THE SOFT BULLETIN is the 9th album by American psych rock outfit The Flaming Lips, released 1999. But is it good?
So I've broken the blog rules again. This is far from the first time I've heard this album- I distinctly remember trying to get into it after discovering Yoshimi and Mystics, but it just didn't click when I was 15 for whatever reason. So does it now?
Let's start at the start with the first couple of tracks. RACE FOR THE PRIZE, A SPOONFUL WEIGHS A TON, THE SPARK THAT BLED and THE SPIDERBITE SONG all kind of occupy the same space- and despite this they all have their own identity. The lyricism and sonic palettes all kind of embody this kind of childlike innocence- THE SPIDERBITE SONG maybe the most- "if it destroyed you, it would destroy me!" and RACE's idea of 2 scientists racing (literally, in the music video), and THE SPIDERBITE SONG's simple fear of losing your friends and bandmates to car crashes and spiderbites, as well as lots of the instrumentations. The tracks all have these huge stomping drums, contrasted against these quieter sequenced drums.
I think my favourite track from this first "act" is probably THE SPARK THAT BLED. I didn't think you could attach that much emotion to a 2 second electronic hi hat riff, and yet this band does. The track has moments of innocence and foreboding right next to eachother. like the "had momentum, it was gaining traction" verse. The use of electric slide guitar is great here too.
The production in these first 4 tracks (and the rest of the album too) is really really solid, be it the stretched drum roll in THE SPIDERBITE SONG, the strings or the noisey chorus in RACE FOR THE PRIZE, it just works over and over again.
BUGGIN' is kind of silly, it has this huge grungy singalong chorus and quiet pretty verses, and I can't really bring myself to hate it, even if it is a bit basic. A nice track.
WHAT IS THE LIGHT and THE OBSERVER act as a two parter sharing the same melodic hook. The bass drum kind of reminds me of a heartbeat and the echoing piano key feels makes you feel like you're in a huge cavern, and it feels like light is being gradually let in as the instrumentation opens up; only for it to be swallowed up again by the edge of the track. THE OBSERVER kind of tip toes around with these strings and keys and guitar parts, and definitely feels like a proper continuation whilst still being it's own thing. Wayne's backing vocals near the end remind me a little of Sufjan Stevens too, for whatever that's worth.
WAITIN' FOR A SUPERMAN is a track from this album that's often toted as one of the best, but honestly I'm not crazy about it. The instrumental feels kinda bland and lacks some of the oomf of the others here, and doesn't feel 100% necessary, I guess. SUDDENLY EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED returns to form, with these lyrics that depict relative normalcy, between floaty instrumental sections, the lyrics are very evocative with lines like "Putting all the vegetables away, that you bought at the grocery store today" It's a good track.
THE GASH might be the stompiest track on the record, which fits the lyrical theme of continuing life despite hardships and not getting caught up in little things- maybe like some of the earlier songs did. There are the dark choral vocals that I think represent society at large, but you make your own mind up (lol)
FEELING YOURSELF DISINTERGRATE is probably my favourite track here- it explores these themes of love, life and death, and when the chorus hits it really feels like you are disintergrating, the huge drums, the bass, and the spacey side guitars and genuinely otherworldly. It feels like one of those songs I could listen to forever and not get bored of.
SLEEPING ON THE ROOF perfectly continues the spacey and reflective mood to the end of the record, it really feels like you're laying on the roof on a cool summer night, watching the stars and comets move far far above you. The layering of the instruments here is genuinely sublime. It's one of those pieces of music that will transport you somewhere else entirely if you let it, it's tingles up your spine on every listen. So, so good.
So in the end, I think the album has finally clicked for me. I think it's an album about taking time to appreciate the little things in life- your friends, your family, loved ones etc, as well as a real tour de force in instrumental prowess. Is it my favourite flaming lips record? I'm not sure. I like Mystics quite alot despite the weak closer, so I'll think on it. But this album? Still very, very good. Definitely worth checking out.
Comments