Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots

Eclectic Album of the Year

note from Dan Grote

If you heard a weirder album this year than the Omaha-based Lips’ concept tale of little girls training to fight robots (pink robots, nonetheless) and how society climbs back after the monsters’ defeat, I’d like to hear it.

The following was originally published in our Killer CD's section. 

Review by antiGUY
The Flaming Lips are one of those bands that appear to be too good for the masses. It’s true, when you think about most music that tops the charts it’s easily accessible and just as easily forgettable. Not so with the Flaming Lips who with each subsequent release try to expand upon the musical experience, bring the listener into a new realm of being and enlightenment. 

Headphones went out in the 70’s but this CD is another good reason to dust off your parents old set and plug them in so that you can absorb the full experience of the CD. (The same goes for any Radiohead release). Speaking of Radiohead, that is about the only current band that comes to mind when you think of Flaming Lips and their contemporaries. If we were to delve into the past we would think of bands like Pink Floyd and The Moody Blues, bands that took you not only on a voyage of sound with their music but fired the imagination as well. 

Although, I wouldn’t quite call the Flaming Lips the modern Pink Floyd, the sonic experience is similar. The Flaming Lips mix of sounds include a full palette of genres and techniques from folksy guitar overlaid with hip-hop beats to rocking sci-fi space opera. True, few could pull off this combination but The Flaming Lips are the exception, they make it seem as natural as breathing. For that reason alone, this CD is yet another example of why The Flaming Lips are a band to be hailed not ignored. 

The group’s last album, “The Soft Bulletin” really raised the bar musically and is almost impossible to top. This CD does not top that 1999 release but it is a nice companion to it and about as much as we could hope for. 

“Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots” is a heady experience best undertaken when you have the capacity to give it your full attention and like other Flaming Lips releases, you will find that you get more out of the album with each subsequence spin. This isn’t your little sisters CD and don’t expect to see any of these tracks on TRL, it is much too serious and alas has far too much quality to pander to the mainstream. 

“Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots” is a triumphant follow up for the Flaming Lips and easily one of the top releases of the year. If you are one who has a mind to take your music seriously and want your music to take you on a journey of mind and soul then pick up this disc, grab a pair of headphones and plug in.
 

Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
Label: Warner Bros
Rating: 
 

Tracks: Fight Test  One More Robot/Sympathy 3000-21  Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt.1  Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt.2  In The Morning Of The Magicians  Ego Tripping At The Gates Of Hell  Are You A Hypnotist??  It's Summertime  Do You Realize??  All We Have Is Now  Approaching Pavonis Mons By Balloon (Utopia Planitia)

Listen to samples and Purchase this CD online

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