which Wayne Coyne & Lips manager Scott Booker pulled off. Most artists can only dream of enjoying a 20 year "career" as it is many bands on our planet would commit an untold amount of illegal deeds for a sliver of the Lips' enormously loyal fan base & transcendent success.however, none of their peers could navigate the murky waters of major label greed or bullydom and come out on the other side with hard fought, long term creative freedom & commercial success. Just like a planet derived from matter's ethereal cosmic chaos, back during the Lips' 80s heyday as fringe art-punk vampires, Oklahoma's greatest heroes never felt words such as "legacy" or "major label success" would ever attach themselves to their musical psychopathy. Maybe that's why their iconic ascension took nearly 20 years to generate the acid-laced Macey's Day parade Wayne envisioned all along. Wayne, Michael and Steven definitely didn't expect anything like the flood of royalty cash, millions more fans, or Grammy wins / nominations which followed in the wake of the new Lips-dominated 21st century. If you’re a Lips fan and are worried that this isn’t for you, then think again.Somewhere around 1984/85, when Wayne finally began growing weary of his eleven year gig at a local OKC Long John Silver's, The Flaming Lips started getting very serious.but even during their first ambitious sea change, the freaky Oklahoma natives never anticipated their Yoshimi / Soft Bulletin echelon of success. But, is this one of the best releases that the Flaming Lips have released for Record Store Day? Yes. Is this a semi-simplified rehash of golden-age mid-period Flaming Lips? Yes. Now, why the 3.5 headphones review? It may be unfair to hold this album up to some of the most important releases in the Flaming Lips catalog but, it does mimic a lot of things that made those albums stand out. What makes this album special is all the little details peppered in and the specific Lips moments that they recall. It feels like the most optimistic ending to a Lips record in a long time. His life and great deed will never be forgotten, for you can visit his head anytime. For even in death, the king will live on with the people. The final tracks, “Mouth of The King” and “How Can A Head,” deify and glorify the King. “Funeral Parade” and “Dipped In Steel” document the moment and preservation of the king’s head. “Feedaloodum Beedle Dot” funkifies the decapitation of the king after his death. Its bounce, effects, and breakdown can do nothing but, insight some of the most joy I’ve ever received from a Flaming Lips song-even if the lyrics can get a bit morbid. “All For The Life Of The City” is one of the strongest Lips tracks in years. 1.” “Electric Fire” has the Lips going big with sounds that invoke the birth of a galaxy and the collapse of a star. “How Many Times” not only has some of the most fun counting you’ll ever here but, it guitars will surely have you recalling “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt. “The Sparrow” gets contemplative as Wayne Coyne analyzes life’s fleeting moments. The opener, “We Don’t Know How And We Don’t Know Why,” sets the stage with the birth of the king and the death of his mother. The album takes its cosmic identity from the film/musical project Christmas on Mars but, rekindle joys felt during albums such as The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. King’s Mouth has the Lips continue that streak in a more simplistic form. 2017’s, Oczy Mlody saw the Lips return to more joyous tendencies. Fast forward to today and we have a whole musical narration that features Mick Jones of the Clash.
SPIN THE FLAMING LIPS SOFT BULLETIN YOUTUBE SERIES
As a part of the installation, The King’s Mouth is an audio/visual experience (You can see a 4 part series about the King’s Mouth on the Lips YouTube channel). Coyne co-started it with collaborators Rick Sinnett and Jake Harms. The origins start way back in 2011 with the creation of the WOMB art installation. The King’s Mouth was a project even before it was turned into a musical thing. Which is why they’ve returned with their newest project King’s Mouth. As I said, The Flaming Lips are no strangers to the vinyl holiday. Record ideas include: A Various Artists record pressed with the performers blood inside, a collaboration with Dogfish Head brewing for a beer infused record, the off-kilter oddity that is 7 Skies H3 (edited cut of their 24 hour song), The Mushroom Tapes which were demos from the In a Priest Driven Ambulance sessions featuring Jonathan Donahue from Mercury Rev on guitar, Various 7″ records of past material. Fire Note Says: The Flaming Lips return from the cosmos to spread their tale of the King that saved us all!Īlbum Review: Within The Flaming Lips ethos, Record Store Day has always been held in high regard.