Flaming Lips Flaming Lips Message Board Flaming Lips Message Board General Lips R.T.E. Are a bunch of assholes.
Flaming Lips Message Board Flaming Lips Message Board General Lips R.T.E. Are a bunch of assholes.Page 1 2
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Satellite Heart |
The review isn't very well-written, but the reviewer does bring to light an issue that I believe has merit...
I wholly disagree with it being a "misadventure," but his point about the album being reactionary is something I've had on my mind prior to its release. Over the weekend I had a chance to listen to the entire album (bonus tracks and all) on a fine sound system. While sitting there being completely blown away, I emerged from my euphoria for a second and said something to the effect that don't you feel like this record is trying to prove something? To which my friend exclaimed something to the effect of yeah, it sounds like they are digging themselves out of a hole. Up until now every album in their library completely stands alone without it making the previous release obsolete, and this begs the question that is Embryonic a bold artistic statement or a bid for relevancy? A big "fuck-you" to the naysayers and critics (yes, I'm looking at myself) that we [the Lips] can still be weird, experimental, and provocative. I believe that it succeeds on both levels, but it's a shame that it feels as if they need to prove something. But as to it being "self-indulgent" and "unfocussed" is a load of horseshit. Embryonic is the most focused release they've done in some time. The purposeful usage of frenetic drumming, abrasive digitized noises, and a reluctance to be slavish to melody and traditional song structures provides a leitmotif to the record. It is thematic, complete, and not weird for weirdness' sake. It is polarizing and often difficult. There is a wonderful complexity to it, and it rewards the listener not only with repeated listenings, but with a focused listening. It is not aural wallpaper. It is a brilliant record. And the three bonus tracks or b-sides...holy fuck. There is your proof that the Lips can still write smart and effective pop songs. I do not believe it is hyperbole when I state that years from now Steven Drozd will rightfully be considered a music visionary. |
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Watermelon Gunner |
Great post. |
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Observer |
I don't necessarily miss melody or more normal songs, I love all kinds of tracks that are nothing like normal songs. I think the Lips themselves have always worked with fairly normal song structures, so breaking out of that may take more than this album to be fully achieved. I think sonically the album is amazing, and there's where it actually makes a difference what kind of quality you hear the album in; should it really matter if the music itself is stronger than just what it sounds like? Would it be wrong to suggest it's just missing something? I remember, somehow, barbarella saying Mystics had no balls, and maybe for as good as it is, just maybe Embryonic is missing a bit of soul or something. Which is a fine thing to achieve if trying to evoke the inhumanity of machinery and metaphorical machinery (all-too rational conformity and mindlessness), but was it their aim to achieve that through the whole album? It does get livelier, more human, through the second half, but does it truly engage with your humanity? |
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Telepathic Surgeon |
I think I need to qualify this a bit. The Flaming Lips aren't incompetent, but I wish they didn't leave bum notes in. |
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Watermelon Gunner |
Wha? Isn't, say, In A Priest Driven Ambulance all the more brilliant for its off-key vocals and reckless guitar plucking? I feel like some of the most common (and valid) complaints concerning Yoshimi and Mystics dealt with the overly sterile production aesthetic, which seemed to compromise spontaneity and raw expression ("bum notes and all") in favor of squeaky clean digitalization. Embryonic veers violently in the opposite direction, and so they court the opposite criticism. |
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Telepathic Surgeon |
I love In a Priest Driven Ambulance with every fibre of my being. From day one its "flaws" never mattered as the band seemed to have given their all in the making of it and the songs were mindblowing. I really don't think that's the case with Embryonic. Some of the bum notes on Embryonic are painful.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: windowlicker, |
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Telepathic Surgeon |
I feel like a cunt coming out and slagging it off.
Things I really like about it - It flows really well. Kliph's drumming is really fuckin good. Drozd is still a genius. "See the Leaves", "Convinced of the Hex", "Watching the Planets", "Sparrow..", "Silver Trembling Hands" and "Worm Mountain" are all good-to-great. |
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Satellite Heart |
I don't think it is wrong to suggest the record is missing soul if that's what Embryonic evokes in you. It's doing something right if it raises existential questions such as the ones you've posted. I think the majority of people answering questions about the theme and overall concept about the album are misguided. Slowly, I am forming the belief that this release is purely an introspective insight into the band itself, or, at least the final half of it: the metaphorical death of The Flaming Lips and some type of new awakening or rebirth. Change. I'm trying real hard not to sound like a new age dipshit, but the themes, sounds, engineering, and songwriting (or lack thereof in some cases) all point to a massive shift in the band's collective aesthetics, and some would even say consciousness. I mean, it is quite apparent that the Lips have been purposefully ignoring, or, paying lip service to their past over this decade. This record is like the giant exclamation point just to nail it home. It is a mature and bold statement. We'll see how it plays out live. I could be totally full of shit, especially from viewing the secret show performance of "I Can Be A Frog." I mean, really, another romper room sing-a-long? Totally ruins the power of that song for me. (I think I might have veered off subject a little) This band is confusing and gives me headaches.
You shouldn't. I didn't consider you slagging it off it all. Well, maybe just a tad, but I understood what you were feeling. Possible just poor wording. |
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Satellite Heart |
I'd like to retract the first sentence in the above post. No one is misguided in their interpretation of this release. You get out of it what you need to get out of it. There is no right or wrong answer. And I think the above interpretation is what provides me with the most comfort. |
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Telepathic Surgeon |
Yeah..I'm struggling to express my feelings on this record. After reading Wayne's interview, I think I might be moving closer to appreciating the recording process and methodology behind it. It would have been easy for them to knock off another Mystics, with Steven playing everything. He's probably fed up with having to come up with all the music. I might not like the results, but the thought of Wayne standing there playing bass puts a smile on my face. I love that dude and knowing those bum notes are his kinda makes everything alright. |
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Big 'Ol Bug |
I think I love you. |
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Satellite Heart |
Wayne's got brass balls like Keith Partridge |
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Five Stop Mother Superior |
I'm just smiling thinking of all the bum bass notes in "Jesus Shooting Heroin" and how much I love them.
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Telepathic Surgeon |
It was kind of endearing back then, sure. I thought the bass bum notes/slips on Embryonic were Michael's, and I was thinking "Mike, you've been playing bass for 25 years or more, c'mon." But they are more than likely Wayne's doing, which begs the question, has Michael developed a phobia about playing bass in the studio? This message has been edited. Last edited by: windowlicker, |
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Five Stop Mother Superior |
Yeah, I don't know why Michael doesn't play more on this record. Just an odd thing, I guess. He does do a lot of production-stuff, I know...maybe Kliph can answer this |
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Postman |
Yes!!!! Or more specifically they should state the format of the actual recording and the dynamic range of the speakers they are using(maybe even the volume). Most reviewers, I fear (having met quite a few over the years...music and noise journalists and even visual art critics) are not really technically educated and they don't realize that the aforementioned specs are not things that just subtly change the listening experience. Something like the dynamic range of the speakers can totally change the experience especially with music/noise that is recorded with sources that span a wide range as is often the case with "non-mainstream" audio art. But most reviewers I’ve met couldn't even tell you the dynamic range of their speakers and would happily admit to all sorts of varied listening conditions (different players, different file formats, sometimes in a car, sometimes outside, sometimes with headphones etc....) so its really pretty silly for me to complain i guess |
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Hypnotist |
Well most of these reviewers/jerkoffs are paid by the word right. Maybe they listen to Reo Speedwagon to unwind (nothing wrong with that) but if I don't know the reviewer i don't bother reading. Record reviews are for people who don't know what they want and need to be told. Pack animals. The need reassurance. And they need the preprogramed responses society gives them (4/4 time signatures, perfect pitch, melodies they are already familiar with from major scales). Thats not this record. Stop complaining here and go back to the candlebox messageboard.
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Satellite Heart |
I really dig Embryonic, but it's gotten a lot more favorable reviews than I was excepting.
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Flaming Lips Flaming Lips Message Board Flaming Lips Message Board General Lips R.T.E. Are a bunch of assholes.
Flaming Lips Message Board Flaming Lips Message Board General Lips R.T.E. Are a bunch of assholes.© Warner Bros. Records 2002