FLAMING LIPS PART ONE: Something To Say

Okay, I am going to pick an album that everyone should own. If you don't have this album you should run to closest record store and pick it up. It is worthy of any album I talk about or mention. My only problem is trying to convince my straight music listener friends to get this and try something new. I have tried with a few people, but with limited success. Maybe, I might trying to reach the narrow minded music fan who likes what he likes and that's it. I know a few of my friends think I am crazy, but that's okay because I sometimes believe that I am crazy. Just maybe the band is too, and that energy of them being crazy get's me a bit out there.

I know most of you have heard The Flaming Lips at one point or another in your life and more then likely you thought I like I first thought. They should be a 60's band or a band that belongs on another planet. Even a band that just does not belong on the register of Rock and Roll. Some of my friends tell me that The Flaming Lips are a band that when you take drugs they are the band playing in your head. I disagree to an extent. I stopped doing drugs and they still sound really awesome.

I know they scored a hit in the middle of 1993. I also know they were on Melrose Place and played for people who more then likely did not get what they were doing. Even their titles of the songs suggest that they are way beyond what we think of musicians. I mean how many people have seen the video for "She Don't Use Jelly?" It maybe one of the most oddest videos, but it kicks so much ass. I think I even went to see them tour for that album back in 1993 and even then it was a big giant blur. At that point I was hooked on their music and would buy everything they put out. My Flaming Lips obsession was huge. Then it just stopped in 1997. I have no idea why it did but it was just to much and more then likely I was on another musical endeavor.

Thank got it only lasted for year because in 1998 their best album came out. I was at a record store where my friend worked and he handed me a bunch of promo CD's. He told me that he did not want them and was just going to throw them away. He had all kinds of stuff. Some of it was not even opened to play. In this pile was Mr. Bungle, Pavement, Wilco, Fiona Apple, Dream Theater and a few single's that were of the Flaming Lips. I grabbed them all. I went home and threw them on the CD player. There had to be about 2o CD's. I listened to them all. What stood out was that I questioned why I did not listen to the Lips for that long. It was a year and I went back to the albums I had and listened again. I was missing something that I never heard in the first go around. I heard music that stretched far and wide and had fun making the music as much as we did listening to it.

My very prized Lips shirt from one awesome tour

Then in 1999 the Flaming Lips changed my life forever. Once again I did the visit to the friend at the record store. He more promos that he did not want any more. In this pile was full of stuff I am sure now he regrets giving to me or wish he did listen to when he had the chance. Included was the new Flaming Lips. He told me that he did not like it because he was not a person that liked new Psychedelic music. I told him that he did not give it a chance. I grabbed it and went on my merry way. This time I had a car that had a CD player and I used it to it's full advantage. When I left my friend I knew that this Flaming Lips had to be the kicker. I went to see another friend who was a Flaming Lips fan and I showed him the Promo of The Soft Bulletin. He laughed and showed me his copy.

He put his copy in the CD player to play for the customers. After the first few notes we knew we were in for an album full of experimental pop music and music that full of lush beautiful sounds and what it made it more interesting that the Flaming Lips grew in two years and more to this point and this was the top of their game. It was different then Transmissions From Satellite Heart, but it sounded like they wanted to make music that was Radiohead OK Computer style. It was really amazing and that was just the first song. In little over four minutes this song was the best song we ever heard. It could only get better and it did.

It sure did too, and by the end of the CD we were sad it ended. In 53 minutes the music transported us to another planet. It was really amazing. Then in 2000 I brought that same CD to school. It was my first year back after some time off and I was moving into a new world. I unloaded my car and my friend and I got everything organized. We decided to put on some tunes while putting my room together in the dorms. I put on The Flaming Lips. I put the music on loud enough for us to hear and anyone outside who could hear it as well. Not to loud, but enough to make an impression.

Over the course of the unpacking my room I had a few visitors. The RA and a few other people introducing themselves and then came a gentlemen who was listening to the music and his eyes were beaming with excitement. Is that The Soft Bulletin he said. His friend with him was like of course it is you fool. They introduced each other and I was happy that these people felt the same way I felt. One of them went quickly to my record and CD collection and started going through it like a kid at a candy store. They asked me all kinds of questions regarding my record collection. I told them I wanted to be a DJ on campus radio station. With them looking through the records and CD's they told me it would not take long to get a show.

In conclusion if I could suggest a great album such as this I will. This is an album that must and should be heard. It has everything you want in music and every you want in a great album. Remember once you listen to this album. You will be completely spoiled by everything else you listen to. Enjoy!