673 The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots (2002)

 673 The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots (2002)

Studio Album - Neo-Psychedelica



About the Act:

The Flaming Lips are an American Psychedelic Rock band that are from Oklahoma, and have been in existence since 1983. Sixteen studio albums and several personnel changes later they are still going.

About the Album:

The Yoshimi in question is a real person, Yoshimi P-We, from the band Boredoms, who does some singing on the album. Somebody in the studio commented that her singing sounded like she was battling robots, and the idea stuck. The first four tracks on the album develop this idea into a sort-of story, but the band's frontman claims that despite this, it is not a concept album.

My History with this Album:

I have actually had a copy of this for a long time, but have rarely listened to it. The title track sticks in your head but I would say I'm not familiar with the rest of it. For some reason, I associate it with the TV show The Powerpuff Girls, that's probably just one of those random connections.

Review:

Take one of the mellower and more psychedelic Britpop bands, Suede for example, and introduce them to some electronica act like Fatboy Slim or The Chemical Brothers, and then get them together in a studio and invite them to battle for dominance.  That's this album. It's kind of acoustic dreamy rock combined with electronic sounds and samples and effects. Which makes it unusual. 

I feel quite neutral about it to be honest. This may be one where some people feel very strongly and are amazed at my lack of taste. Sorry. I don't dislike it but ti didn't really engage me much apart from slight interest in the sometimes jarring juxtaposition of the rock elements and the electronic elements.

6.3/10


Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/49LA20VMk65fQyEaIzYdvf

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX68ZEYlh74uKnyNZo1AbOGlmPRSLmaPO

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshimi_Battles_the_Pink_Robots



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