Pitchfork: Flaming Lips Back in the Studio!

Flaming Lips Back in the Studio!
Cancellation of Woodstock '04 now blamed for Pixies reunion

Last week we reported that three of the biggest acts from this summer's aborted Lollapalooza tour-- Modest Mouse, Sonic Youth, and The Walkmen-- have already bounced back with a slew of summer tour dates to make it up to the teary-eyed fans who'd planned to see them in amphitheaters across the U.S. However, not every band left in Lollapalooza's lurch is looking to see the country this summer. Case in point: According to a post on their website, The Flaming Lips recently wrapped up a second studio session working on a follow-up to 2002's wildly popular (and pretty damn good) Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, and are planning on heading back soon to make good use of their unplanned downtime.

The sessions have already resulted in two announced songs-- the tentatively titled "Space Bible" and "Mr. Ambulance Driver"-- and all signs point to Coyne and his merry elves heading back into the studio well ahead of their previously planned September sessions. So you won't get to see them under the hot hot sun of summer, but you Flaming Lips fans can look at Lollapalooza's cancellation as a blessing in disguise-- maybe we'll get a new Lips record ahead of schedule, and you can avoid that nasty sunburn.

The Lips have also reportedly completed another song for the Christmas on Mars soundtrack-- the uncomfortably titled "Vaginal Holocaust". In case you're unaware, Christmas on Mars is the feature film The Flaming Lips have been working on since somewhere around the paleolithic era. Although the band's website still claims it will be completed by Christmas of 2003 (fingers crossed!), hopes are high that the film may actually see release this coming Christmas, unless, of course, Wayne Coyne invents a time machine, which he very well may do. (Actually, we cheated a little for that joke-- a recent post actually alludes to Lollapalooza's cancellation possibly helping the band to finish Christmas on Mars this year. We're sorry, we won't do it again.)

Next up: Furthering their reputation as a band willing do just about anything, the band has recorded a song for the upcoming SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, and have collaborated with Sparklehorse's Mark Linkous on the track "Go" for Gammon Records' upcoming (and previously reported) Daniel Johnston tribute, due in stores August 24th.

And if all of this recording news ain't quite enough, try this on for size: Toronto Rocks, a live DVD chronicling the bizarre SARS benefit show that happened in Toronto last July, was just released on June 29th. The Dolby 5.1 DVD features live performances from the Lips, as well as the Rolling Stones, Justin Timberlake, AC/DC, Rush, the Isley Brothers, and more. The Lips' songs included on the DVD are "Race for the Prize" and "Do You Realize?"