The Flaming Lips tap Miley Cyrus for the assist on โWe a Famly,โ the fourth single from Oczy Mlody. ย
Experimental rock band The Flaming Lips donโt sell particularly well. Did they ever? The answer is a resounding no. To date, the RIAA has certified just one TFL album: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robot.ย Regardless, the band is prolific, continuing to push boundaries musically.ย After a two-year hiatus โ With a Little Help From my Fwends, released in late 2014 โ TFL return with new album, Oczy Mlody.ย Ahead of Oczy Mlody, the band issued four singles: โHow??โ, โSunrise (Eyes of the Young),โ โThe Castle,โ and โWe a Famly,โ featuring Miley Cyrus. ย
Before deeply analyzing โWe a Famlyโ, check out how The Flaming Lip spell the title.ย The titular lyric is reiterated throughout the chorus. The record opens with loopy synths that sound as if they were taken straight out of a video game. These solidify the psychedelic rock, cementing the 60s-throwback vibe. Ultimately, โFamlyโ uses an excellent blend of the arpeggiated synths with gritty guitar (and synths) and pummeling drums.
Coyneโs voice is fantastic here, sounding clearer compared to other singles. Following the core of verse one, some of the clarity fades. The vocal effects are kicked up a notch โ or threeโฆ Even sacrificing the clarity, the use of effects adds additional contrast.ย The chorus lacks depth, but is catchy: โWe a family, we a family, we a familyโฆโMiley Cyrus adds her distinctive pipes on the second verse. This serves as an excellent addition to this weird song:
โItโs been a long hot summer I miss you, itโs a bummer, yeah We both travelinโ Youโre somewhere south of Wichitaโฆโ
Final Thoughts
Like all The Flaming Lips songs, this one is distinct, even if it sacrifices itself a bit for the sake of pop.ย Nonetheless, โWe a Famlyโ is incredibly interesting.
The Flaming Lips โข Oczy Mlody โข Warner Bros. โขย Release: 1.13.17
Photo Credits: Warner Bros.