Formed: 1983
How I became a fan
This one (along with Grandaddy) was down to the musical genius of Mr Tom Williams of Wheaton Aston. He managed to describe in a way I've never managed to convey since just how astonishing their live show is. I then borrowed Transmissions From The Satellite Heart and picked up The Soft Bulletin at a cheap price. And then I saw them at V2000, where they provided me with the undisputed single greatest musical experience of my life!
Comments
Although now falling down to my third favourite band in the world, The Flaming Lips are far and away the greatest live act our planet has ever seen! It's nice to see this is being accepted by more and more people now, particularly on the back of their explosive Glastonbury 2003 performance, which must had been adored by all except the most miserable Radiohead fan!
But I've covered the wonders of The Lips live act quite sufficiently on other pages so will try and focus on the records now. Wayne and the gang have amassed a fantastic back catalogue. The Flaming Lips starting out as an uncomfortable (but brilliant) listening experience and evolved through the years, releasing "one-hit wonder" She Don't Use Jelly and Zaireeka - one of the most ambitious and outstanding releases of all time.
Everything they've ever done is with a sense of adventure far beyond what others would dare and they've never fallen flat on their faces either. They also finally tasted real success in 2003, when a devoted Justin Timberlake pleaded with Wayne to let him dress up as a dolphin and join the band on Top Of The Pops!
Bad points
Wayne's voice gets a lot of stick, but I don't see this holding back the band at all. And some of their old stuff, although brilliant, is physically a challenge to listen to! Also they haven't wrote as many great songs as some other bands, and are inconsistent compared to, say, SFA or The Beatles.
Ten songs you really should know before you judge this band
Do You Realize?? (2002)
Assessment
Tunes: 9/10
The bottom line
You may have wrongly dismissed them in 2003 as just a fashionable act to like but The Flaming Lips are one of the greatest acts on Earth and it would take a pretty grumpy person to not adore their live show!
Lightning Strikes The Postman (1995)
Race For The Prize (1999)
She Don't Use Jelly (1993)
Shine On Sweet Jesus (1990)
Talkin' Bout The Smiling Deathporn Immortality Blues (Everyone Wants To Live Forever) (1992)
The W.A.N.D. (2006)
The Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (2006)
Waitin' For A Superman (1999)
Yoshimi Battle The Pink Robots Pt. 1 (2002)
Accessibility: 7/10
Originality: 8/10
Diversity: 8/10
Rockability: 9/10
Balladability: 8/10
Consistency (of b-sides): 8/10
Consistency (over career): 9/10
Live show: 10/10
Influence: 7/10
Vocals: 7/10
Interestingness: 10/10
Lyrics: 8/10
Work ethic: 8/10
Image: 10/10
Final judgement: 9.0/10
