Complete List Of The Flaming Lips Albums And Songs

THE FLAMING LIPS STUDIO ALBUMS

Hear It Is

Released: 1986

Hear It Is marks the debut studio album by The Flaming Lips, introducing their blend of psychedelic and alternative rock sounds. The album captures the raw energy and experimentation that would become a hallmark of their style. Recorded in Norman, Oklahoma, at The Flaming Lips’ home studio in early 1986, the album was produced by the band along with Randy Burns. The album did not chart on Billboard at its initial release.

CD Track Listings:

1. “With You” – 3:38
2. “Unplugged” – 2:13
3. “Trains, Brains & Rain” – 3:38
4. “Jesus Shootin’ Heroin” – 7:19
5. “Just Like Before” – 3:22
6. “She Is Death” – 4:00
7. “Charlie Manson Blues” – 4:22
8. “Man from Pakistan” – 3:59
9. “Godzilla Flick” – 4:05
10. “Staring at Sound/With You (Reprise)” – 5:08

Oh My Gawd!!!

Released: 1987

Oh My Gawd!!! is the second album by The Flaming Lips, noted for its more polished production and deeper exploration into psychedelic rock. The album displays an evolution in the band’s sound, incorporating more complex arrangements and experimental soundscapes. It was recorded at Midwestern Recorders in Kansas City and produced by the band. Like its predecessor, this album did not achieve Billboard chart success.

CD Track Listings:

1. “Everything’s Explodin’” – 4:44
2. “One Million Billionth of a Millisecond on a Sunday Morning” – 9:21
3. “Maximum Dream for Evil Knievel” – 2:51
4. “Can’t Exist” – 2:48
5. “Ode to C.C. (Part I)” – 0:45
6. “The Ceiling is Bendin’” – 3:45
7. “Prescription: Love” – 6:10
8. “Thanks to You” – 3:56
9. “Can’t Stop the Spring” – 4:11
10. “Ode to C.C. (Part II)” – 1:50
11. “Love Yer Brain” – 7:43

Telepathic Surgery

Released: 1989

Telepathic Surgery continued The Flaming Lips’ trend towards more ambitious and experimental sounds, mixing garage rock with oddball psychedelia. The album features a combination of structured songs and more free-form sound collages. Recorded at The Flaming Lips’ home studio in Oklahoma and produced by the band along with Scott Booker, this album also did not chart on Billboard.

CD Track Listings:

1. “Drug Machine in Heaven” – 2:11
2. “Right Now” – 3:57
3. “Michael, Time to Wake Up” – 0:32
4. “Chrome Plated Suicide” – 5:44
5. “Hari-Krishna Stomp Wagon (Fuck Led Zeppelin)” – 3:25
6. “Miracle on 42nd Street” – 2:56
7. “Fryin’ Up” – 2:44
8. “Hell’s Angel’s Cracker Factory” – 3:02
9. “U.F.O. Story” – 6:40
10. “Redneck School of Technology” – 2:55
11. “Shaved Gorilla” – 2:55
12. “The Spontaneous Combustion of John” – 0:53
13. “The Last Drop of Morning Dew” – 1:59
14. “Begs and Achin’” – 4:15

In a Priest Driven Ambulance

Released: 1990

In a Priest Driven Ambulance marks a significant shift in The Flaming Lips’ sound, incorporating more coherent song structures and narratives, which began to attract wider attention. This album, with its thematic focus on religion and redemption, is often considered one of their breakthrough works. It was recorded in Oklahoma City and was produced by the band along with Dave Fridmann, who would become a frequent collaborator. This album garnered more critical attention but did not make a significant impact on the Billboard charts.

CD Track Listings:

1. “Shine On Sweet Jesus – Jesus Song No. 5” – 4:27
2. “Unconsciously Screamin’” – 3:54
3. “Rainin’ Babies” – 2:30
4. “Take Meta Mars” – 2:45
5. “Five Stop Mother Superior Rain” – 6:23
6. “Stand in Line” – 6:34
7. “God Walks Among Us Now – Jesus Song No. 6” – 4:45
8. “There You Are – Jesus Song No. 7” – 4:30
9. “Mountain Side” – 3:14
10. “What a Wonderful World” – 3:33

Hit to Death in the Future Head

Released: 1992

Hit to Death in the Future Head is The Flaming Lips’ first album on a major label, Warner Bros. Records, showcasing a transition towards a cleaner, more polished sound while retaining their experimental roots. This album captures the band’s exploration of noise pop and psychedelic elements with more accessible song structures. Recorded at various studios, including Studio 7 in Oklahoma, and produced by The Flaming Lips with Dave Fridmann and Keith Cleversley, the album did not chart on the Billboard 200 upon its initial release.

CD Track Listings:

1. “Talkin’ ‘Bout the Smiling Deathporn Immortality Blues (Everyone Wants to Live Forever)” – 3:50
2. “Hit Me Like You Did the First Time” – 3:34
3. “The Sun” – 3:31
4. “Felt Good to Burn” – 3:21
5. “Gingerale Afternoon (The Astrology of a Saturday)” – 3:45
6. “Halloween on the Barbary Coast” – 3:51
7. “The Magician vs. The Headache” – 3:33
8. “You Have to Be Joking (Autopsy of the Devil’s Brain)” – 3:55
9. “Frogs” – 4:28
10. “Hold Your Head” – 4:24

Transmissions from the Satellite Heart

Released: 1993

Transmissions from the Satellite Heart is a critical album in The Flaming Lips’ discography, bringing them mainstream success with the hit single “She Don’t Use Jelly.” The album blends alternative rock with experimental soundscapes, characterized by quirky lyrics and catchy melodies. This album was recorded at various locations, including Bear Creek Studio, and produced by Keith Cleversley and The Flaming Lips. It reached number 108 on the Billboard 200, marking their first significant chart presence.

CD Track Listings:

1. “Turn It On” – 4:39
2. “Pilot Can at the Queer of God” – 4:17
3. “Oh My Pregnant Head (Labia in the Sunlight)” – 4:06
4. “She Don’t Use Jelly” – 3:40
5. “Chewin the Apple of Your Eye” – 3:50
6. “Superhumans” – 3:14
7. “Be My Head” – 3:14
8. “Moth in the Incubator” – 4:13
9. “Plastic Jesus” – 2:19
10. “When Yer Twenty Two” – 3:34
11. “Slow Nerve Action” – 5:55

Clouds Taste Metallic

Released: 1995

Clouds Taste Metallic, The Flaming Lips’ seventh studio album, features a refined psychedelic sound with complex arrangements and surreal lyrics. This album is noted for its cohesive sound that balances melodic elements with experimental rock. Recorded in Oklahoma and produced by the band with Dave Fridmann, it did not achieve significant commercial success but is highly regarded by fans and critics alike.

CD Track Listings:

1. “The Abandoned Hospital Ship” – 3:39
2. “Psychiatric Explorations of the Fetus with Needles” – 3:27
3. “Placebo Headwound” – 3:41
4. “This Here Giraffe” – 3:45
5. “Brainville” – 3:14
6. “Guy Who Got a Headache and Accidentally Saves the World” – 4:29
7. “When You Smile” – 3:13
8. “Kim’s Watermelon Gun” – 3:21
9. “They Punctured My Yolk” – 4:21
10. “Lightning Strikes the Postman” – 2:50
11. “Christmas at the Zoo” – 3:06
12. “Evil Will Prevail” – 3:46
13. “Bad Days” – 4:35

Zaireeka

Released: 1997

Zaireeka is one of The Flaming Lips’ most ambitious projects, consisting of four CDs intended to be played simultaneously on separate audio systems. This experimental album explores complex soundscapes and a unique listening experience, combining elements of psychedelic rock, experimental music, and avant-garde. The album was recorded at various studios and produced by the band with Dave Fridmann and Scott Booker. Due to its unconventional nature, it did not chart on Billboard.

CD Track Listings:

1. “Okay I’ll Admit That I Really Don’t Understand” – 2:51
2. “Riding to Work in the Year 2025 (Your Invisible Now)” – 7:02
3. “Thirty-Five Thousand Feet of Despair” – 4:59
4. “A Machine in India” – 7:20
5. “The Train Runs Over the Camel but Is Derailed by the Gnat” – 6:15
6. “How Will We Know? (Futuristic Crashendos)” – 2:25
7. “March of the Rotten Vegetables” – 6:28
8. “The Big Ol’ Bug Is the New Baby Now” – 4:58

The Soft Bulletin

Released: 1999

The Soft Bulletin represents a significant departure from the band’s earlier noise-driven rock, featuring lush, electronically enhanced soundscapes and emotionally resonant lyrics. Widely regarded as one of the band’s masterpieces, the album combines experimental rock with orchestral elements and poignant storytelling. Recorded at Tarbox Road Studios and produced by the band along with Dave Fridmann, The Soft Bulletin reached number 92 on the Billboard 200 and was critically acclaimed.

CD Track Listings:

1. “Race for the Prize” – 4:09
2. “A Spoonful Weighs a Ton” – 3:32
3. “The Spark That Bled” – 5:55
4. “The Spiderbite Song” – 4:02
5. “Buggin’” – 3:16
6. “What Is the Light?” – 4:05
7. “The Observer” – 4:11
8. “Waitin’ for a Superman” – 4:17
9. “Suddenly Everything Has Changed” – 3:54
10. “The Gash” – 4:02
11. “Feeling Yourself Disintegrate” – 5:17
12. “Sleeping on the Roof” – 3:09

Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

Released: 2002

Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots is another landmark album for The Flaming Lips, blending electronic music with psychedelic rock to tell a story of a Japanese girl’s battle against evil robots. The album’s innovative sound and thematic content were widely praised, making it one of their most accessible and successful releases. It was recorded at Tarbox Road Studios with production by The Flaming Lips, Dave Fridmann, and Scott Booker. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots reached number 50 on the Billboard 200 and was certified Gold.

CD Track Listings:

1. “Fight Test” – 4:14
2. “One More Robot/Sympathy 3000-21” – 4:59
3. “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1” – 4:45
4. “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 2” – 2:57
5. “In the Morning of the Magicians” – 6:18
6. “Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell” – 4:34
7. “Are You a Hypnotist??” – 4:44
8. “It’s Summertime” – 4:20
9. “Do You Realize??” – 3:32
10. “All We Have Is Now” – 3:53
11. “Approaching Pavonis Mons by Balloon (Utopia Planitia)” – 3:09

At War with the Mystics

Released: 2006

At War with the Mystics builds on the success of Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots with its blend of psychedelic rock, electronic textures, and socio-political lyrics. The album features a rich sonic palette and continues The Flaming Lips’ exploration into complex themes and layered production. Recorded at Tarbox Road Studios and produced by the band along with Dave Fridmann, At War with the Mystics achieved notable chart success, reaching number 11 on the Billboard 200.

CD Track Listings:

1. “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song” – 4:51
2. “Free Radicals” – 3:41
3. “The Sound of Failure” – 7:17
4. “My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion” – 4:50
5. “Vein of Stars” – 4:15
6. “The Wizard Turns On…” – 3:40
7. “It Overtakes Me” – 6:49
8. “Mr. Ambulance Driver” – 4:21
9. “Haven’t Got a Clue” – 3:25
10. “The W.A.N.D.” – 3:43
11. “Pompeii am Götterdämmerung” – 4:20
12. “Goin’ On” – 3:39

Embryonic

Released: 2009

Embryonic marks a return to a more experimental, abrasive sound for The Flaming Lips. The album delves into darker, more abstract territory than its predecessors, incorporating elements of noise rock and neo-psychedelia. Recorded at Tarbox Road Studios and other locations, and produced by the band and Dave Fridmann, Embryonic was well-received for its bold artistic vision. It peaked at number 8 on the Billboard 200.

CD Track Listings:

1. “Convinced of the Hex” – 3:56
2. “The Sparrow Looks Up at the Machine” – 4:14
3. “Evil” – 5:38
4. “Aquarius Sabotage” – 2:11
5. “See the Leaves” – 4:24
6. “If” – 2:05
7. “Gemini Syringes” – 3:41
8. “Your Bats” – 2:35
9. “Powerless” – 6:57
10. “The Ego’s Last Stand” – 5:40
11. “I Can Be a Frog” – 2:14
12. “Sagittarius Silver Announcement” – 2:59
13. “Worm Mountain” – 5:21
14. “Scorpio Sword” – 2:02
15. “The Impulse” – 4:06
16. “Silver Trembling Hands” – 3:58
17. “Virgo Self-Esteem Broadcast” – 3:45
18. “Watching the Planets” – 5:17

The Terror

Released: 2013

The Terror is an album that explores themes of despair and isolation, with a sound characterized by minimalistic electronic arrangements and introspective lyrics. The album’s bleak, yet beautiful soundscape reflects the band’s continued evolution and willingness to experiment with darker tones. Recorded at Tarbox Road Studios and Pink Floor Studios, and produced by the band along with Dave Fridmann, The Terror reached number 21 on the Billboard 200.

CD Track Listings:

1. “Look…The Sun Is Rising” – 5:12
2. “Be Free, A Way” – 5:13
3. “Try to Explain” – 5:00
4. “You Lust” – 13:03
5. “The Terror” – 6:21
6. “You Are Alone” – 3:46
7. “Butterfly, How Long It Takes to Die” – 7:31
8. “Turning Violent” – 4:16
9. “Always There, In Our Hearts” – 4:35

Oczy Mlody

Released: 2017

Oczy Mlody features a dreamy, somewhat surreal sound palette, blending melodic synths with ambient and psychedelic elements. The album represents a further departure from the rock-oriented sound of earlier releases, delving into a more atmospheric and experimental approach. Recorded at Pink Floor Studios with production by the band and Dave Fridmann, Oczy Mlody peaked at number 69 on the Billboard 200.

CD Track Listings:

1. “Oczy Mlody” – 2:53
2. “How??” – 4:24
3. “There Should Be Unicorns” – 5:49
4. “Sunrise (Eyes of the Young)” – 4:05
5. “Nigdy Nie (Never No)” – 4:10
6. “Galaxy I Sink” – 3:57
7. “One Night While Hunting for Faeries and Witches and Wizards to Kill” – 6:07
8. “Do Glowy” – 4:18
9. “Listening to the Frogs with Demon Eyes” – 7:35
10. “The Castle” – 4:50
11. “Almost Home (Blisko Domu)” – 4:53
12. “We a Famly” – 4:44

King’s Mouth

Released: 2019

King’s Mouth integrates lush arrangements with narrative storytelling, presenting a unique concept album experience. This album combines spoken word elements with rich musical landscapes, creating a cohesive and immersive story. Recorded at Pink Floor Studios, and produced by the band, King’s Mouth received critical acclaim but did not chart significantly on the Billboard 200.

CD Track Listings:

1. “We Don’t Know How and We Don’t Know Why” – 1:10
2. “The Sparrow” – 5:38
3. “Giant Baby” – 3:51
4. “Mother Universe” – 1:51
5. “How Many Times” – 3:22
6. “Electric Fire” – 4:45
7. “All for the Life of the City” – 4:39
8. “Feedaloodum Beedle Dot” – 2:50
9. “Funeral Parade” – 2:58
10. “Dipped in Steel” – 1:28
11. “Mouth of the King” – 4:48
12. “How Can a Head” – 4:08

Read More: Top 10 Flaming Lips Songs

American Head

Released: 2020

American Head is a reflective, somber album that delves into themes of American life, nostalgia, and mortality, featuring a blend of melancholic melodies and lush instrumentation. This introspective work is seen as a return to the band’s roots in terms of emotional depth and lyrical storytelling. Recorded at Tarbox Road Studios and produced by the band along with Dave Fridmann, American Head reached number 82 on the Billboard 200.

CD Track Listings:

1. “Will You Return / When You Come Down” – 5:22
2. “Watching the Lightbugs Glow” – 2:53
3. “Flowers of Neptune 6” – 4:31
4. “Dinosaurs on the Mountain” – 3:32
5. “At the Movies on Quaaludes” – 3:41
6. “Mother I’ve Taken LSD” – 3:46
7. “Brother Eye” – 4:22
8. “You n Me Sellin’ Weed” – 4:53
9. “Mother Please Don’t Be Sad” – 3:36
10. “When We Die When We’re High” – 4:41
11. “Assassins of Youth” – 4:10
12. “God and the Policeman” (featuring Kacey Musgraves) – 2:34
13. “My Religion Is You” – 3:36

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