The Flaming Lips - At War with the Mystics

Great

I love Flaming Lips. It is a great artistic album. I don't like every single tune, but worth getting. Check out the tracks before you buy, to make sure it is your thing. If you aren't familiar with them, then Yoshimi is the best starting album for this band, because that album really is better. July 2, 2008

It's Like They Don't Even Try Anymore

First: The Flaming Lips are one of my favorite bands. Some of their albums have had transcendental effects on my worldview, beginning in high school and extending into my thirties.

But: Nowadays they sound like Sade.

Finally: People are going to buy this record, no matter what. And given the amount of hype, who's to say that they shouldn't see what all the hubbub is about firsthand. But, if you're going to buy this, at least make sure you also own In a Priest Driven Ambulance and Hear It Is too. June 5, 2008

The Best since "Soft Bulletin"

After "The Soft Bulletin", easily one of the 5 best albums of the 90's, I was somewhat disappointed with the Flaming Lips' follow-up, "Yoshimi". "At War with the Mystics" is a step back in the right direction.

The band's lyrics are obviously getting better as they get older, though that's still not the strength of their albums. The strength of this record is in the music. The instrumental tracks, "The Wizard Turns On" and "Pompeii at the Twilight of the Gods" are like Meddle-era Pink Floyd reborn. The entire first half of the record is stellar. The second half starts a little weak with the uninspired "It Overtakes Me", but picks up to finish quite strong. The final track, "Goin' On", features expressive vocals and a nice piano part that makes for a bittersweet yet satisfying finale.

I believe the band is back on the right track with this record. "The Soft Bulletin" set a very high bar for this band, and while I don't think they quite reached that level with this record, this is definitely a 5-star outing. January 20, 2008

A Great Album... Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah...

This is an album that definitely had to grow on me, and that is a good thing. I've always enjoyed albums that evolve as one repeats them, and this album (as do most Flaming Lips albums) has evolved quite a bit.

At first listen, I didn't think it was too good, but I felt the same way about The Soft Bulletin, too. The Flaming Lips are a great band, and this album really shows their depth. An album that at first seemed like a step backwards in sound actually reveals itself as a step forward once one really listens to it. The music and lyrics have a complexity not unlike the best parts of the Yoshimi album without some of the soft Pop music that I now feel keeps that album from being The Flaming Lips' best (this one may hold that title now).

Instead, this album is solid from start to finish and maintains a consistency similar to The Soft Bulletin. The result then is an album that blends the best aspects of The Flaming Lips' two previous albums and creates one that just might be The Flaming Lips' best ever. November 30, 2007

all your power

i have many cd, not many of them can i play in the presents of my mother with-out have strange feeling in my gut. BUT this cd is one i can enjoy in both our personal spaces. ........ with all power what would u do?
hit me up killerblack November 13, 2007

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