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The Soft Bulletin Image
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 21 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 132 Ratings

  • Summary: The Dave Fridmann-produced 'Soft Bulletin' is considered by many fans and critics to be the band's finest album, and found its way onto quite a few Best of 1999 lists.

Top Track

Feeling Yourself Disintegrate
Love in our life is just too valuable oh to feel for even a second without it but life without death is just impossible oh to realize something is... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 21
  2. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. The Soft Bulletin provides an exquisite soundtrack to have blasting in the car at night.
  2. A vertiginous rainbow swirl that crams so many ideas into so many tight spaces that each track is like a perfectly rendered Joseph Cornell box.
  3. Perhaps the most important album of the decade.
  4. The Flaming Lips could've been forgiven for feeling usurped when their sister ship Mercury Rev steamed away with the garlands for Deserter's Songs last December, but in truth, both collectives are in competition with no-one but themselves and the gods.
  5. The Soft Bulletin is sparse and enchanted, like the band has awoken from a long dream spent spinning in outer space.
  6. Upon starting Soft Bulletin--you’re instantly whisked off into the universe the Flaming Lips have created. The musical journey that ensues is nothing short of imaginary genius--simple as.
  7. The Soft Bulletin echoes the oft-mimiced Smiley Smile by The Beach Boys, with its psychedelic wobbliness, songs-within-songs and airy termperament.

See all 21 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 42 out of 46
  2. Negative: 1 out of 46
  1. Howard
    Sep 14, 2003
    10
    Oh My God is tis cd good or wut! I've never heard anything as good as tis. TIS IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS
  2. Sep 3, 2011
    10
    The perfect album, and by far the magnum opus of The Flaming Lips. The Soft Bulletin is a departure from The Flaming Lips' earlier work, whichThe perfect album, and by far the magnum opus of The Flaming Lips. The Soft Bulletin is a departure from The Flaming Lips' earlier work, which was mostly lo-fi noise rock. The Soft Bulletin's songs are generally slow and soft, and explore various themes, such as love and devotion (The Spiderbite Song, for instance, is as far as I can tell about one's platonic love for another). The lyrics are clever and meaningful, and not superficial at all. In fact, I would say the overarching theme of the album is love. All in all its a beautiful album, and a must-listen-to. Expand
  3. KeilS
    Dec 7, 2005
    10
    A glorious slab of symphonic meditation. Coyne & Co. have created a beautiful, wholly original cross between Brian Wilson's Pet A glorious slab of symphonic meditation. Coyne & Co. have created a beautiful, wholly original cross between Brian Wilson's Pet Sounds-era and Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon. Even the seemingly throwaway tracks have something to offer. If there is any justice in the fickle landscape of pop culture, The Soft Bulletin will be considered a true classic years from now. Expand
  4. sidewinder572
    Aug 3, 2007
    10
    Depending on how you look at it this is either the last masterpiece of the 20th century or the first masterpiece of the 21st century. However Depending on how you look at it this is either the last masterpiece of the 20th century or the first masterpiece of the 21st century. However you look at it this is The Flaming Lips finest hour and at this moment one of the 5 greatest albums I've ever heard. Expand
  5. Jul 30, 2011
    10
    HOLY CRAP! WHAT AN ALBUM! Words cannot describe how awesome this album really is. Never heard of The Flaming Lips, start here and you too willHOLY CRAP! WHAT AN ALBUM! Words cannot describe how awesome this album really is. Never heard of The Flaming Lips, start here and you too will realize their musical capabilities. One of the best albums of all time. Expand
  6. Apr 10, 2013
    9
    When an album can tell a story that tells itself, you know you have something. I only know that 14 years too late is well behind theWhen an album can tell a story that tells itself, you know you have something. I only know that 14 years too late is well behind the metaphor, but at their best the Flaming Lips speak a language that can stand up to a little time at the hands of the second law. The album thematically embraces power unthinkable that leads to consequences ranging from benign to catastrophic, at least in the minds of the protagonists. We, at least from my perspective, following the development of a source of power, a source of war and weaponry, that once leaving the flaccid but hopeful hands of its creators has a major impact on the everyday person. Leaving humans with the impression that anything is possible, and that super humans are amongst us, we are let down at their impotence. Consequently, the world, as it is wont to do, falls apart, leaving nothing but the basest of urges, creatures and regrets. This is sci-neo-pop-psychedelia-fi. I like it. Expand
  7. Sep 25, 2020
    0
    Really boring album that feels like a ripoff of Pet Sounds. Does not do a whole lot for me sadly.

See all 46 User Reviews