At this point in their career, the Flaming Lips have become a cottage industry unto themselves, cranking out a variety of albums, doodads, and collaborative efforts seemingly whenever they like. This year has already seen the release of their 15th album, the bleak but beautiful The Terror, along with a retooled live show that landed triumphantly at Artpark back in July, jettisoning the balloons and birthday party ruckus in favor of a dazzling, psychedelic, quasi-religious revival with Wayne as space age preacher man. The Lips weren't done yet with 2013 however as this week saw the release of their contribution to the Enders Game soundtrack, a 5 song EP portentously titled Peace Sword.
Now it should also be clear that as the blog's resident Flaming Lips obsessive, I am not entirely capable of being impartial where the Lips are concerned, so take this review for what it's worth with that in mind.
Anyways, something about Ender's Game must have struck Wayne Coyne and Steve Drozd because Peace Sword turns out to be an achingly heartfelt tour of the Flaming Lips sonic oeuvre. "Peace Sword (Open Your Heart)" kicks things off with an undiluted dose of Steven Drozd psychedelic ear candy, the stuff that's been doled out sparingly since 2006's At War With The Mystics. Soaring, unabashedly beautiful, and optimistic, it's a stark contrast with the aggressive bleakness of The Terror, and a refreshing reminder of the Lips' capacity for beauty.
After a martial and ominous sci-fi movie freak out on "If It Moves, Shoot 'Em" a bit more of a piece with their recent work, the Lips go all in on a John Lennon/Yoko Ono inspired "Is The Black At The End Good?" that channels "Merry Xmas (The War Is Over)" and all of humanistic positive vibes that have purposely absent from their last few albums. That wistful, longing humanity is also present the spare and plaintive "Think Like A Machine, Not A Boy," a sing along in the mode of their live rendition of "Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots," and EP closer "Wolf Children" wraps everything with a good natured Lips rumpus more akin to their contribution to the Spongebob soundtrack.
There's definitely some darkness on Peace Sword, but also a tremendous amount of welcome light, and while no new ground's broken, it's a hell of a reminder that the Lips can do gorgeous psychedelia that speaks to the human spirit as well as keep their fans on their toes better than anyone.
Grade: B
There's definitely some darkness on Peace Sword, but also a tremendous amount of welcome light, and while no new ground's broken, it's a hell of a reminder that the Lips can do gorgeous psychedelia that speaks to the human spirit as well as keep their fans on their toes better than anyone.
Grade: B
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