The Flaming Lips - Hear It Is

[joshthevegan]

The debut full length by Oklahoma's Flaming Lips is a crunchy, punk-y psychadelic freak out that it is at times fantastic ("Jesus Shootin' Heroin") at times rollicking ("Trains, Brains & Rain") and at times forced ("Godzilla Flick.")

Wayne Coyne takes on the vocal duties here for the first time, which is interesting to note, though the performance is merely a shadow of his signature croon. In fact, the entire band is competent here, and even has moments of musical strength (the opening lick for "Staring At Sound" is proof enough alone that these are talented musicians), but the style is largely derivative and the entire package feels a bit insincere.

The one exception to the mediocrity is the seven plus minute epic "Jesus Shootin' Heroin." Clean tone strumming and agnostic lyrics juxtaposed with a fuzzy stomping guitar riff and Coyne howling out over top is everything this album wishes it was at all times.

On subsequent releases, The Flaming Lips would start to develop their own identity and vision, but for "Hear It Is," their desire to be The Butthole Surfers and The Meat Puppets all wrapped up in one is too apparent to be ignored.

Hear It Is - 5 out of 10.