Following the success of their experimental hit "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" the Flaming Lips' new album, "At War With the Mystics," supposedly finds the band taking on new ground with a more "rock based sound." Well that's what their homepage says anyway. Upon first listen, however, it sounds like the Lips are picking up right where they left off by ignoring the limits placed on other contemporary rock artists and choosing to mix an array of abstract sounds.
On "Yoshimi," this tended to work more often than not; on their latest release the eclectic sounds seem to fall into a clumsy line of loose cohesion, making the listening experience a little bit awkward at times and occasionally frustrating as well. This is not to say that the work is without significant highlights. The band deserves a great deal of credit for creating a piece evident of musical maturity, thought provoking lyrics, and emotional melodies.
"The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song" opens the album with the Lips exuding the high pitched a cappella chorus "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah." It transitions perfectly into a feel-good blend of guitars and drums, emotionally inspiring swells, and electronic vocals that are sweet ear candy.
The album's first single, "The W.A.N.D (The Will Always Negates Defeat), features an edgy buzz-saw guitar riff and steady drum beat that inspires memories of Led Zeppelin. Clearly, the band is attempting to illustrate their return to a rock foundation and they succeed with this addicting record that makes you want to throw up your devil-horned hands and bob your head until it falls off.
"Pompeii am Götterdämmerung" is the album's most proficient song that opens with an absolutely beautiful electronic melody laced with Wayne Coyne's echoing high-pitched vocals. The song is epic in nature and would make any music appreciator's heart sink.
As a whole, the album has some winners but doesn't hold up to the brilliant "Yoshimi." At the same time, it would be a bit much to ask any band to equate the success of their defining work. The current release has obvious high points but quite a few lows also. As much as the Lips claim to be stretching their sound in this latest work, they're not. It seems that the group is comfortable with the niche as an experimental rock band that may have reached their peak with "Yoshimi." "At War With the Mystics," is good but not great, and it's fair to say that fans expect more from a band that has been previously championed as the potential saviors of rock than a sound that hints at complacency and is in danger of becoming irrelevant. |