Flaming Lips - Soft Bulletin 51 WDvd (13 tracks) +Album Reviews

Soft Bulletin 5.1 - A revelatory experience

J. Brent Uptain | Birmingham, AL United States | 02/06/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't review often for Amazon, but I thought I'd review this album because I feel like I can offer up some info...

First, I hope that anyone investigating this album has already heard it - otherwise, please see all the terrific reviews for the ordinary CD version of this album.

In regards to this surround version of the record:

First, I'll say that generally speaking, the surround mix on this reissue is pretty amazing. The enhanced resolution allows the listener to hear things that are rendered unrecognizable by the stereo CD mix.

Fridmann and the Lips were very daring with the mix. None of the standard rules were followed here (i.e. vocals in the center channel, only "effects" in the rear, etc.). Instead, sounds completely envelope the listener from the full 360-degree spectrum.

The rule breaking didn't stop with the mix, though - the album features and entirely different track order, including one additional song that is not on the previously issued album. That song, Slow Motion, is terrific, and makes one wonder why it was chopped from the original Soft Bulletin.

The DVD surround mix is accompanied by an oscilloscope on the TV, which provides a very moody and psychedelic setting for listening to the album.

My only complaint is that the mix was executed as a true 5.1 mix, meaning it was geared toward a system that has 5 equally sized and equally powered speakers and a subwoofer. The liner notes say as much.

However, most 5.1 systems have significantly smaller rear speakers - and mine is no exception. So, the mix often has key elements strongly positioned in the rear speakers, including bassy elements, vocals, and everything else for that matter. And when these elements appear in the rear channels of the mix, they are overpowered by what is happening in the front speakers.

I turned up my rear speakers on the receiver to their maximum setting (+10 db), but still I felt like I was "missing something". This was particularly apparent when an element would circle the room - it would become quieter when positioned over the rear channels, and louder when posistioned over the front channels.

Most standard 5.1 mixes avoid this problem by correctly assuming that most systems have smaller rear speakers.

That complaint aside, this is a revelatory experience, one that I'm sure I will return to again and again...

A CD and a reissue that is so good it makes me want to get larger rear speakers. hahahaha."

Aural Candy

Geoffrey Navone | San Francisco | 03/10/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Flaming Lips have been one of my favorite bands since I discovered then in 1991. They are always keeping their sound,new fresh and different from many "mainstream" bands.I can't believe how popular they've gotten recently,but their popularity is long deserved. This 5.1 version of the soft bulletin is AMAZING. If you like the flaming lips and you have a good surround sound system at home,this is one to have in your library. When I recieved it,I had had a long stressful day.I put this cd in and sat back with a drink and was transported to a happy place.Crank this up and give it your full attention and see how fast you are whisked away from your daily troubles."

Long overdue reissue of the one of the 90's most important r

R. M. Self | Arlington, VA United States | 02/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

""The Soft Bulletin," is a landmark album that sounds more and more important with every year that passes, and this new edition certainly does it justice. The refined audio sounds amazing, and the extras are hefty indeed for the price. Having the bands thoughts on the making of the album was also very interesting to me, as I consider this the only Flaming Lips album that is good from start to finish. An essential buy for any record collection."

What is the light?

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 03/28/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With every truly good rock band, they hit their peak in a stunning, magnificent album that leaves people breathless. For the Flaming Lips, that album is "The Soft Bulletin," their 1999 opus -- a trippy, epic, ingeniously strange collection compiled of only good songs. It's not musical perfection, but close to it.

It opens with a glorious Mellotron wave, which is deliberately just a little off, at the start of "Race For The Prize (Sacrifice Of The New Scientists)." "Two scientists were racing/For the good of all mankind/Both of them side by side/So determined," Wayne Coyne croons. With, of course, offbeat echoes and electronic wavers and whispers layered over the indierock melody.

Without sounding overpolished, the songs that follow seem very carefully structured and polished; not a single note is out of place. Coyne sings above smooth, flowing pop songs with a catchy edge. And what songs he sings -- about supermen, debilitating spider bites, buzzin' bugs, scientists trying to cure terminal diseases, and wounded mathematicians.

"Soft Bulletin" also touches on some more uplifting topics -- "What Is The Light" is a purely enchanting variation on the typical love song: "What is the light/That you have/Shining all around you?" And "A Spoonful Weighs A Ton" is a soaring number about how "they" saved the world with the power of love. "And though they were sad/They rescued everyone/They lifted up the sun..."

Not that "uplifting" means cheesy or sappy. The Flaming Lips seem to be completely in earnest. What's more, they add a space-acid flavor to their music which keeps it from ever getting too... well, ordinary. The best description I can come up with is: it's like a big inspirational show on another planet, complete with a celestial pop orchestra. There. If that doesn't make sense, nothing will.

It's hard to find a given album that is entirely made out of excellent, listenable songs. There's usually at least one bad (or mediocre) apple -- including on most other Lips albums. "Soft Bulletin" has none. It has a unique kaleidoscope effect, with shimmering psychedelic music and hopeful, philosophical songwriting.

Wayne Coyne's somewhat nasal vocals actually sound good over this offbeat music, especially when they are echoed and layered. The music itself is wildly complex: flowing basslines and rather muffled drumming, with strings and orchestration. Laid over it all are layers and washes of synth and blips, which add the spacey final touch.

And what does this rerelease have? Among other things, outtakes and extra songs such as the enchantingly ethereal "Up Above The Daily Hum," the hauntingly beautiful "Switch That Turns off the Universe," and others. Wayne Coyne describes the experience of actually MAKING the album, which offers a bit more insight into the already evocative songs.

And of course, the videos: "Race for the Prize" is suitably colorful and bizarre, with joggers covered in electrodes and Coyne singing in front of a brass band. And the other is a shimmering, sunset-toned video full of flowers, fountains, head injuries, and a little boy who finds amazing powers in his little superhero cape. Adorable.

"Soft Bulletin" is probably the best album the Flaming Lips have ever made -- musically rich, lyrically uplifting, and thoroughly enjoyable to listen to. A modern classic."

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