The Lips Already Did It….

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So, its 11:34 pm on Wednesday, and I don’t know why this hit me tonight, but it did. I was cruising around listening to one of my favorite albums, The Soft Bulletin by the Flaming Lips, and I was reminded of how many times I’ve said in the last year or two, when hearing a new band or a new album, “Man, this sounds just like the Lips.” I’m sure my friends have heard me say that too many times, but I could honestly hear their influence on a lot of bands recently.

When I first heard My Morning Jacket‘s- Wordless Chorus, all I could think about is how much it reminded me of the Lips. Strained high pitch singing, like Wayne Coyne in nearly everyone of his songs, the vocal distortion, the vocal reverb, everything. I have no idea if they’ve ever said that they were influenced by the Flaming Lips, but I can hear it. Granted the Lips are a lot more electronic sonic sounding, but the feeling is the similar.

Also, I want to clarify, I am no way saying that these bands are like stealing the Lips sound, (however its funny to hear the lyrics “We are the innovators/They are the imitators) I’m just bringing some light to one of my favorite bands and how influential they are on music now. :)

When My Morning Jacket opened the door to using the vocal reverb and distortion, the flood gates opened. Fleet Foxes, Grizzly Bear, No Age, Wavves, Animal Collective etc. Trust me, I’m not saying this is a bad thing, I LOVE that sound. To quote a friend “Using their voice as an instrument.”

Mp3: My Morning Jacket- Wordless Chorus

Mp3: The Flaming Lips- Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell

Another popular kind of music coming out is this lo-fi, almost punkish sound. Again, the Lips have you covered there too. Little known fact about the Flaming Lips, before they were used in that Microsoft commercial with bunny rabbit costumes and balloons and such, they were a supremely bad ass punk band. One of their albums was called, Finally Punk Rockers Are Taking Acid. How fucking cool of a album title is that!?!?! :)

Mp3: Wavves-So Bored

Mp3: Buggin

Knives Out – Sweet radiohead cover….

Oh, yah, and they’re fucking insane live.