- Audio CD (13 Oct 2009)
- Number of Discs: 3
- Format: Limited Edition
- Label: Wea
- ASIN: B002MJM8C0
- Other Editions: Audio CD | Vinyl | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 708,424 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I think there must have been a turning point for the Flaming Lips sometime in early 2008. Perhaps it was when they realised they'd just recorded a song for the romcom `Good Luck Chuck'. This is a band that used to fill an upturned cymbal with lighter fluid and play the drums on fire, who have performed gigs on car stereos in a car park, and released an album on four disks that had to be played simultaneously. What on earth were they doing on the Spiderman 3 soundtrack?
`Embryonic' swiftly puts things right, throwing a large spanner in the works of their mainstream appeal. From the first minutes, it's clear that their superstar status is no obstacle to making awkward music again. `Convinced of the Hex' begins in sharp stabs of electric guitar, before sloping off into a deep, rattling chug. It's a thousand miles from the layered, crisp sounds of the most recent Flaming Lips albums.
Hot on its heels comes the buzzing, crunching `The Sparrow looks up at the Machine'. Melodically, it could sit alongside any of the quieter moments on `Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots', but the production here is muddy, clunky, rough around the edges. As if to emphasize their creative freedom, yelps, screams, hoots and barking noises punctuate the gaps between the lyrics.
At this point, fans who picked up on the Lips post-Yoshimi may well be turning off, but the album has its moments, its flashes of tenderness and humour. `Aquarius Sabotage' offers a little glimpse of beauty, `Gemini Syringes' is a telephoned in astrophysics lesson over primitive bass and twinkling keyboards. There's always more going on than you first think, if you can bring yourself to take a second listen.
Overall however, `Embryonic' is a bit of a cacophony. `Powerless' features a three minute guitar solo that goes nowhere. The orchestral moments that suddenly burst out of the static and crashing of `Scorpio Sword' are a genuine surprise, but the track is still two minutes of noise. Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs appears on `I Can be a Frog', only to make animal noises and laugh. There's nothing here that could even be a single, let alone a hit. It's long and shambolic, but it's also fun and exhilarating. Take it or leave it, it's an album you have to surrender yourself to.
Wayne Coyne claims they had given themselves the `freedom to fail' on this album, and that's perhaps a defining phrase. Whether it fails or not is up to you, but I think not. I loved the last three Lips albums, so part of me wishes they'd followed them up with more of the same. Another part of me knows that I'd have been a little disappointed if they'd done anything so predictable.
The Flaming Lips have always had an imagination bigger than their music and even their medium, as their stage shows and films testify. It may be commercially cavalier, but in the broader perspective of their unusual career, `Embryonic' makes complete sense.
`Embryonic' swiftly puts things right, throwing a large spanner in the works of their mainstream appeal. From the first minutes, it's clear that their superstar status is no obstacle to making awkward music again. `Convinced of the Hex' begins in sharp stabs of electric guitar, before sloping off into a deep, rattling chug. It's a thousand miles from the layered, crisp sounds of the most recent Flaming Lips albums.
Hot on its heels comes the buzzing, crunching `The Sparrow looks up at the Machine'. Melodically, it could sit alongside any of the quieter moments on `Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots', but the production here is muddy, clunky, rough around the edges. As if to emphasize their creative freedom, yelps, screams, hoots and barking noises punctuate the gaps between the lyrics.
At this point, fans who picked up on the Lips post-Yoshimi may well be turning off, but the album has its moments, its flashes of tenderness and humour. `Aquarius Sabotage' offers a little glimpse of beauty, `Gemini Syringes' is a telephoned in astrophysics lesson over primitive bass and twinkling keyboards. There's always more going on than you first think, if you can bring yourself to take a second listen.
Overall however, `Embryonic' is a bit of a cacophony. `Powerless' features a three minute guitar solo that goes nowhere. The orchestral moments that suddenly burst out of the static and crashing of `Scorpio Sword' are a genuine surprise, but the track is still two minutes of noise. Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs appears on `I Can be a Frog', only to make animal noises and laugh. There's nothing here that could even be a single, let alone a hit. It's long and shambolic, but it's also fun and exhilarating. Take it or leave it, it's an album you have to surrender yourself to.
Wayne Coyne claims they had given themselves the `freedom to fail' on this album, and that's perhaps a defining phrase. Whether it fails or not is up to you, but I think not. I loved the last three Lips albums, so part of me wishes they'd followed them up with more of the same. Another part of me knows that I'd have been a little disappointed if they'd done anything so predictable.
The Flaming Lips have always had an imagination bigger than their music and even their medium, as their stage shows and films testify. It may be commercially cavalier, but in the broader perspective of their unusual career, `Embryonic' makes complete sense.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Not at all, its just we have to catch up with them. This comes with repetitive listening. If you liked Zaireeka you will love this. Within the albums 70 minutes the Flaming Lips have created a new genre, it sounds retro, it sounds futuristic it has touching introspective musings it has balls out rockers. A lot has been made of the Jam aspect to the songs but don't get the wrong idea its not a lot of musicians twiddling, its sharp, its loud, its fun - almost like a soundtrack to a film which joins and highlights the more structured songs.
This is the Flaming lips doing what they do best, music experimentation which can still push the right emotional buttons.
This is the Flaming lips doing what they do best, music experimentation which can still push the right emotional buttons.
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
First things first, Embryonic is an album that will make little sense on first hearing. With its loose song structures, and all round ambience, this is an album that could divide the Flaming Lips fanbase. However after half a dozen listens Embryonic, for me at any rate, has evolved into an expansive post rock soundscape that appears to have taken some of its cues from Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai, and even The Orb. Each song on Embryonic has a space that can really engulf the listener whilst ultimately justifying the faith the bands fans have in them.
Convinced of the Hex is a strong opener that sets the tone for Embryonic without alienating the listener. As an opening track it's no Race For the Prize,or Yeah Yeah Yeah Song, but it is a very effective primer for the rest of the album. The bands usual themes about nature, animals, and general good vibes all take their welcome place within Embryonic's musical canvas ensuring that the album is unmistakably the work of The Flaming Lips. But be warned little of this will be too apparant on a first listening [ particularly if you put the album on a shuffle mode]. Embryonic is really the kind of record that needs a listen from start to finish because there appears to be a genuine intent to its track sequencing.
Other highlights are the sweet, I Can Be a Frog [ with Karen O, obviously enjoying her new role as the bands official animal noise provider!],and the powerful album closer Watching the Planets.
The Flaming Lips rarely make compromises in their art and Embryonic is further evidence that the band will do what they want, when they want, and their record company will just have to deal with the bands whims. Their audience on the other hand can just sit back, and enjoy the ride.
How many other bands can command that level of love and devotion?
Convinced of the Hex is a strong opener that sets the tone for Embryonic without alienating the listener. As an opening track it's no Race For the Prize,or Yeah Yeah Yeah Song, but it is a very effective primer for the rest of the album. The bands usual themes about nature, animals, and general good vibes all take their welcome place within Embryonic's musical canvas ensuring that the album is unmistakably the work of The Flaming Lips. But be warned little of this will be too apparant on a first listening [ particularly if you put the album on a shuffle mode]. Embryonic is really the kind of record that needs a listen from start to finish because there appears to be a genuine intent to its track sequencing.
Other highlights are the sweet, I Can Be a Frog [ with Karen O, obviously enjoying her new role as the bands official animal noise provider!],and the powerful album closer Watching the Planets.
The Flaming Lips rarely make compromises in their art and Embryonic is further evidence that the band will do what they want, when they want, and their record company will just have to deal with the bands whims. Their audience on the other hand can just sit back, and enjoy the ride.
How many other bands can command that level of love and devotion?
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Embryonic
Well, the Flips have done it again! This time summoning up their John Lennon/Miles Davis influences for this feast of an album. Read more
Published 2 months ago by reviewsahoy
Amazing
Simple put, amazing. Reading these reviews..thats all you need to possibly know really (well from the positive ones anyway. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mr. Dominic A. Bird
A Masterpiece
I was not born when The Flaming Lips began recording music but by the time I took notice (mid nineties), their music had already been through so many permutations. Read more
Published 10 months ago by A. Moncrieff
Flaming on...
Well, it kindda goes like this. If you like The Flaming Lips then you will absolutely adore this album. Full of the raw and quirky acid inflected melodies we love them for... Read more
Published on 25 Mar 2010 by redstefff
aaarrgghhh my ears! great music, horrible mastering
I've no complaints with the music here, a return to the scuzzy, shambling psychedelia once typical of the Flaming Lips before the more conventionally melodic run of albums that... Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2010 by L. Williams
Challenging Lips
There isn't one Flaming Lips, there are about five! They don't stand still these guys, which, I suppose is how they've kept it interesting for over twenty five years. Read more
Published on 4 Jan 2010 by Tim
flawed but still amazing
this really is a great album you need to give it time as it can be a difficult
experience at 1st - a couple of the tracks do sound like they are all just playing at once to... Read more
experience at 1st - a couple of the tracks do sound like they are all just playing at once to... Read more
Published on 25 Nov 2009 by S. fraser
Will probably alienate many
Having become almost superstars, the new Flaming Lips album will probably turn off many people. Old fans, especially those (like me) who were introduced to the weird universe of... Read more
Published on 19 Nov 2009 by Mr. D. L. Mrs Godfrey
Embryonic by Flaming Lips
It took a lot of getting into but give it time and you will be rewarded. It's not your usual Flaming Lips album, although there are touches there. Read more
Published on 12 Nov 2009 by N. Murphy
Hypnotic. Monolithic. Ecstatic. Embryonic!
I was less than overwhelmed by the Flips previous release `At War with the Mystics', it sounded like the band had fallen into the trap of producing weak retreads of songs from `The... Read more
Published on 29 Oct 2009 by Man Without a Soul
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