365 – New Music Daily

The Lips 1993 release (which I thought may have been their first – but in fact they approach Prince level of album outputs – there are a TON) Transmissions From the Satellite Heart was a pretty significant step back (in my chronological listening order!) from their 2001 release Yoshimi.

The pysch rock sound is still present, however the amazing thematic elements are gone, the production is certainly a bit worse, and the crux of the issue with the Lips music, and this album specifically, is Wayne for me. On Yoshimi, it’s not like he was Aretha or anything, but he certainly hit most of the notes, missing a few here and there, generally sounding very good. On this album his vocal flaws are a bit more noticeable due to their sonic isolation (see Chewin’ on the Apple of Yer Eye as an example), and they detract more than they help.

I would definitely steer anyone curious about the Lips towards Yoshimi, as this one was not the best.

Favorite songs: Oh My Pregnant Head, She Don’t Use Jelly, Be My Head, ******* (Plastic Jesus), Show Nerve Action