I heard this cd about a year ago for the first time, but it was only about 4 months back that I started getting into the Lips. Transmissions From The Satellite Heart is one of the most refreshing cd's I've heard in quite some time, but this record is simply genious. It has already cracked my top 10, and I've only recently realized how good this cd is. It's more electronic than you'd expect from an alt rock group, but that has made the music more abstract, more original. It's unclassiable in my opinion, and still accessible enough for many people to listen to and enjoy...and still is intruiging enough to listen to...it's very brave music.
01 Fight Test:
this is a great opener that's easy to sing along to. the melodies are very simple and catchy...wayne coyne is definately a much better vocalist then he was during the transmissions-era. in the bridge there is a gorgeous melody of strings and vocal harmonies that's really uplifting. 4.5/5
02 One More Robot/Sympathy 3000-21
my second favorite on this cd. It starts with a very ethereal melody repeating a few times. then a strange aphex twin-esque beat comes in with a very soothing bass-line and synth piano chords...and some japanese voices in the background. it's a beautiful song...the beat of the chorus is really strange as well. the lyrics are about a robot trying to feel emotions...but despite that the song is about fiction, it's still sung in a very touching way. The outro is prolly the best part...the melody of the intro comes back, but is greeted by a beautiful tranquil string melody, and a fuzzy synth keys and twirling harp melodies. gorgeous. 5/5
03 Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots pt. 1
this is another really catchy song, with a really catchy acoustic riff played with a really strange effect. the lyrics are very easy to sing along with. I like the little sound effects in the verses. it's very arranged, with some vocal harmonies, electronica...but with the bland drum sound it's not really something you notice right away. very upbeat track...by flaming lips' standards at least. 4/5
04 Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots pt. 2
This is the second part...it's pretty short...it starts with a droning electronic buzz with a lo -fi beat, and explodes into a pretty intense part, which sounds pretty corny. The japanese voices are back here too...and a strange high pitch scream too. It's a pretty repetitive, jam track. 3/5
05 In The Morning Of The Magicians
amazin' stuff, this song is my favorite off yoshimi....it starts with a spacy guitar riff and a driving bassline....with a nice rimshot driven groove. the brass is a really cool touch too...i love it when they come in briefly. when the beat stops the song settles down with a beautiful melody by a clarinet....going into a part with soothing acoustic rythm guitar, with little eastern electric guitar riffs, strings, fuzzy samples, choirs and and eastern flute melodies and waynes nice high pitch vocals. the drums remain pretty lo-fi. then the part of the intro comes in, with no vocals...with ones again that mega cool brass part coming in halfway. this song has so many little things, you will have to hear it many times over before you hear every little thing. i love it when the choirs come in richt after the part where the beat stop in for a moment...the song ends with an applause...I'm clapping right along. 5/5
06 Egotripping At The Gates Of Hell
This song is very laid back with lots of cute fuzzy noises along with the bass riff. This song is more focused on keys, effects, and little guitar strums and flute melodies here and there. Near the end some piano chords join the other melodies. very relaxing music. 4/5
07 Are You A Hypnotist??
I really like the beat of this song...the drummers playing style reminds me alot. he tries to fit as much snares and basses into a nice groove that flows well. It's got some cool psychedelic guitar stuff here. the verses are not all that strong...but the chorusses are great, especially the second one when the choirs sing along waynes lyrics. alot of the arrangements remind me bit of massive attack...especially songs like 'man next door' and 'karmacoma' i recognise alot here. 4.5/5
08 It' Summertime
another great one...this one has a nice sample of a bird singing...it's very soothing and relaxing with the harmony between rhytm acoustic guitar and electric lead guitar. like the other songs it's very arranged...with keys and sound effects and stuff. i love the backing vocal harmonies, especially during that cool riff about 1;55 in the song. i love how the lead guitar plays along with the string chords. really laid back. 4.5/5
09 Do You Realize??
This one starts with a very squeeky voice counting 1,2,3,4...and then breaks into an oasis of melody...with bells, acoustic guitars, fully arranged melodies and backing vocals...and that cool beat, with the nice tom hits here and there. the lyrics in this song are very simplistic, but very universal...it's one of those songs that either makes you really happy or really sad. it's great singalong stuff. 4.5/5
10 All We Have Is Now
this is one of the more sad songs on the cd. it's beautiful though..i love how the song just gradually goes a bit faster when the chorus comes...and slows down again when the verse comes again. the beat resembles Robot Sympathy a bit...only more lo-fi. 4.5/5
11 Approaching Pavonis Mons By Balloon (Utopia Planitia)
this is a really cool instrumental, that perfectly end this record. it's the perfect exit music...like for a soundtrack from a movie or something. I love the trumpet melodies...it's great that the Lips didn't let the whole rock band thing get in their way. great end to a great cd. 4/5
overall rating : 4.8/5 and i'll probably enjoy it more and more when i hear it next time. thanks to all the people who persuaded me to get this one.
