The Soft Bulletin

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

It was ok. I think it was a little too long and boring for my taste.

I should really like this. It’s different enough from the other rock albums I’ve heard on here but I’m still not a huge fan. Shoutout Oklahoma though, we’re up.

Not as good as Yoshimi. But decent

Nice bkg noise. 3*

Yeah, pretty nice. Not quite Yoshimi standards, but still a nice record. Favourite tracks: Race for the Prize, Buggin'. The rest washed over me a bit, so I suspect it's a bit of a grower.

Mix of shimmery pop and indie rock. Interesting vocals.

spoonful weights a ton. docu on making of better than the album

better than expected

Can’t really explain why I don’t like this nearly as much as I do. It is excellent. Perhaps it brings negative memories.

pretty meh, don't hate it but I won't seek it out

I only really know the big songs from The Flaming Lips but don't dislike them, this album was fine, but not one I would go out of my way to listen to again if I'm honest.

Not as good as YBTPR but still a decent album

Not my favorite album from The Flaming Lips (it's Yoshimi), too long and boring for my taste. Sorry!

Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: I did, it felt very energising and unique Favourite song: Track 1 - Race For The Prize

based on the reviews ive expected to hear either the best or the worst album of my life. it wasn't any of the two, but i had quite a nice time listening.

Very enjoyable. Couple of great tracks. Couple not so great.

a bit indie, but some killer melodies, pretty good overall

Någorlunda hyggligt är det väl.

Why?

It was aight, I didn't really like his voice but instrumentals were cool

The singing appears at times to be directly false, so false that I was tempted to give 1 star. However, there were some good musical experiences, so I ended up giving it 3 stars.

A couple of bangers in a bowl of sleep soup.

new whine in old bottles

Some crackers but mostly just listenable.

There was a lot going on in the song construction which impressed but ultimately it was another one I’m unlikely to listen to again

Never got these guys. Lyrics are trying to hard to be cute, or not trying ar all. This guys voice is tolerable for about two tracks. Nothing on here stands out. I drove around with it on and eventually barely noticed

Songs sound very similar. Not as good as the other album - Yoshimi battles the pink robot.

A decent enough selection of songs on here but the only one that really grabs me is, 'Feeling Yourself Disintegrate'... that imo, is the strongest song on here. Has some nice arrangements and if all songs on there held my attention as much as track 11, then it'd be a solid 4 star.

There are 2 things going for this album: 1. A Race for the Prize is a truly excellent song. 2. Unique + original sound that still sounds fresh. However, this album also has a knack for losing me somewhere along the way.

My second Flaming Lips album. I overall cleary prefer Yoshimi, but this is good as well.

I saw them at a festival and I didn't like them. I never listened to their albums. The songs are not bad, but the singing is. Favorite song: race for the prize

She Don't Use Jelly is the only song I've heard from these guys. I think. Ryan Sessions loved them. It was pretty decent. I like how different it is from most music these days. Turn of the millenium.... I'd say 3 solid stars

Enjoyed some songs but others a bit annoying. Don’t feel like I will be listening again

Good

Kunde blivit riktigt bra men jag tycker de slarvar bort många bra melodier i nåt försök att vara storslagna. Och de jävla trummorna!

Not as good as the last flaming lips album

I'm not unfamiliar with The Flaming Lips. I've listened to their album "Yoshimi battles the pink robots" a long time ago. It wasn't for me and the same goes for this album.

ok

3.5

Never really listened to the Flaming Lips. It was okay, nothing special.

lil messy but i respect dave f

Felt the vibe of Feeling Yourself Disintegrate and Sleeping on the Roof. Tbh rating it 3 just for these two, the rest lacks masculinity for no good reason

it was a little cute

Even more downtempo Flaming Lips albums are basically a good time. Folded laundry to this, almost enthusiastically.

3.5, better than fine, but don't have to listen again. Whimsical indie post-grad stuff.

Pretty cool. Kinda dig it. Nothing really blew my skirt up, though.

Starts off classic-rock-ey, has some cool orchestral stuff woven in, but pretty wandery/moody/atmospheric toward the end

i really like the flaming lips but this wasn’t as good as i was expecting tbh

Album 38 of 1001 The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin Favorite Track : Race for the Prize Rating : 3 / 5 Pleasant enough. Nice listen, though nothing really stood out. Listened as I worked in multiple spread sheets and wasn't distracted at all. Nice sounds. Could stand another listen.

I feel like I should like this one more than I do, but it just really doesn't work for me. Something about the production. Despite the chamber pop aesthetics the instrumentals always sound kind of synthy and distant, and Wayne's voice sounds like it's coming from the next room over. Not to mention pretty much every song here is kind of meandering and boring. This may be a bad take coming from just one listen, but that's listening to one album a day. 2.5/5

Nothing about this stood out particularly. A bit on the long side and a little repetitive at times so I was craving for something more upbeat afterwards. Not a fan or a hater after this.

A usual Flaming Lips album. 3 stars.

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

Not my favorite album by then but there were some fun songs. Everything was a little mellow for me and the vocals aren’t my style

Nice vibes but kind of monotonous.

All the ingredients of something I should love, but somehow never quite hitting what I'm after. Can definitely feel myself being drawn back to this one, though, and it's got all the makings of a major grower.

Good album but not very memorable.

Wayne’s voice isn’t my favorite, but it works for this style, and this album and band are still enjoyable.

AJ: Care Bears on LSD Weird for the sake of being weird. Musically pretty cool, though. Keys stand out. Not sure i’d ever just sit and listen to them. Race for the Prize was my favorite song.

ambitious which is good aggressively weird which is bad but beautifully produced which is good but self indulgent which is bad

Some good parts to it

A bit eh. I would have loved this as a teen. Favourite song was Race for the Prize

There’s som flaming lips I like and some I don’t. Simple as that.

It's a fine album - an enjoyable listen. Nothing truly stands out though.

Like it, but it kinda feels like something I will enjoy a lot more in a future phase of my life. The abnormal time is cool and I like the lyrics, the vocals might take some getting used to haha

Some good songs some not as good but very solid

Not very inspiring.its a “vibe” album.I didn’t really like the vibe though.Maybe it’s a mature thing.

"Oh, Yoshimi, they don't believe me." No? Its the previous record? In any case, its a record by The Flaming Lips. The lyrics are naff and the tracks are sleepy. After the first four songs, they all start to sound the same.

Nice album. I liked it.

That was a really good listen. Very unique album, deserves to be on this list. I would definitely revisit this album. Solid 3. T3B 1. Race for the Prize 2. The Spark That Bled 3. The Observer

不错

I am only vaguely familiar with the Flaming Lips. I think a friend sent me a cassette tape in the 90s with a recording of one of their albums, but that's all I really remember. I like that they seem to have their own sound and style. I enjoyed the album and I definitely want to explore their long recording history, which, from reading the main Wikipedia article on the band, has a ton of stuff. I didn't know they had formed all the way back in '83 and have decades of work. It also sounds like they've evolved and changed their music quite often, and from this album, I hear the skills to pull that off well. Interesting they chose a photo of Neal Cassady for their album cover. I'd like to know the story behind that.

Lush and intricately orchestrated. However, nothing grabs me firmly like some of the catchy hookier songs on the Yoshimi album. It all just washed over me. Wayne Coyne’s voice is a bit irritating after a while.

Sounds like the Flaming Lips to me - well done!

Interesting but nothing unique

Kinda cool but also can't recall any of the songs

3+

Varsin kelvollinen, jopa popahtava levy. Ei kuitenkaan ihan neloseen nouse. 3/5

Before listening, I was made aware of two things by others. This dude sounds like Neil Young and also Kermit the Frog. With that, I approached the album with skepticism. I knew the band by name, but not musically. I had assumptions of how they may sound. Yet how would both of these pretty recognizable voices come through from Wayne Coyne? “Race for the Prize” is immediately Neil Young backed by REM. Clear as day. I texted friends for a reminder of who the other character was. Charles responded with Kermit just as Wayne begins singing in “A Spoonful Weighs a Ton”. I burst out laughing. Again, clear as day. I do not want to say the vocals were too much. However, I didn’t really love the first five songs. They all sound fine and good, but Wayne Coyne’s vocals are a little polarizing. Almost too goofy to pay attention to what he’s singing about. I don’t think this polarization is unique to Wayne, but it’s the first time it really hit me with any singer. I love Neil Young, but somehow don’t like Wayne’s voice? Weird to me at least. Once I reached “What is the Light?”, I took more interest. I think it has something to do with Wayne not necessarily being front and center. Sometimes the instruments compete with his vocals. Sometimes a harmony drowns, or at least dampens, his voice in a sea of voices. Sometimes a vocal effect gives a little extra to make the uniqueness more enjoyable. In all cases, it’s more Wayne and Company, than just Wayne. My favorite was “The Gash”. More time spent with a sort of choir moving through an almost cinematic-in-feel moment. Where we do have solo Wayne, his accent is there, but he has somewhat loud competition in the background. Again, kinda dampened. While I cannot say it got better with every listen, I did think “I do like this a lot more” every time I hit “What is the Light?”, so that’s that.

I think I enjoyed this one by the end of it! It took a little bit for Wayne's voice to grow on me (I have never delved into any of the band's discography so this was a blind (deaf) listen for me). I get Kevin Parker's infatuation with this drum sound. Those snares just make you go "mmm! yeah!" with each hit. Glad to have listened to this on a sunny afternoon here in Southern California. Felt like the right music for that. I'll have to revisit and listen more closely to the lyrics, however. According to cwm they're kinda dark. Either way, this is definitely easy on the ears and provided a nice little escape for me this afternoon! I will say, while it was pleasant, it didn't necessarily blow my mind or anything so for that reason I'mma say 3/5.

Some great songs and a lot of mediocre ones. They knew which were the best and gave them remixes, though, which I have to appreciate.

Wayne Cloying more like.

Another lush and pleasant listening experience from The Flaming Lips, who aren't one of the truly great bands in my book but I can certainly enjoy them at their best, and would like to see them live one day. 3.5 again, though I think this album might be a bit better than YBTPR on the whole, despite lacking that one really classic song.

Enjoyable 3 stars

Experimental music for sad sacks and sentimentalists.

Good listening, especiallyRace for the Prize. I loved the intro. A very etheral sound. All in all a high 3*

Race for the Prize what a Choo Choo CHOON Others were probably good but I was getting too stressed by how full the number 88 bus was.

Good but not great. 3.5 needed.

This was nice to have on in the background, but there's nothing memorable about it for me.

A mixed bag - a lot of beige music with a couple of tracks that stand out - the opener in particular. It's easy listening indie stuff, would've been very generic had it have come out in 2006 but the fact that it was 7 years before that shows that it was a bit more unique for its time. Voice gets a bit strained at times, but it's generally a set of quite pretty arrangements that excites in places. 3/5.

Favourite song: Waitin' For Superman

Had a hard time getting into this album. Highlights: Race for the Prize Feeling Yourself Disintegrate

A solid listen. I liked the vibe. Great lyrics & vocalist. I’d explore more of their music for sure.

Good

I don’t remember any stand outs while I listened, but I also never felt the urge to skip any of the songs. So I think that’s a win.

So far sounds like sci-fi bollocks. Enjoying tracks 4-6, great tunes, I too believe love is the greatest thing a human can feel. These guys use silly, obvious metaphors but they’re charming in their earnestness. Hippies gone to the 31st century.

Ok

Mixed feelings, here, like I want to enjoy it but my attention keeps bouncing off of it. Highlights: Buggin', What is the Light.

3.5/5 The more I listened to it the better the album became. First time it was strange but still good and after the second time it became better. Favourite songs: - Race for the price - A spoonful weighs a ton - The spiderbite song

All blended together

the music was actually pretty good. But, the lead singer didn't really have the best vocals. Maybe would've gone 4 if the vocals matched the music

Maybe a strong 3, but not anything special for me

Decent sound but nothing that jumped out to me

Wasn't blown away by this, but it was alright

Maybe a 4 this was good A 3 counting inflation

Kinda cool album but they kinda lost me. The singing/songwriting isn’t super interesting or memorable to me. Love the drums on the first track, buggin, waiting for a Superman, Vocals really remind me of Ryan Adams on spark that bled.

Supposedly alt rock, but to my ears it sounded more like prog pop. Nothing stood out as being exceptionaly good or horribly bad. The track Race for the Prize was familiar from somewhere, this however sums up the experience - it was all "from somewhere". OK pop with some weird arrangements at times.

Ok

first time listening, likely be the only time listening.

There’s a charm to the overall album, both instrumentally and vocally…though in that same breath, Coyne’s voice seems to go higher than maybe my ears can handle. Aside from this, I’d say The Flaming Lips succeeded in creating something with a general appeal and easy listen. There’s a vibe of something soft rock from the 1970s, a la Seals and Croft meets Death Cab for Cutie, with quirky lyrics and charm. Easy to gap out on, and not be annoyed by the music in the background, which could be good or bad news. The Mokran Mixes at the end didn’t really hurt or help things, aside from making me think “I’ve heard these songs somewhere before”.

I'm afraid I don't really get this album. It sounds cool, there are great songs like The Gash and Feeling Yourself Disintegrate, and I can see its influence on the indie rock of the '00s to early '10s, but it's not necessarily mind-blowing. I've heard a lot of amazing things about this band over the years, too bad we didn't really click but I at least have one or two nice memories about them now!

Ok, a little dull

Soft. It kinda softens the meat. Meh

Easy listening. Great jams. Vocals okay

3/5

Mellow and easy to get lost in

I liked the pink robots album better... This is all clever and I like their style but there got to be a vocal monotony for me... The lyrics are virtually all delivered in a very narrow band - volume, pitch, emotional intensity (or lack thereof), you name it.

Ik ken maar 1 nummer, maar ik vond de rest wat gelijkaardig. Nogal wat saai voor wat ik dacht een rockband te zijn

Buen disco, buenas canciones. Muy agradable de principio a fin pero nada que me vuele la cabeza. 3.5 estrellas que bajan a 3.

I want to like it, and sometimes I do. 3/5

Alternative rock, 1999. It is a decent record but the tracks are incredibly less powerful than in "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" where the band improved on the songwriting and on the composition of an album. In the end, this LP is quite captivating, but it is not their best work.

Solid

Really chill vibes, I love the theme it's got, I'd listen to it again

I’ve heard of them before but never listened to anything. It’s very 90s. I didn’t dislike it, but I probably won’t listen to it again.

Een album met mooie liedjes en grappige rare teksten. Vaak vind ik ze iets te nerveuze muziek maken maar deze klinkt lekker!

Openingstrack ken ik goed, dus ik had hoge verwachtingen, maar zo vlammend als het begin was, bleek de rest niet te zijn.

Blijft een aparte band. Openingsnummer vind ik te gek, maar voor de rest is het me toch iets te vreemd en de stem te onvast

Prrrrrrima plaatje!

Ok, maar kwam niet zo binnen.

I appreciate the songwriting and arrangement of these songs, but the Flaming Lips are not a band I really ever enjoy. Everything on this album sounds great, but nothing that has me wanting to play it again.

I think the music itself is pretty great and eclectic but not a massive fan of the vocals.

В альбоме есть весьма приятные инструментальные находки, но мне почему-то ОЧЕНЬ не нравится вокал.

Listened Before? N More of the same from Flaming Lips. I like their sound but im not super into it so I think the one album I've been listening to will do without adding this one. Decent performance, though. Added to Library? N Songs added to Playlist: Race for the Prize

Instrumentals are way better than the vocals but overall it’s alright. All the mokran mixes stood out though

I didn't realise the Mastodon cover of A Spoonful Weighs a Ton was a Flaming Lips song. This was surprisingly better than expected.

Nice one

Strong 3, surely this inspired MGMT

Again with this band, I love the music so much, but the vocal hurts my brain. It leaves me frustrated about how good it could be, but isn't.

nao curti tanto, mas até tem uma que outra

Some high highs mixed with lower points, this was decent sample of the Flaming Lips different sounds and song offering, but probably not their strongest album front to back.

I always thought of them as the She Don't Like Jelly guys. This was much better than I expected. Still out there, but a bit more accessible.

I like a lot of The Flaming Lips but I always find it is selective listening. I usually don't want to listen to the whole album all in one go. Race for the Prize opens the album strongly but it's awhile before I get one of their tracks that I have always liked, Waitin' For A Superman.

Meh

Usually can’t stand these guys but this one was at least tolerable

Bom.

3 1/2

Nice

there is a sound that is good but I feel is a little simple and unvaried. I can see why people would love this. Also what’s with the weird track listing

As I mentioned in my review of Yoshimi, I've grown to dislike The Flaming Lips over the years after having once been a fan. I think Wayne Coyne is an unlikeable asshole who crawled up his own ass at some point. I also think the music has lost any sort of bite or charm it may once have had. That being said, I can be objective and view their music through the lens that I once did. Yoshimi holds up as a pretty good indie/alt rock/neo-psyche album. The Soft Bulletin doesn't hold up nearly as well. It's a good album, but I always got it confused with Clouds Taste Metallic, with my only point of reference being "one of them had This Here Giraffe, the most annoying song I've ever heard." Fortunately, that album is Clouds Taste Metallic. For their early albums, I much prefer In a Priest Driven Ambulance, which continues to hold up as my favorite album of theirs - a little more punk grit, a little more krautrock weirdness, and a bit of a throughline on religion to make it cohesive. I don't hate this album, but listening to it was more work than pleasure. The big crunchy drums on A Spoonful Weighs a Ton sound pretty cool though.

Weird, etherial, funny. Totally original. I'd never really listened to the Flaming Lips until Yoshimi but I'd listened to this album at that time. I waffle between a 3 and 4 on this one. My tastes have shifted over the past 20 years and I'm less into the band as I once was.

interesting, but mostly werid sounding and boring

Wait, this isn’t the album with She Don’t Use Jelly??

Ex-junkies start to learn their instruments and enlist the help of an orchestra. Less about UFOs or Vaseline and more about human relationships, though the helium vocals are still here. They seem to start to realise coming out of the fug of alt-rock and smack that they have more ideas they can explore. Best Tracks: Race for the Prize; A Spoonful Weighs a Ton; Waiting for a Superman

I really enjoyed the album at the start, gave me some art-rock vibes you would find from the 60s and 70s. Race for the Prize was a great track to start off with. But as it went on and during a second listen, I enjoyed it less. I prefer Yoshimi Battles the Robots compared to this. Has some great songs but as a whole I didn't love it.

Not bad, not bad. A bit mellow, but good at home music.

Très intéressant. C’est la première fois que j’écoute un de leurs albums en entier. On fleurte avec le quétaine parfois. On dirais que les track de vocal retenues sont les 1057e. Il ne chante pas très bien en fait, mais je pense que ce n’est pas très important. Je pense aussi que de n’avoir que de l’audio nous donne accès à seulement une partie de l’expérience.

Ça part très fort avec Race for the prize. J’adore le mix saturé du drum. C’est dense comme album et on l’apprécie plus avec les écoutes. À écouter avec des écouteurs pour une meilleure expérience. On sent sur cet album les bases se mettre en place pour l’album suivant qui est je crois plus accessible (Yoshimi battles the pink robots). Personnellement je préfère le son rock qu’on retrouvait sur Transmissions From The Satellite Heart. Chanson préférée: Race for the prize

I find Wayne Coyne to be remarkably insufferable – the QUIRK! – and though you can smell the bongwater throughout this, there's some good tunes.

nothing stand-out for me.

Nice and easy to listen to, but there wasn't really anything that stood out to me. Just pretty fine.

So similar to Mercury Rev. Pleasant.

It was enjoyable but not something I would reach for

Some really nice instrumentals, but the vocals were just too ✨quirky✨ for me

Ok

Some cool tunes, but easily forgettable.