Music Review
At War With the Mystics
The Flaming Lips
'Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots' the last recording from the Lips is regarded by some as the 21st century's 'Sergeant Pepper's.' The follow up album, "At War With the Mystics" has been anticipated by virtually the entire music industry and finally, here it is.
'Yoshimi' while hopeful, was also washed in a certain sadness that filtered throughout the whole album, the new album is anything but that. In fact, the best way to be disappointed by 'War' is to listen to it hoping for 'Yoshimi II." This record doesn't have the focus and feel that its predecessor does, there is much less beat-heavy music going on. In fact, this is probably not the album a lot of people were hoping it would be, but?this is the album we all needed from the Lips. It is a carefree leap into uncharted territory and in this age of formula rock where the world?s biggest bands are going retro or recycling their back catalog and churning out sound-alike songs this stuff looks even more radical. This is an album that will grow on you if you let it. It is psychedelic, anthemic, melancholy and spiritual.
The first two tracks, "Yeah Yeah Yeah Song" and "Free Radicals" are built around chants that border on but which also tantalize with the potential of a full-on rock-out without ever quite exploding?a total tease.
There is a feel-good vibe to the record, it is both elegant and alluring, but not without definite aesthetic hurdles?Wayne and his friends will never let listening to their band be predictable or easy so get over it and you?ll not regret it.
'Yoshimi' while hopeful, was also washed in a certain sadness that filtered throughout the whole album, the new album is anything but that. In fact, the best way to be disappointed by 'War' is to listen to it hoping for 'Yoshimi II." This record doesn't have the focus and feel that its predecessor does, there is much less beat-heavy music going on. In fact, this is probably not the album a lot of people were hoping it would be, but?this is the album we all needed from the Lips. It is a carefree leap into uncharted territory and in this age of formula rock where the world?s biggest bands are going retro or recycling their back catalog and churning out sound-alike songs this stuff looks even more radical. This is an album that will grow on you if you let it. It is psychedelic, anthemic, melancholy and spiritual.
The first two tracks, "Yeah Yeah Yeah Song" and "Free Radicals" are built around chants that border on but which also tantalize with the potential of a full-on rock-out without ever quite exploding?a total tease.
There is a feel-good vibe to the record, it is both elegant and alluring, but not without definite aesthetic hurdles?Wayne and his friends will never let listening to their band be predictable or easy so get over it and you?ll not regret it.