Oklahoma City-based band The Flaming Lips has released its latest CD, The Soft Bulletin.
The initial observation is that this release isn't as cumbersome as the band's previous mammoth effort, the four CD simultaneous listening effort that was Zaireeka. Although it was very forward-thinking and ambitious, it took too much coordination to be something that could be listened to with any regularity.
After almost 15 years of togetherness and several personnel changes, The Flaming Lips have experienced the ups and downs of pop popularity -- an up being the mainstream achievement of "She Don't Use Jelly," and a down being the lack of chart spark of the previously mentioned Zaireeka.
Best known for being part of the new realm of the psychedelic movement that includes artists such as Mercury Rev, The Flaming Lips take experimentation to a new form and exceed preconceived notions of exploratory limits. The release of The Soft Bulletin will only serve to advance the band to a new echelon in the movement, and the Lips will probably be dubbed the reigning masters of the genre.
The Soft Bulletin seems to focus on energy, insects and otherworldly environs. Lush is a word to accurately describe the beautiful sonic gems assembled here. Wayne Coyne and bandmates Steven Drozd and Michael Ivins are the embodiment of the 21st century vision of metaphysical noise.
Each song sung by Coyne comes across like a cosmic fairy tale and possesses a sad, bittersweet tone. There are also touching additions of orchestral arrangements that, when paired with the band's revamped notions of psychedelic sound, work very well to convey the message of the music.
The band is also well versed in other musical genres and even borrows from electronica with songs like the instrumental "The Observer," which features faint vocals that sound like the chiming of astro muses, and "What is the Light?"
The band has put forth a remarkable collection of music that has a slow-motion floating quality. This CD is sure to be the blueprint used by others striving for the same sound quality.
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