Alpaca Lips
Some folk might be aware of Tucson, Arizona bluesman Rainer Ptacek for his slide guitar
... more
work with Howe Gelb's Giant Sand; others for his collaborations with ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard (under the name of Das Combo). Yet, by far the troubled ...
Alpaca Lips - Rainer Ptacek
Some folk might be aware of Tucson, Arizona bluesman Rainer Ptacek for his slide guitar
... more
work with Howe Gelb's Giant Sand; others for his collaborations with ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard (under the name of Das Combo). Yet, by far the troubled ...
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Alpaca Lips - Rainer Ptacek
Some folk might be aware of Tucson, Arizona bluesman Rainer Ptacek for his slide guitar
... more
work with Howe Gelb's Giant Sand; others for his collaborations with ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard (under the name of Das Combo). Yet, by far the troubled Czech-German refugee's finest work occurs when he strips it all back down to the bare roots--as on 1992's Worried Spirits, and here. His final studio album before his untimely death on November 2, 1997, Alpaca Lips is composed of 17 tracks of intimate, almost painful beauty. Played solo, aside from on a mellow cover of Stevie Wonder's "Pastime Paradise" where he's backed by two of his Giant Sand bandmates, this is the sound of a man and his dobro fully working. Highlights include the brief "Bo Weavil" which wails and howls with vulnerable passion, and the almost ambient "Horse Hair". Rarely have the delta blues been played with such a gentle, spiritual force. --Jerry Thackray
Advantages: Like nothing you've ever heard before. Disadvantages: Maybe a bit samey in places.
...It took me longer to get into this record than any of the Flaming Lip's previous albums, but it was definitely worth the effort. See, the F'lips are pioneers; one of only a handful of modern bands that are truly trying to push forward the boundries of music. Throughout their 16-year lifespan, they've dabbled, experimented, and consistently crafted psychedelic pop masterpieces while retaining an ear for ear-splitting noise. Whereas their peers may have floundered or chosen to follow a path that leads directly up their own rectums (hello, Sonic Youth), the Lips want to appeal to as many people as possible, not drive them away.
On The Soft Bulletin, noise takes a backseat and the gorgeous melodies are allowed to shine through. Wayne Coyne's lyrics, filled with childlike wonderment, are as stirring and evocative as ever. Who else could write...
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...The Flaming Lips are really interesting to listen to - they can develop a great style and fantastic music in one album and then a few years later come out with something that sounds pretty juvenile (not necessarily a bad thing!) and more naively produced.
'Hit to Death in the Future Head' is an example of some of their better stuff. It is one of my favourite albums, and definitely favourite Flaming Lips one. Fantastic thumping drums and electric guitar come from Micheal, Jonathon and Nathan. They form the original line-up when combined with Wayne Coyne on vocals. As with most Flaming Lips stuff it takes a little getting used to, but after a while is completely addictive.
'Hit to Death....' is quite bizarre and a little unsettling at times with lyrics dealing with disillusionment and bitterness. They are also quite graphic...
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helpful 13.04.2001
Head-trip. Review ofHit To Death In The Future Head - Flaming Lips (The)by
MonkeyboyUK
Advantages: Bursting with ideas. Disadvantages: Won't win any new fans.
...This is the first album the Flaming Lips produced after being signed to Warner Bros. They couldn't believe it when they got a $100,000 advance, and consequently spent it all on making this little beauty. As a result, and in it's own way, it's the equal of The Soft Bulletin, only relocated to 1992 and scored with generous dollops of fuzzed-up guitar.
The sheer scope and imagination invested in this LP leaves pretty much every other band for dust. You Have To Be Joking (Autopsy Of The Devil's Brain) even has a string section sampled from Michael Kamen's score for the movie Brazil...and it works perfectly. Then there's the acid-tinged Beach Boys homage Frogs and the throbbing Felt Good To Burn with its echoey vocal harmonies.
All Lips fans should own this record....
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18.09.2000
13.04.2001
02.10.2000
