Zaireeka

So where does the band go after releasing the most defiantly experimental record of its career? If you're The Flaming Lips, you keep rushing ahead into the unknown.

The Soft Bulletin, their follow-up to the four disc gambit, Zaireeka, is in many ways their most daring work yet.

A plaintively emotional, lushly symphonic pop masterpiece, eons removed from the mind-warping noise of their past efforts.

Though more conventional in concept and scope than Zaireeka, The Soft Bulletin clearly r- reflects its predecessor's expansive sonic palette.

Its multidimensional sound is positively celestial, a shape-shifting pastiche of blissful melodies, heavenly harmonies, and orchestral flourishes.

But for all its headphone-friendly innovations, the music is still amazingly accessible.

First listen here, yep.

Yeah, so I got, uh...

Yes, it's going to be very confusing.

It's going to be like that one Flaming Lips album.

You have to listen to four albums at the same time.

Yeah, Zareka.

Zareka, yeah.

My cousin Denny actually tried that.

He actually tried to

do all four albums, all four.