SOUNDTRACK: THE FLAMING LIPS-Telepathic Surgery (1989).
Although the overall sound of the Lips on this disc isn’t that much different, the band sounds more accomplished. Rather than just banging out songs in a garage, this one sounds like a bunch of guys banging out songs in a studio and then experimenting the hell out of them. In fact, the experimentation often takes over the quality of the song itself. Wikipedia states that this album was originally going to be released as a thirty minute sound collage, although that was modified to what we now have, and that makes some sense. This experimentation will certainly pay off in later years as the Lips hone their studio skills.
Even though the experiments tend to overshadow the songs, the compositions are more intricate, the playing is more precise (even though it is still somewhat sloppy sounding) and they sound like a real band.
The album is a lot of fun, although the middle two tracks: “Hell’s Angels Cracker Factory” and “UFO Story”could easily be removed and made a separate EP. (And yes, I realize that “Hell’s Angels” is a bonus track not on the original LP, but it really messes with the flow when dropped in the middle of the disc).
But back to the beginning. “Right Now” has a great, weird squeaky opening riff and a fantastic chorus that is reminiscent of Pink Floyd’s “Astronomy Domine.” “Chrome Plated Suicide” is a surprisingly poppy song, drenched in distortion to give it anice edge. “Hari-Krishna Stomp Wagon” is subtitled “(Fuck Led Zeppelin)” which is pretty funny since so many of their earlier songs sound so Led Zeppelinish.
There are two super-short pieces that fill up the disc: “Michael Time to Wake Up” is a thirty second feedback squall and “The Spontaneous Combustion of John” is 53 seconds but is an actual song song, with acoustic guitars. “UFO Story” is in fact a 6 and a half minute spoken word story about UFOs. It’s a mellow drony piece with a barely audible (presumably stoned) Wayne relating a tale about seeing the same UFOs on two distinct occasions. The middle two minutes are basically just guitar squalling feedback, and the final the two are a pretty piano melody. “Miracle on 42 Street” isgentle instrumental, with a lot of cool bass, that opens with some fun radio snippets.
The second “side” of the disc is pretty different from the first. It contains a series of rather short, rather simple songs. The experimentation has also mellowed somewhat. It’s not as crazy as the first half and, in fact is a return to the acid rock of the first two albums. “The Last Drop of Morning Dew” is another short song although it’s not silly. “Shaved Gorilla” begins with a classical sample (which I cannot place), and then turns into a tidy little rocker. And the disc ends with the wonderfully titled “Begs and Achin,'” a solid distortion filled rocker.
Two bonus tracks come on the disc “Fryin Up” (on Easter Sunday, blowing off everything off on Monday…hee). Doesn’t sound out of place on the disc at all.And “Hell’s Angels Cracker Factory” is a 23 minute (!) instrumental freak out. It opens with the roar of motorcycles and includes reversed tape loops and distortion, blessed distortion. As a track it works pretty well, although, as I said, in the middle of a disc it’s a bit of a distraction. On the reissue Finally, The Punk Rockers Are Taking Acid the song is reduced to 3 minutes, which gives you a taste for it without taking up the bulk of your evening.
Overall, the album is a transitional step, but it’s an important one. And if you like your music freaky, it’s an enjoyable one, too.
[READ: January 15, 2008] Curious Men
This is a collection of articles originally published in the 1830s. The subject is, essentially, human oddities. Buckland was a sort of collector of oddities. Yet unlike P.T. Barnum, he seems to have befriended, rather than exploited many of the people in question. In fact, this collection of articles shows him investigating some of these bizarre claims, and seeing if they need to be debunked. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 