I only know that 14 years too late is well behind the metaphor, but at their best the Flaming Lips speak a language that can stand up to a little time at the hands of the second law. I only know that 14 years too late is well behind the When an album can tell a story that tells itself, you know you have something. When an album can tell a story that tells itself, you know you have something. In fact, it's pretty hard to notice anything the whole album it's so damn hypnotic, you'll be shocked someone was crazy enough to make this album. By the time it goes away, you wont really notice, because you'd be too enthralled by the track to really notice even anything. But they're all nothing compared to 'Feeling Yourself Disintegrate', which manages to create a tune over Coyne making a studdering Bap, BapBapBab-like melody. Some of the highlights include the prog-styled epic 'The Spark That Bled', the gorgeous 'Waitin' For A Superman', and 'Slow Motion', which includes the albums loveliest simile ('and I'm feeling like a float/In a Macy's Day Parade'). A masterpiece like this would've been almost to create perfectly, but the band somehow manage to create one of the decades most perfectly consistent records. If the lyrics were as daring as the music, it would seem as if the band is taking itself too seriously and trying too hard, but the result is quite the opposite actually: Coyne keeps his lyrics simple and straightforward, which adds to the albums power. A seemingly infinite amount of instruments are in the mix-up, and thankfully, none of the tracks sounds the same. More than anything, however, its how maximalist the music sounds that gives it such a jolt of grandiose energy. There's a lovable pop appeal that makes you love it the instant you hear it, along with an odd, experimental appeal as well that may turn it away from mainstream listeners, but ultimately, the two join together to create a truly wonderful style that will keep you astounded for days, maybe weeks, on end.

Technically, it's an alternative rock album, but it feels like so much more. If you can manage that (which, really, shouldn't be hard), you're in for a treat. Sure, they all sound fantastic on their own, but it's just all the more amazing when everything's compressed together. It's an album to be experienced in it's entirety right from it's opening track (the majestic 'Race For The Prize') to it's closer ('Buggin'', the album's only love song). It's an album to be The Soft Bulletin is an example of an album where you just can't listen to one track off of it to truly appreciate. The Soft Bulletin is an example of an album where you just can't listen to one track off of it to truly appreciate.

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