September 29, 2006 The Clarion
Arts&Life
Page 9
CD Review: Flaming Lips' creates synchronized harmony
by IVIatt Rutherford
IVIanaging Editor
At War with the Mystics
The Flaming Lips
(Warner Brothers, 2006)
Since most of you are students
who live on Brevard College cam
pus, and generally walk around
during daytime hours, you have
probably heard of a little phenom
enon called the Flaming Lips dur
ing your travels. On April 3'^'', the
Lips released their 11**" album. At
War with the Mystics. This album
is by far more guitar-centered, and
has an overall politically-driven
statement that its predecessors
YoshimiBattles the PinkRobots and
Soft Bulletin lacked.
At War with the Mystics is most
certainly a reply to the consider
able misuse of political power
within the United States; however,
though the message seems to be
rather blase (how many power pop
bands have you heard belt out their
hatred for George W. in the past
few years?), the music through
out the album is surprisingly up
lifting.
The lyrics are obvious and to-
the-point concerning their mes
sage, but not so overwhelmingly
blatant that the listener would turn
and cringe from pseudo-radical
statements. Something to be noted
about the lyrics is that they are
humorous. In the song Free Radi
cals, Wayne Coyne, Lips lead
singer, asks the question, “With
out all your bodyguards, how long
would you last?” This element of
poking fun at the government’s
systems is something that is in
teresting. Instead of simply tak
ing the President head-on, this
song—and album in general—calls
for the entire government to come
clean, and to, more or less,
straighten up.
The first song released from the
album was the Yeah Yeah Yeah
Song (With all your Power), on
March 27'*'. The song was well
received in both the United States
and the United Kingdom. Most of
the media interpreted the track as
yet another misplaced song de
manding the impeachment of
George W. Bush for his abuse of
power The song actually asks,
“What would you do if you had
the power?” Coyne has said in
many different interviews that this
particular track is about the over
all abuse of power, not only in
government, but in all aspects of
life.
At War with the Mystics took a
little getting used to on my part,
because I was expecting to hear
the same wispy melodies, usually
accompanied by sweeping sound
effects and occasional flock of
string patterns found on Yoshimi.
Not this time. The Lips’ 11*** con
tribution to the world of music is
most certainly centered on the gui
tar After hearing the album the
whole way through, it seems to
mesh with the band’s identity
more than I would have imagined.
The melodies, just like those
found in Yoshimi, are timeless. The
instrumental change was for the
best; when a band gets rutted into
an old habit, that’s when they usu
ally loose the crowd.
Everyone who has ever enjoyed
the Flaming Lips needs to go out
and obtain this album. It’s worth
every penny.
Horoscope
Aries: Friends are going to
sponge up most of your time this
week. Distractions aren't good
for a would-be leader like
yourself Your lucky color is ruby.
Taurus: Pluto is back and he is
going to cause you to act out.
Keep yourself in check. Or don't.
Drama is always interesting for
everyone else. Your lucky color
is diamond.
Gemini: Your options should be
kept open today, twins. Keep
watch over whatever it is you're
after because if you look away
for even a second, It'll be gone
like today's lunch. Your lucky
color is jasper.
Cancer: It's time to take
charge—a rare moment for a
being such as a crab. But
everyone has their chance. This
week is yours. Your lucky color is
beryl.
Leo: Social cats you are this
week! School is never really a
place to dig your claws into
something savory like a cocktail
party. The weekend holds all for
you. Your lucky color is peridot.
Virgo: So you goofed up a little
bit. It doesn't really matter, just
get over it and bounce back.
Everything will work out. Your
lucky color is lapis lazuli.
Libra: The moon is out to get
everyone this week. Including
you weight conscious (get it?)
people. You're probably a little ill
with the world right now. Its
alright. We all secretly are. Your
lucky color is mother of pearl.
Scorpio: Lucky scorpions, you
have no moon looming in your
sky. Your ruling planet has
decided you will strike a fierce
fury into those around you.
Congrats. Your lucky color is
oynx.
Sagittarius: Put your weapons
away this week, archers! Those
anger management classes are
paying off, because this week
you're most certainly more
approachable. Your lucky color is
moissanite.
Capricorn: Doing something
good for your significant other
may lead to something more
interesting in your day. Be
subtle. Your lucky color is
emerald.
Aquarius: Put your head up
and stop moping. No one likes to
see a sad sally! Get it together
and show those monotone
educators you can do it! Your
lucky color is opal.
Pisces: Around lunch today
your mood will lift, probably
because of some celestial body.
Either way, it's a good thing
because people were tired of
your'tude. Your lucky color is
sapphire.