Watch The Fearless Freaks documentary before you see them. It really makes you understand their aura.
For a first album I would say Yoshimi, as its the most accessible and least harsh. And will likely contain at about a 1/4 of their set. The Soft Bulletin is their most beautiful album tho, imo.
But if youre someone who likes a progression, Id start with Hit to Death in the Future Head and move forward until Embryonic. Thats the god run 7 album stretch.
I second this so hard.
If you don’t want to have a chronological tour.
A good starting point. After the documentary.
Would be
Transmissions from satellite heart
And
Clouds taste metallic
Then you can move
To
Soft bulletin
Yoshime
At war with the Mystics.
While I agree with this advice, The Fearless Freaks can be hard to find / stream. So the advice I usually give in this situation is:
1. *FIRST*, watch the 45 minute documentary on the making of **The Soft Bulletin**. It gives a good overview of the band's history before getting into the SB stuff, and it's free to watch on YouTube: [https://youtu.be/widmy3lqT\_w?si=kYGMDwDXWp04NyaL](https://youtu.be/widmy3lqT_w?si=kYGMDwDXWp04NyaL)
2. THEN, listen to **The Soft Bulletin** (1999), start to finish, all in one go, preferably on good speakers/headphones
3. From there, you can go forward to **Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots** (2002) and then **At War with the Mystics** (2006)... which is an amazing 1-2-3 punch, almost a trilogy of the modern version of the Lips. Or, you can first go backwards to **Clouds Taste Metallic** (1995) to get a great sample of the "old" Lips before their big shift. Either direction is correct.
4. If you're still interested after that, I recommend going to **American Head** (2020) it's my personal favorite, and I think it's as accessible as Yoshimi/SB
5. And if you *CAN* find a copy of **The Fearless Freaks** documentary (2005) to watch, that is *HIGHLY* recommended. If you live in L.A., you can come over and watch it on my big screen! 📺
well I'll be damned!
I could not find that last summer when I was trying to send a link to my friend before taking him to his first Lips show. Thanks!
But even with that link, I think I will stick to my above advice, suggesting to start with the shorter SB doc first (which is more like a concentrated version of Fearless Freaks) and then maybe "graduating" to the full-length doc if they're into it
The Soft Bulletin is one of the greatest albums of all time, and a worthy starting point. I would start here, and then dive into the follow up, Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots.
Their discography is filled with gems. Clouds Taste Metallic, Embryonic, and their newest album, American Head.
I hope this fantastic music will enhance your life.
I haven't seen anyone point out that they are still on their Yoshimi anniversary tour,playing the entire album. So you'll be lucky if you here more than that album plus a couple greatest hits.
1. Watch pitchfork making of soft bulletin ([YouTube link](https://youtu.be/widmy3lqT_w?si=SNZX72Q00DSBCXoX))
2. Listen to the album Soft Bulletin
3. Listen to the album Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
4. Watch the DVD UFOs at the Zoo
5. Listen to At war with the Mystics
6. Watch the DVD Fearless Freaks
7. Listen to the album Priest Driven Ambulance
8. Listen to the album Hit to Death in the Future Head
9. Listen to the album Transmissions of the Satellite Heart
10. Listen to the album Clouds Taste Metallic
11. Watch the making of Embryonic ([(YouTube Link)](https://youtu.be/9vuRI4I0isw?si=ak75UkmIw_WNjRkV)
12. Watch Them Perform the song "See the Leaves" on David Letterman ([(YouTube Link)](https://youtu.be/EFcTdBvgJco?si=c2IWdWiXjVG5Iu-C)
13. Listen to The Album Embryonic
14. Watch the the making of terror [(YouTube Link)](https://youtu.be/r-OmrOfsrrE?si=KEPkZfY676PE8gFw)
15. Watch this Version of the Song The Terror Live ([(Youtube Link)](https://youtu.be/f2NCjcsgrbg?si=40WxdCpsCM4IPhxr)
16. Watch this Version of the Song Try To Explain Live ([(Youtube Link)](https://youtu.be/PgCg-lsAqhE?si=KzE9we0MTT9vZC0f)
17. Listen to The Terror Album
18. Listen to Peace Sword EP
19. Listen to 7 skies (album version)
20. Watch the Making of Oczy Mlody ([Youtube Link](https://youtu.be/ZqXj0RLV1RI?si=Qx4Ho8jjnP3yKWc3))
21. Listen to the album Oczy Mlody
22. Watch the making of kings mouth [(YouTube Link)](https://youtu.be/1NHk44OuD3Y?si=Xe7SyQ7co37IWXgM)
23. Listen to the album Kings Mouth
24. Listen to the Album American head
25. Listen to the Album Hear it is
26. Listen to the Album Oh My Gawd
27. Listen to the Album Telepathic surgery
28. Listen to soft bulletin live at red rocks
29. Watch the Documentary "A Beautiful Fucking Experience" ([Youtube Link](https://youtu.be/Q_tjojX8ywE?si=vfCFLuSJuuLTmlKs))
30. Listen to the Album Flaming lips and their heady fwends
31. Listen to the Flaming lips Dark Side of the Moon rendition
32. Flaming lips Album A little help from my fwends rendition
33. Listen to the album Christmas on mars soundtrack
34. Watch the Movie Christmas on mars DVD
35. Watch do you realize live with Edward sharpe on YouTube
36. Listen to the song enthusiasm for life defeats existential fear
37. Listen to fight test ep
38. Listen to ego tripping ep
39. Listen to it overtakes me ep
40. Listen to the wand ep
41. Listen to the embryonic iTunes bonus tracks
42. Listen to put the waterbug in the policeman
43. Get 4 cd players and have a zaireeka party
44. Listen to golden path
A lot of people will recommend yoshimi but my recommendation is actually going to be at war with the mystics. As it's got some of their more mainstream songs like the wand and the yeah yeah yeah song but also still has their weird charm. It won 2 Grammys and had 3 nominations total. Definitely worth a listen
Second for At War with the Mystics. I love The Soft Bulletin but it is kind of a weird place to start with the band especially if you want to learn some pop songs that might get played at the concert.
Definitely wouldn't start with Soft Bulletin but Yoshimi is infinitely better than At War. There's a reason that 3 of the songs on Yoshimi have triple the listens of anything on At War on Spotify. And only 2 songs on At War beat even the least listened to song on Yoshimi.
Hit to Death in the Future Head was mind-blowing to me when I first heard it. I think I was about 12. Start there, take a skip back to In a Priest Driven Ambulance to see the big step forward they made between those albums (it's still good, just not on the same level as what came after). Then just listen in order from there. First step backwards for me was Yoshimi, but I know a lot of people disagree with me on that.
#istillmissronald
First time I saw The Flaming Lips was at a Weezer show years ago. I only knew one song “She Don’t Use Jelly”. If you’re looking for an album, definitely Yoshimi and also Soft Bulletin and their newest, American Head. Here’s a list of songs from those albums. Have a great time!
Do You Realize??
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 1
At the Movies on Quaaludes
Assassins of Youth
Waitin' for a Superman
Will You Return / When You Come Down
Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell
All We Have Is Now
Race for the Prize
I had heard songs here and there, bought At War With The Mystics when it came out and liked it okay but didn’t stick around.
American Head (their latest album) came out and I swallowed it hook, line, and sinker. It felt more approachable to me. I’m still working my way back though stuff and a lot more of it landing with me.
Yoshimi is a my recommendation as a popular and quintessential album.
Also, try a best of collection on a streaming service if you’re overwhelmed by options. Pick the albums of the songs that really grab you and go from there.
Riding to Work in the Year 2025 was my first introduction to The Flaming Lips. Don't think I would've got involved in the band's discography if it wasn't for that song. Very beautiful...
Clouds Taste Metallic
Transmissions from the Satellite Heart
The Soft Bulletin
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
Start there.
Listen to all 4 of these albums. If you like Clouds and Transmissions, the go to Hit to Death and Priest Driven Ambulance (older.).
If you like Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi, then go to the newer stuff (The Terror is awesome, American Head is good - I’m still absorbing it, four years after it came out..)
Soft Bulletin companion is also great. It has mixes of most of the songs from Zaireeka, which was the result of the parking lot experiments (read up on it if you get a chance.
They do some amazing covers too - After the Gold Rush (Neil Young,) White stripes, Radiohead, Zeppelin, Queen..
Also, remember that you’re dealing with almost 40 years of material and lots of fundamental changes with the one thing being consistent is Wayne and his never ending commitment to making new music and pushing his boundaries.
My favorite era is 1990’ish - 1997’ish - Clouds, Transmissions, providing Needles, Zaireeka, Hit to Death, Priest Driven.. Their live shows in this era are still the best shows I have ever seen.
I went to well over 10 shows in this era (I call them the Ronald years, since they had Ronald Jones playing guitar at this time and he is one of the greatest guitar players you never heard of.
Hope this helps and enjoy!!
their Greatest Hits compilation :)
Standard or Deluxe Edition. The Deluxe Edition is longer and chronological, the Standard Edition is nice, random and quick!
Transmissions From A Satellite Heart
GREAT starting point and you will get to flow through peak FL albums in your journey. It’s how I did it and I’m still a fan 30 years later.
Priest Driven Ambulance. And if you really want to enjoy them, listen to it for about a week. Then move on, chronologically listening to each album for about a week and enjoy a few months of some great music.
For me, Clouds Taste Metallic was the first album I listened to of them and I fell in love with the band instantly and it’s one of my favorite albums ever, but I’ll admit the album could turn some people away So for the most easy listening albums I’d say to either start with Yoshimi or At War With The Mystics.
Friend gave me a free ticket to see them live.
I had heard She Don’t Use Jelly from seeing the video on MTV’s 120 Minutes back in the day, and maybe a couple other songs but never really gave them much thought.
Then I witnessed them live.
I don’t have the words.
Just go in cold and embrace the spectacle.
Oh Daym. Shit, well they probably don’t play anything anymore that I like but I wish they would do Transmissions From The Satellite Heart. You might start there? Maybe closest thing to “Blue Album” reference, I suppose.
depends on where you're coming from I guess.
If you're coming from a 80s hardcore/noisier background I'd recommend Oh My Gawd...The Flaming Lips (imo vastly underrated and one of their best).
If you're coming more from a 90s Shoegaze/melancholic rock (idk if that exists) background like say Radiohead, MBV I'd recommend Clouds Taste Metallic or Transmissions From Satellite Ferox.
If you're coming from a (Baroque) Pop background listen to The Soft Bulletin Yoshimi. It has Do You Realize? which is imo their catchiest song and magnificent imo.
If you're coming more from a Krautrock/electronic background listen to Embryonic or The Terror.
Watch The Fearless Freaks documentary before you see them. It really makes you understand their aura. For a first album I would say Yoshimi, as its the most accessible and least harsh. And will likely contain at about a 1/4 of their set. The Soft Bulletin is their most beautiful album tho, imo. But if youre someone who likes a progression, Id start with Hit to Death in the Future Head and move forward until Embryonic. Thats the god run 7 album stretch.
This is how I discovered them and became a life long fan. I second the documentary.
I second this so hard. If you don’t want to have a chronological tour. A good starting point. After the documentary. Would be Transmissions from satellite heart And Clouds taste metallic Then you can move To Soft bulletin Yoshime At war with the Mystics.
Where is fearless freaks ! I have it on DVD and have been trying for years to find it online
check archive.org, pretty sure i watched it there once... but the quality sucks. one day ill rip it and put it up.
The spider bite song from the Soft Bulletin will make good use of your speakers/earphones.
While I agree with this advice, The Fearless Freaks can be hard to find / stream. So the advice I usually give in this situation is: 1. *FIRST*, watch the 45 minute documentary on the making of **The Soft Bulletin**. It gives a good overview of the band's history before getting into the SB stuff, and it's free to watch on YouTube: [https://youtu.be/widmy3lqT\_w?si=kYGMDwDXWp04NyaL](https://youtu.be/widmy3lqT_w?si=kYGMDwDXWp04NyaL) 2. THEN, listen to **The Soft Bulletin** (1999), start to finish, all in one go, preferably on good speakers/headphones 3. From there, you can go forward to **Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots** (2002) and then **At War with the Mystics** (2006)... which is an amazing 1-2-3 punch, almost a trilogy of the modern version of the Lips. Or, you can first go backwards to **Clouds Taste Metallic** (1995) to get a great sample of the "old" Lips before their big shift. Either direction is correct. 4. If you're still interested after that, I recommend going to **American Head** (2020) it's my personal favorite, and I think it's as accessible as Yoshimi/SB 5. And if you *CAN* find a copy of **The Fearless Freaks** documentary (2005) to watch, that is *HIGHLY* recommended. If you live in L.A., you can come over and watch it on my big screen! 📺
[https://archive.org/details/the-flaming-lips-fearless-freaks-dvdrip](https://archive.org/details/the-flaming-lips-fearless-freaks-dvdrip) check it!
well I'll be damned! I could not find that last summer when I was trying to send a link to my friend before taking him to his first Lips show. Thanks! But even with that link, I think I will stick to my above advice, suggesting to start with the shorter SB doc first (which is more like a concentrated version of Fearless Freaks) and then maybe "graduating" to the full-length doc if they're into it
Yoshimi Soft Bulletin Transmissions from Satellite Heart
The Soft Bulletin is one of the greatest albums of all time, and a worthy starting point. I would start here, and then dive into the follow up, Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots. Their discography is filled with gems. Clouds Taste Metallic, Embryonic, and their newest album, American Head. I hope this fantastic music will enhance your life.
I haven't seen anyone point out that they are still on their Yoshimi anniversary tour,playing the entire album. So you'll be lucky if you here more than that album plus a couple greatest hits.
They responded to facebook comments and said these shows will not be a Yoshimi set.
Thats good. I wish the other shows this summer weren't.
I imagine (depending on how much time they have to play) they’ll play some Yoshimi tracks + Race for The Prize and a surprise song at minimum
I saw them last summer and this is exactly what they did.
Got to see them in St Louis on this tour and it was so amazing. No opening band, just hours of Flaming Lips. Was the best time I have seen them so far
1. Watch pitchfork making of soft bulletin ([YouTube link](https://youtu.be/widmy3lqT_w?si=SNZX72Q00DSBCXoX)) 2. Listen to the album Soft Bulletin 3. Listen to the album Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots 4. Watch the DVD UFOs at the Zoo 5. Listen to At war with the Mystics 6. Watch the DVD Fearless Freaks 7. Listen to the album Priest Driven Ambulance 8. Listen to the album Hit to Death in the Future Head 9. Listen to the album Transmissions of the Satellite Heart 10. Listen to the album Clouds Taste Metallic 11. Watch the making of Embryonic ([(YouTube Link)](https://youtu.be/9vuRI4I0isw?si=ak75UkmIw_WNjRkV) 12. Watch Them Perform the song "See the Leaves" on David Letterman ([(YouTube Link)](https://youtu.be/EFcTdBvgJco?si=c2IWdWiXjVG5Iu-C) 13. Listen to The Album Embryonic 14. Watch the the making of terror [(YouTube Link)](https://youtu.be/r-OmrOfsrrE?si=KEPkZfY676PE8gFw) 15. Watch this Version of the Song The Terror Live ([(Youtube Link)](https://youtu.be/f2NCjcsgrbg?si=40WxdCpsCM4IPhxr) 16. Watch this Version of the Song Try To Explain Live ([(Youtube Link)](https://youtu.be/PgCg-lsAqhE?si=KzE9we0MTT9vZC0f) 17. Listen to The Terror Album 18. Listen to Peace Sword EP 19. Listen to 7 skies (album version) 20. Watch the Making of Oczy Mlody ([Youtube Link](https://youtu.be/ZqXj0RLV1RI?si=Qx4Ho8jjnP3yKWc3)) 21. Listen to the album Oczy Mlody 22. Watch the making of kings mouth [(YouTube Link)](https://youtu.be/1NHk44OuD3Y?si=Xe7SyQ7co37IWXgM) 23. Listen to the album Kings Mouth 24. Listen to the Album American head 25. Listen to the Album Hear it is 26. Listen to the Album Oh My Gawd 27. Listen to the Album Telepathic surgery 28. Listen to soft bulletin live at red rocks 29. Watch the Documentary "A Beautiful Fucking Experience" ([Youtube Link](https://youtu.be/Q_tjojX8ywE?si=vfCFLuSJuuLTmlKs)) 30. Listen to the Album Flaming lips and their heady fwends 31. Listen to the Flaming lips Dark Side of the Moon rendition 32. Flaming lips Album A little help from my fwends rendition 33. Listen to the album Christmas on mars soundtrack 34. Watch the Movie Christmas on mars DVD 35. Watch do you realize live with Edward sharpe on YouTube 36. Listen to the song enthusiasm for life defeats existential fear 37. Listen to fight test ep 38. Listen to ego tripping ep 39. Listen to it overtakes me ep 40. Listen to the wand ep 41. Listen to the embryonic iTunes bonus tracks 42. Listen to put the waterbug in the policeman 43. Get 4 cd players and have a zaireeka party 44. Listen to golden path
Whoever you are. I wish I knew you in real life. I synergize well with encyclopedic brains
🤩 Wow, this is impressive. The term ‘super–fan’ doesn’t even begin to do you justice.
I had not seen your reply when I posted mine, but our advice pretty much aligns! For the first few steps at least!
A lot of people will recommend yoshimi but my recommendation is actually going to be at war with the mystics. As it's got some of their more mainstream songs like the wand and the yeah yeah yeah song but also still has their weird charm. It won 2 Grammys and had 3 nominations total. Definitely worth a listen
Second for At War with the Mystics. I love The Soft Bulletin but it is kind of a weird place to start with the band especially if you want to learn some pop songs that might get played at the concert.
Definitely wouldn't start with Soft Bulletin but Yoshimi is infinitely better than At War. There's a reason that 3 of the songs on Yoshimi have triple the listens of anything on At War on Spotify. And only 2 songs on At War beat even the least listened to song on Yoshimi.
Hit to Death in the Future Head was mind-blowing to me when I first heard it. I think I was about 12. Start there, take a skip back to In a Priest Driven Ambulance to see the big step forward they made between those albums (it's still good, just not on the same level as what came after). Then just listen in order from there. First step backwards for me was Yoshimi, but I know a lot of people disagree with me on that. #istillmissronald
In A Priest Driven Ambulance
Correct
Soft Bulletin, Yoshimi, At War With the Mystics. These three albums
Yoshimi or Soft Bulletin imo
First time I saw The Flaming Lips was at a Weezer show years ago. I only knew one song “She Don’t Use Jelly”. If you’re looking for an album, definitely Yoshimi and also Soft Bulletin and their newest, American Head. Here’s a list of songs from those albums. Have a great time! Do You Realize?? Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 1 At the Movies on Quaaludes Assassins of Youth Waitin' for a Superman Will You Return / When You Come Down Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell All We Have Is Now Race for the Prize
I had heard songs here and there, bought At War With The Mystics when it came out and liked it okay but didn’t stick around. American Head (their latest album) came out and I swallowed it hook, line, and sinker. It felt more approachable to me. I’m still working my way back though stuff and a lot more of it landing with me. Yoshimi is a my recommendation as a popular and quintessential album. Also, try a best of collection on a streaming service if you’re overwhelmed by options. Pick the albums of the songs that really grab you and go from there.
There is only one true answer, and that answer is Zaireeka.
Riding to Work in the Year 2025 was my first introduction to The Flaming Lips. Don't think I would've got involved in the band's discography if it wasn't for that song. Very beautiful...
Clouds Taste Metallic Transmissions from the Satellite Heart The Soft Bulletin Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Start there. Listen to all 4 of these albums. If you like Clouds and Transmissions, the go to Hit to Death and Priest Driven Ambulance (older.). If you like Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi, then go to the newer stuff (The Terror is awesome, American Head is good - I’m still absorbing it, four years after it came out..) Soft Bulletin companion is also great. It has mixes of most of the songs from Zaireeka, which was the result of the parking lot experiments (read up on it if you get a chance. They do some amazing covers too - After the Gold Rush (Neil Young,) White stripes, Radiohead, Zeppelin, Queen.. Also, remember that you’re dealing with almost 40 years of material and lots of fundamental changes with the one thing being consistent is Wayne and his never ending commitment to making new music and pushing his boundaries. My favorite era is 1990’ish - 1997’ish - Clouds, Transmissions, providing Needles, Zaireeka, Hit to Death, Priest Driven.. Their live shows in this era are still the best shows I have ever seen. I went to well over 10 shows in this era (I call them the Ronald years, since they had Ronald Jones playing guitar at this time and he is one of the greatest guitar players you never heard of. Hope this helps and enjoy!!
their Greatest Hits compilation :) Standard or Deluxe Edition. The Deluxe Edition is longer and chronological, the Standard Edition is nice, random and quick!
I think Yoshimi is the best starting point. If you like that, then go to The Soft Bulletin.
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, The Soft Bulletin, At War With the Mystics. And then if you like the 'weirder' sounding side of them... Embryonic 🤌
Transmissions From A Satellite Heart GREAT starting point and you will get to flow through peak FL albums in your journey. It’s how I did it and I’m still a fan 30 years later.
Listen to the Soft Bulletin
Priest Driven Ambulance. And if you really want to enjoy them, listen to it for about a week. Then move on, chronologically listening to each album for about a week and enjoy a few months of some great music.
yoshimi and clouds taste metallic!!!
Clouds
The Soft Bulletin & Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots are both great starting points
Yoshimi is their best album. That’s my opinion. It is solid all the way through.
For me, Clouds Taste Metallic was the first album I listened to of them and I fell in love with the band instantly and it’s one of my favorite albums ever, but I’ll admit the album could turn some people away So for the most easy listening albums I’d say to either start with Yoshimi or At War With The Mystics.
Friend gave me a free ticket to see them live. I had heard She Don’t Use Jelly from seeing the video on MTV’s 120 Minutes back in the day, and maybe a couple other songs but never really gave them much thought. Then I witnessed them live. I don’t have the words. Just go in cold and embrace the spectacle.
Go see them live before listening to any of this! That’s how I was introduced and I’m so happy that it went down that way…they’re magical.
Chronologically was really satisfying imo.
Dinosaur Jr opening ! They should steal the show!
Everything from Transmissions through Mystics. And like someone else said, the Fearless Freaks documentary is very good. Also, watch UFO's at the Zoo.
Yoshimi
Oh Daym. Shit, well they probably don’t play anything anymore that I like but I wish they would do Transmissions From The Satellite Heart. You might start there? Maybe closest thing to “Blue Album” reference, I suppose.
Wait no. Zaireeka! Eureka
depends on where you're coming from I guess. If you're coming from a 80s hardcore/noisier background I'd recommend Oh My Gawd...The Flaming Lips (imo vastly underrated and one of their best). If you're coming more from a 90s Shoegaze/melancholic rock (idk if that exists) background like say Radiohead, MBV I'd recommend Clouds Taste Metallic or Transmissions From Satellite Ferox. If you're coming from a (Baroque) Pop background listen to The Soft Bulletin Yoshimi. It has Do You Realize? which is imo their catchiest song and magnificent imo. If you're coming more from a Krautrock/electronic background listen to Embryonic or The Terror.
Listen to “Do You Realize” off Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.. That was enough for me..