Reviews (page 8 of 10)
This album was great, and I say that without even knowing what they were singing about half the time. The flaming lips were able to create such a cool sound that is truly their own. I’m not even sure how I would describe this album; pop? alternative? Psychadelic? They combine them all to create a unique experience that really draws you at the ruin and doesn’t let it go. This guy isn’t exactly the most talented vocalist, he’s more of a talker really, but something about it is pretty captivating. Another 5? Two days in a row? What a weekend it’s been already. Heard before: none? Although the beginning beat in what is the light sounds too familiar 😫: race for the prize, spark that bled, disintegrate. Honestly all of these tracks bring something to the table. Interesting note: The album was remastered in 2017 and it features a different mix of the song “Buggin” than the original album. Kinda odd thing to do don’t you think? Song still bangs tho
Nice vibes but kind of monotonous.
I assume his mom didn't tell him to stop singing
Good
Lush psych pop classic flaming lips album
One that I’d missed, though ‘Race for the Prize’ is correctly unavoidable. Heard mostly on a rental car stereo on the way to drop off said Toyota Yaris hybrid back at Curries Motors, last three songs on headphones walking through Waltham Abbey. Sunny morning , appropriately. Curries wouldn’t refund the replacement tire I had put on after a blow out on the A41, but I was expecting that so was not too disappointed. First time I’ve changed a car tire, one more point in the dad column. Listened to the last two songs while eating fish cake and chips from a Greek chippy in Waltham Cross - I knew they were Greek from the inclusion of souvlaki and “Greek side dishes” on the menu in a sort of faux-ancient Greek lettering in contrast to the bog standard font of the rest of the menu. Context can be important sometimes, Simon. Yeah, I like this, would happily ask it out for dinner to get better acquainted, maybe over flirtinis, who knows? The drums stood out for me on first listen - in places, a very effective “there’s a loud and flashy drummer living next door” effect, just enough remove to prevent them from being overpowering, but acting as rowdy interlopers to the dreamy, orchestral stuff in the front. Beautiful to listen to, but little lingered in my consciousness on first two go rounds, as if hooks are too crude for such a crafted object. The delicate vocals cleave closer to twee than I usually tolerate, but work for what surrounds them - the voice very occasionally breaks a little, which I like. It’s a mood piece on the first couple of listens.
didn't like this as much as I did when it came out; still features three absolute bangers with "What Is The Light" as the highlight. really went off The Lips when I saw them live about 10 years later and Coyne was such a screeching preening dickhead, more interested in wandering around the audience in a fucking plastic bubble than singing anything approaching a tuneful vocal. left after 15 minutes and have hardly listened to them since
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.
Quite enjoy a bit of the flaming lips. Been a while since I listened to any of their stuff. Another one perhaps worth a revisit. Going to be more telling after a few listens, but 4 seems fair from one listen.
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.
3.5/5
ambitious which is good aggressively weird which is bad but beautifully produced which is good but self indulgent which is bad
it's enjoyable but it's not yoshimi battles the pink robots or at war with the mystics.
As soft as a tense vagina shaking in a windy corridor. A smack on the lips by an enormous cock.
Suppose
Today I learned I am not a fan of flaming lips.
Production good, voice good, all in all very nice but all in all just some pop album.
ok
Un excellent album par les Flaming Lips, qui ont un son si particulier, que je trouve novateur et dont les textes me parlent énormément.
Some good parts to it
Absolutely brilliant, will re-listen again and again.
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.
na tentativa de alterar o estilo música dessa banda específica, eles basicamente soaram como qualquer outra banda do mesmo gênero. não achei o álbum tão ruim, mas nada é memorável nele.
uuuuuh diferente ? experimental ? indie ? De qualquer forma, não posso analisar tecnicamente, visto que me falta conhecimento para isso - mas sonoramente é esquecível; uma tentativa de fazer algo diferente que, pelo menos pra mim, não funcionou.
Lame
15th March 2023 Listened in the day while working from home. Jake doing the floor, pre wedding for Ben and Nilisha. Love this band, they’re so different and Wayne Coyne is a hero. Men from outer space teaching us to be nice.
Highlights: "The Spark That Bled," "Buggin," "Sleeping on the Roof" Props to the raw production on the drum and bass for trying to bring heat to one of the worst frontmen in the history of pop music. The weak, whining performance forces you to process the dumbest, most clumsily constructed lyrics you've ever heard. Right from the opener, a generous listener hearing about doomed scientists might think they're listening to an ode to the Curies. Nope! They're both explicitly men. After much searching, people conclude the scenario is totally made up because the band thought it seemed profound. Their juxtaposition of anodyne harmony and embarrassing childishness with stock morbidity is bankrupt, and it has to be shoehorned to fit the melody. And it's all like that. A superior form of this entire style was already created by Eels with Electroshock Blues, something that actually draws on life for its hard-won optimism and puts it into meter. Most of the psych elements here are ribbons and bows on something unsalvageable.
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
I was admittedly not into the album at first... I've only ever been familiar with Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (who hasn't seen that album cover at least once?). Was walking in the rain while listening and it just started to make sense to me. Notable tracks - 'Buggin', 'The Gash', and 'Sleeping On the Roof'. I'll definitely be listening again! This album made me finally understand the brilliance woven into the fabric of this album.
Winsome and charming, just like it was back in day, when one listened to this quite a bit and when it become personally meaningful. Still packs punch through the unique mix of its big, well layered sound and its gentleness of emotion and effect. (Editors are right about FLs' humanity.) While one found the live antics to be a bit much, the record is a delight and first-rate all around. Indeed, one forgot how much soul there is in it. One hopes they enjoyed the critical and commercial recognition they received and – more importantly – deserved.
Some good songs some not as good but very solid
How long has it been since I saw someone on Reddit recommending this album? 20 hours? Turns out this is a real treat, the only song I knew before was "Race for the Prize", but it's great psych-pop rock all across the board- and 90s MIDI synths never sounded better
I really didn’t enjoy it very forgetful
not for me
This is a favorite of mine. I like Pink Robots better but this is an easy 5. I LOVE albums that are weird and disjointed and the Lips are exactly that. The melodies are great and the songs have this feeling like they are going to fall apart angry second.
This could be a difficult one for some - the detuned synths and slightly weak vocals could be off-putting, but if you can get past that it's a rewarding album. I was lucky enough to see them live in the 90s and they put on a joyous and inspirational show. This album doesn't quite capture the vibe of the live show, but that only points out how good they are live. This album is full of great songs, full of experiments and a showcase for a band finding a new sound.
Not very inspiring.its a “vibe” album.I didn’t really like the vibe though.Maybe it’s a mature thing.
Such a fun and creative project. Not something I would normally listen to but the creativity of all the sounds and recording techniques were so interesting. I could imagine the band having a lot of fun recording this - a lot of "Hey let's try this", or "hey what if we" and each time they're all like "hell yeah let's try it". I'm familiar with these techniques in modern music (like lfo panning), so to hear it done in an older project is really cool. And how tf did they do their drums.
Expected less, got more. It's just really good music. You can hear the freshness in pretty much every track.
Great stuff, hadn't heard it before
i’m ngl this album was ass
Great album!
Probably the best overall Flaming Lips record. They did some pretty creative stuff, musically, on this one, and while the songs do start to bleed together in the middle, it's an enjoyable listen overall due to the standouts.
"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.
Not a big fan, nice voice but just couldnt get into 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'd only ever listened to the Yoshimi Battles album before (which I got almost 400 albums ago) and I think I liked this album more than that one. In the intervening time I've come to appreciate this type of music a bit more. Maybe I'll revisit the other album as well. Still a bit longer though.
это первый альбом, где техническая составляющая очень мешала воспринимать музыку. местами происходит какое-то безумие по панораме; барабаны то по центру, то чуть смещены, то долбят в одно ухо; с остальными инструментами происходит нечто похожее. при этом отдельные треки звучит крайне внятно. отмечу треки The Observer и Sleeping on the Roof, которые очень выделяются по вайбу, пространство замирает и ты остаешься в этом ощущение. ещё интересно звучит Feeling Yourself Disintegrate, поначалу звучало немного кринжово, особенно вот этот голос в начале бегающий по панораме, но общее ощущение неплохое от трека в остальном мешанина, которую я чет ваще не понял. ставлю 2 за местами интересные идеи и пару хороших треков
2 раза подряд смешанные чувства Окей, идеи партий синтов и барабанов прикольные. Но! Вокал улетел куда-то далеко (хотя слушал ремастер): Панорама тебя больше путает и заставляет следить; Само качество вокала и его обработка оставляют не самые приятные впечатления: Бочка какая-то ультра дисторнутая Короче, вроде и прикольно и интересно, но я больше разочарован
Хех, у ударника фамилия "Дрозд": хорошую себе профессию выбрал. Не понял сакрального смысла пихать в альбом ремиксы, да ещё и в самое начало: чтобы сразу показать, что самим конфетку сделать не получилось что ли...? И да, что опять блин со стерео не так... вторая песня убила нахрен. А ну и да: вокалист не вывозит. Ему прям очень тяжело, он сипилявит на верхних нотах, не выходит на них чисто, иногда просто мимо поёт. Ну что, я так чувствую, фанаты психодела снова будут пытаться оправдывать этот альбом, мне он не понятен. Мне понравилось, что это что-то новое жанрово, относительно нескольких предыдущих альбомов, чуваки активно используют синты и электронные барабаны. Но сведос... ну хорошо, где-то он даже приличный: в Buggin' remix, например. А, точно, это же ремикс! Да и вообще, вторая половина лучше первой, как так-то...
Приятно, мягко, вкусно. Чутка затянуто, конечно, так что 4-
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.
Where have you been all my life?
I'm a huge Yoshi fan and this certainly has hints of where that album is going. I like Wayne's vocal delivery, a sincere understated honesty that works so well with this music. Pretty solid album, though Feeling Yourself Disintigrate and Race for the Prize are highlights.
Love the storytelling, the humour, the production
Every Flaming Lips album is a film score. Soaring and gorgeous.
2.5
Sounds like the Flaming Lips to me - well done!
The Flaming Lips were the first band I ever discovered "on my own". It wasn't something my parents listened to and it wasn't something my friends told me about. Yoshimi was my first love, and I couldn't get enough. I heard on the early internet (The E.I.) that some people thought this album was EVEN BETTER than Yoshimi! I had to get my hands on it. I was obsessed with this from about 2002 to 2004. It is still great, but I acknowledge that I am the opposite of whatever Objective is.
Interesting but nothing unique
The songs are all in such a high key that the singer can't reach the high notes. That's just bad execution of songs that could have worked.
Kinda cool but also can't recall any of the songs
Some weird concepts going on, which I like. Not good enough to make a lasting imoression
Really like this! Very genuine and heartfelt. Right up my alley
2.5 really. Bit meh.
One of the best albums ever made. College student 1999. Music was getting weird. Not in a good way. i wanted weird goddammit. I also wanted great songs and production. I was familiar withy Flaming Lips. They had the fluke hit a few years earlier. I bought that album and enjoyed it, but never explored much further. Wacky psychedelic guitar rock. So this really caught me by surprise. It doesn't even have much guitar at all. Race For The Prize- an all time great album opener and mission statement. They have opened every show I've seen them do with this song. A Spoonful Weighs a Ton-I always see Teletubbies when I hear this. Their video screen was star of the show at Canopy Club Urbana (Sparklehorse opened!) The Spark That Bled-fake blood. Mortality. Big theme on this drugged out masterpiece of an album.
3+
Mä en oo koskaan tajunnut Flaming Lipsiä, vaikka ehkä pitäis? Vähän indie, mutta ei riittävästi, vähän tunnetta mukana, mutta ei tarpeeksi. Jotain semmoista, ja aika tylsää, vaikka yritin tällä kertaa tykätä.
Täähän oli tosi jees! Jälleen yksi hieman tuntemattomaksi jäänyt klassikkobändi kyseessä. 4/5
Tää levy merkkaa mun mielessä sitä ajankohtaa rockin historiassa, kun jenkeistä alkoi tulla viimein enemmän kiinnostavaa rockia kuin briteistä. Jenkeissä alkoi garage rock revivalit ja indiebuumit, kun briteissä loppui shoegazen ja britpopin tulva. Ihanan rehellistä indietä ja vaikka sitä melkein odottaa, että leikittelevä instrumentaatio alkaisi jossain kohtaa menettää tehoaan, niin Flamingo Lips naulaa sen niin luontevasti, ettei näin koskaan tapahdu. Levyn tunteellinen kaari on myös upea.
Varsin kelvollinen, jopa popahtava levy. Ei kuitenkaan ihan neloseen nouse. 3/5
3.5 + I always skip to tracks 6-8 - a wonderful stretch that gets deeply philosophic, especially on “Feeling Yourself Disintegrate.” In theory, I appreciate the rest as a cinematic rock opera but most of the songs don’t come together for me. Wayne Coyne sings like Kermit the Frog and the arrangements sound equally goofy.
the flaming lips is one of those “your favorite artist’s favorite band” kinda band. i had listened to yoshimi a number of times, but had never given this one a full listen until now. this was such a fun listen. you can hear them experimenting with ideas that i think they solidified in yoshimi. the flaming lips are for sure one of the most creatively unique rocks bands out there and this project is bursting with that creativity. it feels like i’m drunk and then i took acid but you get none of the bad parts of that experience. i’ve listened to their newest record a little bit, but this record has definitely revitalized my interest in them and i’m excited to check out the rest of their discography
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.
A truly stunning album, by one of the weirdest bands that ever was. This is the 9th (!) studio album by the Oklahoma City trio and, after mussing around with all forms of garage-rock-meets-experimental in the decade+ before, The Soft Bulletin sets the bar for all Flaming Lips work after. It sets the bar for all psych rock work after, really. Which, ever since the year 2010, what with MGMT’s Congratulations and Tame Impala’s Innerspeaker, has been having a real lengthy revivalist moment. One that The Flaming Lips’ mid-career masterpiece(s) undeniably had a profound influence on some 10 years earlier. Sometime a year ago, autumn, this album had a profound influence on me too. That was a time when I was still sorting through the sands of depression after Covid’s fallout, working a job I hated, and feeling entirely purposeless. Then, when I first heard this album, Wayne Coyne quickly became one of my favorite lyricists. During those bad commutes, his simple, child-like musings on the smallest and largest of all things, delivered in that fragile, kermit-y way he sings, bolstered by the explosive, earth-shatteringly cosmic sound of the album gave me a second chance. That sound is in big part thanks to Steven Drozd’s drum work with the help of Michael Ivins engineering and David Fridmann’s production in addition to Wayne Coyne’s endlessly wandering mind. And it sounds, still, even post Yoshimi and all that psych rock revival that followed, like nothing I’ve ever heard. But back to the lyrics. Wayne Coyne’s ability to communicate the overbearing weight of depression in a slight, incidental bleed; his ability to communicate the power of togetherness and love in a “spoonful,” or in the biting, itching bugs splattered across your windshield in summer; the burst of existential terror you might face while putting away your vegetables; that a spider bite might destroy you the same way a broken heart will, is nothing short of humanizing. It’s looking at the stars at night. The connections he draws between the big and the small of everyday life, and how it all wraps up like some sort of recipe for the Universe…I want to live in there. And I try to. Another note on this theme: in the liner notes, each of these songs is given subtitles. And the subtitle for track 6—“What is the Light?”—is “An untested hypothesis suggesting that the chemical (in our brains) by which we are able to experience the sensation of being in love is the same chemical that caused the "Big Bang" that was the birth of the accelerating universe.” “Waiting For Superman” is perhaps the album’s centerpiece; it’s thematic core and second single. Coyne sings “Is it getting heavy? …Is it overwhelming to use a crane to crush a fly? …Tell everybody waitin’ for a superman that they should try to hold on best they can…” But what I love most is the more practical note this song ends on, “It’s just too heavy for a superman to lift.” And so what Coyne emphasizes is the “waiting” rather than the “superman” and I admire him a great deal for that. Because despite all the beauty and love he sees in the most minute and grand details of life, he recognizes the overwhelming weight and chaos that makes all that beauty possible. And how it’s not usually all that suited for human kinds. In closing, I have many albums that affected and influenced me in my adolescent life. But far fewer that I’ve clung to that same way in my adult life. This album is one of the few that has. Perhaps more so than any other. But even personal histories aside, I can attest to the musical and lyrical brilliance and innovation this album brought into the world. Whatever chemical caused that first Big Bang is in here too, and it’s accelerating on.
Four years after hearing this for the first time, this is an album is the one that stuck like glue on me. Far, far away from cynical land, commercial land, cool land, exists this child-like id this so so beautiful, so unconfined, so premature… but always with a hint of sadness. The big-ness of the world as seen through the eyes of a child in the backseat of the car, whose seemingly incoherent babbling may at first be inscrutable to the adults, until realizing that— hold on— what exactly is he saying? Maybe… there’s something profound he’s getting at? Out of nowhere, the words: “I stood up and I said YEAH,” you immediately understand. That’s The Flaming Lips. Also, laying my cards out. I realized this year that I’ve been a Dave Fridmann acolyte my whole life, as a producer. And I had no idea. It’s because this album’s production DNA is stamped on so many follow-up indie records for the next 20 years. By now, it’s been somewhat codified, figured out. But there’s something so wild and untamed about the arrangements that use Disney-sounding orchestration on some 90’s synth patches, butting up against some really hard, intense shimmery synth jam. The rapid switch-ups, the wall-of-sound big-ness, the kid instruments. By now I have you figured out, Dave Fridmann. But this is a version of The Flaming Lips that isn’t fully figured out, so it’s more raw, more unpolished, than Fridmann’s later work. And I like it more. PS: if nobody’s told you this, go listen to the Live At Red Rocks version of this album, with the full orchestra and choir. You’ll be glad you did. 5/5
Popping in to quickly review this album as I ended up listening to the whole thing while cooking a Tunisian chickpea soup. What a beautiful album. I can’t wait to listen to it again and then again. I can hear how artists I love are influenced by this album. Perfume Genius must have listened to A Spoonful Weigh A Ton many times. The compositions are complex and are beautifully matched by simple and elegant lyrics. The layered harmonies are like butter. Chickpeas and butter! I could just float away into space while listening to this album. 5/5, what a gift to rediscover The Flaming Lips after all these years.
Actually very nice! Will definitely have to return; this one could become a 5/5 for me with a bit more time. Great drum sound. Lush album.
Mah, qualcosina ogni tanto c'è
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.
Already listened
Really enjoyed this listen, was always uncertain what sound this band would be. Alt indie pop. Waiting for Superman stands out.
Enjoyable 3 stars
Experimental music for sad sacks and sentimentalists.
I still don't get it. Theoretically all the parts of a great album, but it just doesn't jive with me. Maybe it's too optimistic for this cynic.
I'm really of two minds when it comes to The Flaming Lips. There are times when I hear incredible beauty and uniqueness, and other times when I feel like they're trying too hard to be quirky and different. This album mostly falls into the former category for me. 4 stars.
Fuck The Flaming Lips I Will Never Like The Flaming Lips (that intro is alright though£
This and Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots are the only 2 Flaming Lips albums that I really like, and like them I do. There's a lot of gems here but there's also times where I honestly find myself zoning out a bit. Overall a very good record. It's always good to listen to every once in a while.
pretty trippy, but you gotta like those hard beats over soft sounds.
Good listening, especiallyRace for the Prize. I loved the intro. A very etheral sound. All in all a high 3*
Boring.
WOW this is one of the most creative, moody, and beautiful albums I've heard! Waitin' for a Superman, A Spoonful Weighs a Ton, and The Spiderbite Song, they're all just...wow! Flaming Lips > Radiohead, change my mind!
one of my college favorites
Every time I listen to The Flaming Lips, I am struck with the realization that I need to listen to a lot more The Flaming Lips. The Soft Bulletin is simply magnificent. It's accessible without ever becoming trivial, and each track is given enough time to create a micro cosmos of its own. Wayne Coyne's desperate and fragile vocal is instantly recognizable and matches perfectly with the melancholic melodies on tracks like 'Race for the Prize' and 'Waitin' for a Superman'. Also, I have absolutely zero idea what the entire album is about. Not a clue.
There’s simply no denying the pure genius that is Wayne Coyne. The man might not have the most flashing vocals, technically speaking, but that is exactly what makes Coyne the perfect pop singer. His emotions are always on full display and it’s as if he could break down in front of you every second. It’s quite astonishing. The Soft Bulletin is easily one of the Flaming Lips’ greatest records, where the band’s understanding of intricate songwriting, instrumental layering and balance between delicate and noise is on full display. It’s too rare that I remember to let myself get lost in the Flaming Lips’ universe - and listening to this I’m reminded that that’s a damn shame. Please, let Yoshimi show up soon.
Shits got some bangers def one of their best albums besides yoshimi
If you don't like the voice of the singer, the (okay) music is also not pleasant.
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.
Moody, psychedelic, pleasant
Peak post-70s psychedelic. Not the most accessible but some of the most ‘lips’ songs on this. Loves his heroin. Sot Race For The Prize A Spoonful Weighs a Ton The Spark That Bled The observer Waitin for Superman Feeling Yourself Disintergrate 4/5
Quite liked this one
80 / 1069 An absolute classic album, sonically beautiful. There has been a lot written about this album much better than I could, if you haven't heard it do yourself a favor and go listen now.
This was nice to have on in the background, but there's nothing memorable about it for me.
8/10 really nice :)
8/10. I never really know what to make of The Flaming Lips, but it's certainly lyrically interesting.
Poor mixing in a lot of places and really laughable vocals at times. Still, there are lots of layers here and oddly charming moments. Could also do without the random remixes. 7/10
Soft Bulletin is hands down my favorite Lips record. I feel Soft Bulletin is their “Revolver” and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots is their “Sgt Peppers”. Soft Bulletin is the point in which the freak out acid tinged psychedelia of their early work and pop sensibility finally reached a touch point. Yet it’s still has a fresh lo-fi sound and sensibility where Yoshimi was more polished. Overall amazing album
great record.
Another classic in a series of great records by the Lips. This is the one where they first put it all together on a grand scale. Beach Boys moments mixing in with their earlier craziness.
The Soft Bulletin disappointed me. It's all a bit too whimsical and occasionally weird without any punch or purpose to it, and I can't get on with music like that. It's music made to be a background soundtrack to something much more interesting.
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
Wow, so awesome. The soundscape is so complex, the words wonderful, the tunes catchy, and they become more so the more you listen. A masterpiece!
Pretty original and enjoyable l, though the singer’s shaky voice did get on my nerves at points, but that’s just preference. 4/5
Had a hard time getting into this album. Highlights: Race for the Prize Feeling Yourself Disintegrate
Race for the Prize - classic The Spark that Bled 10/10 Middle was the usual sort of silly but still somewhat poignant Flaming Lips I have come to know and enjoy. The Observer, a beautiful tune. Suddenly Everything has Changed 10/10 The Gash - classic much love
FEELING YOURSELF DISINTEGRATE FEELING YOURSELF DISINTEGRATE FEELING YOURSELF DISINTEGRATE FEELING YOURSELF DISINTEGRATE FEELING YOURSELF DISINTEGRATE FEELING YOURSELF DISINTEGRATE FEELING YOURSELF DISINTEGRATE
A solid listen. I liked the vibe. Great lyrics & vocalist. I’d explore more of their music for sure.
Good
I like the experiment soundscapes and spacy vibes, but there are not enough hooks or emotions here to connect to. It always feels like they're building towards something that's really gonna groove...but it never quite gets there. So it's more "interesting" than it is enjoyable. "Waiting for Superman" is great, playlist-worthy track.
This is really interesting. I really like Yoshimi but hadn't stretched any further back in their catalogue. Well this album is odd for a 90s band, and well..... odd for any time either............ It lurches along musically, never seemingly planned but makes a really enjoyable rollercoaster ride. Wayne Coyne's voice is perfect for this band and I love the balance between orchestration, drums and synth. It's a tremendous trip so buckle up and enjoy.
Two great singles, and a band who in their second decade suddenly found a sound that resonated. Full of their crazy space lyrics but like the next two albums (their purple patch) underpinned by rock-solid songwriting and loads of hooks.
Requires multiple listens to catch everything that's going on. Super enjoyable. Best track: Buggin'
I like The Flaming Lips. They're just the right amount of trippy
Pretty good album! I have to admit, I've never heard anything like this before. Actually, it sounds more like a soft edition of progressive rock, like Porcupine Tree, but of course without as much virtuosity on guitars. Also, the vocal seems to be similar to Steven Wilson's or even Geddy Lee's from Rush. The vocalist is the best feature of the album, in my opinion. His singing, seemingly out of tune, and like he wouldn't even want to sing, adds a nice layer to the dreamy sequences of instruments. My favourite song is definitely "A Spoonful Weighs A Ton". Quite a lot of fillers on the album, but the overall reception was very positive. Might consider buying a vinyl!
Just kinda annoying. I wouldn't describe it as 'dream pop', its a bit jangly and the singing is whiney and out of tune
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.
I am not a fan of Flaming Lips, but when this album was released I stood up and said "Hell yeah!" Something about The Soft Bulletin was magical to me. The drums have the most unique overblown sound. Both this and Pavement's Terror Twilight just came out of left field and consumed me for a while (I have made personal retrospective rankings of albums and songs throughout my life; Terror Twilight was my #1 album of 1999 and Waiting For A Superman was my #1 song of 1999. They were kind of guilty pleasures as well because they didn't fit in to my usual listening at the time. I never felt that connection with Yoshimi, but I still come back to The Soft Bulletin a few times a year. I'm so glad the generator served this one up today, I kinda needed this boost. Waiting For Superman is the one song that absolutely destroys me... one my all time favorite songs.
Race for the prize- Not the biggest fan of the lyrics but catchy and luscious instrumental makes up for that👍 A spoonful weighs a ton- Bit of a confusing composition, I like riff in middle but not the rest The spark that bled- I don’t think this succeeds for me in forming a narrative The spiderbite song- Interesting percussion👍 What is the light?- cute love(?) song. Full title reeks of pretentiousness 👍 The observer- lofi study music core Waitin’ for a superman- This is just dull Suddenly everything has changed- many songs represent mundaness by grocery shopping. Wonder why that is The gash- maybe I’m just not in the mood but this seems overproduced Feeling yourself disintergrate- i was gonna like this one until i remembered the horrible intro then two remixes.. okay then This is another quite mid indie rock record. 2/5
Meh. This band has got loads of alt rock cachet, but I don’t get it. Few good singles in the catalogue, but overall too highbrow artsy fartsy conceptual bullshit for me.
Does wayne coyne join anthony keidis as one of the weakest frontmen in rock and roll? sure. But this album is a delight.
10/10 this album has NO RIGHT to slap this hard it honestly hits so hard for an album from early 1999 it’s so progressive and modern by todays standards, I swear they are using technology that didn’t exist yet crazy I can’t decide a favorite track, the whole album had me going 😤 just straight heat
Ugh I dont get it. It was indie music. It was an hour long. It just needed to end. It is better than a one not really a two. I am rounding down
Ok
Songs of life, death and what it is to be alive. A life affirming record that is one of my favourites (if not my favourite) of all time. Musically creative and unique, and emotionally affecting, this does the happy/sad, defeated/determined, mundane/extraordinary thing to perfection. It is totally my jam. Individually every track is brilliant and many are a microcosm of the album overall, taking the listener on a voyage from a sad or troubling feeling through to happiness, wonder or even euphoria as a result of reaching acceptance. Sometimes this emotional journey is inspired by something mundane like folding up washing or feeling a little old. My favourite moment is when Wayne's meek little voice comes in in the middle of the orchestrally huge 'The Gash' with "will the fight for sanity be the fight of our lives, now that we've lost all the reasons that we thought that we had". A devastatingly sad sentiment. But then the huge group vocals kick back in and rouse the spirit to want to keep battling and keep trying even if everything seems hopeless. I'm not sure why, but this somehow connects with me, as does the whole record. I love it because it makes me feel. Rating: 5/5 Playlist track: Race for the Prize Date listened: 06/12/22 P.S. I've grown up with the UK/Australian track listing, which I consider the definitive and best flowing version (especially if you stop after Sleeping on the Roof and ignore the three remixes at the end).
Not my Album. Like every other of their Albums more. But they habe some amazing Songs. See my Spotify faves.
Instrumentell hätt mir das ja voll gefallen aber mit diesen Vocals komm ich überhaupt nicht klar.
Mixed feelings, here, like I want to enjoy it but my attention keeps bouncing off of it. Highlights: Buggin', What is the Light.
Didnt rlly know what to expect but this was rlly solid. It has some skips but also some utterly beautiful tunes
Pop tranquilo y algo melódico. Algo de chispa le falta. Quizás un tanto depresivo
Quite nice, but a lot of sound tinkering and little composition.
The singer’s voice isn’t working for me
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
I think I'm maybe being generous here today... I liked some of the songs and would probably put it on again at some point. A soft 4
One of my two favorite albums of theirs (along with Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots). Classic Flaming Lips.
Decent sound but nothing that jumped out to me
Wasn't blown away by this, but it was alright
I don't care what Jeremy says this album is baller.
It's nice, not great.
Maybe a 4 this was good A 3 counting inflation
Kind of good but also kind of not good
Bit boring and the vocalist has an annoying voice. Just annoyed me
Always a pleasure to listen to this brilliant collection of music. The Flaming Lips' brand of highly experimental pop rock often borders on the inaccessible, but they hit the perfect mix of avant garde creativity and beautifully melodic on 'The Soft Bulletin'; it's like taking The Beatles at their prime and throwing in late 20th century studio magic with just the right amount of weird. Not only is this album an accomplishment musically, but the lyrics are also often incredibly poignant and powerful. Songs like 'Waitin' for a Superman' or 'Suddenly Everything Has Changed' do such an amazing job at capturing and conveying emotionally heavy and profound ideas in such beautifully simple ways. An absolutely perfect album and worth many, many listens.
Dull and uninteresting to me.
Really cool sounding record. I love the sounds and production and arranging. I don’t really like the singer’s voice but it kind of grew on me a little. I like the instrumental song sleeping on the roof. I enjoyed listening to this album while dozing off in the cab.
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.
Why does he write about bugs so much? I don’t think he has any business being a singer or a songwriter. Some of the songs are cool. I like the observer and the gash
очень атмосферненько сразу слышно конец 90х начало 00х softlyy agreable music
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
2/10
Yes! This is still great. Happy memories of seeing them live. Brilliant to listen to the whole thing again. Best song is obviously, boringly, Race for the Prize.
So they don't use jelly on this one. Probably because…a spoonful weighs a ton? I'll show myself out.
Not my sound, not terrible though.
I like how adventurous and unpredictable the music is but I can’t be the only one who finds his voice grating. His vocals held back a few of these songs for me. I’m sure this is a grower of an album and one listen while running errands on a Thursday isn’t going to do it justice. But there weren’t a lot of songs that I could wrap my hands around and enjoy on a first listen. I’m open to persuasion on this one but it didn’t do much for me on the initial go-around. A few tracks stood out as standalone songs: “Race for the Prize,” “Waitin’ for a Superman,” “The Gash,” “Feeling Yourself Disintegrate”
Not a bad album. Kind of like an over the top rock musical event. I think the sound overall is good but I've never been a huge fan of the band and this album continues in that. The singer's voice is a little whimpery and I think that they suffer from this thing that happens in software development- called "feature creep" where they lost in the big ideas a bit too much. It's always been my gripe with the band and this album generally has the same issue.
first time listening, likely be the only time listening.
spark that bled was cool. overall not super into this one though
That guy you know that loves Indie rock music? This is in his top 5 of all time. I spent a better part of the mid-2000's trying to get my friends to talk about anything other than The Flaming Lips, The White Stripes, and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. That said, I'd never gave this album a listen. I still don't like the lead singer's voice in a lot of sections but once you get past the whiney portions... this album is very good. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It's a little psychedelic rock, modern alt rock, electronic, and experimental. The lyrics tell the story of someone going through grief, maybe having an existential crisis. Either way, its a little trippy and a neat listen.
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”.
Rhythms were good, musicians talented, I just don’t think that guy should ever sing. Ever.
This was an interesting and compelling album. Interesting orchestrations and so many lyrics that jumped out while listening.
I was apprehensive when this album came up. I was pleasantly surprised, as I expected something with more noisy and rockin’ guitar. This was quite listenable and interesting.
I love their raggedy vocals and quirky, specific lyrics. They've got a bit of a 70s AM radio sensibility that I find quite charming.
The Flaming Lips first drew my attention back in ‘93 with their song “She Don’t Use Jelly.” The lead singer’s raspy voice seemed to be just barely catching the notes in an endearing way and I loved the song. But for whatever reason it wasn’t until decades later that I would listen to a full album from them and discover how truly magical they are. That time came at the height-of-the-pandemic when I saw a video of The Flaming Lips performing “Race for the Prize.” Each band member was inside a plastic bubble performing to an audience who were each in plastic bubbles. Self-preservation juxtaposed with the need to connect. The song seemed to be written about the scientists researching the COVID vaccines, but I was surprised to discover it was the opening track of this album from 1999. So 22 years after its release I found this album. What I found was wildly catchy, filled with insightful songs that veer wildly from the epic to the mundane. The insights into the human condition perfectly captured by this album startles me throughout. How about insects? “The Spiderbite Song” captures the fear enormous consequences from daily events. “Buggin’” annoying mosquitos mirror the annoyance of love. Did “Waitin’ for a Superman” just make me tear up a little again? “Suddenly Everything Has Changed” captures our complicated feelings about our transient emotions in a wonderfully simple song. The moment when the lead singer clears his throat before the last verse makes me feel like I’m with someone who cares. It’s a truly special moment on a truly special album. “Feeling Yourself Disintegrate” places death directly front and center. Instead of instilling fear instead it makes me feel less alone. So much love, loss, fear, hope, sadness, joy packed into an hour. Such lush, musical experimentation! More than a great album, The Soft Bulletin is a perfectly timed musical hand on my shoulder. I’ve made a new musical best friend.
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!
i like flaming lips
Not my speed.
I'm struggling with this one - I don't like his voice at all, and it's all just a bit weird and floaty and weak.
Get a singer !!
really really compelling. could listen to this a bunch.
Sappy instrumentals and awful vocals, make for a near unlistenable album
All time fave!
Ok, a little dull
Soft. It kinda softens the meat. Meh
Again I must have never truly paid attention to the brilliance of The Flaming Lips - this is a great sounding standout of an album - it’s not as perfect as the masterpiece that is Yoshimi but it ranks pretty high to me.
Easy listening and relaxing
Admittedly didn’t listen closely. Admittedly the album seduced me anyway: gorgeous stuff, like a more obviously band-oriented Stereolab, with those gorgeous strings. Can already tell this is gonna get some play around Christmas for me, some sad night. Beautiful stuff, even if I’m not exactly convinced to lay my life down for it.
It's ok I guess, some nice songs, but nothing really blew me away.
I heard this a few years back and never thought much of it. Upon revisiting the album, my opinion has happily been transformed.
Interesting record that is always worth a listem
Smooth like banana moose. This is a great album, nice and chilled and a unique sound. I saw the flaming lips earlier this year and it was a beautiful display of colour and sound. Check them out if you get a chance.
Easy listening. Great jams. Vocals okay
Desperately in need of a singer. And maybe a drummer…
3/5
Great listening
Whats with the WB logo? Thought this was a movie soundtrack at first. Turns out just more indie pop-rock. Let's see... Wimpy vocalist singing through too much reverb ✅ Ambiguous or irreverent lyrics that purposely lack any emotional depth other than melancholy ✅ Everything awash in reverby synths ✅ Music that's just catchy enough to be accessible, and just creative enough to be called artsy (but only minimally so on both ends) ✅ Yep, this is your good ol' generic indie pop-rock. The only redeeming aspect of this album is some very interesting musical passages and melodies ("The Gash" is best I'd say), but unfortunately the singer really ruins every song. And the lyrics don't help none.
This sounds like the first 21st-century psych album to me. There are plenty of nice surprises peppered throughout, and, while the annoyance quotient is still present, beauty overwhelms it.
Need to listen to it a few more times to tell if I like it but I feel like I will
I always thought I hated the Flaming Lips. A lot of their recent stuff is not my taste. I was pleasantly surprised when listening to this album! This is classic indie-psych-rock from the 90s. The production is fantastic, and while the songs aren't catchy, they have so much raw emotion in them. Highly recommend. Best Songs: A Spoonful Weighs a Ton, Feeling Yourself Disintegrate Worst Songs: Waiting for Superman
enjoyable and calming
A legitimate classic.
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.
Insanely intricate. Everything all at once all the time. Not the best for casual listening. If someone is willing to sit and taste all the flavors, it is worthwhile
Pretty good single, interesting album. Loved the sound and feel, but misses that little spark.
Ik ken maar 1 nummer, maar ik vond de rest wat gelijkaardig. Nogal wat saai voor wat ik dacht een rockband te zijn
It's very out there but some are catchy.
Too soft and bland
The first track invoked a beautiful sense of a sort of melancholic nostalgia in me and the feeling never left.
Easy-ish listening. His voice is tough to power through at times. Quintessential late 90’s alternative. Album is well made and consistent throughout.
first listen lots to explore just in this record, looking forward to exploring more of their extensive discography
Buen disco, buenas canciones. Muy agradable de principio a fin pero nada que me vuele la cabeza. 3.5 estrellas que bajan a 3.
yeah, I really like this. I find the songs mellow but energetic at the same time. This album manages to be pretty experimental while still being very listenable & melodic with catchy hooks. I also always like the lyrics... like bob dylan on acid. They don't take themselves too seriously, but aren't straight up silly (most of the time). favorite tracks: what is the light the spark that bled a spoonful weighs a ton race for the prize waitin for a superman the gash 4/5 (great)
Would give it five but Wayne coynes a lil bitch
I want to like it, and sometimes I do. 3/5
Yea it was fine
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
A great series of tunes with exciting instrumentation
Nice album
in a room full or spiders with good music battling the pink robots while we fall in love
Straight up did not enjoy this.
Didn't have a lot of hopes for this but was pleasantly surprised. Marking as a 4 so I will revisit it someday
suave, rico, ambiental, está bueno para escucharlo en cualquier contexto, se siente la importancia que tuvo el hecho de que esta obra saliera en el '99, es realmente bonito. "race for the prize" es fantástica. "waitin' for a superman", también. el final de "the spark that bled" me encantó. "feeling yourself dissintegrate" es etérea. escucharlo todo corrido con audífonos es realmente una aventura, no puedo creerlo, mejora el disco de una manera impresionante en una palabra: cool
A bit boring
I could never get past Wayne Coyne's voice. Unique but monotonous. I get that this album was a departure from their guitar-driven stuff, but it's just too whimsical for my taste.
A spoonful weighs a ton
Really chill vibes, I love the theme it's got, I'd listen to it again
The lush arrangements provided by this alternative band trades guitars for strings and a myriad of other instruments. They’re going for pop music through the lenses of quirky, heartfelt songs. All of this is driven by bombastic drums, which makes this an enjoyable listen.
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.
Listening to this album made me feel at peace. The instrumentation the song structures and the production all have an ethereal and fantastical element to them. The track Waitin for Superman is a perfect example of a song that makes you feel that everything is going to be ok. Listening to this makes me want to check out the rest of their discography.
They need to fuck that singer right off. Grating, obnoxious, terrible. How the fuck do people listen to that immature whine? The bits when he is not whining are fine.
Nice vocals but boring beat.
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.
Heard this album before, but it was better than I remembered. Chill album, without a ton of what I would call hooks, but still very pleasant and enjoyable. 4/5
I think the music itself is pretty great and eclectic but not a massive fan of the vocals.
Okay, Flaming Lips are pretty cool. A lot of it runs together, but this is solid symphonic rock. I can get behind this. B
Why did no one tell me this album was like a combination of Yes, Queen, and Pink Floyd?! It's got a lot of the things I like about psych rock, leaning in a vaguely prog rock direction.
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
Интересный альбом. Пожалуй, одни из самых необычных и интересных аранжировок среди тех, что я слышал. Материал мне не очень понравился, но к ознакомлению рекомендую. 7 из 10
a band reaching the peak of their powers here. glorious.
3.5
This is some kind of weird unidentified weapon album, the warm and magical musical hinting at the development (discovery?) of the Softest Bullet, the strange "prize" everyone had been racing for, its element so heavy that a spoonful weighs a ton. This whole album glows with radioactivity, some of it being from the laboratory, some from comic book spiders, and a lot more of it from outer space, where our supermen come from. How long have our heads been bleeding and we've not realized it? How is it that we are all glowing with this...substance? This wonderful album explores the intersection of the material and the immaterial, the chemical and the emotional, helping us understand that we are ineffable, hybrid beings, a mix of the physical and the spiritual. And it's okay to be so.
El primer de la trilogia màgica de Flaming Lips. Van perfeccionar la seva música a partir de la seva pròpia experiència i la refinació de les seves influències. Psicodelia moderna, aventures musicals, lletres personalíssimes i imaginatives, i una música que et transporta. Potser a 'Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots' encara van anar un pas més enllà, però aquest 'The Soft Bulletin' està pràcticament a la mateixa alçada i és un dels discos que dona sentit als 90
nah
I like the Flaming Lips a lot and I really like the direction they went on this album. I do love this album but like pretty much every Flaming Lips album there are one or two songs where Wayne's voice is bit much. My fav lips album is still Yoshimi but this is a close 2nd.
I guess I’m kind of a Flaming Lips fan, but never really thought about it. I like almost all those music.
Not as experimental or weird as some of their albums and that makes it more approachable. Also you don't need 4 cd players to listen to it. A nice listen on a rainy morning.
I like this. It's atmospheric and dreamy at times, and just a good album.
i used to think this was the lips best effort. over the last 5-10 years i've wandered more towards yoshimi, clouds taste metallic, and hit to death, but this is still a really good effort. way better than 99% of music ever put on wax.
Instrumentals are way better than the vocals but overall it’s alright. All the mokran mixes stood out though
Was ok….
This was a jamming album, I really liked it. Great pacing and fun songs. I breezed through this album though this seemed like a movie soundtrack too which is pretty cool. This might be my fav album this week besides ol blue eyes.
Jazz rock perhaps? Not sure if that’s a thing, or if this is that, but it’s rock with an atmospheric spirit, kind of freely exploring a mood in the way jazz might. I’ve heard a couple Flaming Lips albums and find them to be quite good. This is a solid album, with a handful I’ll return to. Give us some more! Favorite tracks: Race for the Prize, The Spark that Bled, Sleeping on the Roof, Waitin’ for a Superman. Album art: Really like the retro style and the bold colors. From what I remember, these guys do album arts really well. 4/5
Edited review: the moment I heard they had an edit button this is immediately what I went back for. Bumping this from 3 to 5. Don't know if there is another band I've had more of a turn around on after a first listen. Love them now.
This album was overhyped in the book. I guess the songs are OK (though nothing special), but I couldn't finish the album. I find the singer's voice quite annoying and whiney, but the real offender is the mix. The drums are overbearing in volume with too much room ambience a lot of the time and the bass is much too soft. I really couln't get into this. Disappointing 2/5
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
The Flaming Lips are a band you must listen to at least once in your life. And "The Soft Bulletin" is the album most fans will probably tell you you must start with. It's a nice album overall. I'm just wondering about one little thing. My oh my, why hasn't anyone (other band members, producer Jonathan Friedmann--*anyone*) told the singer he was decidedly singing OFF-KEY during the takes??? I'm all for "rough" or "fragile" vocals in certain genres (like with Flaming Lips' models Mercury Rev, for instance). Emotion is sometimes more primordial than perfect notes as to how the human voice can affect listeners. It can bring a sense of authenticity that makes up for a singer's technical limitations. But there's a limit. And *The Soft Bulletin" clearly blows that limit away to pieces. This is how an album that could have been a legendary one, ends up being a good one instead. This is how you lose one star, folks. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 894 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 57 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 27 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 23
“Sloppy” and “Amateur” Are perfectly fine adjectives to describe certain forms of artistic expression but not what I look for in Albums to Hear Before I Die.
Honestly, this pretty much epitomizes my dislike of some indie rock. It just tried too hard to be emotional and whimsical while lacking groove or anything interesting, really. It somehow meanders like jam band stuff while not really highlighting musicianship or propping up any sort of scene or movement. This seems like a band that got into indie rock at the height of its popularity and rode its coattails. So many artists that did it earlier and better. "Pet Sounds" of the 90s my ass. Pet Sounds still sounds better than this imo.
Lol I had people in the 00s recommend flaming lips to me. This was so boring!
Strong 3, surely this inspired MGMT
This album was an unexpected love when I listened to it the first time
awesome 5 out of 5
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
Nothing particularly exceptional. The singer is quite bad and the songs are very generic.
Some really good tracks on here. Much better than expected.
2.5
Ah eeeehhh
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.
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