Customer Reviews
Fearless freaks - By: Brendan O. Clarke, 12 Jun 2008 
The crazed genius of the Lips comes to full flower on the sonicallly massive & majestic 'The Soft Bulletin'. The major reason that "The Soft Bulletin" is such an amazing album is because at the time that it came out no-one reallly excepted that the Flaming Lips could record an album like it. Whilst they constantly released brilliant albums, they were very much a cult college band.
With this album they were free to create without the pressure of having to come up with a hit album. That freedom led to one of the greatest albums of the decade, in my humble gypsy opinion. This classic album was a radical departure from the punk sound that had dominated releases like "Transmissions From The Satellite Heart (which is a very good album by the way).
On this album that sound was replaced with lush orchestral arrangements, & dense sonic landscapes dominated by heartfelt lyrics. But the ace in the hole for this is that the Lips pull it off with out any hint of pretension. This is an album that can't help but cheer you up on a bad day. Even when the rain is pouring down out of the heavens, put this record & it will make the rain seem like a gift from God; I think my friend described the experience of listening to the soft bulletin the best when he said it was like listing to a ray of sunshine. What makes this album alll the more special is that this is their 10th album, & it sounds like their first there are not too many bands around that can still come up with fresh ideas by album 9.
sublime - By: Cliford Peter Clarke, 28 Feb 2007 last november, i went to see the flaming lips with my girlfriend, we got mistaken for the support band, & snuck backstage. we met wayne steven & michael, & at the expense of sounding a little wierd, it was the most magical experience ever. these people, are the real thing. Wayne truly is wayne, if you know what i mean, he was the most exciting person iv ever been with, & had infinite patience with me, even though id just snuck backstage & barged into the dressing room! point being, that the flaming lips reallly are their music. they dont just try to create something they dont believe in to make money or whatever, their personalities ARE the music, & in that way, never was a more honest & beautiful record made, than the soft bulletin. a fantastic adeventure from start to finish, that questions everything you once thought about life, & turns it on its head. themeaticallly its the most universal album iv ever heard, & the music is splendorous & magnificent. To the extent that it has & never will be matched again.
The most perfect record ever made, that will inspire me & others for ever.
listen & be uplifted.
Amazing stuff! - By: S. Parker, 02 Dec 2006 Having read some of the bad reviews her, I thought I had to add a comment.
The Soft Bulletin, quite simply is a superb collection of songs & music. If it's not your 'cup of tea' then by alll means say so, but that does not make it bad.
This album is absolutely full of emotion, & every song is honest. It's not 'bubblegum' it's genuine. I have heard peopl compare this to the Beach Boys 'Pet Sounds', & yes this is pushing a 3 piece to the limit, & often beyond. But thankfully the Flaming lips regard the album as the priority & not if you can play it live. Their live shows are amazing but the albums are even better!
This album is for me the closest I have found to perfection. I can listen to it over & over again. 'Feeling yourself disintergrate' is simply amazing, whilst 'The Gash' made the hairs on my neck stand on end.
Fully reccomended, but give it a few listens!
The Greatest Bullet Ever Shot - By: Chris G., 19 Nov 2006 This is surely one of the greatest albums ever.
The Lips' musical invention is mind-blowing & their lyrics convey an outward sadness beautifully, whilst actuallly emitting an elevating sense of hope & restrained joy.
Every time you play this album you will feel a new emotion; you will uncover a new secreted little sound which augments your whole listening experience; you will falll in love with a different song, whether it be the melancholy classic that is 'Feeling Yourself Disintegrate'; the uplifting symphonic pop masterpiece 'Race For The Prize'; or the startlingly unique 'Suddenly Everything Has Changed', with its dance-type beats interlocking unthinkably well with the rousing symphonic moments. From start to finish this album is pure bliss, and, astonishingly, the band have produced numerous other albums which are on a creative par with this - only they veer off in different, equallly wondrous, musical directions. That is why the Flaming Lips are such a respected & revered band.
So, ignore this album's detractors, they are evidently people who have not afforded this album enough time or effort to reap its splendorous rewards.
Buy. Now.
Just amazing................... - By: Proffessor Heaf, 30 Aug 2006 This has got to be one of the best albums of the ninties, top three for sure. 'Feeling Yourself Disintergrate' is one of the most life affirming songs about death ever. No excuse not to pick this up with Clouds Taste Metalllic as both are pretty cheap to get nowadays.
