The Flaming Lips gave a magical concert in Athens in 2003. They played music from their then current cd "Yoshimi battles the pink robots" and I will never forget the euphoric state leader Wayne Coyne was in (no doubt the result of some very good drugs), singing with glee while showering the audience with multi-coloured confetti -not to mention members of the band,playing dressed in Halloween animal suits... This album was far less memorable, with the exception of the song titles. A song with the title "Psychiatric Explorations of the Foetus With Needles" is worthy of an "Ummagumma" and the problem of this album is also reminiscent of "Ummagumma": An early experimental album of a band that would go on to make better music. I bought it on the strength of their previous indie hit "She don't use jelly" and was disappointed with the lack of accessible songs. Re-listening the cd after many years, the elements that won me over some years later already existed: big melodies, psychedelic/prog elements and even the weird fascination with animals. But it sounds like the band sabotaged itself, as if afraid that the "cool kids" will accuse them of selling out. Kim's Watermelon is the closest the album gets to the garage sound of "Jelly", but nowhere as good. The best tracks are the ones anticipating the road taken with the "Soft Bulletin" cd, a sort of Neil Young/Beatles/Pink Floyd/Coldplay hybrid: Abandoned Hospital Ship, This Here Giraffe, Brainville and the highlight of the album "Christmas at the Zoo" (Never heard the word "orangutan" in a song before, although admittedly I haven't heard the "Lion King" yet). I doubt I'll be listening to this album again soon, but don't let that discourage you. After all, allmusic.com gave it 4,5* so maybe you'd like to check it out anyway.
**** for Christmas at the Zoo, This Here Giraffe
*** for The Abandoned Hospital Ship, Psychiatric Explorations of the Foetus With Needles, Brainville, Evil Will Prevail, Bad Days
** for Placebo Headwound, Guy Who Got a Headache and Accidentally Saves the World, When You Smile, Kim's Watermelon, They Punctured My Yolk, Lightning Strikes the Postman
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