The Official Needles and Grooves 1001 Album Generator Project (aka Preachin’ about the Preachers if today’s selection sucks)
- Thread starter Nee Lewman
- Start date
Thackeraye
Well-Known Member
Have you seen the video bootleg of Zaireeka? Some guy created a DVD with all the tracks on the different 5.1 channels, and with video clips matching the tracks. Altered States, Requiem for a Dream, that kind of stuff. It's how I first listened to it, and it's great. Think I have an .mkv version of it on a drive somewhere...
Poly-Rythmo
Well-Known Member
Archandroid - I was expecting something a bit more out there. This was more tame. It was fine but didn't really hold my attention. 2/5
gafacaode
Well-Known Member
Ditto
Nee Lewman
बैस्टर्ड
This is an interesting take. It occurs to me as I listen this morning that when this came out it was very out there. It seems time has caught up with The ArchAndroid. Not a bad thing really.
We could all use more prog RnB space opera concept albums though.
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
1/30/23
View attachment 165514
The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
Allmusic Review
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots - The Flaming ... | AllMusic
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots by The Flaming Lips released in 2002. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.www.allmusic.com
"What is love and what is hate?
A calculations error"
from "In the Morning of the Magicians" is such a great lyric!
There are so many on this album. It's been a year or two since I've played it. Making my morning right now.
I came to this one a couple years after the fact - easily my favorite Flaming Lips, but I've also not delved too too deep in their catalogue.
I didn't do year-end lists in 2002, but if I were to do a revised one now, this would be top 3 for me.
5/5
imtheocean
Well-Known Member
I have the 5.1 Zaireeka lying around somewhere, along with the official 5.1 Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi releases. Now I just need to get a surround sound player setup again, cause those were really well done.
I've told this story here before, but when the Soft Bulletin version was released it was a combo CD / DVD-A, and they had the wrong version of the CD shipped originally. When the replacement CD's were shipped, Michael Ivins (long time bass player for the Lips, he retired recently) hand wrote letters for each of the replacements. Always thought that was very thoughtful and reflected their commitment and appreciation of the fans.
Nee Lewman
बैस्टर्ड
The ArchAndroid
Metropolis Suite: The Chase was a fully realized statement from an artist who arrived confident and ready to change music. The concept was continued into The Achandroid which, unlike The Chase, is not concise and a little half baked. Its one real problem is it’s long. Metropolis feels like the elevator pitch and ArchAndroid plays like the three hour blockbuster and two hours in your bladder is really begging you to do something about the gallon of coke you drank. You kind of have to disengage but you don’t want to. Also like that summer blockbuster it’s a little all over the place. Like Coldwar really fits the concept but does Tightrope? It never lacks in inventiveness or swagger though. Like their idol Prince, Monáe actually does need a little editing and I think Diddy just threw them the keys to the studio. He was probably all like I’ve got this train wreck over here I’m trying to figure out, I don’t have time to edit your whole space thing. I don’t even know what Genorape means but you do your thing.
4/5
Metropolis Suite: The Chase was a fully realized statement from an artist who arrived confident and ready to change music. The concept was continued into The Achandroid which, unlike The Chase, is not concise and a little half baked. Its one real problem is it’s long. Metropolis feels like the elevator pitch and ArchAndroid plays like the three hour blockbuster and two hours in your bladder is really begging you to do something about the gallon of coke you drank. You kind of have to disengage but you don’t want to. Also like that summer blockbuster it’s a little all over the place. Like Coldwar really fits the concept but does Tightrope? It never lacks in inventiveness or swagger though. Like their idol Prince, Monáe actually does need a little editing and I think Diddy just threw them the keys to the studio. He was probably all like I’ve got this train wreck over here I’m trying to figure out, I don’t have time to edit your whole space thing. I don’t even know what Genorape means but you do your thing.
4/5
Last edited:
imtheocean
Well-Known Member
Janelle Monae ~ The ArchAndroid
Unfamiliar with this album. Stream of thoughts:
Dance or Die is a jam.
Singing on Faster is a little timid.
More passion on Cold War, she lets go.
I can see why Tightrope has the most listens. Great beat and breakdown with the horns.
I dig the intro on Oh, Maker. Retro folky-soul. Would love to hear a full stripped down version of it.
Oh, Maker --> Come Alive --> Mushrooms & Roses is a very impressive run of songs showcasing different styles.
Don't like Make the Bus
Gets a little same-y at the end.
Overall enjoyed it. 3/5
(Also realizing I haven't rated anything under a 3 yet, going to have to rethink my rating criteria if this keeps up).
Unfamiliar with this album. Stream of thoughts:
Dance or Die is a jam.
Singing on Faster is a little timid.
More passion on Cold War, she lets go.
I can see why Tightrope has the most listens. Great beat and breakdown with the horns.
I dig the intro on Oh, Maker. Retro folky-soul. Would love to hear a full stripped down version of it.
Oh, Maker --> Come Alive --> Mushrooms & Roses is a very impressive run of songs showcasing different styles.
Don't like Make the Bus
Gets a little same-y at the end.
Overall enjoyed it. 3/5
(Also realizing I haven't rated anything under a 3 yet, going to have to rethink my rating criteria if this keeps up).
Nee Lewman
बैस्टर्ड
Not necessarily, with the exception of Makeba, these have all been landmark albums considered important to/the best of their genre or scene. I’ve gotten one REAL stinker in my personal project so far.
imtheocean
Well-Known Member
Yeah, that's the one I was thinking of. I'd probably drop Makeba to a 2 ranked against this album.
Hemotep
Well-Known Member
Same as @Bohnjaggs, I first came to Monae via Of Montreal and instantly got this album. I love what the album is trying to accomplish even when it doesn't always pull it off. Again, sucker for a concept album and this concept is choice. I'm really happy to see they are starting to act more because they're the reason I loved Glass Onion. 4/5.
wmeugene
Well-Known Member
#8 - Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid
I had only heard a few of these songs before, so I appreciate the impetus to give it a full go. In terms of influence, this to me sounds like a natural extension of what André 3000 was doing with The Love Below mixed with Prince at his most futuristic. Not surprisingly, it shares the strengths and weakness common to both, which means when it’s firing on all cylinders, it’s brilliant and when it’s not, it’s a bit of a mess. It also goes on way too long and while individual tracks are still good at the end, I was fatigued by the end even with breaking up the listens. A hard album to assess to be honest as it probably rewards repeat listens, but that’s not going to happen today.
Rating - 3.0/5
I had only heard a few of these songs before, so I appreciate the impetus to give it a full go. In terms of influence, this to me sounds like a natural extension of what André 3000 was doing with The Love Below mixed with Prince at his most futuristic. Not surprisingly, it shares the strengths and weakness common to both, which means when it’s firing on all cylinders, it’s brilliant and when it’s not, it’s a bit of a mess. It also goes on way too long and while individual tracks are still good at the end, I was fatigued by the end even with breaking up the listens. A hard album to assess to be honest as it probably rewards repeat listens, but that’s not going to happen today.
Rating - 3.0/5
Last edited:
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
wmeugene
Well-Known Member
That’s what I get for typing on my phone. And apparently asses is common enough not be autocorrected.
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
Well it a word so there’s nothing to correct lol! They’re always the ones that get you.