Life is truly an interesting experience. Throughout our time in the world, we have all dealt with a myriad of events that have shaped us. The world can be a place that is full of wonder one minute, and full of sadness and hardship the next. Even though life can be confusing and difficult, it can be beautiful as well. Humanity still has so much to discover, and there is always an aspect of life that makes it worth living. Life is full of these conflicting arrays of emotions, and one album that demonstrates this is The Flaming Lips' 1999 album, "The Soft Bulletin."
On "The Soft Bulletin," The Flaming Lips went for a sound that is truly of epic proportions. On albums such as "Transmissions from the Satellite Heart" and "Clouds Taste Metallic," The Flaming Lips played guitar-based alternative rock that was brash and laced with harsh distortion. However, "The Soft Bulletin" demonstrated a glorious side of The Flaming Lips' music. Utilizing dense instrumentation and complex compositions, the album operates on a grand scale. It's a luxurious, multi-layered affair, trading the noise of previous offerings for a sweeping kaleidoscope of sound. It's an aural playground that still amazes in 2016.
The vocals and lyrics add a comforting layer as well. Wayne Coyne's vocals dominate the album, and he retains the frail style that he had on previous releases. His vocals are strained, but they possess an endearing quality that make him sound honest in the best way possible. Coyne sings in a warm and accepting way, and he has an uplifting but world-weary component to his voice. The lyrics touch on dark subjects, but the underlying positivity gives a hopeful element to them. The lyrics and vocals give a melancholic mood, encouraging us to see the beauty in life.
The album is also a beautiful experience. It transforms into a sonic adventure that takes the listener through life itself. "The Soft Bulletin" creates wonderful images in the listener's mind, and the various instrumental flourishes make the album even more imaginative than it already is. "The Soft Bulletin" soars with an elegance that permeates its songs, and it encourages the listener to revel in the mind-blowing sounds that jump out from the album. An immersive experience that can make a person feel better by hearing it, the album turns into a stunning wonderland that's full of amazing treats.
In conclusion, "The Soft Bulletin" is a wonderful album. Its heavily detailed sound leads to an incredible amount of layers for the listener to explore, and it shows a complex side to The Flaming Lips. The fragile vocals of Wayne Coyne give way to lyrics that inspire happiness in the listener, in spite of the darkness that surrounds it. "The Soft Bulletin" is one of the classic albums of the 1990s, and its sound will continue to inspire listeners.
