The Soft Bulletin

Fine

I like but don't love the Flaming Lips. I have listened a few time and whilst it is generally an easy listen it lacks stand out tracks for me - other than Buggin which is going on the playlist. I gave Yoshi a 4 and that is definitely a superior album so I guess this is a solid 3.

3.1 I feel like this one be a controversial opinion, but as a cult band the flaming rips are massively overrated. There was a bell end in my class who was obsessed with them, so I tried really hard as a teenager to get into Yoshimi... But it felt like they were tring too hard. This album is no better. It's fine music, but reduces in quality by the elitest aura it gives off. Reduces to mid tier.

This is good, but not far off nainstream pop - I know the Lips to be a little rockier and more off center. I like that iteration a bit more.

Nothing special, nothing much to say.

The Flaming Lips, the group who composed the '24 hour song'. I remember listen to maybe 1 hour of that project. It was years ago, but I liked what I heard, even though I've never return to it. I think it is important for me to talk about that song, because it left me with the impression that this band has a really weird and heavily psychedelic sound. However, what I got form this album, 'The Soft Bulletin', is different from what I've expected. They do have the psychedelic elements that I was anticipating, but I thought it was going to be a way weirder experience and I thought I was going to like it way more than I did. First of all, the record is very ambitious. It features a ton of different sounds and instruments. The first two tracks have a very distorted drums that never gets to be played with that same sound ever again; and every other track introduces a new element which make them unique on their own. The record also has some very beautiful melodies, both from the vocals and the instruments. Some of the stand outs of the album by this metric are 'Race for the Prize', "Buggin'" and 'Sleeping On the Roof'. Regardless of this very high positives, this whole project doesn't actually click with me. I liked it, that's very clear, but I didn't love it and I wasn't moved that much by it, which is kind of surprising considering the heart felt lyrics of songs like 'Suddenly Everything has Changed' and 'Feeling Yourself Disintegrate'. In addition, I can even say that it felt a bit long sometimes. It is for these reasons that I'm giving it 3 stars. Hope in the future, if I ever come back to it, I could appreciate it more.

The album is ok but some parts are boring and occasionally there's a song I like. The rest is just nice music to have on the background.

It’s a meh for me. It has moments that sound like Owl City (and maybe that other dreamy Seattle-ish band I can’t place), which are pretty cool—but then those Neil Young-ish vocals kick in and ruin the mood.

Has moments of quality but the singing is so poor as to be a distraction 3*

Definitely doesn't touch at war with the mystics

#143/1001. Sounds like another great Flaming Lips album. Sounds like the other ones, without the good songs in the other ones. But I was totally ok to play this again a few times. If I would have to remember any of the stuff later I couldn't.

Veldig ujevnt album. Flotte melodiøse partier, spennende arrangementer, men også totalt skivebom enkelte ganger. Velger å gi den en svak 3’er.

This album is like driving home after visiting your grandfather. While it was a great time seeing him, and you enjoyed updating each other about recent events in your life (the round of golf you played yesterday, the prospect of buying a new house, and his neighbour inviting him over for a gin the other day), you can’t shake this underlying knowledge that he looks more and more frail each time you see him. While you enjoyed the afternoon with him, you are aware that there won’t be many more like this.

I thought id enjoy this more than I did. Didn't really care for the opening track. Not huge on his vocal style. The song about his bleeding head was better. But overall, kinda more of the Indie same same

Not bad, but also not nearly as good as Yoshimi battles... Didn't hate it, didn't love it.

Not my favourite flaming lips album

Decent

Thought I'd like this more than I actually did.

Best Track - "Race For The Prize"

it's aight. Yoshimi was better Will I listen to again: 15%

Cover 6.5 Fun songs. Nothing too standoutish for me but I generally like it. Not sure I'd listen to it again.

hmm, this one is very interesting. can't say i've heard a sound quite like this on in an album, very surreal. a definite modernist take on psychedelic pop music, unlike stuff i've heard before. it's... very hard to describe this album. it's full of stories and isn't afraid to dive into moody themes... but man, what an odd sound... it's not bad, but it's so peculiar, a mixture of acoustic and electric... whoever's singing sounds a bit like neil young. i feel like i might need to listen to this album again to get used to it.

This is not your typical Indie fare. The songs are thoughtful, elaborate, and well-crafted. The only thing about the Flaming Lips: the wispy vocals. If you can get past the singing, you'll enjoy the album.

Wayne Coyne has tracked as an Old Guy the whole time I've been aware of him. So, as I have become an Old Guy, with each passing year he has become more insufferable to me. He’s a bad, unrepeatable, kind of Old Guy to a fellow Old Guy, is what I mean. It also doesn’t help that the band has musically gone further and further up its own butt from Yoshimi(ish) onward. Hadn’t listened to any of the older ones in some time. This one is more Fine than I expected. Not a true 3, but curved to Flaming Lips expectations, sure why not.

Started out liking it but then kind of lost interest part way. Some good songs in it though.

I like the group in general, but not really this album

I’m going to rate this now because I think if I keep listening to it I’m going to hate it more and more. One of those strange albums that I LOVED the first time I listened to it but as I played it more it started to becoming grating and annoying. Race for the Prize is one of the best songs I’ve ever found through this project but the rest of the album is a mess.

Fancy music, echos, beats. Not lightweight, mostly happy sounding

Happy sounding music. The lyrics are dumb and a lot of the songs sound the same, but there are some pleasant musical flourishes. The two songs that were apparently released as singles were decent.

It was ok

Better than Yoshimi

This one took a bit of time to click. It leans theatrical in places and definitely has its own style, but there’s a lot of character underneath it all. Some moments really worked for me, others not so much — but it’s got a charm to it that’s hard to ignore. Highlights - • The Spark That Bled • Waitin’ for a Superman • Feeling Yourself Disintegrate • What Is the Light? 3/5 Bit of a mixed bag for me overall, but it was enjoyable nonetheless, definitely interested to check out their other album on the list.

Liking it so far

The first time I listened I really liked it. The lyrics are wild and tell stories....I guess his voice didn't bother me, but the second time I listened I thought wtf and couldn't stand his voice.

More listenable than expected.

Two versions of the same song is always weak filler, it's pretty decent but Wayne Coynes voice isn't the strongest

Its a good album, some skips on here but really solid. I do prefer yoshimi

Correcto

6/10 - traditional flaming lips sound, good for having in the background if you dont want hard rock

I can get down with the Flaming Lips once-in-a-while. This is one of those times.

I like the lyrics and the variety, but his vocal range is limited.

Like Flaming Lips but they have better albums

3.5

It’s easy to listen to.

There are definitely still some great moments in here, but it's nowhere near as consistent as Yoshimi. For starters, having remixed versions of some of the songs be on the actual official tracklist is a weird choice, and makes is feel quite messy. And just in general, the whole project feels quite disjointed. But I suppose it still works as a collection of songs, and could definitely do with losing the remixes, nobody asked for those.

6/10

Not quite as good as yoshimi but still solid

I prefer yoshimi but this should not detract from what is a quality album . The Flaming lips are a band that could never be accused on being boring, like a mash up of super furrys and mercury rev. What’s not to like

No creo que sea el mejor album de esta banda, igual suena bien.

Man I wanted to like this more than what I did. Started off well and progressively got worse. 5/10.

This album was just fine, I didn't have ant strong reaction to it.

Decently good, just not a huge Flaming Lips fan... Maybe a 3.5

Man, this was a long 58 minutes! This isn't really my thing but I guess it was OK.

Good

This is #day364 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… I'm checking off another artist since it's my second album by The Flaming Lips. As with their previous one, which I got on my #day46, there's some inoffensive summery psychedelic pop in here, with "Suddenly Everything Has Changed" being my favorite. I guess I'll follow suit and give it a 3 out of 5 as well. Otherwise, I can't think of an occasion I'd be willing to play this band again, especially if we're talking about summer and psychedelia. I have The Doors for that. P.S. Including those remixes as part of the original tracklist was a lame decision. Looking forward to #day365.

Would listen again. Complex. Don’t know if it hits emotionally though.

This album was alright, very chill, It reminded me that the flaming lips opened for Weezer when I saw them and all the dads did not like the lips.

Not really in the mood

The Good: We not only get an album that starts with The, but also a band! The Bad: Those lips were too much on fire, makes wonder about std’s… The Ugly: Fearing the next the bulletin… I know that I saw this band live, at least once, back in the ‘90s. The problem is that I can’t recall what I thought about the show… and I can’t blame the booze I was drinking, as I remember all concerts I saw back in the 90s as I was still young, and with a well functioning brain… Anyway, when this album dropped this morning, I was excited to listen to them, as I’d seen them on many a list of bands/albums you need to hear… and I heared them… and now I don’t know what to think about them. It is nice, but it is lengthy. It is catchy, but forgettable. It is this, and it is that… Maybe my current state of mind is not helping as I am dealing with some kind of summer flu, and I am way behind on work… so I will have to give the album a fair try when things are a little more relaxed. For now, through the middle I go 3*

Precious. Not in a good way. It isn’t bad, though

started off as meh but liked it when I got into it

It's a fun a quirky album, there's a sort of exaggerated drama to the lyrics that makes me feel like I'm in the middle of an anime. It has a unique sound too, very layered, a little kitchy even. I think though listening to an hour of this it just starts to feel a little too almost campy. It's almost like watching trashy reality tv, you can really like it, it might even be really well made, but you can't really take it all that seriously no matter how entertaining it is.

Interesting. Will come back to it. Liked it

• Good but not great. It’s the album where they established the sonic foundation for what woukf become Yoshimi.

A blueprint for the sound that would eventually evolve into 2000s indie rock as we knew it. Hugely influential band for Gen X'ers and elder millennials

I guess I like this. I like other Flaming Lips more. Nice to listen to but nothing sticks afterwards. They always seem to try too hard to be weird. The result is always “neat.”

I liked the sound on a lot of tracks, but did take me a little to get past one comment about not the best vocals...

In 2005 my fresh new friend Peter Jones told me enthusiastically about his favourite band: The Flaming Lips. Wasn't that part of the university experience? To be inducted into other subcultures, to be shown a world beyond the mean streets of south-east Maidenhead? And perhaps it says something about the faith I placed in this skinny teenager that I never actually listened to a single Flaming Lips song. Until now. As it turns out, his pretensions were somewhat justified. The Soft Bulletin is full of sophisticated sounds and big sonic arrangements, an order of magnitude above whatever dross I was listening to at the time. The opening track is phenomenal. It's a wonderful storytelling song, these two scientists locked in a fatal battle to save mankind. And as I listen, I hope that this becomes the album's central theme, a concept album telling the tale of mankind's survival through art rock. But as the record unfolds, that story never returns. The album circles and becomes loose, arguably baggy. This is an album of lovely songs, but the initial thrill of the opener is never matched, and the themes it sets me up with don't come around again. Still I love the ambition and the sonic landscapes, the songs and the hints of large narratives. A solid 3 stars, but not quite pushing into 4 star territory.

Nice enough

I am a sucker for strings, and there are strings on almost every single song here. "Race for the Prize" is insane, those drums? What are we even talking about? I totally did not expect to like this, but now if I see it, I might have to buy this on CD. The only thing holding this back from being a 4 is the lead singer's voice. I thought out loud, "Is this really what his voice sounds like or is he trolling?" Other than that? Beautiful music.

Fun indie

Not as big of a fan vs Yoshimi

Very eclectic mix of music. I quite enjoyed this

I was a bit surprised that I didn't enjoy this as much as I expected.

Yoshimi clears but I still liked this one.

Not bad, but not amazing. I quite like parts of it, but it feels pretty generic at time. Consider it a high 3, almost a 4.

Liked this better in my twenties.

Startet ziemlich gut, wird dann aber langweilig 3-4

Interesting

Just alright

Sort of grew on me as listened, so by the end was not too bad. 3 Star

I love the drums sounds and the cover art

I've heard of (and probably listened a bit to) The Flaming Lips, but really only in the context of their album "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots", so I'm guessing there's at least one more Flaming Lips in store in this collection. I feel as if I've always wanted to like them more than I actually do, and this album kind of reinforces this feeling, largely due to the sort of quavery/out-of-tune vocals singing about young adult style fantasy stories, and with a bit too many precocious ersatz flourishes. It *is* impressive how seamless the tracks blend into each other, though, and I thought "The spark that bled" and "What is the light" and "The gash" were strong songs (contrivances notwithstanding). I can definitely see why this is sometimes referred to as a 1990s version of "Pet Sounds", and I had about the same reaction to this album as I did to "Pet Sounds". It's interesting too to read that this album was a huge break from their previous style; I guess we'll find out how noticeable the difference is if we get any of their earlier stuff in this collection.

Decent electronic-rock album with some solid moments. Starts to veer into whiny/dorky indie-pop at points which I wasn't super into, but overall decent and unique enough sound to keep my interest. Top tracks: Race for the Prize, The Observer, Feeling Yourself Disintegrate

Not bad, but not too special.

cool cool

A good solid 'Lips album. They're not my favourite by a long shot, but there's no denying this is good.

When it’s just playing in the background I really like it. As soon as I start paying attention I sort of hate it. Guess that’s why I never got into this band!

Pop rock classic, nerdy

Not their best

A few good songs, the rest is sometimes a bit annoying. Probably requiring you are in the right mood. I dont always like the singers voice.

Flaming Lips never really did it for me. Nothing technically wrong with this album, I didn’t hate myself while listening to it. Just doesn’t inspire me in any major way.

It's allright but I ppprefer the grander instrumentation of Yoshimi.

the vocals are so fucking annoying that I tapped out at song two. The inturementals are beautiful, but the vocals are just damn eargreating! This is a bastardization of the so called at least by 1001 albums indie pop genre int a whiny mouthed shitty attempt at music that is soehow on the rym chats because of course it is. Onto the good parts, this album has Alex g level instrumentals to hide the lyrics under, this is one of those times I wish that they pulled a 2018 twin fantasy and mixed the vocals so they werequieter than the damn instermentatiin. But no we can't have nice things (like the deletion of this album from my memory). (got so mad I forgot how to spell) 3.0/5.0

Kinda cheesy - so was “Yoshimi,” but it got a boost from nostalgia that this one doesn’t. I don’t know. I like it in a way, but it’s also kind of lame. The whiny vocals irritated me more than they did on “Yoshimi,” and the lyrics are just… 3 stars because I’m unsure. In spite of all that, I still kind of like it.

bem legal

Not bad. I don't mind their swooshy brand of indie rock, if that's what it is. Bit nothingy at times. I think I prefer Yoshimitsu Battles Robocop.

I good listen

I just know I'd love this if he didn't sound like he was aggressively constipated and singing on the toilet

tava achando as primeiras faixas absurdas e fiquei animada pro album, mas desacelerou e eu fiquei fuennnn... mas nossa que instrumental fueda de "a spoonful weighs a ton"

Didn't hate it but just the wrong side of wishy washy

Ik denk dat het leuk was als de zanger niet zo zong

A heart warming album. I saw them in my 20’s and again 25 years later. I think it was the same exact show. On full blast from the open to close.

Not bad. It's along the lines of Brian Eno and Aphex twin

been changing my mind between 2 and 3 during every song, while listening to this LP again this morning...so in the end I fall under the influence of reviews and "music" critics and I'm giving it 3/5.

Wayne Coyne's voice is reminiscent of Neil Young's, but otherwise, there's nothing to compare this record to, really. The Flaming Lips are psychedelic pop w/ a handful of scientific realism. I want to like this album more than I do, mostly b/c I admire how it sounds - the production is absorbing and musically I'm at ease here - but the lyrics are ultimately too pretentious to overcome: 'To lose your arm would surely upset your brain'; or this: 'The summertime will make you itch the / mosquito bites'; or: 'Putting all the vegetables away / That you bought at the grocery store.' Besides 'Waitin' for a Superman,' no song here is w/o flaw. I get that they're going for the rapture in the mundane, but these fuckers are in band. They're not Joyce.

OK

05/03/25 Average at best.

I liked this one more than the other Flaming Lips album. The album seemed to be more rooted into psychedelic and noise rock than their later work. Some good songs like Race for the Prize here. Almost want to give it 4 stars but its still a little too lacklustre for me. Not that big of a fan of the vocals either.

Sadder than I had hoped.

Gear: ZMF Bokeh Artwork: 🟨🟪🎭 Production: 🥫🫗🤔 Music: 🎨🌈🥁🤩🎤😖 Rating: 👄👄(👄)/5

Irgendwie mochte ich es. Angenehme Melodien, hatte einen guten Vibe.

I like the vibe and the concept but dont really love how it sounds.

Too hipster

Einmal hat mich die Stimme richtig genervt, konnte man sich aber so ganz gut anhören.

Eka kappale etäisesti tuttu. Ihan kivaa indie rokkia. Väärä hetki ehkä kuunnella, voisin pitää tästä enemmänkin. Kiva tälläinen kesäinen tunnelma. Pitäis ehkä kuunnella uudestaan. Parhaat: Race For The Prize, Feeling Yourself Disintegrate

Let’s do some word association. Middle. Middle Earth. Mid Atlantic. Midtown. Middle of the road. Mid season. Midnight. Mid sentence. Middle seat. Mid air collision. Middle of the night. Mid sized. Midfield. Midlife crisis. Mid afternoon. Right down the middle. Mid length. Mid way. Mid stream. Middle age. Middle C. This album is mid.

Dreamy pop. Easy listen. Boring vocal. Predictable lyrics. Would have worked better as an instrumental for me.

Wayne Coyne is a fabulous human being. I’m glad the Lips make music beloved by millions. They’re just not my cuppa. I don’t really like his singing, and the songs aside from a few slappers don’t reach me.

3.4 for me. I liked a few songs. Overall the album had a good vibe.

This was a little too repetitive for me to enjoy the whole album. I bet if I heard some of the songs stand alone I would like them more.

6/10

Don't really like his voice. Some of the music is pretty nice.

I kinda like it. I think it needs a few more listens, but there might be too much weird stuff going on compared to other Flaming Lips records. Favourite tracks: Buggin and Feeling Yourself Disintegrate

Nothing special here 2.5 stars

I won't listen to this again, but did enjoy it, overall.

This has some interesting stuff and some stuff that is too lame

I dont really think this album is special. Its music didnt stand out much. The lyrics felt like mush, despite there meaning. overall it is a decent album.

the instrumentals are good the vocals are also good. i would recommend this album to most people 6/10

I haven't listened to too much of the Flaming Lips besides their more well-known stuff. I would not have guessed that they were making albums in the mid-80s though. Solid album though I enjoyed it and he used "realize" in a couple of songs here and it sounds exactly like their song "Do You Realize" in the way he pronounces it, so I guess it's one of his fave words.

I liked it alright, interesting contrasts between the instruments - seemingly very clean with distortion mixed in. Not a fan of the singer

I try not to read other reviews before I listen to an album as I don't want to go in with any preconceived ideas. I want to form my own opinions. For some reason I read some before listening to this one. I have to say, the singing isn't THAT bad. Objectively it's not great, I'll admit that, but I feel like it fits the music quite well. Speaking of the music, it's quite pleasant listening. Dream-like, sweet, maybe slightly melancholic. Nothing particularly stand out or groundbreaking, but overall just quite a nice sounding album. Only had time for one listen today. Could possibly have been four stars if I had time for another, but my first impression gut instinct tells me it's a three.

Wavered between enjoying the uniqueness of the vocals and hating them. Pretty unremarkable indie album.

Dreamy indie rock, tidlig og mere alternativ tame impala

I think I’ve heard The Flaming Lips before. It was possibly part of this album listening project, in fact. I found today’s album to be a pleasant listen. It made for a nice relaxing Sunday afternoon, playing some video games with this as the soundtrack. I’m not sure it was interesting enough for me to want to seek it out again, but if a song from here came up in a future playlist, I’d expect to have another enjoyable time.

Mixed feelings here. I really like the arrangements and texture. The lead vocal performance and writing is not my favorite. I think I liked it? I also might not have liked it that much. I can't call it a middle-of-the-road experience because I liked the production so much, but some of the lyrics had me rolling my eyes. I winced a few times at the singing. It does sound like a forward-thinking album; it came out in 1999 and sounds like it could've come out in 2015. Highlights: Race for the Prize, The Spark That Bled, What Is The Light?, Sleeping on the Roof

Race for the prize is great. Flaming lips are one of those artists that on paper I should love but just don’t.

I like the Flaming Lips, and love their live show, but this album is not their best work.

I’ve mentioned before that The Flaming Lips are really a group I should listen to more but I’ve never happened to come across any of their music to keep me captivated. But this one did the trick. Loved mostly the lush and moving orchestral interludes and some nice melodies. The one thing which prevents total devotion is Wayne Coyne’s voice. I just don’t like it at all. As I say the music behind the voice is good but that voice! Would probably appeal to me more if there was a female singer. But that won’t happen so it is what it is. Not a bad album by any stretch and I would be glad to hear it, as I seem to do often, stream on an algorithmic shuffle. 3/5 19/10/24

01) Race for the Prize (Mokran Remix) - 8,0 02) A Spoonful Weighs a Ton - 7,0 03) The Spark That Bled - 7,0 04) The Spiderbite Song - 7,5 05) Buggin (Mokran Remix) - 7,0 06) What Is the Light? - 6,5 07) The Observer - 6,0 08) Waitin' for a Superman - 7,5 09) Suddenly Everything Has Changed - 7,0 10) The Gash - 7,0 11) Feeling Yourself Disintegrate - 7,5 12) Sleeping on the Roof - 6,0 13) Race for the Prize - 7,5 14) Waitin' for a Superman (Mokran remix) - 8,0 TOTAL: 7,11 (71/100) Current ranking: 209/339

I feel like I should like the Flaming Lips more. They have a lot of the stuff I like, a very psychedelic feel, big bombast... And yet, there's something about it that puts me off. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I think it has to do with the singer, Wayne Coyne. He sounds more like a hippie than Perry Farrell, and the lyrics feel... very hodgepodge. Sometimes I think he writes lyrics just to make sure they rhyme ("The Spiderbite Song", for example. "Hey, what rhymes with hand... BAND, yeah that's it." To me, it has a bit of the psychedelia of "OK Computer", but it's just... off. The drums / production is pretty early to mid-90s, for me. It feels... dated. I've listened to a few Flaming Lips album, and I have a friend who is hardcore into them. I just... never got it. Top tracks: "Race For The Prize," "A Spoonful Weighs A Ton," "Feeling Yourself Disintegrate."

Here's another band where I think one album might have been enough. This album was the big departure from their previous sound, and many bands' previous sounds from the 1990s. Yoshimi takes it a step further. I'm not sure if one is significantly better than the other or if either is so good we need both. Yeah, they layered in a bunch of synth and keyboard and downplayed guitars and bass. It's not bad. But still doesn't get me too excited.

I much preferred Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, but this was okay. I didn't find it super memorable.

The Flaming Lips are like if Neil Young was the front man for Phish. And I mean that as a compliment.

3/5

Just boring.

Overrated

This music moreso than a lot of the other stuff we've listened to is particularly subjective, I never have found the font man of these guys grating but on this I can definitely see how it could. I personally loved the drums it's gated or reverby or something I can't describe but I love it. I think there's definitely a reason that despite giving it a 9 4 years ago I never returned to it a other than a few tracks. Adored sleeping on the roof. 9/10 -> 7/10 Fav tracks - Race for the prize, a spoonful weighs a ton, the spark that bled, buggin, what is that light?, The observer, sleeping on the roof Least Fav - The spiderbite song

A lot better than other 90s alternative bands... actual melodies instead of just guitars scrambling. No highlights, though.

Band name sounds familiar but I don't recognize any songs. Mellow. Folk pop?

Nice stuff, will listen again 👍🏼👍🏼

The instrumentals have good vibes and original sound, but the lyrics can be a bit rambly and heavy-handed.

Норм, но особо никаких эмоций не вызвал

I remember this from the time, but it passed me by then and now. It's OK

Trippier yacht rock. The Flaming Lips should be in your face punk, but The Soft Bulletin is a perfect rainy day album. I kinda liked it. Not sure it should be album of the year, but 1999 was a weird time.

I hadn’t listened to this album of theirs before. It’s not in their top three albums and lacks their usual epic-ness.

The Soft Bulletin isn't the greatest album in the world but what it does, it does well. Most of the first half of the album, while fine, wasn't all too interesting with that part probably being the most forgettable one but the second half did one-up it with more interesting songs. The music could actually be pretty sad sounding at times as it fit with some of the lyrics and that i can appreciate in an album like this. There also are not any egregiously bad songs in this album so that's cool. I don't really know what else to say about this album so all I'll say is its good. Best Song: What Is The Light? Worst Song: The Spark That Bled

Soft easy music but the vocalist can't sing for the life of him. That said, a few tracks were really immersive. Stand-out: What Is the Light?

6/10. It is an indie album. Unfortunately, some of the tracks stood out as particularly...bad. Sorry.

Significantly worse than Yoshimi, even if "Race for the Prize" is the best song they've done. Wayne Coyne's vocals sound like he's a Victorian child, begging on his knees with big bulbous eyes, for just a tiny nibble of a Snickers bar, that I brought with myself back in time with the sole purpose of poisoning King Louis Philippe I of France (who famously had a nut allergy).

Weird voice man sings obscure lyrics fun

Another one that I was happy to see appear on our list. As I expected, the lyrics are overly simplistic (I know them better for "She don't use jelly, she uses vaseline"), but I enjoyed the sounds.

Inoffensive but uninspiring.

whiny ass bitch

I've never been a particular fan. Was Investing that I recognised the first track.

Meh, it’s ok but not for me

better than I remember!

endless whining lyrical loops may work for most, and when it comes to the lips they do. While no Yoshimi, the Soft Bulletin is one of those albums that makes me wonder what makes this band so popular? Obviously, their live shows are the answer. 3/5

3 pq esta buena la iniciativa yqs

This definitely wasn’t the best Flaming Lips album for me. The music was nice and chill, but it didn’t draw me in the way the "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" album did. The main thing that really lacked in this album was the vocals and the singing. The singing wasn’t the best, and the vocals felt very simple and weak compared to their other works. While the instrumentation and production were pretty solid, the overall impact was diminished by the vocal delivery. Despite this, it’s still a good album to have on in the background, but it didn’t quite capture my attention as much as their other releases.

Eh, it's fine.

typical flaming lips record. not a fan of the vocals but cool band.

3.5 stars

they are a weird band. a few good songs, had 'race for the prize' downloaded before, such a vibe but yeah they're weird, not bad not great, kinda unique, wish there was less meh tracks, giving it a 3.

It’s an easy listen and it’s easy not to listen to it again. Good though.

3 - There's some good tracks on here. I like the first few songs as well as some of the instrumental tracks. I was hoping to like it a bit more, but oh well, it's still good.

I like the Flaming Lips. They're fun. Not too serious but not screwball either. It's like Gen-X Talking Heads.

ngl i didnt like the vocals. they kind of detracted from some pretty good mysic in the back sometimes. kind of whatever about it

Good. 3.5 stars I say

This was an album wasn't a huge fan of the vocals

On the service I enjoy the quirkiness and unique instrument blending. The songs have a fun quality to them, but I get lost in the monotony and casual exploration.

This was way better than the "Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots" I got first on the list. I don't have much to say despite it.

Not bad. Never really got into this band

Its a weird album in that its occassionally great and sometimes awful. Experimental, I suppose. Wayne's vocals dont help

One standout track and then lots of examples of why they needed to be sensational live - that voice just doesn't cut it if the band aren't smashing it

There is so much to love here. The songs - the melodies and harmonic structures - are gorgeous and most of the production - instrumentation and arrangements- are unique, interesting, and sonically beautiful. But I'm left thinking that whoever's in charge doesn't believe that the music is enough. So they introduce all of these wink-wink clever elements that veer into novelty-act territory: the aren't-I-a-nerdy-wit lyrics, the Neil Youngish vocal fry, the intermittently over-compressed drums. So I appreciate what they're doing. I come really close to being moved at times; but each time I come close, they do something affected and unnecessary to ruin the mood.

Started so so strong. Then became a jumbled mess with boring lyrics

That's not my taste in musik. But ok

Never listened to any of the flaming lips besides "Do You Realize". Just not my kind of music. I get it, super artsy and experimental.

Not as bad as I thought it could be, not as good as it could have been.

Super strong opening but the album lost me about halfway through. I don't think they reached anywhere close to their first song and I've given it this rating just for that.

It was ok

The Flaming Lips are one of the strangest bands I've ever listened to. They sound fairly normal on one hand but then they do or say something out of left field and somehow it works. I think this album was the start of their more saccharine poppy sound. Had I not known they had darker more rock heavy previous albums, albums like this would probably be higher rated and more easily accepted. Once you've heard the dark side of The Flaming Lips, it kind of pushes the second half of their career back a bit. Wayne has a voice and I'm starting to realize through everything we've listened to already on 1001 that having a unique voice gets you everywhere.

Eclectic, fun, but nothing that stood out to me

Some interesting sound design, but nothing particularly compelling.

I really want to like The Flaming Lips but they never grab me

Pleasant

I didn't find this very interesting.

Well, it had to happen, I got an album by a group that I've just never gotten into that much. The Flaming Lips are certainly talented enough and have pretty good songs, but to me they try way too hard to be quirky and Beatles-esque. With that said, I wouldn't change the station if this came on the radio, but I wouldn't seek it out or buy it either.

I like the Flaming Lips. Nice little diversion-pretty middle of the road.

If Neil Young and David Bowie had a threesome with ELO the Flaming Lips would be the love child.

Neo psicodelia, dream pop. Un tanto rollo. Ni fu ni fa.

3+

Very mellow. Great chilling out music

Listenable, but nothing particularly captured my attention

This album has a fairytale quality to it. The distorted drums crashing all over the melodies add to the confusion. Any album containing a song called The Gash has to be worth at least three stars. Music for a rainy day.

Never been a big flaming lips fan. I find Wayne Coyne’s voice to be too whiney. So this isn’t doing much for me.

This is my first time through this one. I have heard of the band but couldn't have told you what songs they are known for. There are several good songs on this record but I find it a touch commercial sounding. I will give this a second listen to see if it grows on me, along with checking out some more of the catalog.

Enjoyable kind of dream -like atmosphere.

Not as good as the cauliflower cream soup, but better than the veggie dumplings

It had its moments but it also had moments where I nervously checked how many more minutes were left so. A very low 3.

The music on this album is good, but the vocals and lyrics aren't that great. I've tried to listen to it a number of times in my life and it never sticks, unlike Yoshimi. It also feels like a very long album. 3/5.

Pretty solid. Had some songs I liked, some I didn’t. Great instrumentals.

Really enjoyed this and will re-visit at some point.

Knew the name but hadn't really listened to them before. I'm sure I'll listen again

Great album. Soup to nuts interesting all the way through. The Gash was a standout for me. Kinda sounds like the Beatles kept making music together, and it's an evolution of their later stuff.

More like the smudged lipstick

I used to really love this album but can't remember why - good feelings left over from discovering them via Yoshimi and seeing their amazing live show a couple times? It's pretty listless for long stretches. Dreamy slides into dreary. Too many songs never really get going and when they do collapse back into themselves before too long. It feels like inflating a balloon with a hole in it. The strings and elaborate orchestral arrangements kind of bog it down and don't let the riffs really come through. There are some good moments of course. The sense of melody is great and even though its thin, underpowered, and just off key his voice is really affecting in it's wavering faltering earnestness. Some pretty moments of quite reflectivity, some nice little guitar parts... Favorites: Prize, Spoonful, Superman

Not a bad album, just not something for me. A lot of the songs are a little too melodramatic and I am not the biggest fan of the singers voice, which is weird because he reminds me of the Pavement singer (which I do like).

Never heard of this group, I like the cover though, and it was giving rock instantly. It's either too basic or uniqueness is spotted in them. First song, first song is a remix?! Weird but the beat is fine at the start. Oh nvm it's fully different now and his voice is quite good, there is also background vocals too coming in my right ear. This one is chamber genred and I love that. There is this piano chord that I like, comes rarely tho. Oh beat slowed down and after the last lyric increased. Despite being monotonous, it was good for the ears, plus the vocals, so I'd say 4/5. Second song, it's a sad song, violin is main instrument. His vocals are different. It's a big intro, hope good part is ahead. WOW the sudden guitar in my right ear, fully mood change to rock, and back to sadness. Loved that instrumental break. That happened again, and ended quite beautifully. This was better than the last one, but not too much, 4/5 it is. Third song, soft guitar start, oh violin existed for some time(Apparently it comed back still). There is this opera like instruments suddenly, almost dramatic. The beat change again, guitar is the main instrument with some other weird ones in both ears. Back to sad vibes, now I hear guitar and a piano. Ohh the tropical vibe is back. Pardon, now it feels like a different song, it's upbeat and countryed. There is three songs here like what. The outro is another song now I feel like. Still a 4/5, I except more noww. 4th song, Elton John vibes with that piano and vocals. Sudded drum chime in constantly. It's so soft and chilly, I love it. The opera vibes especially are well made. It feels like Beatles too. Since there was nothing different this is a 3/5, but it was interesting. 5th song, I like the upliftingness here. It's slow and progresses too, with the drums and piano too. This one has something that is too good to don't like. This was solid 3/5, I want more from them. 6th song, dark start, love that. Vocals are haunting now. It's very different, the beat no instruments, they just came in. It's less spooky tbh. It has a movie soundtrack vibe. It's short at the end. I liked this more than others so 4/5, this is objective rating, it would be lower if it was not. 7th song, again spookyness, it's and instrumental song too, which is bad, because it's not unique, and would never want to listen to this willingly, unless use it as a background. It was a 2/5. 8th song, not bad, it's just basic for now, and has an indie vibe(not bad). It seems monotonous. I'm not liking this much. It's melancholic and I love that, but I think there are many songs like this already for me to absolutely love this. I like the instrumental break, but it was too short. I wanted to rate this 3 but 2/5. 9th song, it was basic at start, but the violin come in was perfect, plus guitar chords now. I consider their voice type overused rn, I would prefer this to be like of monsters and men, which means to be more downtempo yet upbeat. 3/5 for the violin. 10th song, starting with a choir, feeling churchy. Now men murmuring. I loved how the beat came in, giving gothic. Big intro. Singing style is changed a little. Vocals changed to more clear one. It's still boring though. I like the choir singing that part together. Big outro, with the choir. Hmm 2/5. 11th song, I like the "Ratatat" whispering start already a star for that. That was the best part I'm afraid. I skipped a little it's very not what I want rn. There is instrumental break at 3 minutes, it's a nice one. I slept on this yesterday, no wonder why(it's just too quiet not that it's bad). For rainy weather I'd say. 3/5 I guess. 12th song, it's a short one, good. It feels instrumental only though. I like the piano, but it's not the main instrument exactly so overall it's not my vibe, I prefer classical or a nostalgic movie soundtrack to this. 2/5 to sum up. 13th song, what a start, fast and it sound familiar. Smn called this COVID anthem and I kinda agree because of the lyrics. I like this song the best I think. The deliver of the instrumental break, plus the rhyme I think I heard was great. and that piano riff just before the lyrics start has a FTM vibe. I like how it slows down for a moment and goes into chorus. No wonder this is one of the most listened on Spotify. So 4/5, really deserved, I should rate songs out of 10, 5 is too low at this point, I put too many songs in the same category. 14th song, this one's a remix of a 8th song, which was not as good. And this remix is no difference sadly, sounds almost same tbh. Idk if I should rate this but 1/5. Basically it was definitely not bad, I like the chamber vibes plus that indieness and rock. Had some moments, but too many flops. I think 3 stars is enough, because I like this genre and I get why I should like this, there's just better albums like this.

Drums are fabulous, voice not so much.

I hadn't listened to this in a long time! Unique and original sound, great story. 3/5

I thought I liked them. I do. but not so much this album

The only Flaming Lips album I’ve ever been familiar with is Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, the album that followed this one. And like most of the band’s tracks that I’m familiar with, I found them on compilation cd’s given away with British music mags, probably Uncut. I very much enjoyed this - the vocals & harmonies are totally engaging, although I find the comparisons with The Beachboys’ Pet Sounds a bit ridiculous. Still, there’s nothing here I disliked. Highlights for me : A Spoonful Weighs A Ton, Buggin’, The Spiderbite & Race For The Prize.

ooh, tough one here. I have tried with this album on multiple occasions over the years. I am a big fan of their next record, Yoshimi vs. The Pink Robots, which is, in many ways, a very similar album to this. Similar lofi production aesthetic, but big orchestrations (using cheap detuned keyboards), and generally hippy vibe, lyrical material that veers between the humorous and the profound, an embrace of life while acknowledging the reality of sadness and despair.... But I really love Yoshimi, and I just don't really dig this. I think, when it comes down to it, the tunes just aren't a as good. I certainly haven't liked any of their other albums before or afterwards. Maybe when it came down to it, they only really had one great album int hem. This is an important part of their run-up to that achievement, but really not essential (for me, at least). 2.5 stars, rounding up for amiability.

Interesting album

I really want to rate this higher but it’s not doing it for me. Perhaps a kind extra .5 of a star as I head off to listen to Yoshimi..

I listened to this a couple weeks ago and wasn’t memorable enough to rate high or low, I can confirm it exists, but nothing else when I search my memory banks.

Kind of slow and meandering. Nothing really stood out to me. Nothing was terrible either.

A good record, didn't love the guy's voice, the production is neat though esp though over-saturated drums! The first track was great! The rest of the record less memorable but still good.

Nice album.

Well, I've known who these guys are for a long time but something odd has put me off from ever deep diving into there catalog. I really should like them, there compositions are intriguing and complex, but I think there is something just a little too lighthearted and frivolous about their sound. And I don't really like the lead singers voice. This is pleasantly listenable tho, so I'll give 3 stars.

Not really my thing

Comes strong out of the gate. Then peters out a bit

Decent listen

Ok, not my favorite by them but it has some good songs on it.

Fun!

Not a fan. Lead singers voice a little too high pitched for me

Meh.

Regular!

Beautiful music!

Torn between a three and a four here, I enjoyed the sound but it got a little repetitive after a while.

good stuff but i like yoshimi better

"Thin" music. An aspiring version of Pink Floyd, but not even close.

No too bad as soothing background noise but a little too artsy for me

Not my style personally. The instrumental near the end of the album was my favorite piece (blanking on the name). Nothing else really stuck out. Not a bad album but probably wont listen again.

Not my fav Flaming Lips

A pretty good listen. Indie ahead of its time. Good bass, chill, with decent vocals. Has a lush, psychedelic quality to it.

Twas ok

This is such a creative and unique album. Although not a huge Flaming Lips fan I can appreciate the artistry.

A bit meh, some songs are better than the others…

passt scho

The music on this one is top-notch. The singer, and lyrics, though, are just weird. Some really good songs, mixed in with some stuff that left me scratching my head.

The 2nd album of theirs on this list. It's just okay for me. I found the orchestration to be distracting. I understand what they were going for but it didn't really work for me. Not really my cup of tea.

Not groundbreaking.. why is this on the list?

Not really a big fan unless I'm on copious amounts of drugs

Was looking forward to this classic. Love Race for the Prize, but overall it's actually pretty mid. Wayne's voice is pretty terrible and strains to hit most notes

A good Flaming Lips album, I'd put it right under Yoshimi.

Enjoyed this one. Didn’t blow me away. No song really jumps out as great, but a solid album. Will listen again.

Talked a lot about the sun and how heavy it and everything else is, quite a ride, lots of interesting musical shit, but also some pretty dumb angsty lyrics, basically the album made me sad.

I went through a Flaming Lips period in my 20's, so I am familiar with this album. It's good. I like it. It doesn't matter if it's soaring art piece with strings and layers, or if it's a more traditional arrangement, the drums are going to be good. They stand out on this album for sure.

I think it's good but highly overrated...

Overall the album is a 3, but A Spoonful Weighs a Ton and The Spark that Bled are fantastic.

Ça chante comme j'aime mais ça suffit pas

2.5

Cool

Totally serviceable, off the beaten path alt rock that sounds not much like the decade it's from. The Flaming Lips have never tickled my brain in the same way that they seem to for many fans and critics but they're well worth a look for any music fan. It's built around melody and harmony, lovely chord cadences and clever lyrics. Very well made.

sounds very morning jacket-y. i get the hype though

I like the vibe, not a fan of the vocal style but the instrumentals are cool. The drums stood out to me.

I enjoy The Flaming Lips but not as much as those who REALLY enjoy The Flaming Lips, leaving me like I'm missing the point. Either way, this was pretty good.

Eh the music is ok but I’m not a huge fan of the singer’s voice.

drums findi sehr geil bi race for the prize bide strophe sinds immer ide mitti und denn wenns so roher isch, isches rechts kei hammerstimm aber okay, vor allem die mehrstimmige parts hani gern, iwie erinnered sie mich ah gwüsse stelle chli ah semisonic (aber weniger guet hahaha) buggin' hani gern, iwie chli summerlich striicher und bläser mega schön und nöd z fest im vordergrund für min gschmack münd albe e stund lang gah zum als guet erachtet werde? (ussert du bisch d beatles) iwie schaffed sie chli en spagat zwüsche ruhigi aber au energetischi musig? the observer schono schöö waiting for a superman defür wieder langwilig okok the gash sehr cool bis jz joa de mokran mix het genau drums woni cool gfunde han gänderet es knapps 3 hets na gschafft, paar teil sehr cool und cute aber iwie trz chli flach für mich d interludes hani sehr cool gfunde

I really want to like this band. The varied instruments and somewhat more complex and interesting musical arrangements should be up my alley, but I don't really like the lead singer's straining voice, and, well, I just don't vibe with them.

It’s the flaming lips

3/5 some songs are weirdly good, others are very forgettable imo

I think it was a fine. I lost my temper (unrelated) whilst it was on so probably this isn't a fair review 🙃

3.5-4 A little (okay a lot) whiny, but I liked the melancholic turn towards the end of the album. Nothing really stood out to me, but it was pleasant cooking music.

This album just didn’t grab me like Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

- lots of interesting pieces to this - feels like a concept album/musical soundtrack - eh kinda felt like theatre kids, but good for what it was

The instrumentals here are great, but the vocalist and the lyricism really hold this one back.

Het eerste nummer herken is, want dat is zo'n alternatief hitje dat regelmatig voorbij komt op een station als K!NK. De rest heb ik wel wat meer moeite mee, het voelt de hele tijd niet comfortabel om te luisteren. De instrumenten lijken expres niet synchroon te lopen, dan komen er regelmatig van die rare zweverige orgeltjes en zingende zagen voorbij. En bovendien kan die zanger niet zingen, maar dat is een bekend probleem bij snobmuziek. Het klinkt wel beter dan hun andere album uit de lijst, dat ik een 2 heb gegeven. Dit is meer een 2,5.

So I listened to the whole thing then forgot to make notes. It was ok but not great.

I enjoyed listening to this, but one day later I don't remember a single thing about it, even the genre of music, so I conclude that it was fairly unremarkable.

I didn't love it, but I recognize there's some quality stuff here.

Quite nice actually, a bit more of a mellow king crimsonesque band, good stuff

Enjoyed this one.

Can a band be *too* mellow?

Always gentle.

Pretty chill.

Good album, but I don’t enjoy the Flaming Lips as much as I used to

I knew a couple songs of theirs before listening to this album, they have a very unique sound. Almost draws you in. But some songs are also kind of way out there sounding, and not appealing.

This album kicks off the golden trilogy of Flaming Lips albums that truly define their sound. Most of the album is forgettable, however, and sounds like one long, droning song. Maybe that’s where King Gizzard got it from 🙄

I love this era of Flaming Lips. This album kicks off a trilogy of albums I still actively listen to. I saw them play at a college series concert when I was in school.. likely 2008 or 2009. Wayne came out, blew up a giant hamster ball on stage and then crowd surfed inside it. The light show was great. The air smelled of reefer. Anyway, about this album. It's eclectic spacey rock stuff. Some of the lyrics are nonsense and basic.. sometimes the simplicity makes it oddly introspective. I dig all the synth. Review of Reviews: People either seem to really dig this or think the lyrics are cheap and Wayne's voice sucks. I think someone said it sounded like Mr. Hankey, LOL. I think that's part of what gives it character..she don't use jelly, afterall. Best Track: Suddenly Everything Has Changed... The Postal Service did this song better.

Pretty solid, not my favorite though.

Jotenkin mukavan naivistista ja kokeilevaa. Laulaja ois voinu vetää välillä paremminkin kai? Mut toisaalta tuo rosoa, kun ei oo niin vimosenpäälle. Mut toisaalta muuten soundi aika kliini ja tuotettu.

Not Great Not Bad

A fun listen - very textured.

The compression on some of the songs is very harsh on my ears and distracting. Once I realized it was only on some tracks and not the entire recording, I was able to adjust and then it was nicer to listen to. Enjoyed the songs.

Don’t have much to say about this one, didn’t get through the whole things because I really didn’t like it but I didn’t hate it either, a unique sound that had me pretty neutral throughout honestly.

This feels tangentially related to something like the strokes or yellowcard (stretch, I know) but it doesn’t seem out of place in a teenager's lineup. I didn’t particularly like it but Jasmine did so I’ll give it a very light three, should really be like a 2