Just how many times in yer life will ya be able to say, “Today’s the day the new Flaming Lips album comes out?”

Hopefully there’s been a bunch of them. For me, I can remember the last five or whatever, going back to about 1995.

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With all this talk about the Lips floating around, I read something a couple days back about these guys that just sorta blew me away.

Turns out, unlike way too many “signed artists” the Flaming Lips are one of the accomplished few to have “completed their entire contract” with a label. Think about that for a second.

These bands sign their lives away, completely in the hole and basically owing money before the album is even started. They sign for these wild multi-album deals, well-knowing the record industry is more or less against them from the beginning. Think about the odds, and, the excitement a band must feel to be signed, only to know that the deck is stacked against them.

So when the Lips signed to Warner Brothers back in 1991, they signed on for a seven record deal. Seven records! I mean, how many of the bands you listen to have completed even three? Well, those Lips completed their deal, and, we’re gonna bet they signed on for another seven.

This just sorta blows my mind.

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So go out and buy their new albums, “At War With The Mystics.” There’s some great moments on it, and, a couple weird ones. But, that’s what I love about these guys. Fucking amazing.