Career Overview: The Flaming Lips

With the upcoming release of The Flaming Lips 12th studio album, Embryonic, it seems like a good time for a career overview of the best albums the Lips have released to date. What follows is the seven best Flaming Lips albums (in my opinion) in chronological order. These are the seven Flaming Lips albums I recommend you go out and buy right now if you don’t already have them.

In a Priest Driven Ambulance (1990) – This album took what The Lips were doing in the 1980s and to the next level. In my opinion it’s their first good album (I know some old school Lips fans love their ’80s stuff, but not me.)

Hit to Death in the Future Head (1992) – I personally prefer this one over Priest Driven Ambulance. It’s a crazy album with a lot of really experimental songs.

Transmission from the Satellite Heart (1993) – Don’t judge this album by the novelty hit “She Don’t Use Jelly,” it’s actually a very good album and that song is not a good representative of the rest of the songs.

Clouds Taste Metallic (1995) – Clouds… takes the direction of their previous ’90s albums and makes good on all of the promise. I think it’s their best album of this type (noisy psychedelic pop-rock.) After this album they would start moving in an entirely different direction, in large part due to lead guitarist Ronald Jones leaving the band.

Zaireeka (1997) – This is the Lips at their most experimental. The album actually consists of four CDs which are meant to be played simultaneously. This creates more of a “music experience” than just simply listening to an album. It’s not for everyone, but for those who get it, it’s a true masterpiece.

The Soft Bulletin (1999) – My favorite Lips album to date. It’s just about as perfect as psychedelic pop rock music can get. It’s experimental yet classic at the same time.

Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002) – To many who have discovered the Lips more recently this is the Lips best album. While I do think it’s a brilliant album I do think The Soft Bulletin is a superior album.

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