Customer Reviews

20 Years of Weird: Flaming Lips 1986-2006

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An awesome CD for the true fans, '20Years...' features a rare chronology of live cuts that span the LIPS career. You'll enjoy oldies like WITH YOU as well as JELLY-ERA favorites such as MOTH IN THE INCUBATOR and WHEN YOU SMILE, showcasing the noisy dexterity of ex-guitarist Ronald Jones (love that slide guitar). PSYCHIATRIC EXPLORATIONS... even shows up as an unlisted track at the end of WHEN YOU SMILE which is a treat, being the slamming opener to their '97 album CLOUDS TASTE METALLIC. But the jewel of the recording would have to be ENTHUSIASM FOR LIFE DEFEATS EXISTENTIAL FEAR, a non-live track which brings about a feeling of serenity with its RaiNY-DaY-BacKdrOp. As Wayne's frail voice mopes over a bad dream, it is accompanied by warm washes of lo-fi synth and the slow pluck of a reverberating banjo. This CD is a re-cut version of a recording which was originally handed out at the South by Southwest festival in Texas as a sort-of soundtrack to their FEARLESS FREAKS rockumentary, and in my mind, is well worth the money. Fans of strictly post-SOFT-BULLETIN material be weary, as SLEEPIN ON THE ROOF & THE OBSERVER is all you'll get besides the new MYSTICS track, FREE RADICALS. Enjoy-

...ENTHUSIASM FOR LIFE DEFEATS EXISTENTIAL FEAR. If you are in a serious relationship or are married etc. this song will hit you right in the chest. On Mystics Wayne showed that he can have fun and not be serious all the time, but this song shows he's still that grey-haired intellectual indie-rock pioneer we know him to be.

Interesting little collection of live tracks and rarities from the Lips. Actually, only three of these tracks are not recorded live so it definitely feels like a random, 20 year collection of live experiments than anything else. The 12 minute version of "When You Smile" is the best thing on here as it reminds you of what makes the Lips great: they're the only band that can mix Captain Beefheart, Frank Zappa, Pixies, Butthole Surfers & Can and make it seem like it's (somewhat) normal. Those of you who see the title, "Space Age Love Song" in the track listing and are wondering to yourselves, "Is that the Flock Of Seagulls song?" will love this little homage to 80's synth pop filtered through fuzz-rock guitars and psychedelic explosions. Also included is "Sleeping On The Roof", which is a 14 minute version from the parking lot experiment they held in Oklahoma when Zaireeka came out. If you're looking for a truly original live sound, you certainly can't beat this track! The conglomeration of live stuff here is excellent, and makes one yearn for an overblown, double CD of live sets from the Lips (hint, hint).
Now, to the irritating stuff. Why is Wayne Coyne so in love with his own voice? The album starts out with a two minute instrumental with Wayne babbling over the top, otherwise ruining what would have been a great track. He talks about where the album came from and explaining himself ad infinitum. Hey Wayne, we're all intelligent humans here, how about you let us decide what the music means to us? Another annoyance is the inclusion of "Free Radicals", which will be available on their upcoming album, "At War With The Mystics". I know promotion is something that even the least aggressive artists need to partake in but do we need this track?? Is there a Flaming Lips fan out there who WON'T buy the new album? It's like, "hmmm, I kinda wanted to buy 'At War With The Mystics' but maybe this one track on 'Fearless Freaks' will make me more enthusiastic toward buying it". I don't know, to me the time could have been better spent putting another rare b-side on there instead of further promoting yourselves.
At any rate, I'm beside myself with anticipation for the new Lips album and in the end, this album doesn't really change that attitude.

The live portions of this CD, which is most of it, sounds like someone was holding up a tape recorder in the middle of the audience while the band played. It's been a long time since I've heard such poor sound quality on a CD. Only the most die hard fan should consider purchasing this.