Reviews (page 7 of 9)
Genre: Neo-Psychedelia 3/5 The Flaming Lips are one of those groups from the 90s that always ends up in this conversations of biggest influences from that decade, this album in particular. While the music is well-produced, neatly arranged, and with some interesting compositional choices that I found interesting to follow, the vocals were a complete miss for me. Do I like what The Spiderbite Song is doing musically and rhythmically, yes. Do I enjoy the Beatles ripoffs throughout the album, yes. Do I hate the sound of the vocalist in all of these instances, yes. I can’t get around it, unfortunately. Decent pop album, overall, though.
Very nice! Not super dynamic but enjoyable listening.
Slow Rock, blues funk
Pretty good
Rating: 6/10 Best songs: The gash
I wish it was better.
It's nice, some songs are a bit corny for me but overall the songs are pretty good. I like the way they mix acoustic and electronic musicals in an interesting way.
Nice to hear some more flaming lips
The best of this album IMO: - The Spiderbite Song Don't like the orchestral arrangements... It doesn't fit well... I like the heavy drums though. Voice isn't the greatest. Mixing is weird on some songs but it has a certain charm. After having a second Flaming Lips album on this list I can say that this band is not for me and it's okay. 2.7/5
Attention, cet album ne peut s'apprécier qu'en suivant scrupuleusement une notice d'utilisation bien précise donnée par Robert dans le grimoire des 1001 albums. Sont notamment nécessaires quatre platines différentes sur lesquelles l'album doit être joué simultanément. N'ayant pas de platines à disposition, j'ai disposé mes quatre enceintes JBL aux quatre coins de la salle des profs de mon collège et ai ainsi pu écouter le projet de façon la plus optimale à la pause de midi.
Un album qui s'est dévoilé sur le tard, chose que n'aura jamais réussi mon camarade d'écoute robpinaillère. En effet ce dernier n'a jamais vu sa carrière décoller, la faute à un talent minime si ce n'est inexistant.
This was ok
6/10
Gets 3 because it was inoffensive but probably not one to seek out.
Sounds good
I already liked Race for the Prize, but Waiting for Superman rocketed to my favorite from this album, particularly the remix. Very good song.
Rock. Un poco aburrido.
Eh I like flaming lips but found this a bit too mopey.
I like the flaming lips and I like the concept, this one is not as good as YBTPR
kinda want to give it 4 stars but it didn’t earn it like ok it was mid but was it better than mid? idk i slept through half of it who am i to judge
I had never heard of The Flaming Lips before! This album was sonically interesting and enjoyable but not very "catchy", which is my usual preference. I liked "Feeling Yourself Disintegrate" the most.
Not bad. Some of the songs were just... noisy. Like, the vocals were just quiet enough that I got way too much everything else
Mad as a box of frogs.
Jobbiiigt. Musiken är jättebra. Melodierna och sättet bandet spelar på är innovativt, unikt, och bombastiskt bra. Men det finns tyvärr för många saker jag stör mig på, för att jag fullt ut ska kunna ta till mig The Flaming Lips. För det första, Wayne Coyne (jag tror det är han som sjunger) har inte en bra sångröst. Den är lite för gnällig och mesig, vilket stör mig. Det andra är texterna, som är banala och samtidigt gör anspråk på att vara djupa. Det fungerar säkert på människor som gillar att ta del av kultur som kan beskrivas som "quirky" (och gärna beskriver sig själv som "quirky"), men det stör mig. Ett exempel är The Spiderbite Song, som gör mig lite illamående. Det blir ändå en trea, för musiken håller så pass hög nivå. Det är bara synd att resten av upplevelsen låter som att bandet består av Uje Brandeliusar (och JA jag skriver detta utan att ha koll på Uje, men det KÄNNS bara så). Bästa låt: Feeling Yourself Disintegrate var vacker.
a capa do álbum é neal cassidy dançando com a própria sombra viajando com LSD, o álbum todo tem uma vibe meio psicodélica primeira música abre com um motif legal, mas não sei o que acho da voz do vocalista a música tem muitas camadas, inclusive usa alguns sintetizadores the spark that bled eh bem nice the gash começa bem diferente, pesada com instrumentos de sopro e um coro sleeping on the roof é bem legal, só instrumental com um ar espacial e barulhos de grilo, parece mesmo uma soneca
Pretty good, but a little slow at times. 0RS
Wiki states that one reviewer claimed that "The Soft Bulletin might be the best record of the entire decade". I don't get it. This is my first introduction to The Flaming Lips, and I while I have nothing against this album - because its not bad, but I didn't find anything particularly compelling about it either. Nothing outstanding from either a vocal, lyrics or instrumentation perspective. 3/5
Interesting, deam-like songs.
Le produzioni e composizioni di questo album mi sono piaciute, e trovo anche interessante spesso come la band sta sul tempo un po’ claudicante ma comunque musicale. Un po’ mal sopporto il modo del cantante di stonare che mi sembra forzato a voler fare un po’ il fenomeno. Questo è un 3,5 pieno, ma gli do un tocco di meno perché troppo hipster.
Happy vibes. Didn't feel like turning it off at any point. Flows well. Nothing sounds terrible but nothing stands out. Sounds too much like the songs belong in a musical. I'm not really into musicals.
Dreamy!
Very enjoyable.
Not bad
Seems like the kind of thing you’d have to listen to a couple dozen times to “get.” Ain’t got time for that in this game. It’s… more than a little weird.
Nice album but nothing special, i dont know if im going to listen it again more than one or two songs
I’ve been aware of The Flaming Lips but never given their music a chance. Overall I’m pretty impressed and could see this growing on me the more I dive into it. A solid 3 for now. “Race For The Prize” was my favorite.
This was released around the time I went to Uni, and I saw them in a 1/3 full venue shortly after the album came out - I don't think I'd even heard of them at the time, being dragged along by a cooler friend who was into alternative US rock. It was probably the best, most life-affirming concert I'd ever seen. I saw them again in the same venue about 9 months later and it was packed to the rafters, and just as good. I've seen them since and they didn't quite capture the same magic (it felt a little too culty in larger halls), but those 2 shows were very special. Race for the Price will probably be listened to for as long as we have music, and there is a certain something to the album that doesn't really sound or feel like much else. However, I never loved this record as much as others - maybe as to me it paled against the live show from the era.
I prefer their later stuff, but did see the 20th anniversary show of this album at Brixton Academy. It was awesome
Chill album. Virker som et album man sitter i en kjeller rundt et bord og drikker brus og øl og alt mulig og prater bullshit.
The album is common, most of the tracks are punk rock.
I felt moved by the spider bite song it was really nice. The first song irritated me slightly.
2010s indie pop sounds in the 90s. While pretty much ahead of it's time, this isn't the sound that appeals to me the most. Breaks and instrumentals are quite interesting, however. Overblown drums and distortion is quite prelevant. I guess it is the vocal, which turns me off. Song structures are quite, i.e. in the song \"The Spark that Bled\" are very groovy guitar instrumental breaks, and structure doesn't follow the exact pop formula. Also, how good is the slow part in \"The Observer\"?
Occasionally grating, consistently interesting, constantly evolving, mostly lovely and overall a very enjoyable album.
yea it was ok idk
Ihan menevää kamaa maanantaille
Ei tuttu bändi entuudestaan. Levy olisi varmastikin ansainnut enemmän kuin yhden kuuntelukerran. Hautautui vähän liikaa työnteon taustamusiikiksi rauhallisen tyylinsä takia. Mutta tykkäsin kyllä.
At first listen I thought it boring. It grew on my as I listened a second and then a third time. I wouldn't call it a masterpiece, but it's decent enough.
Levyllä oli sekä hyviä hetkiä, että vaisumpia kohtia. Tarvitsisi varmasti useita kuuntelukertoja, että tähän pääsisi sisälle.
Peruskolmonen. Ei oikein muuta sanottavaa tästä.
First Flaming Lips album I've listened to and was pleasantly surprised after hearing some of the negativity in our group. First track was really good. High 2 rounded up to 3!
mmm
Can see why people love them but just not my cup of tea
Very solid 3. The first track - Race for the Prize was probably my favorite. I enjoy the instrumentals and sound mix a fair bit more than lead vocals, but that said, I do genuinely love their big bits and his odd vocals are a big reason why
Wasn't a fan at the beginning, then it grew on me a bit. Some cools tracks and i ended up quite liking it.
I’ve always like the Lips from a distance, but sitting with this album and really actively listening to it made me realize that I think my issue with them really just comes down to Wayne. I don’t love the voice and, frequently, don’t love the lyrics. I really wish I did! Some super interesting arrangements throughout. I’m sure it’s fun live. But man… I would love to hear a different singer cover this from start to finish.
3 * weils ok ist
Well a mixed bag for me, enjoyed some of them but a few of them just a bit twee with mad lyrics. The one about spider bites and car crashes was irritating, the lyrics were quite predictable and the concept annoying. Doubt I'll listen again
War schon in der anderen Playlist - 3
Pretty good. Race for the Prize is an all-time great song. 7/10
Interesting and complex melodies without sounding like they were trying to make a statement. Coyne's unique style is evident the whole way through. Not a huge fan of his styling, but the album is intriguing.
Album is cool. I like the Intro. I personally listened to the Album while doing homework. While I feel like it was good none of its songs are memorable on their own. I feel like all these songs are good together, but I probably won't be listening to any singles from this album.
There are better songs of Flaming Lips waiting to be discovered. I like their style though!
It’s fine. But who gives a shit about it? Blah blah “destroy” blah blah “weird”
i found his voice a bit difficult, i recognised one or two songs in there. it was alright, not sure what the big deal is. it makes me think every festival experience anyone has ever had is only half as good as they think
Earns its title as an indie classic - sounds like an album that could have been released within the past 5 years. Not all of the tracks are stunners and sometimes wear their welcome thin with repetitive arrangements, but there are enough high points here to make for an enjoyable listening experience.
Not my favorite Flaming Lips album but a really good one.
Not a huge flaming lips fan, but was nice background music.
Not bad, I like Flaming Lips but I must admit I get a bit bored after a while with them.
Liked the instrumentals, lead vocals not my favourite.
Listened to it before. Disappointed then, nothings changed. Meh.
Interesting but ultimately a little too far out for my tastes. Wayne Coyne is a fascinating frontman.
First One
The flaming lips have gotten a couple albums on this list. They always have interesting orchestration. But do they need to be on the list?
ok
5/10
Not bad but certainly nothing special or memorable
Great stuff - giving it a three for now as I didn’t get to listen to it as much as I wanted.
OK.
Listened before
Chill
5* for the great cinematic music.... minus 2 for the guy screeching over the top!
I didn't hate this. I didn't really like it either. It exists and is on the list, so I listened.
Everything just blended together into nothingness in the background on my drive to work
I appreciate the whimsy in their storytelling, although I didn't really follow what the songs were about. I didn't really care for the arrangements, though. As a percussionist, I have to acknowledge the Flaming Lips as the #1 tubular bell users
So many gushing reviews. I don’t get it. I find this dull and his voice is awful. Maybe sounds great when you’re off your face watching bubbles and lights. I’ll never know
Found it so boring I questioned why I gave another one of their albums 5 stars.
Bad vocals, and the idea of “creating an atmosphere” is used as a crutch for a lack of interesting musical ideas. Would probably have this down as a 3 for being a bland nothing were it not an hour long.
It's fine I suppose. There just isn't anything super compelling about this album that would ever make me want to track it down of my own accord.
This was just a bit boring. Not much to say or much going on in this. I felt like it could be a big cringe in some bits. I felt it started well then just fizzled out by the end.
This is not for me, like the previous record from this band I find it twee and a bit self-serious. However, I can see how this was forward looking in 1999. It really feels like an album that can only be made in that neoliberal heyday when maybe everything will be fine after all. It needs that kind of environment to write 'whimsical' lyrics in a pseudo-psychedelic style without really having anything to rebel against
It's a weird blend of music styles and influences.
The was not a Flaming Lips album that I am familiar with
singer sounds like the hit band the simulations
Jag har för mig att jag lyssnade en del på albumet då det kom och gillade vad jag hörde. Nu var det länge sen jag spelade FL, men visst inledande Race for the prize har sin charm i den omaka kombon av sköna stråkar och distade trummor. Samtidigt, det blir inte så mycket roligare än så. Det funkar i små doser, enstaka låtar. Men över ett helt album på upp emot en timme håller ett inte längre. Dessutom sjunger Coyne med den amerikanska dialekten vilken är störigare än gnällbältets. 1999 hade de säkert fått en fyra av mig. 2026 blir det en tvåa.
Jag har svårt att få grepp om detta. Skissartat men ändå bombastiskt. Det finns en viss charm i skevheten, men jag hittar inga låtar som griper tag i mig. Går utan problem att ha på i bakgrunden.
Oof. I just couldn’t take Wayne Coyne’s whine on this one. I appreciate that this album marked a new, more textured and symphonic direction for the band, which would reach its popular apex in 2003’s “Yoshimi” - though that record was hit or miss for me at the time. I’m afraid I got annoyed enough by the singing that it was hard to fully tune in to the music, which did some lush and interesting in parts.
Alternative Rock is so hit or miss and wow buddy this misses. Maybe thats the point, though. Its not awful, but it is unpleasant overall. Just sour and moody throughout, and every song feels almost 2 minutes longer than they actually are.
I ... do not like the lead singer's voice, which means by default this album will not get more than 3 stars from me. ETA after listening to a few songs: this is actively unpleasant
I've never paid much attention to this band, but I was surprised by how much I did NOT like this. It was an actively unpleasant experience -- the guy's voice is unpleasant. I didn't like the melodies. I didn't like the instrumentation. This was a chore to get through.
Ok
А солист точно умеет петь?
Moody as growing up in OKlahoma
meh.
I was initially intrigued by the album cover, but I found the project itself underwhelming. I think what holds it back is the vocal performance. It doesn’t do the instrumental side justice. There are some really nice ideas here, but the howling becomes difficult to tolerate the longer the album goes on. With each song, I found myself trying to focus on the guitars and the way everything came together melodically, only to be pulled out of the experience by the vocals. I couldn’t even focus on the lyrics. I think "Race for the Prize" is stronger than most of the songs here, and the silence and shift in mood on "The Observer" were more than welcome.
Awesome!
3/10 Fun music but not really my thing
not the flaming lips i would reach for
This entire album belongs on /r/im12andthisisdeep. Awful, strained vocals with cringe lyrics. The backing music is just... weird? I really noticed it in "The Spiderbite Song" in particular but it's just <sing some shallow phrase> <weird drum noise> <sing another shallow phrase> <weird sound effect>. I don't understand and I don't think it's worth my time to try.
Nothing notable about this album. Lyrics and delivery not inspiring. Some of the music arrangements were fine but not enough to listen to again.
Never liked it much, gave it away many years ago.
I didn't get into this album like I did with Yoshimi. The whine aspect of his voice was present enough to distract me.
Some songs this guys voice was good, other times he really grated on me. Nothing that really stood out here, nothing that screams that this was a great album. Overall, extremely mediocre in my opinion. Prefer their one hit wonder song.
It's bright and sunny and I'm walking listening to 'Race for the Prize'. I'm on the kinda high that comes from running forever on some edibles and 'A Spoonful Weighs a Ton' is carrying me into the sky. The singers voice is bright and uplifting. So is the music. It's almost TOO happy. Its like a 19 year old walking down the PCT thinking its all figured out. The world will slap this kid in the face someday but for right now, they dont know that, and life is AWESOME DUDE. And with all that, at the end of the day, its almost too repetitive. It's just sunshine all over. The music is really nice and I do appreciate that these are some incredible musicians (it feels like theatrical rock). But at the end of the day, it might be a masterpiece, but its not my masterpiece. A good way to judge an album is, would I listen again, and in what situation? I dont know that I'd ever come back to this one?
Not as good as Yoshimi
I don't mind Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, but The Flaming Lips are a band I've never gotten into. Apart from Race for the Prize (which I've heard before) this is pretty dull.
Not very interesting. Didn't convince me at all.
A bit blah. Uninspiring and slightly insipid. What’s the word I’m looking for? Ah, yes. Boring.
Ikke si opp dagjobben.. Skjer med lyden a? Tatt opp med en DS i en tom kjeller?
Boring. Long. I’ve never been a fan of The Flaming Lips.
It’s like soft rock rave music. Not for me.
Never heard of them. Some parts of the album sound really ahead of its time. Other parts sound kind of pointless.
It was ok. Nothing too memorable or catchy. Nothing that made me want to skip songs
Cinematic, considered, theatrical, it's clear why Flaming Lips filled arenas. This is a good album, but with all their music I don't feel an emotional connection to it or the singers voice. There is something I fundamentally don't 'get' about them as a band, despite liking plenty of their songs. It's his voice, it's too weak for the sound they produce.
Mellow and repetitive. Favourite track: Feeling Yourself Disintegrate
not into it
This was kinda wimpy and pathetic. That feels harsh but like, not untrue
I've never heard the flaming lips before, but I know a few people who love them, especially "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots". I wonder whether they listen while on drugs? I found this hard to enjoy, although I recognise that it's because it's weird, not because it's bad necessarily. Sometimes I love weird, but apparently not today. I hope Yoshimi is better when I get to it
Influencing hipsters for years to come. 2.4.
This is not good. It is so 90s that it does not age well. And the lead singer is terrible; what a whiny voice! This is my second Flaming Lips album in a week and I am not impressed. 2
Flaming Lips used to be my prison name
I can’t warm up to The Flaming Lips
Listening to this album is kind of like eating inexpensive sugar free strawberry jam. It’s too soft to chew, but there are a couple chunks of strawberry that you can actually sink your teeth into. Sadly there’s not a lot of flavor to it, either. This was on for my drive in to work, and it had no impact on my drive - no better or worse than if I had driven in silence. It’s a shame, really, because it seems like there are some pleasant arrangements. But nothing worth listening to this album for.
Just kinda boring.
Lead singer sounds like the singer for Band of Horses mixed with nails on a chalk board. Not a fan
I think I trained myself to have an ear for this type of Indie rock, and over the years I’ve just lost that ear. I just don’t get it. I was listening to this album while I was moving, so obviously I’m not in the best mood, but I just was not feeling it. Gay.
I wanted to give it a 3 because it's ok like most things I've heard so far, but it just grated on me after an hour
These guys are insufferable. Round up to a 2 for originality.
The quavering of his voice is really grating on the ears. I can't stand when people sing like this, but the music is good, so I can't give it a 1.
Eh. Not something I could see myself revisiting
Bij het andere album wat ik van ze kreeg had ik al wat moeite om er in te komen en dat is deze keer niet anders. Al lijkt dit album iets minder ingewikkeld te zijn. Iets. Het blijft wat kunstzinnig, wat eigenlijk ook gewoon een ander woord is voor ingewikkeld, en een tikkeltje vals. Ik hoor ook deze keer dat het wel goed in elkaar zit, maar toch vind ik dit geen feest om aan te hebben staan. De zanger heeft zacht gezegd geen al te fijne zangstem, een valse kraai is er niks bij, en dat doet sowieso ook wat afbreuk aan het genot. Tegelijkertijd vind ik een 2 zoals ik bij dat andere album gaf ook wel aan de strenge kant. Een lastige dus. Ik ga het toch op een 2,5 naar 2 houden.
Some mediocre music with subpar vocals Best Song: Race For the Prize Rating: 4.5/10 Stars: 2
Wayne Coyne concocts big daft lovely soundscapes with enigmatic lyrics, and it all leaves me cold. Soz Wayner!
jest po prostu okej, daję 2,5
idk man
I didn’t enjoy this album as much as I have other flaming lips stuff I’ve heard. Just wasn’t feeling it.
I stood up and I said "nah"
zzz (trots Race For The Prize som är trevlig)
I think this is fine but not great, like I will probably not listen to this again and I found Coyne's vocals grating in a way I don't remember on the tracks of theirs I like. but it's not bad? I do not feel diminished for having listened to it. the back half of the album is much stronger than the first half. mostly. I bet Feeling Yourself Disintegrate is a nice song without that awful rapapap in your ears. probably not adding to collection
this album was a sloggggg for me to get through. really didn't enjoy it until i got to the last song on the album. it was nice a good listen for me
I’m tempted to rate it a 3 because I liked the beginning so much, but this is a 2 on my normal scale. I liked the production even though it was a lot. I couldn’t distinguish some of the instruments and they were intentionally distorted. Cool, but only mostly as novelty.
Not a big fan of this guys voice. The music is good though. The second half of the album was much more enjoyable than the first. I'm between a 2 and a 3.
1.8 / 5 We've had "Yoshimi battles the pink robot" before and it was awful. And now we just got another Flaming Lips album... I still don't get what you need to consume to put something like this on this list. It's honestly not as bad as the album that followed, but it's still annoying af. For me personally, the sound is just too dreamy plus the singer can't really sing. It's sad since I was actually hoping for a redemption arc to kick in here, but we're pretty far off of that. At least they didn't plagiarize other artists' music this time afaik, so 1.8 stars is fair I'd say.
Nossa que voz zoada em umas músicas... parece amador as vezes. Nada de impressionante nesse álbum, não curti.
Technically impressive performances, strange vocals and lyrics.
Music: 4/5 Production: 3/5 Vocals: 0/5 Writing: 1/5 So you’re telling me Neil Young has a sequel??? I’m out :(
Eh, this fell flat for me. I feel like I would need a little drugs, not much, just a touch, to really vibe with it.
eh
Not sure
The singing and guitar drew me straight in to these songs. I was enjoying it a lot. And then the drums kicked in and I wanted to stop listening straight away. The songs which doesn't have that really distorted heavy drum part are great. This album is doing so many great things but I just can't stand it as a whole. I will keep some songs with me for the future but as a whole I can't give it a higher score.
A lot of indie kids love The Flaming Lips but I never warmed up to them. Their songs sound decidedly average. Purposefully off key singing? With cheap lo fi sounding synths (which I normally like but not here). The beats have no backbone.
Listened to it years ago, not bad. Only really liked the first song.
Not sure why we have two Flaming Lips albums on this list. Seems a little indulgent. I preferred the other album.
i think wayne coyne is a dumbass
With apologies to sunny I really didn't like this. Can't stand the bloke's voice
Абсолютно не мій гурт, я навіть не можу якось описати цю музику, настільки вона для мене абстрактна.
Boring, but never really liked the flaming lips anyways.
Didn’t care for it but atleast it wasn’t painful to listen to
# Album Name: The Soft Bulletin # Artist: Flaming Lips # Rating: 2/5 # Comments: Man, this album was so boring. I feel like i could take a singing class and be at the same level as the lead singer. He doesnt have the best voice. Theres only one good song on the album. # Top Tunes: Race for the prize # Would I listen to it again? No
The Soft Bulletin I feel broadly similar about this as I did with Yoshimi, although I think Yoshimi is definitely a better album. I do still like the hazy psychedelia and there are some good songs but overall it doesn’t quite land for me, passing me by in a fug of similar sounds and feels, with only Race for the Prize, Suddenly Something Has Changed and Feeling Yourself Disintegrate really standing out. Yoshimi was a solid 3, and while fine, this is certainly a rung below that, and realistically I can’t see myself listening again, so I’ll go with a perhaps slightly harsh high 2. 🍦🍦 Playlist submission: Feeling Yourself Disintegrate
Besides the singer's voice, which reminds me of Neil Young, and not in a good way, this album just didn't reach me in any way. I listened to it and couldn't remember afterwards if I heard the whole thing. So I listened to it a second time, with the same result. That whole thing just slipped by and I didn't even notice the different tracks. Totally unremarkable.
Nhe
This is a lot like "Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots" in that, outside of each album's one obvious radio single, there's not a whole lot to grab onto. That said, the overall experience here felt weaker than "Yoshimi", and I really had to force myself to listen to it a second time to see if I had missed something. I hadn't. The lyrics are simple and repetitive, and the meandering filler tracks (including two redundant remixes) felt even less relevant and more forgettable than the fillers on "Yoshimi".
I had to look up the last Flaming Lips album for reference. I stated it dragged, and so did this. There were brief moments I was getting into. I could seeing it grow on me. But those highs didn’t outweigh what goes against this album.
The flaming lips: I can barely tolerate this attempt at singing. Good and varied instrumentals. I should never feel imposter syndrome about my singing skills is the bottom line. 2*
Not a big fan of this at all I’m not going to lie. The voice is whiny, the music is bad and I just didn’t care for the overall tone. Thumbs down Specific rating - 1.6 Fav song-what is the light? Least fav- waitin’ for a superman
Clearly I was too hasty in assuming my inability to sing would preclude me from having a career in music.
I’m sorry you guys his voice is annoying
Somehow both silly for the sake of it and awfully pedestrian. It's like the rock version of someone writing a derivative sonata but adding Rzewskian extended techniques.
3/10… psychedelic pop / alt.rock
I like good singing. This didnt have good singing.
Boring
Not something I'd seek to listen on my own time, would rather have Yoshimi
Definitely an album of it's time. Not a personal fan.
Not too bad
Wayne Coyne + constantly hearing that this band was great are almost enough to downgrade to 1 star. it doesn't deserve 1 star. it might be ok without Wayne Coyne singing. this band sucks. music: hated. (⌐■_■)
I did not like this at all
2,5
An ordinary rock band for me. An OK album.
It was fine. Wouldn't really listen to it again, though. Nothing really stood out to me other than the spiderbite song, and even that I would rate only a 4/10, imo. 2 cuz it wasnt bad, just not my thing.
I had high hopes after Yoshimi was so good, but this record was so unbelievably boring and repetitive
I think I was supposed to like this. On paper I should have, but I spent most of this asking what the dickens this absolute guff was.
Nice sound but nothing special
couldn't finish this... whoops
Found this to be suuuuper annoying to listen to. Not sure why, but I really disliked this
One good song in my opinion. Not enough to make the album a must listen. Listen to the single and leave the albm.
Mixed feelings about this. Some songs were enjoyable, others dragged on a bit. The singer was also not great, and some of the lyrics where childish and predictable. Overall- not bad, but didnt really enjoy it. 2.5/5, not a 3
Weird album. Has a kind of circus/Sgt. Peppers-wannabe feel to it. Kinda corny and wonky throughout, with vocals that aren't always appealing. Not sure I like this one very much, even though I know how popular this group is.
Inoffensive and boring
This album is dragging the life out of me.
I just don’t think they’re my thing. Parts of songs were enjoyable. But often they were ruined by bizarre instrumentation that didn’t fit together for me. 2/5
Bread/Air Supply/ELO for cool kids
I feel like I'm supposed to like this album because everyone and their brother says it's a masterpiece. I guess I'm not hearing the masterpiece part of it. *shrugs* It's OK, but I don't need to hear much more from it. 2.3/5 stars after 2 full complete listens. I can't stand a lot of the songs, they're either just random sounds and what not or just annoying.
This has some interesting elements but the vocals mostly made it an unpleasant listen.
dont really remember it
Yuck.
I didn’t love it but I also didn’t hate it I guess. 2.5
Felt a lil nostalgic sometimes, but mostly generic...? Idk, I don't think I'd return to it. I kept thinking about the Queen album the whole time. It had some cool drum and guitar parts though! Standouts: Race for the Prize • The Spark That Bled
Büro, Heidenheim, Deutschland. Es kommt Langeweile auf.
I really like the flaming lips but only one song stuck out to me on this album.
Oh my gawwwd. Your music is so quirky and weird. That must mean you're like…really smart… and deep, right? Right??? I used to really dig this era of off-beat indie. But looking back, I'm coming to the opinion that it lacks staying power. Especially this brand of it. It's just a bunch of banal vocals churning out nonsensical lyrics over catchy beats with spacey soundscapes and some sci-fi sound effects layered in. I cared at the time because that's what was popular, but I find it really hard to give a shit about it now. It's too self-important. Too convinced that I, the listener, should care about what they're putting out simply because it's what they're putting out. I know this is a hot take, but there's nothing here that Bowie didn't already do - and do better - decades prior… or that other acts (like Animal Collective or Tame Impala) wouldn't go on to do - and do better - over the next two decades. You're the middle children of psych/art rock musical history, and I'm left wondering why I should care? Maybe I'm just in a bad mood, but the more I listen to this trying to decide what rating to give it, the more I kind of hate it. I think I'm going to have to give out my 3rd ever 2-star rating. 2/5 Highlights: Race for the Prize - Remix
Very eclectic and talented band and lead singer, just not for me 2.5
Not my favorite album by them. Bonus point for being prolific.
I've heard of the Flaming Lips but never really knew anything by them, so I was interested to see what this was like. The best way to describe this is one of two ways: 1. A crappy carnival with a few good rides, but it all started to melt. 2. A jack-in-the-box which was low on batteries. Anyway, a couple of things stood out: - They have a very interesting style, one that takes a lot of risks, which is very cool. Occassionally this is to their determent, though I generally liked this, except . . . - The singer is terrible. I'm betting he is revered by a few for some strange reason, but his voice is very inadequate. Strained but in a bad way, with limited vocal range that stays in a very annoying spot. - The lyrics might be worse. Singing fly in the air, comb your hair over and over again? Completely uninspired. I take that back, the vocals are worse. Definitely. If you want to get the gist, listen to The Spark That Bled. Some weird chords at the beginning, terrible singing, then some cool instrumentals in between more terrible singing. Unfortunately, the redeemable qualities are well outweighed by the lack of good vocals or excellent song construction. Very confident that some people love these guys, mainly because they are looking for something different. Sadly, in this case, different = very bad. Still, giving them a 2 because of the risks they take (respect). Edit: Essentially all of the 5 star reviews I have seen are from people who already love the band and/or have seen them a series of times. None from someone discovering them for the first time, which I find very interesting. This is definitely a band that you either love or hate, there really is no in between. For me, I can't get past how bad the singer and lyrics are. This album would have been much better for me as an instrumental.
2,5
Below Average
I did not like the album. I see so many people loving it and I just don’t really understand. I think it all would have sounded better without any lyrics or singing. The lyrics are so bad, I feel like they just put whatever rhymed together. The singer was not even really singing and he was not even singing the right key half the time. I also agree with some people who says he sounded a little like Kermit the frog.
Dull...
Meh. It's interesting I guess? Too showy, voice too soft, too cute.
It all sounds rather uninspired and unexciting. Plus I don't really like to vocals on this album. It's not clear to me why this is considered highly enough to be included in the list - it's not even average.
Ok
Music was OK. Vocals were horrible. How this is in the 1001 is beyond me.
I own this album and have always found it disappointing, I do like some of Yoshimi but this is both pretentious and seems overly simple both lyrically and musically.
The Flaming Lips are a very specific acquired taste that I never acquired. I tried but just wasn't for me.
2 estrelas
Another possibly fun album torpedoed by an unlistenable lead vocalist. There were some fun songs in the back half, but at the beginning I thought this was a parody album made in some amateur capacity.
Yoshimi (reviewed a while back) hits me in the right spot (as long as I'm in the mood for it. This album didn't do it for me. 2 stars.
Not very interesting and at time far too maudlin.
Couldn’t get past the whiny, grating vocals.
I expected a band called The Flaming Lips to be a lot more fun
There was alright stuff on here but just overall bleh stuff. 2 stars
Rich & effervescent in some places and weak and kind of schizophrenic in others. Wayne’s voice is a bit rough as always, but it works quite well in some contexts. I like the instrumental track “The Observer” and “Race for the Prize”.
Just didn’t hit for me. Found the music fairly forgettable and boring. Vocals sounded thin and slightly grating. No standouts.
Great music, terrible vocalists. What a shame.
Unremarkable. The lead singer's voice is a bit screechy sometimes. No standout tracks for me
Not sure why, but I've always felt kinda meh about The Flaming Lips. Some tracks really can hook me, and I have enjoyed seeing them live, but somehow I am not generally attracted to their music. This album is no exception.
2. dislike vocalist
Didn't enjoy this one, there are nice elements and the recognisable vocals add character, but it all feels a bit cobbled together. None of the songs fascinate me, they merely exist.
This is a weird one for me. There's definitely some commonalities in sound with things I like (My Morning Jacket, specifically), but I just don't love it.
Eh, okay
Maybe I just wasn’t in the right mood, but I just couldn’t sit through Kermit the frog singing much longer. Had to turn it off halfway through. 2 stars because there are some good moments sprinkled in (mostly when there’s no vocals!)
Nothing spectacular from them. There are some good songs on other albums, but nothing too impressive here.
I made the mistake of staying for The Flaming Lips after a Dinosaur Jr. show. Until then, I really didn't mind FL and viewed Wayne Coyne as a curiosity of sorts and was familiar with Pink Robots. Over the next 120 minutes, he brought out all kinds of balloons, mugged for the camera and fell all over himself to prove just how wild and interesting he is. But the truth is neither he or the FL were more than elaborate carnival barkers. I'd never heard this album before but needless to say I went in with a low bar and lot of bias. Surprisingly, it wasn't as irritating as I expected and I found myself really digging the Waiting for a Superman track. Other than that, the Flaming Lips cann kiss off in the air.
Hate his voice. Hate it even more after hearing him live and him telling me every 30 seconds to clap louder. Why don't you sing better and THEN I will clap louder.
1. Very unpleasant distortion effect on the drums. Hard to listen to. Also, going in with some bias; I don't like this band 2. This guy's sings like he's mocking another singer that he hates. 3. This song actually sounds pretty cool, but the vocals ruin it for me. This guy just doesn't have the chops to pull off his imitation of Neil Young 4. I cannot wait to not be listening to this anymore 5-8. Unremarkable 9. "Putting all the vegetables away...". Yeah, fucking rock-'n'-roll, man!!!! Ugh 10. Intro sounds like the score for an epic western movie reminiscent of Ennio Marconi, which is cool. I'm digging the choir too. Of course, the main vocalist ruined it 2½ minutes in Yeah, I think I'd like all of this if the dude just didn't sing ⭐ ⭐
This was an okay album. Not what I expected from the Flaming Lips. Wayne Coyne's "singing" is better taken is small doses. I liked "Race for the Prize". The rest of the album was unremarkable.
Just as I'd remembered it. Front-heavy and still not that great. Has moments that are pretty cool, but it's not worth sifting through the entire album to find them.
Not terrible, but also not amazing. Kinda boring-lead singer sounds like a shitty version of the Eels lead singer mixed with a muppet, which was distracting. Would not revisit. Some interesting instrumental stuff?
Did not care for this one as much as Yoshimi. This one was just a little boring.
I went into this not being a very big fan of The Flaming Lips and I'm still not. The production's pretty good, but I'm just not nuts about the vocals. I hear they're much better live.
I wouldn’t have know it was them with a thousand guesses. That’s not a good thing
Decent, but not anything special really. "Race for the prize" and "Waitin' for a superman" were pretty good.
I like some aspects of this band, but this record was just too much for me. There are some beautiful orchestral parts and creative sounds, but it lacks meaningful melodic content to me.
Not sure what it is but I did not gel with this album. Musically I can see it is really good, maybe it's the vocals that I didn't enjoy as much. There were some ok tracks. Stand out tracks: - The spark that bled - Waitin' for superman - Feeling yourself disintegrate
# 367 : I don't love it, I don't hate it. I thought it was very ordinary and Quiet forgettable.
Do you like rock music? If you do then this album for you. This album suck. The guys voice is horrible I don´t like it. Also the lyrics sucks too. This album just suck I would not recommend this album.
The first song we listened to on this album(the spiderbite) kinda sounds like they were rushing while making it but maybe that is their style. it was kinda boring but (waiting for superman) sounds way more smoother. There are no big gaps between the lyrics or the instruments so it sounds way nicer. Overall they have some good songs but i would recommend this album.
the album waiting for Superman is a boring song why I think that is because nothing really sound interesting to me like the lyrics they just sound plain and boring and the singer isnt really the best fit for the singing I think the instruments are fine but the rest I don't think is really good I think this album isn't that good and I would not recommend listening to this album
Do you like weird lyrics in songs? If so, this album is for you! There are one or two songs with lyrics like that. I do like this album, but not the songs with weird lyrics. But other than that, it's okay. The singers' voice is really good, and the background music is really good.
I just didn't like it that much! Aside from the one song that I always loved, the rest didn't land the way I thought they would. I found his voice almost unbearable, which is nuts considering how much I have loved other albums by Flaming Lips
i listened yesterday but i dont really remember what it sounded like so perhaps it wasnt that influential on me
Couldn't get into it - feels far too radio friendly
Not as good as the Robots one
Fine, not my style, very 90s
I just can’t get into these guys.
I am not sure if I like it or not. It has a lot of ideas combined into one record. That is maybe too much. But maybe I just didn’t understand it completely.
Pretty average. Creatively intriguing but not for me.
Unlikely to listen to this again.
Meh
Race for the Prize is great. Everything else is shockingly mediocre.
eh
#358. If ,like me, "She Don't Use Jelly" is the only Flaming Lips song you've heard, and you were wondering if maybe the rest of their songs were better... well, the short answer is: no. Sorry. 2/5: umm...
Not my thing
I quickly ran out of patience and turned it off early. There's just no weight to any of it. "MEDIOCRE!" -Immortan Joe
Kind of an odd experience. I wasn't really able to connect with the music, though that's not to say it was unpleasant. The production and mixing is solid, the use of strings is decent (if a little too standard and non-boundary-pushing), and the layering does give the impression that this should be really good music. However, there are too many flaws to justify any medium-to-high rating. As many reviewers have noticed, the vocalist is quite bad, having a promising timbre but with half the notes being very off-pitch. (This gets really distracting as early as the opening track, Race for the Prize (Remix) – which is also the strongest on the album.) The instrument-playing is not impressive/virtuosic in any capacity. Additionally, a lack of solid hooks really holds the music back. There's not too much to say here. The Soft Bulletin is fine, but nothing special. 2/5 Key tracks: Race for the Prize, Waitin' for a Superman
Wow a band named after thrush that sounds like LCD Soundsystem for even bigger losers. Instrumentals are good, but once that crybaby wankers voice kicks in I really just can't do it. This record what Radiohead sounds like to people who hate Radiohead You're lucky to get a 2 lads
Probably the album I tried to give the best chance in recent memory. I was keen to give this a good listen when being introduced to the dreamy/trippy and often melancholic instrumentals. Being released right near the turn of the century feels interesting too, given the change in direction of the indie revival/'landfill' era that would come to follow. When the elements of this album work for me, they work really well. drums and other percussion don't usually come to the forefront for me when listening to music but there was something really attention grabbing about them here. 'The Soft Bulletin' feels like an appropriate title for the guitar in a lot of this, never too overbearing and feeling almost cloudy in the atmosphere they bring. Most of my gripes with this are with the singer. Who takes aspects of other irritating vocal performances I have had issues with previously and blends them together. His performance feels very sincere and is at times tolerable, but will then go into some sequence where he is choosing to either over-accentuate things in an overly American way, or going into this hoarseness in his throat that leaves him sounding scracthier than the Squeaky voiced Teen from The Simpsons. I think it actively made me like the album less on repeat listens the more I tried giving it a chance Highlights: Race for the Prize, The Spark That Bled
"The album was also noted for its fusion of ordinary rock instruments, electronic beats, and synthesizers. Its large, layered, symphonic sound has also earned it a reputation as the Pet Sounds of the 1990s from a few critics." Perhaps these same music critics were too busy doing whippets and sucking each other off to remember one of the pillars of the Beach Boys' sound was the vocal harmonies between the band members. Straight up, this album was a fucking slog to listen to. The Spiderbite Song genuinely made me physically uncomfortable the first time the singer first said the word 'spiderbite'.' The instrumentals here are phenomenal, the arrangement is great EXCEPT FOR THE DRUM TRACK. Good fucking god, you're telling me this is their ninth album and they let the drums come out this shit? I guess the critics are right, Pet Sounds was known for innovating by using unorthodox methods of making music like using hairpins to pluck piano wire. I suppose drums that sounds like shit is basically the same thing right? In all seriousness, the instrumentation here is amazing if you can get past the drums here. I am not going to talk about the vocals. This album doesn't have the luxury of being released at a time where it would have been considered innovative. The fact that this has a 100 on AllMusic is fucking crazy to me. The Observer is a song that demonstrates how great this album is without vocals. The more I listen to albums from this book (especially 90s-onwards) the more I realise that Joe's Garage is not on here because it shit talks music journalists. 5/10
Pish
Terrible apart from the 1st two songs which I liked it massively dipped and the songs became a skippable mess, vocals poor as well
grunge
It was aight, I just dont particularly like this genre of music (i thought i filtered it out)
Lo he escuchado sin prestarle mucha atención. El Race for the prize está bien, pero no lo veo un disco fundamental.
Un autre album indie rock insipide, avec un chanteur au talent vocal douteux. Ô grand générateur, combien d'albums indie me reste-t-il à affronter pour atteindre l'illumination?
1001 tone deaf vocal tracks continues.
I’ve heard great things about this band that I’ve never listened to. This was a disappointment. Maybe I should have started with a different album.
Exasperating, as there were some decent songs spoiled by the drum mix. It sounds like they're back in the garage but not in a good way.
Thought I might enjoy more. But no.
Listen to the Eels Novocaine for the Soul...could have been the same band/record. The whiny vocals are nails on chalkboard for me.
The lead singer's voice is annoying to the point of distraction. It's like a joke I'm not in on. He sounds like Daniel Johnston or the lead singer of Dr. Dog. One he was probably influenced by the other he probably influenced. I want to write this off but there's a whimsical quality to it that is kind of endearing. It's growing on me, there's a sadness behind the happy vibe that is appealing. There's a similarity to The Shins. I listened to it 30 minutes ago and I cannot tell the difference between Race for the Prize and Race for the Prize (Remix).
I have a strong aversion to The Lips in general, but of all their highly acclaimed 'classic' albums, I've always thought this one was the worst and never understood the hype.
Not for me 2/5
Don't like singer's voice
Wow this vocalist is annoying. Musically it's decent which is why I guess it's 2 stars.
I had a friend who's taste in music had me completely stumped. He was big on classics like The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Queen. He even recognized talent in Badfinger! Reversely, he praised garbage like King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard and The Flaming Lips. The whiplash is unreal. "The Soft Bulletin" has no real arrangement, the vocals trip over themselves, the pacing is a train-wreck, and the band seem to be tone-deaf. I'm not sure I want The Flaming Lips to be lumped with other alternative rock acts like Neutral Milk Hotel and Radiohead.
Experimental Rock? Some songs are quite weird and stressful. Others are okay, but nothing that hooked me.
the intro track was okay, everything else was very very boring NNN
Didn't like it...can't really put my finger on the reason.
There are some interesting aspects to this album, but its hard to look past the singing and mediocre lyrics...
I honestly didn't know what I would be hearing. To my ears it's enjoyable but didn't knock my socks off. Good vibes and blends of indie rock, psychedelia, trance etc
2.5 it’s alright. I feel like their goal was to just make cool sounds rather than make good songs