After the symphonic majesty of
The Soft Bulletin
,
the Flaming Lips
returned with
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
, a sublime fusion of
Bulletin
's newfound emotional directness, the old-school playfulness of
Transmissions From the Satellite Heart
, and exciting expressions of the group's emotional and experimental style. While the album isn't as immediately impressive as
, it's arguably more consistent, using a palette of rounded, surprisingly emotive basslines, squelchy analog synths, and pristine acoustic guitars on songs like
"One More Robot/Sympathy 3000-21,"
a sleekly melancholy tale of robots developing emotions, and
"In the Morning of the Magicians,"
an aptly named electronic
art rock
epic that sounds like a collaboration between
the Moody Blues
and
Wendy Carlos
. Paradoxically,
the Lips
use simpler arrangements to create more diverse sounds on
Yoshimi
, spanning the lush, psychedelic reveries of
"It's Summertime"
; the dubby
"Are You a Hypnotist?"
; and the barely organized chaos of
"Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 2,"
which defeats the evil metal ones with ferocious drums, buzzing synths, and the formidable howl of
the Boredoms
'
. Few bands can write life-affirming songs about potentially depressing subjects (the passage of time, fighting for what you care about, good vs. evil) like
, and on
, they're at the top of their game.
"Do You Realize??"
is the standout, so immediately gorgeous that it's obvious that it's the single. It's also the most clearly influenced by
, but it's even catchier and sadder, sweetening such unavoidable truths like "Do you realize that everyone you know someday will die?" with chimes, clouds of strings, and angelic backing vocals.
features some of the sharpest and most complex emotional peaks and valleys of any
Lips
album.
"Fight Test"
seems whimsical on the surface but packs a bittersweet punch, while poignant songs like
"All We Have Is Now"
"Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell"
are leavened by witty lyrics and production tricks. Funny, beautiful, and moving,
finds
continuing to grow and challenge themselves after delivering a masterpiece. ~ Heather Phares