Flaming Lips enthusiasts: where should I begin?

[bbernardini]

I'd like to investigate their music, but I'm not sure where to start. I already have Zaireeka (the four-disc version, a one-disc reduction, and some bizarre DVD that sets the album to video), but I'm not sure where to go next. Thoughts?

[CBGLuthier]

1. the Fearless Freaks

documentary about them. Played on Sundance and is available on DVD.

Would give you a good retrospective of their career and evolving music.


They are going to have a concert DVD out sometime soon as they filmed some at a recent OKC concert.

I really like Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots myself.

[Initech]

2. The Soft Bulletin

[Mojambo]

3. I agree. Start here and work backward.

Make sure you get yourself some good headphones. The Soft Bulletin is an amazing record.

[LadyoftheRabbits]

4. I started with The Soft Bulletin

:thumbsup: :D

[driver8]

5. I was watching a movie on Sundance about the Flaming Lips. One of the

guys had a bad drug problem, and wasn't doing too well.

They sent him to Fredonia, NY for detox and rehab, I think.

I went to college in Fredonia, NY...so I thought that was pretty cool. (Not the drug problem...where they sent him.)

[PhilYerHead]

6. The Hype Machine

It's a great way to discover music you never knew you loved.
http://hype.non-standard.net/search.php?q=flaming+lips&sourceid=mozilla-search

There was an amazing rebroadcast of the Dec 2004 episode of Austin City Limits on this summer that simply sucked me in. Interview with Wayne Coyne:
http://www.pbs.org/klru/austin/interviews/flips_interview.html

I think they emit the most joy I've ever seen in a band. YOSHIMI is my favorite. Download for Real clip:
http://media.pbs.org/ramgen/media4/austin/flamingLips_yoshimi_36k.rm

Phil

[asthmaticeog]

7. I'm partial to their middle period.

"In A Priest-Driven Ambulance," "Hit To Death In The Futurehead" and "Clouds Taste Metallic" are all amazing mutant-pop. The stuff from "Soft Bulletin" onward, though many, many people are seeing God over it, leaves me kind of flat. Your mileage may vary.

[Telly Savalas]

8. In a Priest Driven Ambulance.

Then get Transmissions from the Satellite Heart

[enigmatic]

9. Hear It Is

A classic 80's album, w/ "With You", a zonked-out free-jazz love song...

[Guy Fawkes]

10. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots!

definitely my favourite.