Filed under: Best of 2009 Albums | Tags: At War with the Mystics, Christmas in Mars, Embryonic, The Flaming Lips, The Soft Bulletin, Wayne Coyne, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
The Flaming Lips' Embryonic is No. 20 on 20 Watts' Best of 2009 list
PREVIEW: VISIT The Flaming Lips’ MySpace
TOP TRACK: “Convinced of the Hex”
Acid-drenched rockers The Flaming Lips hit a high note in 2009 with their twelfth release, Embryonic. Unlike previous releases Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots and At War with the Mystics, Embryonic seeks out a new sound for the band through innovative song structures and brilliant instrumentation. Skirting on the brink of “concept album” with their two previous releases, The Flaming Lips were caught in a sonic rut by the middle half of the decade. Though beautiful, ambient and textured, Yoshimi and Mystics were almost carbon copies of each other in terms of creativity, while The Flaming Lips sound was quickly turning into a caricature of itself.
After a quick break to release Christmas in Mars, Wayne Coyne and company returned to the studio, rejuvenated and ready to rock. The end result is the most detached, dark, and stunningly epic Lips album yet. “Gemini Syringes” spirals and cascades with electronic modulation as radio transmissions echo in the distance. The listener can easily fall into confused bliss as the tracks blend together and evolve into frantic, yet controlled, masterpieces. “The Ego’s Last Stand” grows like a nightmare as Coyne eerily croons in psychedelic prose, “there’s no way out.”
Setting a course for the center of the sun, The Flaming Lips put forth their most beautiful album since The Soft Bulletin. After a few plays, Embryonic begins to sink in as one of the quintessential psychedelic anthem of the decade.
– Chris Parker
Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: ed wood, hellboy, leon theremin, of Montreal, Pink Floyd, Pixies, spellbound, The Beach Boys, the buggles, the day the earth stood still, The Flaming Lips, The Legend of Zelda, the machinist, the red house, the white stripes, Theremin, Video Killed the Radio Star
So November 4, 2009, I gained another year of experience in life. Throughout my day of yearly reflection and festivity, I wondered what my dear friends would do for me on this particular day of days. One of my fellow editors here chipped in with a few others and handed me an origami card. Upon opening it, I found a picture of the inimitable Léon Theremin working his magic and a speech bubble coming out of his theremin and saying: “I am coming for you in the mail.”
What is a theremin, you might ask? It’s a box (mine is white) that senses the position of its players hands relative to two antennae, one vertical, the other horizontal and looped, and emits sounds at varying frequencies and volumes to correspond to it.
The theremin is well-known for being the instrument used to make those really weird, oscillating noises in scary movies. Its filmography includes The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Red House, Spellbound, Ed Wood, The Machinist, and Hellboy. Moreover, pop musicians the world over have used it throughout music history, including The Beach Boys, The Flaming Lips, The White Stripes, Pink Floyd, Pixies, and Of Montreal, among others.
Because of the method behind its operation (waving your hands around the antennae), the theremin is notorious for being difficult to play properly. I know I can’t wait to start learning!
– Eric Vilas-Boas, Managing Editor
Filed under: Issue 19, Issue 19 Reviews | Tags: Do You Realize??, Embryonic, Kid A, Radiohead, The Flaming Lips, Wayne Coyne
The Flaming Lips' Embryonic
WE GIVE IT: 15/20 Watts
MEDIA: Check out our Flaming Lips PODCAST
Throughout their long, illustrious career, The Flaming Lips have turned in effort after effort that, if not for a lack of U.S. commercial appeal, could have paved their way as standard-bearers in alternative rock. From the 1999 watershed album The Soft Bulletin to 2002’s fan-favorite, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, the band has done one thing phenomenally well over the years: Keep the critics happy.
Enter 2009’s Embryonic, the album that could, depending on whom you ask, keep that streak of magazine success alive. After three years of hard work, Wayne Coyne and company unleash a flurry of sound and experimentation on Embryonic, the likes of which have never been witnessed from them — or any band this side of Radiohead, for that matter. Embryonic is a character apart in The Flaming Lips’ discography, and that simple fact will cause critics to either praise it immediately or decry it across the board. (more…)
Filed under: Issue 19, Issue 19 Reviews | Tags: Embryonic, The Flaming Lips
WE GIVE IT: 15/20 Watts
REVIEW: Read our full review HERE
The Flaming Lips Embryonic abandons the band’s usual sense of melody and composition, instead creating a sound completely contingent on loud, discordant walls of noise. In this podcast, 20 Watts’ John Cassillo discusses the album and how it’s revolutionized the Flaming Lips’ discography. Read John’s full review here.
– John Cassillo and Irina Dvalidze
Filed under: Interviews, Issue 19, Issue 19 Q&A | Tags: Atlas Sound, Bears in America, Caution Children, central new york, Dandy Little Lions, Devon Stewart, Erica Scarano, indie music, ithaca, Jenny Lewis, Keys N Krates, lo-fi, Minus the Bear, Modest Mouse, Mouth's Cradle, Neko Case, Neon Indian, Royal Bangs, Syracuse, Syracuse University, Taylor Swift, Thao Nguyen, The Avett Brothers, The BQE, The Flaming Lips, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Temper Trap, The xx, Tundra Toes, White Picket Fence, Xylos
Filed under: Releases of the Week | Tags: Embryonic, The Flaming Lips, Wayne Coyne
- The Flaming Lips’ Embryonic presents what may be their most daring work yet
PREVIEW: DOWNLOAD The Flaming Lips’ “Convinced of the Hex” MP3
WE GIVE IT: 15/20 Watts
The Flaming Lips‘ Embryonic is perhaps the band’s most experimental work to-date. Abandoning their usual sense of melody and composition, they’ve completely retooled, instead creating a sound completely contingent on loud, discordant walls of noise. The album creeps in the darkness, billowing in the shadows until it explodes at various points through its 18 tracks. Even the effort’s more accessible offerings are nowhere near as friendly as past singles. Standouts like “Convinced of the Hex,” “See the Leaves” and “Silver Trembling Hands” are the rule, rather than the exception, amidst a lengthy set or spacey, distant tracks.
Check our full review in the latest issue of 20 Watts!
– John Cassillo
Filed under: News of Note | Tags: Broadcast, Chris Taylor, Editors, Embryonic, Grizzly Bear, Karen O, Lily Allen, Lykke Li, muse, music video, new moon, OK GO, Pitchfork, Radiohead, Rihanna, Stereogum, The Flaming Lips, The Killers, Thom Yorke, twilight, Warp Records, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
For better or worse, New Moon's soundtrack will feature some of our favorite indie artists
Thom Yorke, The Killers, Grizzly Bear, and Muse have all signed on to contribute to New Moon’s soundtrack. Other artists that will be on the Twilight sequel’s soundtrack include Lykke Li, OK Go and Editors. The full track listing can be viewed at NME.COM. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Thom York and Bon Iver Soundtrack New Moon]
Stereogum reported today that The Flaming Lips released a new video for the song “I Can Be a Frog,” from their new album Embryonic (to be released 10/13). The short song might not seem to make a great video on first listen, but Coyne’s animalistic lyricism makes for a lot of quirky pencil drawings in this unconventional music video. The bikini-clad actress mouthing Karen O’s “noises” surprisingly adds to the video, but who doesn’t want to see the real thing? Maybe next time. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: The Flaming Lips at ATP, 20 Watts Reviews The Flaming Lips' "Silver Trembling Hands" (from Embryonic)]
Birmingham-based electro-pop group Broadcast have announced their second release with Warp Records. Their full-length debut was punctuated by the extensive use of loops and lead singer Trish Keegan’s 1960s psychedelic rock vocals. Filter reports that the EP, entitled Broadcast & Focus Group Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio Age, is available for download from iTunes immediately, but won’t be hitting the shelves until October 27th. The EP can be previewed for free, though, at your next psycho dance party with the help of their trusty Myspace.
Rolling Stone reports that Rihanna’s next LP promises to bring its audience “Big beats and big bass.” She’s recruited producers Justin Timberlake and Chase & Status to help her bring them. This album is sure to take attention away from Rihanna’s past year of drama. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: 20 Watts Reviews Jay-Z's "Run This Town" (Feat. Rihanna)]
Pitchfork reports that Grizzly Bear’s bassist and producer, Chris Taylor has started a record label called Terrible Records. Through his new label, Taylor will be releasing his solo work on October 13. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Editor’s Pick #172: Grizzly Bear’s “While You Wait For the Others” (Feat. Michael McDonald)]
It seems as though Lily Allen and Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien are close to duking it out, Pitchfork reports. Radiohead belong to the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC), a British musician’s advocacy group. Apparently Lily Allen disagrees with O’Brien’s stance on file-sharing. After the guitarist released a statement endorsing the practice, the infuriated singer posted her opinion on her MySpace blog. She believes file-sharing hinders the growth of up-and-coming artists. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Editor’s Pick #93: Lily Allen Is Alright with Me]
Psychedelic folk legends Neutral Milk Hotel have announced plans to re-release their discography through Merge Records, as reported by Filter. The reissues of On Avery Island (1996) and the critically celebrated In the Aeroplane over the Sea (1998) will be released on vinyl along with a digital download code, so that listeners can enjoy the reissues without a turntable. Considering In the Aeroplane over the Sea was the best-selling vinyl album of 2008, there’s definitely a market for it though. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: 20 Watts Reviews Circulatory System (Elephant 6)]
– 20 Watts Staff
Filed under: News of Note | Tags: All Tomorrow's Parties, Animal Collective, ATP, Beyonce, Bradford Cox, Cosmic Egg, Deerhunter, hiatus, Jim Carroll, Jim Carroll Band, John Cale, Kanye West, Kid Cudi, Lou Reed, MGMT, MTV, Panda Bear, Pearl Jam, Ratatat, Sigur Ros, Stephen Colbert, Taylor Swift, The Flaming Lips, Tiesto, VMAs, Wolfmother, you belong to me
Kanye's drama queen antics rained on Taylor's parade
PREVIEW: DOWNLOAD Taylor Swift’s “You Belong to Me” MP3
When Taylor Swift won Female Video of the Year at last night’s VMAs for “You Belong to Me,” egomaniac Kanye West just had to have the last word. Interrupting her special moment, the rapper hopped on stage, grabbed the mic, and announced that Beyonce better deserved the award for “Single Ladies.” Cameras cut to Beyonce, who could be seen mouthing “Kaannyee” in as much surprise and disgust as the audience. Taylor was left speechless and was escorted off the stage. When Beyonce won Video of the Year later in the night, she invited Taylor back onstage. Kanye later insincerely apologized via his blog. His outburst has already led to parodies like this one. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: To Celebrate Kanye West's New Book, A Compilation of Genius Kanye-isms]
SPIN gives readers the best and worst of New York’s All Tomorrow’s Parties this past weekend. Participants included The Flaming Lips, Panda Bear, Animal Collective and Deerhunter, amongst many others. One of the most notable moments however, was not of the musical variety. Deerhunter’s Bradford Cox announced mid-set that the band will be going on hiatus, effective immediately, to work on other projects. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: 20 Watts Reviews The Flaming Lips' "Silver Trembling Hands"]
Wolfmother paid a visit to SPIN’s NYC office to chat with the magazine, and play a few songs, which were captured on video here. Among them were two older tracks, one off of the upcoming Cosmic Egg and a Neil Young cover. Some may recognize the band from the (500) Days of Summer and Spider-man 3 soundtracks, respectively. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: 20 Watts Reviews (500) Days of Summer OST]
Pitchfork and The New York Times reports that Jim Carroll died of a heart attack in his apartment on Friday. Carroll is most renowned for penning 1978 Basketball Diaries, but he was also a poet and musician as the frontman of the influential punk rock band, the Jim Carroll Band. He has worked with artists such as Lou Reed, Pearl Jam, and John Cale. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Beck Covers The Velvet Underground]
The Flaming Lips will appear on “The Colbert Report” this Wednesday, September 16, Pitchfork reports. The band will likely perform a song from their latest album, Embryonic, as well as chat with Stephen. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: 20 Watts Reviews The Flaming Lips' "Silver Trembling Hands"]
In a new interview with Eyeweekly.com, Andy Rourke, former bassist of The Smiths, stated that he was fired from the band by a note left on his car by Morrissey. Denying the claims, Morrissey said this wasn’t the first time Rourke has perpetuated this story. “It is a recurring comment whereby Andy confirms that his dismissal from The Smiths was made via a handwritten postcard from me telling Andy, ‘You have left The Smiths’,” Morrissey said. “If such a postcard ever existed, it is likely that an unfunny stunt was played on Andy by someone attempting Morrissey-scrawl — easily done.” Morrissey will kick off a fall European tour in October. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: 20 Watts Reviews (500) Days of Summer OST]
Pitchfork premieres the latest Tiesto track, which features Sigur Ros’ Jonsi Birgisson. The seven-and-a-half minute “Kaleidoscope” is off his forthcoming full-length album due to hit stores October 20. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: 20 Watts Reviews Jonsi and Alex's Riceboy Sleeps (Sigur Ros Side Project)]
According to Stereogum, Kid Cudi performed “Pursuit of Happiness” on the Late Show with David Letterman this past Friday night. Backed by snappily dressed backup singers, a string section and Ratatat, who appear on the album version of the song along with MGMT, the performance was a great success. Letterman praised it as having “a lot going on there” and endorsed the album. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: News of Note: Pitchfork Posts New Kid Cudi Song]
– 20 Watts Staff
Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: beck, David Byrne, Devendra Banhart, haih or amortecedor, Nirvana, of Montreal, Os Mutantes, rita lee, The Beatles, The Flaming Lips, The Stooges, tropicalia
Os Mutantes, back in action, released a new album last week
PREVIEW: DOWNLOAD Os Mutantes’ “A Minha Menina” MP3
Most American listeners know tropicalia bands like Os Mutantes from their influence on artists like Nirvana, Beck, David Byrne, of Montreal, Devendra Banhart, and others. However, in their day, this crew of noted rockers, inlcuding the legendary Sérgio Dias and the internationally known Rita Lee, were known in their country as Brazilian equivalent to The Beatles.
With their 2006 reunion spearheaded by Dias, Os Mutantes have been playing shows on world tours alongside the likes of aforementioned Banhart and the equally psychedelic The Flaming Lips. They also released their first album in over 35 years – Haih or Amortecedor – last week. Unlike The Stooges‘ attempt at a comeback, Os Mutantes’ actually produced great music.
– Eric Vilas-Boas, Production Editor
Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: All Tomorrow's Parties New York, Animal Collective, Asthmatic Kitty, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Cryptacize, Deerhunter, Music Hall of Williamsburg, sufjan stevens, The Bowery Ballroom, The Flaming Lips
A Sufjan tour coming to a coffee shop near you
PREVIEW: Download Sufjan Stevens’ “Chicago” MP3
Indie-folk god Sufjan Stevens announced today that he would be embarking on an exceptionally intimate fall tour in parts of Canada and the Eastern United States. The tour kicks off at All Tomorrow’s Parties New York, in Monticello, NY, and while that, admittedly isn’t too tiny a venue (also showcasing The Flaming Lips, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Deerhunter, and Animal Collective, among others), the rest of them on the itinerary, like the Music Hall of Williamsburg or the Bowery Ballroom in NYC and Castaways in Ithaca, are.
At these smaller shows, Sufjan will be supported by Asthmatic Kitty labelmates Cryptacize, whose latest album dropped earlier this year. Here’s a full list of the venues they’ll be hitting:
09/12 Monticello, NY @ ATP New York
09/21 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
09/22 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
09/23 Ithaca, NY @ Castaways
09/24 Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
09/25 Pontiac, MI @ Crofoot Ballroom
09/26 Champaign, IL @ The High Dive
09/27 Minneapolis, MN @ 400 Bar
09/28 Madison, WI @ The Majestic
09/29 Bloomington, IN @ Buskirk Chumley
10/01 Toronto, Ontario @ Lee’s Place
10/02 Montreal, Quebec @ Cabaret
10/03 Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall
10/04 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
10/05 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
10/06 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
10/07 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
– Eric Vilas-Boas, Production Editor
