Meatsheet Review: The Flaming Lips - King's Mouth: Music And Songs

Meatsheet Review: The Flaming Lips - King's Mouth: Music and Songs

Reviewed By John Meat
(In memory of Christian Eklund)

The Flaming Lips - King's Mouth (Music and Songs)

You can say lots about Wayne Coyne and The Flaming Lips.. a few things that are true is they've been going since the early and mid eighties and that they have consistently worked hard to release new material. Reviewing the new release King's Mouth: Music and Songs is difficult in the sense that I've been a fan for a long time so this review could be biased.

All the things that you love about the previous stuff is there. Dynamic songwriting with that touch of Jeff Lynne from ELO and melodic compositions that soar.. there's enough psychedelia to keep a small hippie commune busy for a while. (The 1990s Rasta colored hacky sack type)... I jest.

A lot of the weird bleeps drones and saw like waves that you may be used to hearing are there. 

Many of the tracks are narrated by The Clash's Mick Jones. I find that to be a bit strange, but this is a band featuring a frontman who pulls off walking in a life-size Plastic Bubble during the live show and riding a carousel sized unicorn. And I mean that as a compliment for real, not being facetious. 

I think what really  hooked me was 1999's Soft Bulletin where they added string arrangements and since then they ran with that.  It has elements of the previous records after Soft Bulletin. Yoshimi's dream like , summery grooves. The vocal and instrumental (as in bass , synth, guitar)  experimentation of The Terror and Embryonic. Aside from the narration it almost picks up where Oczy Mlody left off. I hear hints of the song "Do Glowy" and "Niedgy Nie" resurfacing in a new form.   The song structures can be airy, uplifting  in the case of the tracks "How many times" and "How Can a Head."

This track "How many times" features a whimsical vocal track reminiscent of  anime characters. Dare I say child like and not childish? However the mentally old may disagree.

Conversely, the songs could be dense and heavy... as in the funeral theme tracks. Dense and  heavy for The Flaming Lips though, unless they purposely go dark you will probably not cross-reference them with doom metal just more of the mood they go for.

The album really feels like a story book for kids but the adults with childlike imaginations can revel in it as well. Before I talk about favorite song here are some others.

"Giant Baby" is the first single I heard and the standout track when you start this from the beginning. The melody repeats throughout a few tracks. The lyrics personally grabbed me. The feeling of that wistful dreamlike state that only The Lips can deliver really shines on this one. 'Life sometimes is sad' and lyrics and melodies of these sorts on this track seem to relate to the many.

 Coyne delivers them with vulnerability and an honesty. It's my hope they wouldn't be taken as purely personal.  

"Mother Universe"  the next track might be a good test for a high-end stereo but I wouldn't know any of that because I'm stuck in a technological canyon devoid of stereophonic equipment that delivers this full spectrum, but it is my suspicion that the high ends and panning on this track is worthy of testing out 12 or 15 in woofers and your tweeters . There is also harp and string-like accompaniment..  "Electric Fire" stands out with it vocal chorus choir effects and lush strings. Great quote in it, 'outer space and all associated regions.'

I have to mention "Feedaloodum Beedle Dot." Track feels a bit hip-hop and done correctly could be a great remix opportunity if not already produced. The beat is similar to that Bonham like groove you hear on "Spoonful Weighs A Ton" - less heavy , more dancey. the lyrics rhyme , it's pretty much Wayne doing hip-hop, unsure if it was intentional.

If you like their song "Fight Test"  from Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots the song "Mouth of the King" has that atmospheric lilting , yet driving chord progression which is  the signature modern day Flaming Lips acoustic guitar sound. In fact it could probably be played acoustic and still hold its own. 

But finally the last track entitled "How Can a Head" gracefully yet powerfully launches as if you were watching a rocket take off and disappear into the sky until you see nothing but a faint trail of smoke. There's a nice underlying bass line that compliments the rising chord progressions. To me the melody is infectious  once he goes into the chorus.  This track is just a treat for my ears.  For those who find the narration problematic hopefully this one redeems the record alone.

Overall, if you did not know or like The Flaming Lips, this album should have at least a few points of interest and it's definitely, in my opinion, more than mediocre. I wouldn't say King's Mouth rules up there with Soft Bulletin, Clouds Taste Metallic, or Yoshimi but it is a valiant , magical journey. If you're expecting them to revisit their acid punk rock feedback days it is definitely not like that type of party. 

I give these guys credit as they are not afraid the try many different things, musically, and they can keep producing dreamy Indie pop with touches of psychedelia, random bleeps... and those rich, orchestral melodies...  I will be a fan for a few years more at least.  8  out of 10.

Cultcha-Clash-Outer-National-Global-Community-Radio 

CULTCHA Clash Outer National
https://www.cultchaclash.com