Search - Flaming Lips :: The W.A.N.D.

Waving your wand in the air

D. Alvarez | High Bridge, NJ | 03/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although it contains only 3 tracks, I've been listening to this CD-single constantly. "The W.A.N.D." single is a great warm-up for At War With the Mystics due out April 4th. "You Got to Hold On" and "Time Travel...Yes!" , the non-album tracks are both very good. The latter is an instrumental with spoken word on the plausibility of time travel, and although it doesn't pack the same punch as "The W.A.N.D." or the plastic-soul of "You Got to Hold On", is a fitting end to the ep/single/whathaveyou.



In a sentence:

This single has got me excited for At War With the Mystics (which, by the way, you can listen to at flaminglips.com, if you're so inclined...)."

Wonderful, no...Wanderful !

greg s. | Minnetonka, MN United States | 03/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Got to hear the Wand by buying Paste magazine. It is great, no surprise there. The way this group records, with endless cool enhancements, is what makes the song more than a song.



Can't wait for the album. Bless their pithy little heads!"

Magic "Wand"

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 03/24/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Flaming Lips fans rejoice! The psychedelic space-rockers return with a new album in a matter of days. And considering how long it's been since we were regaled with tales of pink alien robots, it's about time.



And one of the best songs on their forthcoming album is "W.A.N.D," which is paired here with two non-album tracks. While the final song lacks the musical tightness of the first two, the single definitely shows that the Lips haven't lost their (weird, quirky, acid-trippin') touch.



It opens with handclaps, a skipping record, and ends up with a loud, murky riff that slowly blossoms into "W.A.N.D." It's fairly catchy -- not dancey, but the sort of song that makes you want to sway and clap. And never ones for empty lyrics, Wayne Coyne sings about greed, corruption and "those fanatical minds try to rule all the world."



"They've got their weapons to solve all their questions, they don't know what it's for.../Why can't they see it's not power, just greed, to just want more and more?" You go, Wayne.



Then they switch to "You Got To Hold On," a mellow, sunny little song that reminds me of the middle of the "Yoshimi" album, though a bit more uptempo. And finally there's "Time Travel... Yes!" Honestly, I'm not even sure what to make of this -- it's an ambient tune with horns and choirs. And someone talking solemnly about past life regression, time travel, and so on.



Despite becoming more prominent than ever before, the Flaming Lips haven't lost their touch. The songs on here are as trippy, weird and lovably optimistic as ever. The main difference is that they're a bit catchier than they were before. In a good way.



The last song doesn't quite fit in, though; it's not bad, but it's not as trippy or enjoyable as the first two. Once it's over, you won't remember much of it. But even that is flavoured with their music -- the fusion of horns, blips, gritty guitar and great swirls of smooth music. And Wayne Coyne's voice is as endearing off-key as ever.



While the last song isn't as great as the first two, the "W.A.N.D" single promises some wonderful music in the forthcoming album. Rock on, Flaming Lips."