$11.99. $11.99 means a lot of things. One can go to a concert and purchase half a t-shirt for that much. Or maybe 3 Grande Caffe Mochas from Starbucks to get through the week. When I think of the $11.99 I recently spent on The Flaming Lips' The Soft Bulletin, I simply get a mental vision of urine circling a porcelain bowl.

I made a list of twenty or so albums that I've been meaning to check out for a long time and have been recommended to me or that I've heard good things about. I folded it up and carry it around in my pocket so that when I go a record shop, I don't forget to look for a few. I made this album one of 4 or 5 priorities. Mistake number one.

Never have I experienced such disappointment at an album. To call this an overrated album is an understatement. Seriously. It's not even a good album that's simply hyped to the point at which few albums could live up. It's just not even very good to begin with.

I'm familiar with the Flaming Lips. I've given a listen or two to Clouds Taste Metallic and similar albums and I own a copy of Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. I don't find the latter to be a masterpiece like many apparently do, but it's a good, well-crafted pop album. I expected something similar out of Bulletin, but with more of the noisy rock that was present in the band's earlier work. Being a fan of both noise-rock and conventional, occasionally uplifting pop music, I figure that this album would be a nice blend, a fusion of the two. This should be right up my alley. Instead, I hold in my hands an album that awkwardly clashes the two genres. Everything about this album is awkward. That's about the most perfect word I can think of. Not embarrassing awkward like going-up-to-the-blackboard-with-an-erection-in-the-sixth-grade awkward, but the awkwardity that makes you feel bad. It's basically not-having-any-spare-change-when-the-disabled-veteran-outside-the-supermarket-asks-for-a-donation awkward.

First of all, there's the clutter. Let's put it this way:

Bells? Sure. Cool vocal effects? Go for it. Guitars fuzzier than a character on Sesame Street? Thumbs up. String arrangements that are tailor-made for the climax of a pseudo-dramatic movie with a happy ending? I can dig that. Drums with a strange time signature? Go for it. Surely, all of these cool elements would enhance/create a great song. Right? Yeah, I thought so too. Unfortunately, the Flaming Lips knocked that theory on its ass harder than a Detroit Pistons fan. There's just too much going on. In every song, the Lips seemed to cram as much shit as humanly possible.

Onto the lyrics. I've never been too tough on a band for lyrics -- as long as the rest of the music made up for it. While I love good lyrics and emphasize the importance of good lyrics within a song, I'm generally pretty forgiving if some cheesy or sub-par lyrics are present within the context of a great song. Sonic Youth is one of my favorite bands and they've written more than one song during which I've simultaneously groaned and rolled my eyes in regards to lyrics. So the fact that some of the lyrics Coyne sings are cheesy, I'm willing to forgive and forget for the most part. But some are just lame. Honestly, there can only be so many mediocre lines/lyrics on an album before my alarm bell goes off. And just as it started to ring, I realized that Wayne was completely strung out throughout the writing/recording of this record, so I suppose I can forgive him for that.

The main source of awkwardity is the idea that, rather than this album being a mainstream-pop masterpiece for a noise-rock band, it feels like a noise-rock band trying desperately to write something that will be considered a masterpiece. Guys. Who gives a shit if Pitchfork gives you a 0 or a 10? Just write some good fucking songs. This, I feel, is a album that catches a band transitioning from alienating, feedback-laden druggie rock to shimmering, majestic pop music. This isn't a climactic point in the band's career. It's not a destination. It's the journey between two vastly different styles. It's uncomfortable. The Flaming Lips simply try way too hard on this album. Period.

The album isn't all bad. Fridmann's production really shines at points and some of the songwriting is good. Unfortunately, the songs are just so constantly fucked with that any semblance of a good song is tainted and tarnished by layers and layers of pointless accessory noise that needn't be there.

I like what I've heard of Transmissions From a Satellite Heart. I like what I've heard of Clouds Taste Metallic. I really like Yoshimi. Granted, I've never been a big fan of the ganja, so I might be missing something, but The Soft Bulletin just falls way too short for me. I don't understand the hype, and even though I'll probably enjoy this album more with subsequent listens, I don't see myself ever appreciating this album as much as I'm apparently supposed to. Not to say this is a BAD album, just a mediocre record that's experienced a painful amount of critical acclaim. I'll give it a 5/10. And that's because of the generous assumption that this album will eventually grow on me. Regardless, I think Flav and Chuck had it right when they said "Don't believe the hype."

I didn't mean to piss off any Lips fans, but rather stimulate conversation about this album. Hopefully those that enjoy it can let me know why, what to listen for, whatever will help me potentially like this record more. Because I really tried. This is just one man's opinion. Albeit one strikingly handsome, witty, intelligent man.

Until then, this will sit idle next to my Fugazi records in my alphabetically-organized collection and I'll cross my fingers that some of the badass of In on the Killtaker will rub off.

Thanks for letting me be long-winded and ramble incessantly.

I think The Soft Bulletin is amazing.

Yeah, me too. I was skeptical in the beginning - by the sound of things, I think my thoughts were fairly close to the ones presented in the rant - but it grew on me, and what bothered me the most in the beginning turned into what I liked the most in the end. It's a joy to listen to.

I think that it just fails to be as pop-oriented as Yoshimi and as noise-rockish as the earlier stuff. That's what I meant by awkward; it's just bizarre to me, there's something missing.

I thought this album was shit when i first listened to it, but i gave it a few more chances, and now i like it. Nothing orgasmically good, but its cool. I love a spoonful weighs a ton.

[quote="inadvertent imitation]Until then, this will sit idle next to my Fugazi records in my alphabetically-organized collection and I'll cross my fingers that some of the badass of In on the Killtaker will rub off.
[/quote]
Hehe

I somehow agree with you. I like Yoshimi a lot more than Bulletin.

Clouds Taste Metallic is a masterpiece.

Yoshimi is super good.

Bulletin was a letdown.

Its a fun album

You got it, dude.

That's simular to me, I brought Bulletin after Yoshimi and was disappointed, but give it a few more chances, it does grow on you. Though i still think Yoshimi is much better.

I like it, but I don't like it like it.

j.

I love this album. But I also think hearing the songs performed live helped me to enjoy the album a lot than if I had never seen them live. I also enjoy Yoshimi and Transmissions the best. The next Lips album should be fantastic.

the music is very relaxing

Very good record. The high points on it are as good as anything out there.

"Suddenly Everything Has Changed" kills me. Great song.

Good album

By far my favorite lips album and possibly one of my most listened to albums.

This album is great, maybe I'll throw it on right now

A spoonful weighs a ton

How I miss i_i