The Flaming Lips-"Void" DVD 8/23/2005 (1 Viewer)

[Zen Butler]

[What a year for "Lips" fans! I will be seeing them on July 30th in San Diego with Snoop Dogg and others! San Diego Street Scene]
From the Wire:
THE FLAMING LIPS CREATE 'VOID'
The Flaming Lips will release VOID (Video Overview In Deceleration), a career-spanning DVD collection of nineteen of the band’s most adventurous and audacious videos on August 23rd, 2005 on Warner Bros. Records.

The compilation will include "Mr. Ambulance Driver," the Grammy®-nominated group’s latest adventure in sound and vision from their eagerly awaited new album AT WAR WITH THE MYSTICS, set for release in the spring of next year. The song will also be heard on the soundtrack to the upcoming movie Wedding Crashers. Meanwhile, The Flaming Lips’ own long-awaited feature film, CHRISTMAS ON MARS is tentatively scheduled for release mid-2006.

Featuring 5.1 Surround Sound and a commentary on selected tracks from The Flaming Lips, VOID (Video Overview In Deceleration) highlights such groundbreaking multi-media as “Waiting For A Superman” from 1999’s The Soft Bulletin; “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots,” the title track from their best selling 2002 release; the breakthrough 1994 single “She Don’t Use Jelly,” along with both US and UK versions of “Do You Realize??.”

The complete track listing of VOID (Video Overview In Deceleration) is as follows:

“Mr. Ambulance Driver”
“SpongeBob And Patrick Confront The Psychic Wall Of Energy”
“Fight Test”
“Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots”
“Do You Realize? (UK Version)”
“Race For The Prize”
“Waiting For A Superman”
“This Here Giraffe”
“When You Smile”
“Bad Days”
“Christmas At The Zoo”
“Be My Head”
“She Don't Use Jelly”
“Turn It On”
“Frogs”
“Talkin' Bout The Smiling Deathporn Immortality Blues (Everyone Wants To Live Forever)”
“Phoebe Battles The Pink Robots”
“Are You A Hypnotist??”
“Do You Realize? (US Version)”

 

[Steve Kuester]

Anyone pick this up?? I grabbed it on Tuesday, I can't believe that Best Buy has it for only $12.99.

I think it's great. I've given it a listen, but not in surround sound yet. The commentary track is awesome on the first 4 or 5 songs I've heard so far.

What do y'all think of Mr. Ambulance Driver? (The song, not the video) I heard it just once on FlamingLips.com a couple months ago and was a bit underwhelmed. My first listen on the DVD this week changed my opinion of it completely.

Any personal faves on the DVD? I thought the spongebob video was alot of fun - classic Lips.

I know the two songs off Hit to Death are older, but I just can't get over how young they all look on the Turn it On video.

Long live the Lips.

 

[Chris Gerhard]

I have this disc, I continue to try to understand the big fuss about this group. I don't think I had ever seen any of these videos before buying this DVD-V. I have "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" and "The Soft Bulletin" DVD-A/CD sets as well and have never even checked to see if any videos are included in those sets. The Flaming Lips music is fun in small doses for me, but I am certainly no big fan. Since it is my understanding this music is considered important pop music, I try to agree but if I had to offer my own conclusion based on my 54 years, I would have to categorize it as fun novelty music. There is nothing even remotely significant about any of their music and videos and all will be remembered as something similar to the song "Purple People Eater". The aggressive surround mixes are fun as usual and DVD production is good for these mostly low budget videos. For fans only since I know they have a small loyal fan base.

Chris

 

[JonZ]

"I continue to try to understand the big fuss about this group"

From 89 to 96 this was one of the greatest bands on the planet. Although theyre more popular now than ever, things really went downhill after Ronald left the band after Cloud Taste Metallic.

Listening to Soft Bulletin was one of the most dismal heartbreaking experiences of my life. Thats not a exaggeration as this band meant alot to me and brought a smile to my face during the worst times of my life in the mid 90s.

Ive tried to stay supportive. Id burn every copy of Bulletin in existance if I could. Robots was a much better effort but doesnt come close to the songs of the past. Out of loyalty I bought At War M wt Mystics which I skipped through and threw away afterwards(I was actually optimistic after hearing reports the album would be more guitar driven and hearing the Spongebob Song which I suprisingly really liked). Its sad becuase at one time this was a amazing band.

Wayne says he cant sing or play guitar and neither are true really. In fact the layers and layers or inventive guitars were always one of my favorite things about this band and Wayne is one of my alltime favorite singers. Sure he doesnt have the natural ability of a Freddie Mercury and such but has a amazing amazing sense of melody. Alot of credit is given to Steve and Ronald, deservingly, both are great musicians, but Wayne was doing great things before they came along.

This band used to be so much fun. I really realized it was over when I was suprised to see them on HBO Reverb(late 99 maybe). In the old shows everyone was always having a ball, as the camera panned out on the audience, they looked like the living dead. Everyone sitting there quietly singing mumbling the worlds with Wayne. The FLs used to make you want to sing along at the top of you lungs, not caring who saw you. Theres nothing like blasting their old albums at maximum volume while driving at night. Anyway Im ranting here.....

If i had to pick my 5 most influencial bands, these guys would be in the list for their music during the 7 year period of 89-96. They completely changed how I felt about and perceived music.

Theres a few Lips fans here and theyll all disagree with me - But dont judge them based on the new stuff (which IMHO really sucks)because their older music is simply brilliant.

 

[Chris Gerhard]

I came in really late, my first experience being Yoshimi when I purchased the DVD-A early this year based on mostly rave reviews at the various forums I participate in. All I have ever heard is the three discs I mentioned and their appearance on the Tonight Show recently, which I thought was amateurish. I had expected punk rock or something totally different than I have heard so far. The early stuff won't be excluded from consideration if I ever get a chance to listen, but I have most likely completed my collection of The Flaming Lips music.

Chris

 

[Zen Butler]

Christopher in one word "bittersweet." Wayne Coyne's lyrics at their worst are silly. At their best though; he's able to touch deeper areas and subjects with a smile on his face. The Soft Bulletin has some his best work lyrically. There is a bit of sadness on both Bulletin and Yoshimi; it was a rough period for Coyne. And can't anyone hear it musically. Credit Steven Drozd; he is a one man band and a genius in my book.

The Soft Bulletin to some from the outside might look at it as some "novelty" "amateurish" etc. For me, the album is one of the most melancholy albums and one of my favorites.

Jon, I hear you. I've been a fan since 93 and I own everything. My take, they lost Ronald Jones, they were gettting close to 40 and they needed to reinvent themselves. Personally, I'm right there with them. One must acknowledge Coyne's drive and perseverance. I mean the guy is 46 and still very relevant

 

[JonZ]

Oh My Gawd!!! (1987)
Telepathic Surgery (1989)
In a Priest Driven Ambulance (1990)
Hit to Death in the Future Head (1992)
Transmissions from the Satellite Heart (1993) #108 US
Clouds Taste Metallic (1995)

On Oh My Gawd they were still raw and learning. Its not great, but theres a few jems on that album. Most of this has a punk approach but I wouldnt call it punk exaclty(and I dont labeling music anyway). This album has the excellent 10 minute song 'One Million Billionth Of A Billisecond On A Sunday Morning'.

Telepathic Surgery is better and the second half of the album is really strong.Some think this is a weak record, they lost their drummer while recording it. Im not one of them.

Things really take off with Priest Driven Ambulance and are more realized in Hit To Death. They really began experimenting here with different sounds and recording methods.
Hit to Death blew me away when I first heard it. I was completely in awe of it, it was a music unlike anything Id ever heard before. Transmissions and Clouds are masterpieces.

If you go here....
http://www.flaminglips.com/main.php

Click on the music tab, beneath each album cover is "album info". Theres a bit of background info on each album that really worth reading as itll give you some insight into the making of each record.

I hope you try to pick those old albums up.....ENJOY!

Zen, I understand and like I said I try to be supportive but its getting hard. I just dont like the post Ronald music (except for the Spongebob Song ).

 

[Zen Butler]

I have everything they have ever recorded. They are my favorite band.

I loved "In a Priest" "Hit to death" was meh for me. I will agree that Transmissions and Clouds are special. I love them. I just view Bulletin, Yoshimi and Mystics as a different era. The Steven Drozd era really with Zaireeka being the bridge between the two.

 

[Ruz-El]

After dismissing the band after a breif flirtation with a library cassette in the late 80's, I have found myself completely entranced by them after recently discovering "The Soft Bullitin" (which staid on repeat for the first week I had it) and "Yoshimi" (not as good as "Soft" for me, but just as wonderful to listen to). I've been slowly collecting most of the catalog since.

I noticed this DVD as well as "Freaks" any recommendation on where to start? I love clever videos (owning all of "The Works Of The Director" series by PALM), as well as good documentaries, so I'm wondering which one gives a bigger bang for your buck.

 

[Jeremy Little]

You can give the videos a test on the www.flaminglips.com/main.php if you want. I went to a screening of Fearless Freaks here in OKC with Wayne doing a little Q & A at the end. There were a lot of people who looked like they were out of place, but most still seemed to enjoy the documentary. As much as I love the low tech videos the Lips have done, I think the documentary is really strong and may give you more insight into the band and especially Wayne. He's a guy who will really lift your spirits and when you are down he will make you happy. It is hard not to like the guy.