The Flaming Lips. (1999). The
Soft Bulletin [CD].
Burbank, CA: Warner Bros. Records.
Summary and Evaluation
Chosen as the third best album of the 90's by indie music publication Pitchfork, The Soft Bulletin marks a departure of the purely pop rock--if weirdly so--music The Flaming Lips had been producing up until then. With The Soft Bulletin, The Flaming Lips produced an ambient, layered alternative rock album that is as weird as ever, just in more experimental musical ways. Songs deal with sadness, addiction, and the overwhelming power of love in the face of it all. The Flaming Lips are very positive, even when somber, and their lyrics promote a strength in community. In "A Spoonful Weighs A Ton," lyrics describe the weight of sadness and depression:
And though they were sad
They rescued everyone
They lifted up the sun
A spoonful weighs a ton
The song concludes with an affirmation:
Being drunk on their plan
They lifted up the sun
Yelling as hard as they can
The doubters all were stunned Yelling as hard as they can
Heard louder than a gun
The sound they made was love
These abstract lyrics are indicative of the lyrics throughout The Soft Bulletin as well as the style of music behind them. This weird rock album is vital to any collection, though it may be one that teens are not familiar with.
Interest Age
Older teens, or ones who just appreciate weird rock and some introspective, if slightly absurd lyrics.
Reason Selected
This is a selection for the "weird" genre. I love The Flaming Lips because at their best they sound timeless, like nobody else. I feel this album is one of their best and most accessible. Teens that may not be into popular music may feel more of a connection with this album.
The Soft Bulletin. (n.d.) In
Wikipedia. Retrieved
March 31, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Soft_Bulletin
Top 100 Albums of the 1990's.
(2003). In Pitchfork.
Retrieved March 31, 2013, fromhttp://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/5923-top-100-albums-of-the-1990s/10/
No comments:
Post a Comment