Pitchfork

Ah, Zaireeka. For the uninitiated, back in 1997, the Flaming Lips decided to combine the words "Zaire" and "Eureka" into one ridiculous album title. Oh, and they also decided to record and release the resulting album in a fairly ridiculous manner: spread across four discs, each containing different music and meant to be played simultaneously (or, for a real trip, in various combinations).

Say what you will about the practicality and listener friendliness of such an endeavor. What's perhaps most ridiculous is that Zaireeka was originally released in 1997, and thus turns ten years old this year (crazy, ain't it?).

The Lips, never ones to shy from celebration, have decided to commemorate the anniversary with a series of special in-store parties, during which the album will be played as it's intended (since, as some have pointed out, most of us don't have four CD players lying around).

And that's not all: they've also done gone and bolstered the original Zaireeka with a fifth disc-- a DVD with 5.1 Surround Sound-- which they're calling the 10th disc because of the anniversary and because they're clowny like that.

Thus the Zaireeka Sound Experiment goes down at Seattle's Crocodile Cafe (in conjunction with Sonic Boom Records) October 22 and Dallas' Good Records on October 30, with more in-stores expected to be announced soon ("Ask your local independent record store if they are having a party," suggests the Lips' MySpace). Being Halloween-time, there will of course be a costume contest (reckon "Flaming Skeleton" might be a popular choice). What's more, a "Virtual Wayne" (Coyne) will be making an appearance via that DVD, shedding some light on each Zaireeka track.

No word yet whether the fifth disc will see official release, nor whether an anniversary edition of Zaireeka is in the pipeline. But whether four CDs or five, the Lips still have nothing on this nut.

Also, just a friendly reminder that Pitchfork's own Managing Editor Mark Richardson is working on a book about Zaireeka for the 33 1/3 series. Yay Mark!

And remember the Flaming Lips alley in Oklahoma City? Well, it's finally being dedicated October 25 at 11:30 a.m. Head on down to AT&T Bricktown Ballpark (the Plaza at Mickey Mantle entrance) to join in the festivities along with Wayne Coyne and OKC mayor Mick Cornett.