho

good - wanted to get more into this OKC band more for a while

First song blew me away here but the rest just isn't as good, still very enjoyable indie rock though

Finally three digits into the generator! I personally found the lyrics to be touching in their simplicity. The singer's voice evokes Daniel Johnston, so there's a layer of sincerity and vulnerability that ties the experience together.

Сара - није слушала јер је зда Марко 3.5

I listened to the first half of this while driving through heavy traffic in late afternoon heat on an empty stomach to have dinner with a friend. I couldn't stand the vocals and I thought the sound overall was dumb. I listened to the second half while driving home in the warm evening with the windows down and the streetlamps casting a hazy glow across my full belly. This time, I rather liked the dreamy druggy vibe of a band who sounds exactly how you would expect a group called "The Flaming Lips" to sound.

It's a cool album, and it reminds me of Beach House's Teen Dreams album.

Loved it when it came out, haven't listened to a long time. Starts so strong, some weaker tracks in the middle detract from what would be a higher scrore. 4.5 rounded down Heard before? Yes Owned: Yes 64/257 (24%) Will I get: Already have

A whole lot of "meh" on this list eh?

I’ve never listened to this album. Or possibly any complete album. I remember my intro - Do You Realize? In that movie with Mandy Moore when I was in… middle school? Recently fell back in love with the song since song exploder. Learned they’re from Oklahoma and Andrew talked through the whole episode on the drive to skiing. Entirely irrelevant to this album. Enjoying it.

I love this is record. "Race for the Prize", "A Spoonful Weighs a Ton", "The Spark That Bled', "The Spiderbite Song", "Buggin'", "What Is the Light?" , and "The Gash" are my favorite moments on this LP. Well worth a listen. ;)

Not as free flowing as yoshimi. Still a very good album with lots of humour and lyrical dexterity

Peak flaming lips this took them into stadium. Dramatic but with good forward momentum.

I think I just dont like the Flaming Lips, better than their other one tho

Fantastic album that I've probably listened to 1000s of times over the years.

This was pretty good. Reminds me of pink floyd for some reason.