92. The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002)
Genre: Alternative/Psychedelic Indie
Fight Test
One More Robot/ Sympathy 3000-21
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots pt. 1
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots pt. 2
In the Morning of the Magicians
Ego Tripping At the Gates of Hell
Are You A Hypnotist??
It's Summertime
Do You Realize??
All We Have Is Now
Approaching Pavonis Mons by Balloon (Utopia Planitia)
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots is to The Flaming Lips as what
Kid A was to Radiohead. Both albums are popular amongst neonates of both bands and they are rapidly different from previous acclaimed albums. Of course they're also highly rated on sites like Pitchfork Media and prove that older bands can comprehend the idea of newer sounds and technology.
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots is a concept album that isn't really a concept album, but it is. The first four tracks chronicle the adventures of the aptly named Yoshimi as she battles the Robots, who just happen to be pink. This is evidenced in the songs "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1" and "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 2" (although it is questionable considering the second part is completely instrumental). The band has gone on the record in saying that the album is not a concept album, but much like the term "documentary" has changed over years to a completely different meaning, the definition of a concept album has been altered so that any song telling a story could technically be classified as such.
ANYWAYS… after the epic battle between Yoshimi and the Robots that are pink (which was apparently so epic any record of it was lost in its own awesomeness that opened some kind of quantum portal or some sh
it), we're introduced to a series of songs about magicians, the seasons, and space travel. The Flaming Lips are one of the only bands I think could get away with this kind of rapid content switch, but because of their veteran status amongst the indie scene they could take turns raping Stephen Malkmus and nobody would bat an eyebrow (and NME would probably give it a 9/10).
Fortunately for older fans of the band, The Flaming Lips fuse their previous indie acoustic sounds with the wobbly sounds effects of flanging, chorus, and heavy use of electronic drum beats. For a bunch of old farts they actually make the fusion work better than most new bands and manage to create a wonderful entry point for people new to the indie genre.
Overall
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots serves as a more serious edition to The Flaming Lips' discography, yet they do not sacrifice their established sound entirely. Compared to their previous album,
The Soft Bulletin,
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots deals with a more mature subject manner and does so in a hauntingly beautiful manner. That is no way a dig at
The Soft Bulletin, which is possibly one of the best albums of the '90's and a great way to end a decade full of mixed hits and challenges to remain hip without selling out by just being as goofy as possible in a way that would make They Might Be Giants and The Bloodhound Gang seem conservative.
If a mellow, darkly humored, and deeply layered album that's a concept album that isn't, then you can do far worse than
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. It's a perfect album to listen to with headphones, smoke a joint to, or listen with friends or a loved one in a tranquil silence. Under the right circumstances the album will take with you to the wonderful and frightening world of Yoshimi and perhaps even you can help her battle the dastardly Robots who are Pink.