4. The Terror
Although it may be too early to say this, The Terror is definitely the most shocking release of the band's 30-year career. In very many aspects, it is a mirror image of The Soft Bulletin, with little guitar work and shared themes (just look at the lyrics for the title track), but the differences are still incredibly easy to point out. For one, The Terror is incredibly negative in sound - with dark, heavy synths orchestrating the whole album. In many ways, The Terror is the opposite musically as their crowning achievement in The Soft Bulletin. Starting with 'Look... The Sun Is Rising' and seamlessly blending into 'Be Free, A Way,' you could think this was the soundtrack to someone literally passing on to heaven. Wayne Coyne stated, "The Terror is, we know now, that even without love, life goes on... we just go on... there is no mercy killing."
Tracks to Hear: Look... The Sun Is Rising, You Lust, The Terror, Try To Explain, You Are Alone http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5H8K9ary1Rk
5. Transmissions From The Satellite Heart
Oh, God, we'll never forget this one. The Flaming Lips' major popular breakthrough (and first with multi-instrumentalist Steven Drozd), released in June of 1993, garnered the band a massive following after this impressive LP. 'She Don't Use Jelly' was the single that really impacted the band's popularity to everyone outside of Oklahoma or the psych music freaks. This is arguable, but the album's full length is one of the most cohesive, with each track feeding off the energies of the others like a true album should. From 'Turn It On' to the mind-warping 'Slow Nerve Action,'Transmissions is an album of wild fun with introspective, delicate tunes, a la 'Oh My Pregnant Head' and 'Chewin The Apple of My Eye.' However, this is all a nice, broad way of saying this was the moment the Lips really became the band they were destined to be. This album surely allowed their creativity to run wild into the future to create so many adventurous, expansive albums. Transmissions was the ultimate moment of realizing that everything up to this point wasn't for nothing and that anything was possible. Following with another rock-centric album - Clouds Taste Metallic - and diving into the unknown was possible, thanks to the success of Transmissions.
Tracks to Hear: Turn It On, She Don't Use Jelly, Pilot Can At The Queer Of God, Slow Nerve Action http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud1qmXYKhcc