The Fearless Freaks: A Film About The Flaming Lips

[Dubversion]

they're the most authentic 60s psychedelic tribute band I've come across in decades. I like them, but can't figure why the hippy haters around here have any time for them at all.

because they're absolutely NOT hippies. they have a kind of melancholy bleakness to them, they're entirely devoid of any spirituality - cod or otherwise. their whole message is 'this is it, do your best,fill yer boots, we're all going to die' and have no truck with all the mystical bullshit that is associated with hippies. which is what makes them marvellous.

plus they're just a great band.

 

[pk]

You're gonna hate me Dub, but I can't stand the singer's vacuous whining.

I guess the band are OK.

 

[Dubversion]

pk - if you liked them i'd be worried. although you are talking out of your perfectly formed arse if you think it's vacuous..

 

[Sunspots]

they have a kind of melancholy bleakness to them, they're entirely devoid of any spirituality - cod or otherwise. their whole message is 'this is it, do your best,fill yer boots, we're all going to die' and have no truck with all the mystical bullshit that is associated with hippies.

All of which is perfectly encapsulated in this lyric:

And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round

I've always loved those last two lines.

 

[dirtysanta]

Still can't see what the attraction of them is....

Just a bit, well, dull.

Your not on your own. I dont see what the big deal is. Iv seem a couple of live performaces that i can only rate as dire. The handful of tunes that ive heard are nothing special ( IMO, obviously )

 

[newbie]

Yeah, the lyrics are fine, offering a reaction to their (bleak, material, consumerist) times: slow down, appreciate what you've got... not very dissimilar to the hippy reaction to the bleak, material, consumerist 60s, though the imagery is different, as you'd expect. Certainly more similarity than with the Damned, the Smiths or Enimen to take pick on random examples from intervening decades. (&, if it comes to it, I'll find you some much less 'spiritual' lyrics from 60s psychedelia).

But it's not only the lyrics that attract, it's the pace, the melody, the frilly bits, the wooshing noises...

They're hippies and you're in denial

 

[pk]

pk - if you liked them i'd be worried. although you are talking out of your perfectly formed arse if you think it's vacuous..

By vacuous whining I mean the noise of the singer - he reminds me of They Might Be Giants' singer, preppy lazy American college boy vocal, and that annoying violin-ish sound throughout Reach for the Prize gets right on my tits.

I prefer The Arcade Fire for this kind of thing.