The Soft Bulletin - Exclusive Club Edition Yellow Mustard Colored 2x Vinyl LP With Lenticular Cover

Let me first confess that this is the first album of Flaming Lips that I have heard, and as many listeners have said, it is kind of hard to dig in it at a first listen; I am one of those who thought at the first listening that he/she was hearing a piece of "idiotic" and "directionless" music. I only remember two other albums that caused me such a strong impression in their own field of music experimentation: Loveless, by My Bloody Valentine, and Lateralus, by Tool. Those albums had the virtue of turning me, after several attentive listenings, in a follower of each group. So has it happened with Soft Bulletin, by The Flaming Lips. The album really sounds strange, weird, and that is because it is a melting pot of different styles of music both in form as in function. The Soft Bulletin is a treasure containing original treatments of country-folk, blues, godspell, surf rock, symphonic rock, choral music, psychodelia, and possibly other types of music that I have not yet been able to identify. At the same time, the songs are highly melodic, harmonically dense, catchy and even very danceable at times, turning them into a part of a pop flavoured ouvre that can appeal to listeners not used to the complexities (and pretentions, some would argue) of some art prog rock music. And finally, the texture of the sound and the atmosphere of the music make you imagine sometimes a film of some sort, or imagine distant and strange environments. Sometimes the music suggest relaxation, sometimes induces to dance. I hope that someone in the near future will lay out the comparisons between the Soft Bulletin and Sargent Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, by the Beatles, Smile, by Brian Wilson, and Dark Side of the Moon, by Pink Floyd, among other historical albums. I cite those albums in order to give the readers the parameters within which The Soft Bulletin should be considered: art pop music, because this is what those albums are about: the fusion between artistry, musicianship, and pop sensibility. A word should be said about Coyne's lyrics and voice in this album. I think that voice and lyrics make the perfect match, because Coyne sings with a very ironic style, like someone who is saying something serious in a not so serious way, which is the trait that befuddle listeners that in the first try consider the music "idiotic". And the lyrics themselves are ironic, revealing the frailty and at the same time marvel of the human condition, as a product of the struggle between the ilusion of power given by knowledge, science or politics, and the reality of our finitude, our limitations and contingent existence. So it is that the best and competitive scientist is in the end a human, with children and wife or husband, and the unexpected bite of a spider in the band guitarrist's hand can destroy the author (Coyne) and the band, and so it is that we cannot wait for a Superman to save us if we do not decide to save ourselves together!!! Folks, some of these lyrics bring tears to my eyes. From now on I will search for the music of these guys! So, what can I add? Listen The Soft Bulleting, and if you do not get it at a first try, give it several chances, you will not repent, and on the contrary, will give thanks to God that there are still creative musicians able to uplift you, as Superman would do.

Its great to see hundreds of reviews for The Soft Bulitan. In a world of playlist radio nazis selling silicon and diet cola, it reassues me greatly to know that so many have digested this wonderful Flaming Lips record.If the Lips were not the craftsmen they are, The Soft Bullitan would simply be a collection of 14 beautifully written songs. "Race For The Prize," "Spiderbite," "Gash" or any other track off this album would have made the group superstars in a world of both Top 40 AM and Free-Form FM radio.But being extremely bright, the Lips must have known they were holding five aces all along, and went for the whole pot. There is not one second on this album that does not pack layers and layers of sound. Every guitar strum has with it an ecchoing kettle drum, and a foot tap, and a sustained pull on a paino string, and a french horn buried just under the mix. It is so packed with sounds that even after many listens, each play makes you listen again, as you realize how much is there that you hadn't caught before.The Soft Bulitan is a rock and roll album in the Beatles or Dylan sense. Little girls don't play it in the car, and casual music listeners don't buy it for that "one great song."But its rewards are obvious: Soft Bulitan harkens back to a time when people looked forward to their favorate band's albums. You waited for the release date, got to the store in the morning, and were locked inside with the album by lunch time, listening over and over. Buy it, play it, listen to it, listen to it, listen to it even more, and you...you will have made a friend that shows you new things each day. A friend for life.

So, I joined the party about 15 years late on this one. Although I was not familiar with their music, I had always heard great things about the Flaming Lips from sources that I trusted. I became curious, and once I saw how reasonably priced all of their albums are on Amazon, I decided to do some research. I quickly learned that this is the album that many serious fans consider to be their "masterpiece," so I took the plunge (I know, risky stuff, 7 whole dollars).I'm really glad I did. After listening to it constantly for several weeks, I began to pick up the rest of their albums. Although I really like all of them for different reasons, this one is still my favorite (with Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots a close second). People with far more expertise than I have already done a great job critiquing the music on the album, so I won't try to do that. The bottom line - if you are at all curious about the Flaming Lips - a band that has existed for over 20 years but very well may have flown under your radar - this is a great place to start.

I pretty much crucified this CD when I first got it. It wore its crown of thorns long and well. My initial impression was that it was a self absorbed and boring attempt at being cool and contemporary.Things have changed. I listened to it as backround music one day when I had nothing else readily available - it was only available as a very useful coaster (in the box of course).I listened to it again. Some of the songs grew on me. I found myself actually turning up the volume on some songs. Heck, I started actually liking significant portions of it. There are melodies and hooks in many of the songs and the vocals previously found irritating have an appreciated Neil Young ish quality to them. Perhaps best described as smooth and interesting music with vocals that grow on you.I'm not going to go into the metaphors and sublimely obtuse arguments advanced both for and agin this CD. The bottom line is that I now enjoy this CD. My prior one star rating is now at four. There is a new coaster. Life is good.

Excellent album, thought I had it but didn’t so glad it is in my collection now from the first track to the last note uplifting and wonderful, music for happiness definitely

1983年にオクラホマ州オクラホマシティで結成されたアメリカのロックバンド、ザ・フレーミング・リップス（The Flaming Lips）の9thアルバム。ロック楽器、ストリングス、ホーンセクション、シンセ、テープ・コラージュ、ノイズ音によるシンフォニックなサイケデリック・ポップの傑作。ヘロヘロのヴォーカルと泣きのメロディー。シングル曲「Race for the Prize」収録。マーキュリー・レヴのデイヴ・フリッドマンとの共同プロデュース。ビーチボーイズの「Pet Sounds」や1960年代後半のサイケ／スペースロックを好む方におすすめ

Love it heaps