(123A) The Flaming Lips 2011: With Yoko Ono / Plastic Ono Band (2011)

(123A) The Flaming Lips 2011: With Yoko Ono / Plastic Ono Band (2011)

1. The Fear of Litany
2. Do It!
3. Brain of Heaven
4. untitled interlude
5. Atlas Eats Christmas
6. untitled outro

     I have a feeling that oksentaminen thought at least close to the same thing as me when he saw that this team up even happened and it was negative and doubtful. When i first saw that The Flaming Lips made an EP with Yoko Ono, I assumed it would be bad and not my favorite. I avoided listening to it for quite awhile and when I finally did, I was proved wrong. It definitely fits in with all the other experimental EPs from 2011 but it ended up being one of my favorites. It was less experimental from many of the others and is almost the opposite ofr the Lightning Bolt release i just reviewed. Surprisingly good stuff, and once again, a couple tracks from this were featured on "Heady Fwends". (123)

(122A) The Flaming Lips 2011: With Lightning Bolt (2011)

(122A) The Flaming Lips 2011: With Lightning Bolt (2011)

1. I'm Working At NASA On Acid
2. I Want To Get High But I Don't Want Brain Damage
3. NASA's Final Acid Bath
4. I Want To Get Damaged But I Won't Say Hi

     This is another entry from The Flaming Lips 2011 string of releases. It is an EP with another experimental band called Lightning Bolt. I have never heard Lightning Bolt before, but their style reveals itself a bit on this release. The first 2 songs are listed as The Flaming Lips with Lightning Bolt and the last 2 songs are Lightning Bolt with The Flaming Lips. It's a very experimental EP and at least worth a listen. Track 1 is the best and I'm sure thats the reason it made it onto the full length release "Heady Fwends". Not my favorite but still worth the couple listens I gave it. I'll listen to track one again  in my life at least. (122)

04/28/2012 The Flaming Lips - Gummy Song Skull (2011)

04/28/2012 The Flaming Lips - Gummy Song Skull (2011)

1. Drug Chart
2. In Our Bodies, Out Of Our Heads
3. Walk With Me
4. Hillary's Time Machine Machine

     This was the next EP from The Flaming Lips 2011 releases. This is another one that is just the band with no collaboration. It is another solid collection of 4 songs from the guys that goes further into the experimental turn they have been on the last couple years. It has strange production as they are wont to do but as I said about "Heady Fwends", I actually prefer the tilt they have been on since Embryonic more than Embryonic itself. Its experimental but with a more chill approach. This EP also came on a USB drive in a Gummy candy except this time a skull. (119)

04/27/2012: The Flaming Lips - Gummy Song Fetus (2011)

04/27/2012: The Flaming Lips - Gummy Song Fetus (2011)

1. Enthusiasm for Life Defeats Existential Fear Part 2
2. Steven's Moonbow
3. Squishy Glass

     After listening to "The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends" I decided to dig deeper into all of the various EP's they released throughout 2011. Gummy Song Fetus was released early on in the year and features 3 songs by The Flaming Lips alone, which was a rarity throughout this year of EPs. It was released as a limited edition on a USB drive stuck inside of an edible gummy Fetus. The songs are trippy and experimental but are solid. Theres a touch of drone and a touch of Flaming Lips pop (118)

04/23/12: The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends (2012)

04/23/12: The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends (2012)

1. 2012 (You Must Be Upgraded) (feat. Ke$ha and Biz Markie)
2. Ashes in the Air (feat. Bon Iver)
3. Helping the Retarded to Find God (feat. Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros)
4. untitled 1
5. Supermoon Made Me Want to Pee (feat. Prefuse 73)
6. Children of the Moon (feat. Tame Impala)
7. That Ain't My Trip (feat. Jim James of My Morning Jacket)
8. You, Man? Human??? (feat. Nick Cave)
9. untitled 2
10. I'm Working at NASA on Acid (feat. Lightning Bolt)
11. Do It! (feat. Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band)
12. Is David Bowie Dying? (feat. Neon Indian)
13. untitled 3
14. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (feat. Erykah Badu)
15. Girl, You're So Weird (feat. New Fumes)
16. I Don't Want You to Die (feat. Chris Martin of Coldplay)
17. untitled 4

     I guess this is technically a Compilation album. It features some tracks released throughout the many E.P.s that The Lips released over the course of 2011. That only accounts for 4 tracks on this release though. The rest of the songs are from one off recording sessions with a wide variety of artists from Ke$ha to Nick Cave to Prefuse 73 to Chris Martin. This album was released on a limited edition vinyl for Record Store Day this year. Its a little disappointing that its hard to find because it is a perfectly acceptable followup to 2009's Embryonic. Despite the wide variety of guests, it is an incredibly cohesive record and is representative of the more experimental tilt these guys have been on for the last few years. Even the few songs that were already released seemed more impressive within the organization of this album. It caused me to give many of last years EPs a more repectful listen for this project (coming soon). This album ended up being a must have for any Lips fan. It is really a great listen with the strangest group of contributors ever. Check it out. (114)