The Flaming Lips - At War With the Mystics

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Well.. the new album is due in January of 2006 (Radiohead, The Strokes, Flaming Lips... looks to be an excellent month). So old us over until it's released (or leaks), the FLips have put a new song on the sdtrk. to that new Owen Wilson movie... and here it is:

Mr. Ambulance Driver :

http://s49.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3MYFVQ4VUE90G0VN2JL7WU2GSM

I quite like it. It's like a more subdued/bare 'Soft Bulletin' track.. maybe a reaction to the chaotic atmosphere of their last two records.

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Monday, 20 June 2005 15:07 (twenty years ago)

Radiohead, The Strokes, Flaming Lips... looks to be an excellent month

FOR ME TO POOP ON

― DAEREST V1CE MAGAZINE!!!!! (ex machina), Monday, 20 June 2005 15:20 (twenty years ago)

XTREEEEEM WHIMSY ROCK BATTLE EXCSELXI0R!!

― donut e-goo (donut), Monday, 20 June 2005 16:03 (twenty years ago)

Radiohead, The Strokes, Flaming Lips... looks to be an excellent month
FOR ME TO POOP ON

-- DAEREST V1CE MAGAZINE!!!!! (h...), June 20th, 2005.

grow up.

― peter smith (plsmith), Monday, 20 June 2005 16:23 (twenty years ago)

if growing up means having to react seriously to upcoming Radiohead, Lips, and Strokes albums, then I'll stay a Toys 'R Us kid.

― donut e-goo (donut), Monday, 20 June 2005 16:25 (twenty years ago)

Does Geoffrey have jesus juice?

― Ellsworth M. Toohey (Grodd), Monday, 20 June 2005 16:27 (twenty years ago)

I had to listen to Yoshimi again while waiting for a haircut a weekend ago, thinking that I was possibly too harsh on my initial thoughts on the record and that this would win me over a little more this time around...

...and it was just more boring and attention-span evading than the first time I tried. All the recent stuff since has been more of the same. A more subdued Soft Bulletin sound is the last thing I want right now... but I need to listen to this when i get home first before I can confirm Brainwasher's comparison.

(Still missing the Ambulance/Future Head days.. sigh.)

― donut e-goo (donut), Monday, 20 June 2005 16:29 (twenty years ago)

I kinda feel bad for Drozd, if he is, indeed, having to write all of the songs nowadays, as it must be stressful to do all that while Wayne Coyne Cum College Rock Andy Warhol gets to hit gongs on stage and have fun with fake blood.

― donut e-goo (donut), Monday, 20 June 2005 16:31 (twenty years ago)

He doesn't have a chance against the mystics.
He should go to war against college dormroom lightweights.

― Another Allnighter (sexyDancer), Monday, 20 June 2005 16:37 (twenty years ago)

Vaguely hopeful singing with vaguely sad music and vaguely nonsensical lyrics. Same shit gets boring.

Another fight title for an album is pretty lame, too.

― Stoner Guy, Monday, 20 June 2005 16:38 (twenty years ago)

"Flaming Lips have sold out, blah blah blah"

Enough already! Yoshimi was a beautiful album. I love the earlier noisier stuff too, but you can't expect them to do the same thing forever.

― Stew (stew s), Monday, 20 June 2005 16:42 (twenty years ago)

Wayne's voice sounds way more controlled here than, like, ever before. I'm not sure I entirely like it though.

I can barely hear anything out of my left ear right now though, thanks to what might be an ear infection. Thanks lake water!

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 20 June 2005 16:47 (twenty years ago)

I love the earlier noisier stuff too, but you can't expect them to do the same thing forever.

That's what I'm starting to expact NOW.

― Stoner Guy, Monday, 20 June 2005 16:54 (twenty years ago)

"Flaming Lips have sold out, blah blah blah"
Enough already! Yoshimi was a beautiful album. I love the earlier noisier stuff too, but you can't expect them to do the same thing forever.

Who said anything about selling out?

And I don't expect them to do the same thing for ever.. In fact, quite the opposite. I love their first four phases (gothy garage rock phase, Floyd Zep phase, fuzzed out turn-of-90s phase, the Ronald phase).. and I liked the beginning of their latest phase.. I just don't like how the current phase has turned out. I'm hoping for a NEW phase, that's all, because this current one has become tiresome really quickly.

― donut e-goo (donut), Monday, 20 June 2005 17:09 (twenty years ago)

That sums up my feelings almost exactly -- except I'm not crazy about the first phase.

― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 20 June 2005 17:11 (twenty years ago)

What about if you like Yoshimi but think this is boring? I could get used to listening to it, but I'd like it to be bigger.

― Hillary Brown (Hillary Brown), Monday, 20 June 2005 17:15 (twenty years ago)

The only thing I like on Yoshimi is the first minute or so of "Do You Realize??"

― miccio (miccio), Monday, 20 June 2005 17:18 (twenty years ago)

Okay, okay, the selling out thing wasn't quite right, but I get a bit fed up with the Yoshimi haytaz. The b-sides were pretty poor admittedly. But from what the Lips have said about the new stuff, they're moving away from that sound anyway. Less pro-tools and synths apparently. Only thing I did miss in Yoshimi was the big Stephen Drodz drums. But now their tour drummer seems to be a member pretty much I think we'll get more of that. Stephen Drodz is a musical genius - just watch the DVD, that man can play anything, and beautifully.
I'm not on broadband at the moment, so I can't hear the above snippet, but it's only a soundtrack tune, doesn't necessarily represent the new sound. Wayne has dropped his vocal register on occasion - all that straining is great, but it's quite nice to hear him croon too.

― Stew (stew s), Monday, 20 June 2005 17:18 (twenty years ago)

ENOUGH ALREADY

― 86 HAVE YOU EVER NEEDED SOMEONE SO BAD DEF LEPPARD (deangulberry), Monday, 20 June 2005 17:20 (twenty years ago)

The Lips should just pull a Jay-Z Black Album maneuver. They're headed that general direction anyway.

― donut e-goo (donut), Monday, 20 June 2005 17:24 (twenty years ago)

downloading now....i'm so excited

― That One Guy (That One Guy), Monday, 20 June 2005 17:27 (twenty years ago)

Basically, The Lips are becoming the American Primal Scream in the sense that they're becoming more of a band shell than a band -- with the producer/songwriter changing every so often. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Just a curious observation.

― donut e-goo (donut), Monday, 20 June 2005 17:27 (twenty years ago)

I like it.
It has an ELO feel to it.
I Like ELO.

― That One Guy (That One Guy), Monday, 20 June 2005 17:30 (twenty years ago)

This isn't just a soundtrack contribution. Mr. Ambulance Driver will also be featured on the forthcoming album.

― Joseph B. Cowart (flamingrev), Monday, 20 June 2005 17:37 (twenty years ago)

who cares about the music lets make fun of the panda costumes

― harshaw (jube), Monday, 20 June 2005 17:54 (twenty years ago)

i haven't seen them live (yet) but i kind of like the whole "let's have a party" thing

― That One Guy (That One Guy), Monday, 20 June 2005 18:34 (twenty years ago)

"Basically, The Lips are becoming the American Primal Scream in the sense that they're becoming more of a band shell than a band -- with the producer/songwriter changing every so often. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Just a curious observation."

Interesting observation, but I don't think it really holds up. After all, they've stuck with Dave Fridman since 89, so that's at least 3 different phases. And whereas the Scream rely on producers to make their best records (Screamadelica is as much Weatherall and the Orb's album) the Flips clearly have their own defined sound regardless. Flips records don't sound the same as other Friedman produced stuff. There's also continuity between the phases, something the Scream don't
necessarily have. The Flips have chased fashion less, choosing to work with longterm friends and collaborators, while being open minded about bringing new people in. You'd never have them duetting with Kate Moss, while the Scream would consider themselves too cool to share a stage with Timberlake.
Perhaps Fleetwood Mac is a better analogy, although only if Lindsay Buckingham had been in the band at the same time as Peter Green. Green=Ronald, Buckingham+Drodz. Genius guitarist goes to ground allowing young musical prodigy to push the band in new directions. But then that would make Wayne Mick Fleetwood, which is rather unfair. And who would Stevie Nicks be? Maybe not such a good analogy then...

― Stew (stew s), Monday, 20 June 2005 19:16 (twenty years ago)

Lovely - 'suits the weather.

― D.G. Jones (D.G. Jones), Monday, 20 June 2005 20:33 (twenty years ago)

I don't listen to the Lips anymore. I don't like The Soft Bulletin, hated Yoshimi, and absolutely can't stand Wayne Coyne and that circus of a live show they've been putting on the past few years. I'm in no hurry to hear this song.

― Kyle Anderton (Kyle Anderton), Friday, 24 June 2005 11:04 (twenty years ago)

I hate the fact that they have an album called "The Punks Are Finally Doing LSD" and several seemingly psychedelic lyrics when Wayne Coyne claims to have tripped only once and didn't like it. He is one of a handful of musicians I think lie about their LSD usage to retain their artistic credibility, the others I suspect are Sonic Youth and Frank Zappa, who I think claimed he never did it once which is probably bullshit.

― Stoner Guy, Friday, 24 June 2005 11:10 (twenty years ago)

Finally The Punk Rockers Are Taking Acid is a collection of their first three albums, and the title is in reference to the musical directions and influences found there, not a testament to the drug habits of the band. Their early shows were taking place in the hardcore scene where their psychedelic music and covers of Pink Floyd and Led Zep were met with antagonism and confusion. Eventually they hooked up with the Butthole Surfers and the freak rock scene and all was well. As far as the lyrics go, at that stage of the game they would write anything to get a reaction and Coyne is fairly dismissive of this body of work, refering to it as sloppy and amateurish (and not in a good way).

And we all know that all song lyrics aren't meant to be autobiographical, don't we?

If you would watch "The Fearless Freaks," I think you would see that the band is pretty honest about everything, especially drug usage.

Sonic Youth has a tendency to make up stories to confuse journalists, and they are admitted pot users. As far as I know, Zappa truly hated drugs and their effect on music and popular culture.

But you were obviously wasted when you wrote your post, Stoner Guy, so why do I bother?

― Joseph B. Cowart (flamingrev), Friday, 24 June 2005 14:52 (twenty years ago)

I don't know. To defend something you appreciate from someone who doesn't give a shit and won't be swayed by your conclusions, anyway?

― Stoner Guy, Friday, 24 June 2005 14:56 (twenty years ago)

Dingdingdingdingding! You are correct! Don, tell Stoner Guy what he's won...

Don: Stoner guy, you have won the Deluxe, Signed and Numbered (001!) Limited Edition pressing of "We Are The World" performed by The Flaming Lips, Frank Zappa, Sonic Youth, and the Langley School's Music Project! Happy listening!

― Joseph B. Cowart (flamingrev), Friday, 24 June 2005 15:31 (twenty years ago)

and a ceramic dalmatian.

― donut e-go (donut), Friday, 24 June 2005 17:01 (twenty years ago)

Goddammit! The link expired! Someone help a poor guy out!!

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Friday, 24 June 2005 18:39 (twenty years ago)

seven months pass...

It's not that good, at least not uniformly. It has some parts that i actually really like and I think overall it's alot better than Yoshimi (snoozefest) but it has it's snoozy parts as well. I'd say I really like 3 or 4 tracks ("Free Radicals", "The Wizard Turns On", "Pompeii") and the rest it just depends on my mood.

― Adam Bruneau (oliver8bit), Monday, 20 February 2006 15:41 (twenty years ago)

It's no revelation, but it's still the Lips. Some of the samples are pretty mind-numbingly annoying at times ("yeah yeah yeah" and the sirens on "Mr. Ambulance Driver"), and the production on it is even more grandiose than Yoshimi, but I'll probably still buy it when it comes out.

― Edgewin, Thursday, 23 February 2006 03:02 (twenty years ago)

I kinda feel bad for Drozd, if he is, indeed, having to write all of the songs nowadays

Is this true?

― Nigel (Nigel), Thursday, 23 February 2006 03:21 (twenty years ago)

I'm kinda in the same boat as Adam. There are three that I love without reservation - "The WAND," "Yeah Yeah Yeah Song," and "Free Radicals." I'm okay with "It Overtakes Me," "The Sound of Failure," and "Goin' On." The rest either leave little impression on me or actively bore me.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 23 February 2006 04:38 (twenty years ago)

two weeks pass...

But "The Wizard Turns On...", you got to admit, is pretty fucking cool. They need to just make an instrumental album.

― Adam Bruneau (oliver8bit), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 15:22 (twenty years ago)

On a non-musical level, I'd say this is the front-runner for best album cover of the year.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/51/Mystics.jpg

― erklie (erklie), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 22:55 (twenty years ago)

Maybe they are done? But I think they had a one of the best streak's for a modern rock band. Transmissions from Mars, Clouds Taste Metallic,Zaireeka and The Soft Bulletin are all classics to me. I didn't love Yoshimi either, but it was just compared to the previous 4 records.

If you've seen "Fearless Freaks" you gotta love them as people, regardless of the music.

― Antonio Depietro, Thursday, 16 March 2006 00:19 (twenty years ago)

i just saw them at SXSW and they were great. the new stuff sounded verry good.

― Uncle Tom (Uncle Tom), Thursday, 16 March 2006 08:07 (twenty years ago)

Priest Driven Ambulance is pretty classic too!

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 16 March 2006 09:26 (twenty years ago)

I've been hearing "The Wand" on Sirius radio a ton, and the arrangement and production remind me a lot of Yellow Submarine-era Beatles, specifically George's stuff from that period, and that is not at all a bad thing.

― phil d. (Phil D.), Thursday, 16 March 2006 13:18 (twenty years ago)

three months pass...

So I finally heard this record.

It's great! It sounds nothing like The Soft Bulletin nor (thank fucking god) Yoshimi Yawn Yawn etc..

It sounds like a really good take on mid-period Super Furry Animals.. like Guerrilla, Radiator B-sides, et al and Wayne is trying to go for this weird Al Green type thing and never quite succeeding and he sounds really weird trying to do it... but it's not that trademark fingers-on-a-chalkboard gravelly high breaking voice thing, so that's a grand improvement as well.

"the Yeah Yeah Yeah song" is great, as is "The W.A.N.D."... Most of the album is excellent. The rest is still growing on me.

I'm surprised no one brought up the SFA similarities... they're right there! (Then again, judging from the reactions on ILM, this comparison is a major faux-pas)

― San Diva Gyna (and a Masala DOsaNUT on the side) (donut), Saturday, 24 June 2006 04:08 (nineteen years ago)

the "Yeah Yeah Yeah song" is an abomination!

― CDDB (Dan Deluca), Saturday, 24 June 2006 04:14 (nineteen years ago)

"Ambulance" is the only immediate snoozer I can think of, but "YYY" is a boppy sugary pop song a la Lips... I don't get the hate for it at all.

― San Diva Gyna (and a Masala DOsaNUT on the side) (donut), Saturday, 24 June 2006 04:19 (nineteen years ago)

Question for everyone that hates that song: Would you like it if those high pitched backing vocals were mixed out?

"Mr. Ambulance Driver" and "It Overtakes Me" are the ones I don't really dig, but the ending of "It Overtakes Me" is pretty rad so I'll give it a pass.

― Marmot 4-Tay: forth-coming, my child. forth-coming most righteous champion (mar, Saturday, 24 June 2006 04:22 (nineteen years ago)

"it overtakes me" kind of reminds me og big star. i mean that in a good way.

― Christopher Costello (CGC), Saturday, 24 June 2006 04:25 (nineteen years ago)

YYY, IMO, represents a lot of what's "wrong" with the Lips.

I think I remember a few decent tracks on At War, probably the more drugged out sounding ones. Overall I give it a thumbs down :(

I feel like they've devolved into a shtick or something.

>>>>Would you like it if those high pitched backing vocals were mixed out?

That would be a start.....

― CDDB (Dan Deluca), Saturday, 24 June 2006 04:26 (nineteen years ago)

I'm surprised no one brought up the SFA similarities

At this point they really do sound like SFA

this comparison is a major faux-pas

Yesh.

― CDDB (Dan Deluca), Saturday, 24 June 2006 04:27 (nineteen years ago)

"it overtakes me" kind of reminds me og big star. i mean that in a good way.

I can kind of see that, but the repetitiveness of it kind of grates on me. That and I much prefer the "Blue Moon"/"Big Black Car" end of Big Star's work to the bouncy powerpop.
The blissed out ending redeems it though.

― Marmot 4-Tay: forth-coming, my child. forth-coming most righteous champion (mar, Saturday, 24 June 2006 04:32 (nineteen years ago)

It's more of a collection of songs than any of their other albums, but I still like it bunches. Let's face it, the world is a much better place with the last 15 years of the Flaming Lips having been around. Maybe the most unlikely of rock legends, considering their start. I am reminded of a James Baldwin quote: "Beyond talent lie all the usual words: discipline, love, luck -- but, most of all, endurance."

― nicky lo-fi (nicky lo-fi), Sunday, 25 June 2006 06:18 (nineteen years ago)

So the next Boston album should be one king-hell event.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Sunday, 25 June 2006 07:03 (nineteen years ago)

Well, the new Def Leppard is supposed to be pretty good!

― Marmot 4-Tay: forth-coming, my child. forth-coming most righteous champion (mar, Sunday, 25 June 2006 07:09 (nineteen years ago)

except I doubt Boston has the love or the luck parts of the equation

Def Leppard might be lucky, but maybe to drunk to feel the love

― nicky lo-fi (nicky lo-fi), Sunday, 25 June 2006 07:12 (nineteen years ago)

I was pissed at myself for missing the Def Leppard performance on Craig Ferguson last night. I forgot to change the channel from stupid Bruce Springsteen on Conan.

― Marmot 4-Tay: forth-coming, my child. forth-coming most righteous champion (mar, Sunday, 25 June 2006 07:14 (nineteen years ago)

PBS has been showing Bruce Springsteen's 1975 Hammersmith Odeon, London concert. Lean, scruffy and exuberant!

― nicky lo-fi (nicky lo-fi), Sunday, 25 June 2006 07:20 (nineteen years ago)

Conan joined Bruce on acoustic guitar. It was kind of trippy.

― Marmot 4-Tay: forth-coming, my child. forth-coming most righteous champion (mar, Sunday, 25 June 2006 07:23 (nineteen years ago)

http://images.usatoday.com/life/_photos/2005/11/15/inside-dvd-springsteen.jpg

― nicky lo-fi (nicky lo-fi), Sunday, 25 June 2006 07:23 (nineteen years ago)

wow, that knit hat makes him look like he has a fro!

― nicky lo-fi (nicky lo-fi), Sunday, 25 June 2006 07:26 (nineteen years ago)

I seem to remember Conan playing guitar and singing with Lou Reed on some show though, and that was trippier. Conan plays a decent rhythm guitar but he sings in the most annoying "look at me I'm not even TRYING to sing good haha funny, right?" singing voice ever.

― Marmot 4-Tay: forth-coming, my child. forth-coming most righteous champion (mar, Sunday, 25 June 2006 07:27 (nineteen years ago)

I still like this album.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Sunday, 25 June 2006 10:28 (nineteen years ago)

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