Flaming Lips

The Flaming Lips' latest was largely inspired by leader Wayne Coyne's extreme dislike for President Bush -- a fact that might have spoiled the fun for fans of every ideological description. After all, the delicate balance of beauty, wit and spaciness that's marked the band's recent work left no room...

By Michael Roberts

April 6, 2006

Audio By Carbonatix

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The Flaming Lips' latest was largely inspired by leader Wayne Coyne's extreme dislike for President Bush -- a fact that might have spoiled the fun for fans of every ideological description. After all, the delicate balance of beauty, wit and spaciness that's marked the band's recent work left no room for overt anger. Fortunately, though, the new disc isn't a one-dimensional screed, but an eccentric slab of pop psychedelia that wraps topical references in weirdness.

During "Free Radicals," the Flamers take on terrorism, yet the vocals are mainly delivered in goofy falsetto, and the worst insult Coyne dishes out is "You're turning into a poor man's Donald Trump." Likewise, "Yeah Yeah Yeah Song" juxtaposes philosophical observations ("It's a very dangerous thing to do exactly what you want") with a bouncy melody and exquisitely silly "yah-yah-yah-yah" background vocals. And while "Haven't Got a Clue" has a semi-nasty lyrical edge, it also features ultra-sweet harmonies that even George W. might find irresistible.

Okay, probably not. But for the rest of us, such touches make this one War worth supporting.

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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