The Flaming Lips Album: “Providing Needles for Your Balloons”

When I was in high school, my friend bought this EP and some other Flaming Lips stuff. I borrowed it for a long time, and since this was in the days before CD burning was in vogue, I made myself a tape of this record. This and Transmissions From The Satellite Heart were the foundation for what has become my songwriting career. I am to this day completely inspired and refreshed when I hear this record. So anyway, after I wore the tape out, I decided I needed to legally (!) purchase the disc. And it has not been an easy find. I began looking a couple of years ago. I got it in the mail last week.

WHY DO GREAT THINGS GO OUT OF PRINT?

2 months ago, I didn't realize this EP existed. I was shocked to see it listed for $100+, even $200+ Since then, I got into some bidding wars for it (some lucky bloke got it for $8.50 - brand new!) before I got my hands on it at a price that fit my pockets. Keep this little tale in mind when shopping for it. As to the EP itself - for FLips fans, it is worth $200+!

"Bad Days" sounds just like the "Clouds..." version (but that's okay, that horrible batman movie ruined this song for me anyway -my fault for watching it) and I believe that the same version of "...Waterbug..." is available on the "Turn It On" single, but everything else here is unavailable elsewhere as far as I know and is pure GOLD! "Chosen One" and a slightly harsher version of "Slow-Nerve-Action" (which ends with a short, instrumental hidden track) are worth it alone. Wayne Coyne has a certain sadness in his voice that doesn't depress you, but kinda touches you, especially in the beautifully clumsy version of "Little Drummer Boy".

Bottom-line: Get it, but don't hurt yourself in the process.

Why doesn't anyone listen to these guys? They're quite possibly the most innovative, creative, and original (heh, all those mean basiclly the same thing) out there. Very few people are actually listening to them, while they do listen to absolut rehashed crapolla from bands which are falling apart or are only a fad.

songs in the same vein as transmission...excellent stuff here