At War With The Mystics
by The Flaming Lips
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 156 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 123 out of 156
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 156
  3. Negative: 10 out of 156

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. matsl
    Apr 10, 2006
    10
    i think this album is fantastic! they mix the cool 70's rock sound with more modern electronica. the lyrics are also great, playful but serious.
  2. RH
    Apr 5, 2006
    10
    Only The Soft Bulletin is a stronger album than this collection, which is a nice group of songs that manage to gel together well, despite not having anything in common. It's one of those albums that displays everything an artist does best.
  3. lewist
    Apr 10, 2006
    10
    I don't know what some people here are talking about "self indulgent". IMO, the Flaming Lips have managed to equal up to their expected, after Yoshimi. Some upbeats and some slower songs give the Album more character and make it more interesting - and they have still maintained their 'nice' conventions - even if this album is slightly more aggresive.
  4. coy
    Apr 3, 2006
    10
    Best Flamin Lips record, defnitely! Even bether than Soft Bulletin.
  5. Mr.FrankOK
    Apr 7, 2006
    10
    This is exactly how the Flaming Lips should sound during this stage of their career, mature but experimental. This album now shares a permanent spot in my happy brain. Yummers, just complete Yummers. If "The Sound of Failure" doesn't move you, then you aren't me. I'm slightly better.
  6. Landon__
    Jan 7, 2007
    10
    Masterpiece with political undertones. Their best albumt o date
  7. johnT.
    Aug 2, 2007
    10
    Only once I gave this a chance did I realize the amazing complexity and possibility of this album. This is an album where you can listen to it a hundred times and discover something new each time. "It over takes me" is an epic in itself.
  8. Mack
    Apr 11, 2006
    10
    This album is great. It's diverse, experimental, fun, and it seems to encompass the perfect mix of new ideas with just enough accessibility. To quote from below: "...i can't imagine any of these tracks stripped down to just a voice and guitar/keyboard, which is one measure of a well written song..." - tom z. What? Maybe that's due to a lack of imagination on your part. This album is great. It's diverse, experimental, fun, and it seems to encompass the perfect mix of new ideas with just enough accessibility. To quote from below: "...i can't imagine any of these tracks stripped down to just a voice and guitar/keyboard, which is one measure of a well written song..." - tom z. What? Maybe that's due to a lack of imagination on your part. First of all, stripping a song down isn't necessarily a measure of a song - and sometimes that task just takes a little imagination. Consider that John Mayer covered Radiohead's song "Kid A". Not exactly an acoustic-strummer on first listen. Anyway, most of the poor reviews of this album are probably due to the new fans of the group expect another Yoshimi - especially the accessibility of that album. That one was great, but a band as original as the Flaming Lips face a catch-22 with their subsequent releases. If they don't experiment and simply remain static, they'll surely make some fans happy (and possibly score some radio hits) but the critics will bash them for staying complacent. If they experiment, then many fans will be polarized by the new sounds, but the band at least gets to flex their creative minds. So, to me, it's great, and I don't want the Lips to ever stay the same - every album seems like a discovery, which is wonderful.… Expand
  9. Jack-
    Apr 10, 2006
    10
    Awesome.
  10. Fred
    Apr 10, 2006
    10
    I liked this album a lot. The music took a while to grow on me but after listening to it a few times I loved it. Its not as good as the rest of the albums. But definatly worth buying.
  11. [Anonymous]
    Apr 12, 2006
    10
    Classic Number 3
  12. mikaell
    Apr 12, 2006
    10
    i think this album is a very good continuation of their previous work. you never know what those guys will do, they'll suprise you everytime with new fantastic material. i don't understand why this album received so poor reviews - i think it's one of their best albums yet!
  13. DanM
    Apr 13, 2006
    10
    Lips fans who gave this album low scores need to listen to it more. After the first two spins I would have rated it maybe a 6. But after a few days now it's right up there. Brilliant!
  14. PeggyM
    Apr 25, 2006
    10
    This album is amazing and will make you weep a euphoric weep.
  15. RyanG
    Apr 29, 2006
    10
    This the album that, like The Wall, but not The Wall, all the critics who hit their thirties in the past few decades will never fully appreciate but in time will have it's place atop those life defining top ten lists for anyone who has yet to leave their younger days behind and take life to be more serious than it actually is.
  16. PeterJ
    Apr 7, 2006
    10
    It is a very rare thing indeed when an album leaves the listener with a sense of fulfilment, excitement and wonder at the end of each listen. This, the eleventh full studio album from the Lips, pitches its tone in that sublime g-spot between joy and melancholy. Divine music. To ears well educated by the Lips back catalogue this comes out to be a culmination of their capabilities. A record It is a very rare thing indeed when an album leaves the listener with a sense of fulfilment, excitement and wonder at the end of each listen. This, the eleventh full studio album from the Lips, pitches its tone in that sublime g-spot between joy and melancholy. Divine music. To ears well educated by the Lips back catalogue this comes out to be a culmination of their capabilities. A record that challenges and excites, invents and develops, enchants and invigorates. Truly stunning and life affirming.… Expand
  17. DamianoM
    Apr 8, 2006
    10
    I really wanted to like this album....and I ended up loving it. Ifr the mainstream doesn't get it then its their loss. And those people giving it low scores must have downloaded a Nickleback torrent. Buy this album and it will become another shining jewel in the crown of your Flaming Lips music collection. Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
  18. Jules
    May 2, 2006
    10
    What a joyous and thrilling album to live with! It is its diversity that I love - it'll make you laugh, cry and hurl as Wayne would say. I found Yoshimi beautiful and interesting but a little sleep inducing after a while and while soft bulletin is more cohesive and def a work of genius, Mystics is a different beast altogether - its genius lies in its sprawling diversity and rough What a joyous and thrilling album to live with! It is its diversity that I love - it'll make you laugh, cry and hurl as Wayne would say. I found Yoshimi beautiful and interesting but a little sleep inducing after a while and while soft bulletin is more cohesive and def a work of genius, Mystics is a different beast altogether - its genius lies in its sprawling diversity and rough edges. God forbid that our acid gods could have so much fun while raging against the machine - personally I'm glad they shed some of the pompositythat was starting to develop with Yoshimi.… Expand
  19. tomk
    Apr 11, 2006
    10
    I think this is their best album and considering I love most of their other work thats saying something for me. I cant believe this is getting negative reviews..
  20. Craig
    Apr 12, 2006
    10
    YES! What a great album, up there with the lips finest, not a stinker on this one. Filled with great melodies, amazing instrumentation from Steven Drozd and cool lyrics penned by Wayne Coyne. Go buy this album if you haven't!
  21. MichaelC
    May 17, 2006
    10
    This album is simply mindblowing. Joins Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots and The Soft Bulletin in the pantheon of amazing Lips albums.
  22. Jcelsius
    Feb 7, 2013
    10
    This album is an overlooked masterpiece. It has the sort of kookiness the Flaming Lips can boast about while mixing in deeper, more melodic songs. "Mr. Ambulance driver" is a fantastically emotional song while "W.A.N.D." is an electric anthem of empowerment. The opening track is odd, but completely wonderful. There's a lot of atmosphere on this album and some people might find the lullsThis album is an overlooked masterpiece. It has the sort of kookiness the Flaming Lips can boast about while mixing in deeper, more melodic songs. "Mr. Ambulance driver" is a fantastically emotional song while "W.A.N.D." is an electric anthem of empowerment. The opening track is odd, but completely wonderful. There's a lot of atmosphere on this album and some people might find the lulls unpleasant, but when looked at as a whole and not just a collection of songs it's hard not to reflect on the beauty of it all.… Expand
  23. TatrTotz
    Sep 3, 2011
    10
    To be honest, I didn't like this album as much at first. The Flaming Lips are my favorite band, and this album just didn't do it for me at first.

    Then I listened to it again. While "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song" can certainly be annoying to many who haven't listened to The Flaming Lips, its a very clever song I think, along with many of the other songs on this album. Mr. Ambulance Driver is    To be honest, I didn't like this album as much at first. The Flaming Lips are my favorite band, and this album just didn't do it for me at first.

    Then I listened to it again.

    While "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song" can certainly be annoying to many who haven't listened to The Flaming Lips, its a very clever song I think, along with many of the other songs on this album. Mr. Ambulance Driver is another great song, about someone who wishes he could be in his friend's place. The Flaming Lips, between The Soft Bulletin and this album have this overarching theme of love, and At War With The Mystics continues it, with, as I said, Mr. Ambulance Driver, My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion, and Pompeii Am Gotterdammerung. As others have said, it certainly is different from other Lips' albums, but nonetheless great. More electronic than the others, and more strange. Personally I don't think there's anything wrong with the album. Its no Soft Bulletin, but its not bad, like everyone seems to be saying. I would go so far to say that its actually pretty good.    … Expand
  24. BeauFuller
    Jun 20, 2016
    10
    Good. .
  25. bhsmall
    Sep 25, 2020
    10
    Man what an album. A nice mix of space rock, psychedelic rock, and dream pop. Good stuff I dare say!
  26. BenW
    Jun 8, 2006
    9
    Incredible album......beyond the 70's throwbacks is the psychedelic trip that we have come to know and love from this band. I am actually enjoying this album more than Yoshimi. First listen maybe a 7/10, then the depth and quality of each track just keeps on growing to form what ultimately develops into the perfect album - the natural progresssion they just had to write.
  27. CasperM
    Apr 3, 2006
    9
    8.5, through and through. Tis is vintage Lips!
  28. BobS
    Apr 3, 2006
    9
    `tis a groovy album, ci senor?
  29. JonR
    Apr 4, 2006
    9
    Though it's not absolutely perfect this album lacks any real weak points, just a few rather uninteresting ones mainly thanks to their fantastic company. It's nice to hear that they've ditched the drum samples that plagued Yoshimi though, Steve really is too great a drummer (one of my favorites) to do that for a whole album... But that's a whole different issue. At War Though it's not absolutely perfect this album lacks any real weak points, just a few rather uninteresting ones mainly thanks to their fantastic company. It's nice to hear that they've ditched the drum samples that plagued Yoshimi though, Steve really is too great a drummer (one of my favorites) to do that for a whole album... But that's a whole different issue. At War With the Mystics has turned me from being vaguely interested in the Lips to a true fan. A fantastic album to be sure, instant classic even and like the Soft Bulletin one I'll be listening to for years to come. I'd give a 93/100 or so which rounds to "9" so there you have it.… Expand
  30. KellyM
    Apr 4, 2006
    9
    The next step in the evolution of The Lips. Recognizing the past while taking a step towards the future. Did I happen to mention it sounds incredible? I can't wait to see "Pompeii AM Gotterdammerung" performed live.
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

24
#24 Most Discussed Album of 2006
78
#78 Most Shared Album of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 37 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 37
  3. Negative: 1 out of 37
  1. Amazon.com
    90
    Coyne is a shrewd observer of human nature, and an even shrewder songwriter and this album stands as his greatest and most varied work yet.
    Read full review
  2. Filter
    92
    Each consecutive [song] is stranger than the last. [#19, p.88]
  3. Los Angeles Times
    88
    The weird part is how well this stuff holds together, a delirious jumble of android psychedelia and Coyne's elliptical wordplay that goes down as easily as warm milk (spiked with acid). [26 Mar 2006]
See all critic reviews »