When I first chose the disc for this next review I thought, 'Well this is going to be an interesting ride to work'. But as I put in the CD and pulled out of the neighborhood it actually turned out to be a pretty cool ride. I use the lyrics to "Oklahoma" as the title of this post because album review #4 comes to us from none other than the best alt-rock band from the state of OK; The Flaming Lips.In 2009, the Oklahoma City native band were given the honor of having their song "Do You Realize" named the official rock song of Oklahoma, but unlucky for us, that song wasn't even conceived until 12 years after the album to be reviewed here. So with that I give you the 1990 release of In A Priest Driven Ambulance. And like the last post, this album was the 4th album released by the Lips and just happens to be the 4th review. I can't make this stuff up people. I chose this with my eyes closed.
Here's the thing with the Flaming Lips. You could probably get close to classifying them as one of those bands that you either hate them or love them. The reason I say this is because they are in many cases an acquired taste. Lead singer Wayne Coyne's high pitched almost puberty stricken shrill of a voice may not sit well with the average ear. Having said that, I love them. I think I first got into them around the time "She Don't Use Jelly" was a hot single of theirs; most people got hooked on the Lips around then too. So it was 1993 and again taking me back to high school. At the time I hadn't branched out into the weird music that I so love and respect today, so "Jelly" was as about as far as I got with them. It wasn't until about 1997 when I rejoined the odd rockers and I have been hooked ever since.
So as the years rolled on I began collecting as many albums of the groups I enjoyed as much as possible. Which is how I came upon this disc. If memory serves me correctly I picked this up during my stint at a music store to add to my collection. The CD I have in my hand is actually the special edition of the album released in 2002 which contains extra bonus tracks that I'm glad I have now. I have only listened to this album maybe twice or "thrice" since I purchased it 9 years ago so I'm glad I've forced myself to give it another go.
What's interesting about this release is that it finds the band on the cusp of mutating from a really rough around the edges heavy garage band into the psychedelic rock outfit that they have become today. Giving this album my full attention now makes me appreciate even more how they have transformed.
The first track "Shine On Sweet Jesus" is right in line with a lot of other tunes that I already recognize and love. The timing of the phrases and it's cadence in this tune could easily be inserted into other songs. Part of the phrasing could easily lead into "Put A Little Love in Your Heart" while another portion could lead right into "Do They Know It's Christmas". I don't know, call my ear really weird, but I pick up on things like this for some reason.
The tracks are mixed pretty well on this album. One rocking track followed by another slower track gives it just the right balance. I really enjoy "Rainin Babies" featuring Wayne screaming, "This is my message to the world" as if it's some pseudo 80's rock anthem.
Likewise "Five Stop Mother Superior Rain" falls in line as a really weird mock hair metal love ballad that might have been sponged out of some late 80's band like Poison, or Cinderella, or Whitesnake or somebody like that. The lines "I was born, the day they shot JFK" AND "I was born, the day they shot John Lennon's brain" are really catchy if you look underneath it all.
The acoustic guitar work on this album is really great. "There You Are- Jesus Song #7" is almost Pink Floyd-esque in an odd way. It kind of reminds me of something off of Animals.
The final shredding track "Mountain Side" could easily fit into the early U.K. punk era if you squeezed it just right. It's a great solid take just before the album's final salute.
The last song on the record (before any bonus tracks were added) is the Lips' rendition of the Sam Cooke classic "What A Wonderful World". The version we all refer to the most was made popular by Louis Armstrong in 1968. However in this case Louis' scratchy deep resonating voice is substituted by Wayne's airy cracking pitch with an echo built in; "And I think to myself to myself to myself, what a wonderful world". All in all it's a great cover tune.
The bonus tracks on the CD continue in the same fashion as the formal record. Some great slow tunes like "Ma, I Didn't Notice" and Nirvana grunge licks like "Drug Machine Heaven" round out the extra features from the cutting room floor. all to culminate into another cover tune! Made famous by Elvis Costello, the Nick Lowe tune "What's So Funny Bout Peace, Love, & Understanding". Here I prefer the original because I just don't feel the Lips captured the same essence that Elvis did. Call me an Elvis lover.
So after a back and forth with my brain I have decided to let In A Priest Driven Ambulance be forever contained into iTunes. Don't get me wrong this is in no way an insult to one of my favorite bands, it's just that disc doesn't entirely grab me the way that other Flaming Lips records do. Now I won't name those albums because I've gotta keep something in my belt for those posts right?
I first saw the Flaming Lips live in 2003 at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, GA. Why it took me so long to get the live experience from these maniacs upsets me, but I can say that after seeing them on several occasions I will always and forever be a Flaming Lips fan. Their shows are unlike any other and I can easily describe them as a birthday party gone crazy. I look forward to late May when I get the chance to experience said birthday party as a life long fan.
"I am not that thrilled about the way our records sound anyway. Don't get me wrong, I work hard on them and I want them to sound fantastic but I'm happy to have another interpretation of them anyway."
Wayne Coyne
Wayne Coyne
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