Topic: So I finally bought The Soft Bulletin (Read 11704 times)

Thrillho · « **on:** 29 Dec 2009, 12:29 »

Early impressions... s'okay, I suppose. Some nice production moments. It's quite a lot like Summerteeth.

Wayne Coyne still can't sing for shit. There's a lot of moments where I thought he'd at least want a retake, but even he can't ruin some of these songs.

However, I have yet to understand why exactly this album is so lauded. It seems a lot of artists who get hailed by the critics have voices that are turnoffs to many - e.g. Dylan, Neil Young, these guys, Joy Division, etc. And before I get shouted down, I like Dylan and Joy Division, but their vocal stylings are not for everyone.

tricia kidd · « **Reply #1 on:** 29 Dec 2009, 14:22 »

Quote from: DynamiteKid on 29 Dec 2009, 12:29

However, I have yet to understand why exactly this album is so lauded.

blame the UK music press. they're the ones that got the ball rolling on OMG THIS IS SO AWESOME.

most people who were flaming lips fans before that album consider it pretty mediocre compared to Clouds Taste Metallic or In a Priest Driven Ambulance.

Johnny C · « **Reply #2 on:** 29 Dec 2009, 15:49 »

it's 2009

Professor Snuggles · « **Reply #3 on:** 29 Dec 2009, 16:09 »

Guys I finally bought MBV's Loveless.

I can't understand any of the lyrics though, is it supposed to sound like this?

KharBevNor · « **Reply #4 on:** 29 Dec 2009, 16:13 »

Dunno man, too busy listening to this copy of painkiller I just got.

scarred · « **Reply #5 on:** 29 Dec 2009, 16:22 »

Quote from: Johnny C on 29 Dec 2009, 15:49

it's 2009

Zingoleb · « **Reply #6 on:** 30 Dec 2009, 00:56 »

Guys, I just got Cosmo's Factory

tricia kidd · « **Reply #7 on:** 30 Dec 2009, 01:19 »

discussing an old album > making unfunny jokes

Inlander · « **Reply #8 on:** 30 Dec 2009, 05:56 »

I bought Charlie Parker/Fats Navarro/Bud Powell Live at Birdland recorded 1950 a few weeks ago. Fuck all you guys.

Inlander · « **Reply #9 on:** 30 Dec 2009, 05:57 »

By which I mean since when does listening to music and buying records have a statute of limitations.

Be My Head · « **Reply #10 on:** 30 Dec 2009, 06:49 »

I agree with Inlander. Also, yeah, Soft Bulletin is overrated. Go listen to Transmissions From The Satellite Heart.

Thrillho · « **Reply #11 on:** 30 Dec 2009, 08:35 »

Quote from: Professor Snuggles on 29 Dec 2009, 16:09

Guys I finally bought MBV's Loveless.

I can't understand any of the lyrics though, is it supposed to sound like this?

OMG ROFL you heard an influential album before I did! LOL!

Fuck off. At least contribute something worthwhile in between masturbating over how much more credible you are than me.

Anyway, honestly I'm not that interested in the Flaming Lips. I got this album for something in the region of 40p (80 cents) because of Borders closing down. I think there's maybe enough on here to make it worth those 40p, but I don't plan on further investigating the Flaming Lips.

I'm much happier with the Gram Parsons album I bought.

KharBevNor · « **Reply #12 on:** 30 Dec 2009, 08:38 »

Quote from: Inlander on 30 Dec 2009, 05:57

By which I mean since when does listening to music and buying records have a statute of limitations.

Since we've actually been talking about them quite a bit for ages.

Or shall everyone make a thread every time they buy an album? Do you want that?

Johnny C · « **Reply #13 on:** 30 Dec 2009, 11:35 »

Quote from: Inlander on 30 Dec 2009, 05:57

By which I mean since when does listening to music and buying records have a statute of limitations.

Not saying they do but when you bought that Charlie Parker record was your first instinct to ask "what's the big deal about this?" and then was your second instinct to post a thread asking that question rather than read a review or an essay or an interview or even just post the same question in one of the various threads that already exist dedicated to that purpose?

Inlander · « **Reply #14 on:** 30 Dec 2009, 14:43 »

It might well have been if this was a jazz forum whose members consistently rave about how great Charlie Parker's Birdland recordings are. Maybe it doesn't happen so much any more, but back in the day people here were all over the Soft Bulletin. I know because it was reading people's opinions on this forum that made me go out and buy the album myself several years ago. Now I didn't see fit to make a thread about it, but do I think "Hey I bought this album that a lot of people on this forum seem to love, but I don't really get it. What's the big deal?" is a legitimate topic of conversation.

Thrillho · « **Reply #15 on:** 30 Dec 2009, 16:41 »

God forbid I might want to actually start some discussion on a discussion forum.

Retrospectre · « **Reply #16 on:** 30 Dec 2009, 17:08 »

It's not my favourite Flaming Lips (I prefer Transmissions,Clouds and Yoshimi) album but it has some great moments.

I even like Wayne Coyne's voice.

Cernunnos · « **Reply #17 on:** 30 Dec 2009, 17:31 »

Wayne's voice is perfect for the weirdass, off-kilter noisy pop thing they do. It's got just the right amount of humorous whimper to it to really work. I just got a hold of transmissions. I think I like Clouds taste metallic more, but dang, "she don't use jelly " is a great song.

Zingoleb · « **Reply #18 on:** 30 Dec 2009, 20:04 »

Wayne Coyne has a great voice when he can find the goddamn key

Durin · « **Reply #19 on:** 30 Dec 2009, 20:24 »

Quote from: Professor Snuggles on 29 Dec 2009, 16:09

Guys I finally bought MBV's Loveless.

I can't understand any of the lyrics though, is it supposed to sound like this?

I really did just buy Loveless, tonight in fact.

Professor Snuggles · « **Reply #20 on:** 30 Dec 2009, 21:53 »

I actually just bought Loveless on vinyl like 2 months ago and it is awesome.

Quote from: DynamiteKid on 30 Dec 2009, 08:35

I'm much happier with the Gram Parsons album I bought.

Which one? He's so damn good.

Thrillho · « **Reply #21 on:** 31 Dec 2009, 00:53 »

I got GP. It's literally the most flawless country album I've ever heard. And the debt Ryan Adams owes to it is somewhat substantial.

nufan · « **Reply #22 on:** 01 Jan 2010, 14:32 »

Soft Bulletin is alright, The Gash is an amazing song as is Race For The Prize. Some of the others are a bit meh.

No one has mentioned Future Head, easily my favorite Lips album - Talking 'Bout The Smiling Deathporn Immortality Blues is one of those songs which makes you recoil in horror first time you hear it (or see the title) but then you listen some more and then you can't fucking stop listening to it. Or at least it is for me.

Also, Gram Parsons is awesome and Return Of The Grievous Angel is quite probably the most perfect song ever made.

tricia kidd · « **Reply #23 on:** 02 Jan 2010, 05:56 »

Quote from: nufan on 01 Jan 2010, 14:32

Talking 'Bout The Smiling Deathporn Immortality Blues is one of those songs which makes you recoil in horror first time you hear it

er, why? it's exciting and catchy and awesome. i guess if you hate catchy music or whatever.

nufan · « **Reply #24 on:** 02 Jan 2010, 07:04 »

Quote from: tricia kidd on 02 Jan 2010, 05:56

er, why? it's exciting and catchy and awesome. i guess if you hate catchy music or whatever.

That Oooo-wow-wow thing puts people off. I never said I disliked it, in fact exactly the opposite. It's my second most listened to song of the last year according to Last FM.

valley_parade · « **Reply #25 on:** 02 Jan 2010, 10:20 »

Quote from: Professor Snuggles on 30 Dec 2009, 21:53

I actually just bought Loveless on vinyl like 2 months ago and it is awesome.

Quote from: DynamiteKid on 30 Dec 2009, 08:35
I'm much happier with the Gram Parsons album I bought.

Which one? He's so damn good.

Man, "Isn't Anything" is the only thing MBV have done that I've remotely enjoyed.

tricia kidd · « **Reply #26 on:** 02 Jan 2010, 11:43 »

Quote from: nufan on 02 Jan 2010, 07:04

That Oooo-wow-wow thing puts people off. I never said I disliked it, in fact exactly the opposite. It's my second most listened to song of the last year according to Last FM.

i know, i just don't get why anyone would say that song would make anyone "recoil in horror". the "doo-wop-wop" backing vocals are classic. there's some music journalist somewhere who said that the first ten seconds of that song are the most exciting ten seconds in rock.

i usually reserve hyperbole like "recoil in horror" for music like wolf eyes, not fuzzy pop songs.

blaha 41 · « **Reply #27 on:** 05 Jan 2010, 22:34 »

The Soft Bulletin is perfect only if you're sitting in a dark room paying attention to every single quirk, flaw, and epiphany in it it, or if you're in a crowded party "DJ'ing" and trying to impress a bunch of people who aren't really listening to it at all.

onewheelwizzard · « **Reply #28 on:** 06 Jan 2010, 12:26 »

The Soft Bulletin is also a perfect album if you have ever seen the Flaming Lips live in concert with your girlfriend and you were both rolling on 200mg of MDMA. Basically ever since then, all the music I've ever listened to by the Flaming Lips (TSB in particular) has sounded as if it was made in an alternate universe, where the good guys always win (because they're the good guys) and everything is like a cartoon but more interesting and fun.

tricia kidd · « **Reply #29 on:** 06 Jan 2010, 13:56 »

Quote from: onewheelwizzard on 06 Jan 2010, 12:26

The Soft Bulletin is also a perfect album if you have ever seen the Flaming Lips live in concert with your girlfriend and you were both rolling on 200mg of MDMA.

so they stopped projecting films of eye surgery?

johnny5 · « **Reply #30 on:** 15 Jan 2010, 17:16 »

OP, how old are you? I know with me, a lot of albums I love and consider classics came when I was younger, more easily influenced, basically less experienced in the 'world of music'. An album like this, when I first heard it, was very unique and new. Now, it might not seem that way, but probably there are a ton of bands who were influenced by this band/record and allow it to influence their music. And you may have heard their music before you heard the Lips. And thus, we are all a part of the great Circle of life.

Kai · « **Reply #31 on:** 15 Jan 2010, 17:23 »

I disagree

Simba must die

johnny5 · « **Reply #32 on:** 15 Jan 2010, 17:45 »

That's exactly what my step father would say to me before the beatings began.

Zingoleb · « **Reply #33 on:** 15 Jan 2010, 19:28 »

JOHN5

WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR AVATAR

johnny5 · « **Reply #34 on:** 15 Jan 2010, 22:28 »

Fuck you man i refuse to get typecast

Thrillho · « **Reply #35 on:** 17 Jan 2010, 05:01 »

Quote from: johnny5 on 15 Jan 2010, 17:16

OP, how old are you? I know with me, a lot of albums I love and consider classics came when I was younger, more easily influenced, basically less experienced in the 'world of music'. An album like this, when I first heard it, was very unique and new. Now, it might not seem that way, but probably there are a ton of bands who were influenced by this band/record and allow it to influence their music. And you may have heard their music before you heard the Lips. And thus, we are all a part of the great Circle of life.

I'm 21. I never said I couldn't see any merit, but the whole BEST ALBM EVA thing is what I don't get.

And again... I still hate his voice, but that's just personal preference.

johnny5 · « **Reply #36 on:** 17 Jan 2010, 12:30 »

yeah i probably wouldn't say best evar

Thrillho · « **Reply #37 on:** 17 Jan 2010, 13:28 »

To be fair I don't really listen to things this upbeat usually, it's just not the kind of music I tend to listen to. Although there is an air of danger and despair to some of the lyrics like the 'accidentally touched my head/and realised I had been bleeding,' for example. So I don't think it's even influenced anything I listen to, at least not directly enough to have an impact on the sound of the things.

But yeah virtually every review I read says this may be the best album of the 1990s. Which seems overkill to me.

tricia kidd · « **Reply #38 on:** 17 Jan 2010, 13:33 »

Quote from: DynamiteKid on 17 Jan 2010, 13:28

But yeah virtually every review I read says this may be the best album of the 1990s. Which seems overkill to me.

you are reading the wrong music reviews. it's not even in the top 50.

johnny5 · « **Reply #39 on:** 17 Jan 2010, 15:55 »

i like the second half of it more than the first, first does seem very upbeat. second half is more comtemplative, unsure of things, i guess. I don't know, I just like the Gash a lot.

SWOON! at My Gravitas · « **Reply #40 on:** 17 Jan 2010, 19:46 »

The Soft Bulletin makes me happy all over. I wouldn't presume to call it one of the best albums of the '90s, but it certainly is one of my favorites.

'Course, The Soft Bulletin is the earliest Flaming Lips record I've yet to hear. Though this thread has re-ignited the desire to work my way backwards through their discography.

onewheelwizzard · « **Reply #41 on:** 21 Jan 2010, 10:29 »

Quote from: tricia kidd on 17 Jan 2010, 13:33

Quote from: DynamiteKid on 17 Jan 2010, 13:28
But yeah virtually every review I read says this may be the best album of the 1990s. Which seems overkill to me.

you are reading the wrong music reviews. it's not even in the top 50.

Nah yo, it makes top 50. I don't know about best, but top 50 albums of the 90's? Yeah, it's in there.

Akima · « **Reply #42 on:** 21 Jan 2010, 17:02 »

Meh... I think it's a bit much to bag a guy for posting about Soft Bulletin on a QC-related forum. This strip gives that album kind of a special status in the QC-verse.

Gridgm · « **Reply #43 on:** 21 Jan 2010, 18:33 »

...meanwhile those of us who didn't get the version with the spiderbait song were very confused till they worked out the whole european/american having different tracklists thing

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: So I finally bought The Soft Bulletin (Read 11704 times)

Zingoleb

Zingoleb

Zingoleb