Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
by The Flaming Lips
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 144 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 130 out of 144
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 144
  3. Negative: 8 out of 144

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  1. All_ButTrU4
    Sep 21, 2022
    8
    YBTPR is perhaps their most accessible masterpiece but it's the one im least impressed by out of their big three classics. It's not as dense as the others which despite permitting accessibility leaves a lot to be desired in terms of engagement . It is still by no means a bad album . With the opening "fight test" or the saccharine "do you realize? " there's just so much to be amazed by.YBTPR is perhaps their most accessible masterpiece but it's the one im least impressed by out of their big three classics. It's not as dense as the others which despite permitting accessibility leaves a lot to be desired in terms of engagement . It is still by no means a bad album . With the opening "fight test" or the saccharine "do you realize? " there's just so much to be amazed by. It's like radiohead's Hail to the Theif where it's a really solid record thst just doest match the caliber/expectation they've set for themselves even asthey venture into the fertile grounds of electronica.… Expand
  2. Vampire25
    Dec 15, 2010
    10
    Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots is one of my favorite albums. It's simply amazing. Every song is just a treat to listen too. It's fresh, original, innovative, and purely just captivating. Songs such as "Do You Realize??" and "Fight Test" and "Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt.1" is just beautiful music. All In All, Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots is a masterpiece. A
  3. j30
    Apr 23, 2012
    8
    Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots is extremely good the majority of the album, I'd even dare to call those areas great. There is, however, a few places feels a little underwhelming and you kind of lose interest, but that is few and far between.
  4. hydrawithears
    Nov 2, 2011
    8
    Yoshimi has already made history and I am truly happy that louds of people will discover it for itâ
  5. normankant
    Jun 13, 2015
    10
    What are Flaming Lips? In this record they are a band playing in a dreamlike universe made of childhood aspirations and sterling naivety, a band experimenting with plastic beats and gummy sounds without forgetting that the core of all music are emotions, a band that studied psychedelic music and updated it.
  6. mhmusicnmovies
    Sep 7, 2010
    10
    an incredibly beautiful album. Fight Test kicks things off strongly and the music never weakens. Yoshimi is catchy, mysterious, mesmerizing, and so much more. I find it almost impossible to compare this to, frankly, anything... The Flaming Lips arrive officially with this effort.
  7. ekolite82
    Jul 11, 2012
    9
    Lot of great highlights on the this one. Lot of great songs. One of my favorites by them. Can't think of one I like better by them, really. A great album with good production values and emotional highs.
  8. rodericrinehart
    May 28, 2015
    9
    Gorgeous album that stands the test of time. It will continue to be appreciated and listened to for many years by many people. So many great songs and so much feel.
  9. crazy_goose
    Oct 20, 2010
    9
    I hesitated to give this album a 10, and eventually decided to give it a 9 because of one oddball (yoshimi battles the pink robots, pt. 2, is so out of nowhere and sonically bombastic that it doesn't mesh well with the rest of the sublime album). if you like progressive rock, pop rock, soft rock, electronic rock, songs about robots, songs about death, or an amazingly produced album thatI hesitated to give this album a 10, and eventually decided to give it a 9 because of one oddball (yoshimi battles the pink robots, pt. 2, is so out of nowhere and sonically bombastic that it doesn't mesh well with the rest of the sublime album). if you like progressive rock, pop rock, soft rock, electronic rock, songs about robots, songs about death, or an amazingly produced album that sounds gorgeous on a great sound system, then definitely go after this one. personally i find the two most popular songs, "do you realize?" and "yoshimi pt. 1", to be the first ones to listen to as they set a good tone for the album and they're not as out there as the rest of the album.… Expand
  10. TatrTotz
    Sep 3, 2011
    10
    An excellent, beautiful, compelling Flaming Lips album.
    The album goes through times of being heavily electronic to plain old acoustic. You can feel the passion and genuine nature of The Flaming Lips through the lyrics and instrumentation of the music. All in all, a great album.
  11. BenjaminBunny
    Jun 8, 2004
    9
    Makes my heart throb and my head bob.
  12. JeremyG
    Jan 4, 2004
    8
    Having heard both albums, one cannot help but compare it to 'Soft Bulletin,' but it still performs admirably even against such a formidable masterwork. A solid album with melodic bliss to spare.
  13. BadCritic
    Jan 4, 2005
    8
    I stuggle a little with the Lips. A first listen of Yoshimi prompts the inevitable (but initially missed by most) comparison with Cat Stevens, but wait, there's more. Listen to The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi back to back, and you start to pick up threads from other artists, and not necessarily good ones either. Hasn't anyone out there heard the rip off from the (ghastly) Alan I stuggle a little with the Lips. A first listen of Yoshimi prompts the inevitable (but initially missed by most) comparison with Cat Stevens, but wait, there's more. Listen to The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi back to back, and you start to pick up threads from other artists, and not necessarily good ones either. Hasn't anyone out there heard the rip off from the (ghastly) Alan Parson's Project 'A Turn of a Friendly Card'. Three or four other tracks sound awfully familiar, but hey, Wayne, you pull it off so well, all is forgiven.… Expand
  14. LesZero
    Jul 23, 2002
    10
    The Lips turn down the amps a notch and make a quiet, contemplative, immersive follow-up to the brilliant, brash, astonishing Soft Bulletin. Nice work, gentlemen.
  15. ScottS.
    Jul 25, 2002
    10
    I think that Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots is better than The Soft Bulletin. I'm over 35 and, while The Soft Bulletin was okay, there were a couple of crappy tracks and it was light-years from this new one, where there isn't a bad song in the bunch. I am accustomed to albums of that quality, aka The Wall, Nevermind, and Whos Next. The only thing even close to The Flaming Lips I think that Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots is better than The Soft Bulletin. I'm over 35 and, while The Soft Bulletin was okay, there were a couple of crappy tracks and it was light-years from this new one, where there isn't a bad song in the bunch. I am accustomed to albums of that quality, aka The Wall, Nevermind, and Whos Next. The only thing even close to The Flaming Lips two last albums is a couple of recording in the 90s by nirvana. The rest of this stuff is crap and I try to ignore it. The Flaming Lips is my favorite band that is still recording new material. (On the list of favorite but dead bands are The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Who, and King Crimson). This is some pretty high praise from a professional songwriter. There for awhile, I was in hopes that Queenstryche would measure up and followup their Empire CD, but it never really happened to my satisfaction.… Expand
  16. MichaelM
    Jun 1, 2005
    10
    absolutely the best album of 2002, by far.
  17. billy
    Aug 1, 2005
    10
    Yoshimi piles on layers of melodic wonderment. A true marvel. The Lips are on their way to absolute greatness.
  18. Gray
    Jan 21, 2006
    9
    Incredible Album
  19. BillH
    Mar 6, 2006
    10
    One of the best albums I've ever heard. Simple messages on life, death and love told through ambitious and uplifting song. Yes, to some, some of the instrumentals and songs may sound a bit much, but if you have an ear for the weird and different, you'll love this.
  20. JonL
    Jul 28, 2006
    10
    Sheds the symphonic sweep of The Soft Bulletin for dense, fluid electronica, while retaining the whimsical melancholy and thoughts on life, death, and humanity. The playfulness of the Lips doesn't detract from their more ruminative tracks, rather, it adds punch to the emotional impact and sheer beauty. As good as their previous album, and maybe the best album of the decade. Truly masterful.
  21. bunnytiger
    Jul 18, 2002
    10
    this album sounds like rain would sound if every drop of it had a beautiful singing voice to sing along with.
  22. RickG.
    Jul 23, 2002
    8
    A very, very good record for this late in the game for the venerable Lips. If you want a legit #10 rated record from these guys, check out 'Hit To Death In The Future Head'. Now that's a 10! Can't wait to see their new movie, 'Christmas on Mars' this xmas, should be interesting.
  23. BobG.
    Aug 29, 2002
    9
    Never liked the Lips until Soft Bulletin, and I like "Yoshimi" even more. Lush, fantastic and fun. Best record of the year so far.
  24. Sean
    Aug 9, 2002
    10
    amazing simply amazing, a pet sounds for my generation
  25. PanteleimonG
    Jul 15, 2005
    10
    Possibly the most imaginative album in recent years from the most experimental band of our time. Its beautiful story floats smoothly. "Do you realize?", and the title track stand out but the rest of the tracks are not lacking. Simply, an amazingly told, astonishing story.
  26. drewB
    Apr 4, 2006
    10
    my balls have just been tripped off
  27. TedS.
    Jul 17, 2002
    10
    phenomenal.
  28. VinceP.
    Jul 17, 2002
    10
    Simply, one of the best album's of the year. Fantastic!! I'm still astonished. Congratulations!!
  29. MattS.
    Sep 13, 2002
    9
    I keep going back and forth over whether I liked Yoshimi or the Soft Bulletin better. This week, it's Yoshimi. It's fun but also gets a pretty big emotional response out of me. I was in a pretty reflective mood when this record came out and man did it stick to me. People are either going to like or dislike the production but to me, it's refreshing and you'd be I keep going back and forth over whether I liked Yoshimi or the Soft Bulletin better. This week, it's Yoshimi. It's fun but also gets a pretty big emotional response out of me. I was in a pretty reflective mood when this record came out and man did it stick to me. People are either going to like or dislike the production but to me, it's refreshing and you'd be surprised just how many hooks and melodies you stumble on that grab you after repeated listens. I really like this cd.… Expand
  30. k.y.joeybedrosian
    Oct 15, 2003
    10
    ineffable...
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Awards & Rankings

20
#20 Best Album of 2002
20
#20 Most Discussed Album of 2002
26
#26 Most Shared Album of 2002

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. Ink Blot Magazine
    90
    The measured use of electronics recalls nothing so much as OK Computer, and in some ways Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots sounds like that album might have if Thom Yorke believed in God.
    Read full review
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    Songs like "Fight Test" and "Do You Realize" have various tics--but they're so sweet-souled that such sins are easily forgiven. [19 July 2002, p.74]
  3. Mojo
    90
    If Yoshimi.... lacks the sheer shock value of Bulletin's panoramic delirium, its peak moments are enough to make it one of 2002's most rewarding releases. [Album of the Month, Aug 2002, p.92]
See all critic reviews »