Hit to Death in the Future Head 1992 Album

The Flaming Lips

The oddly titled Hit to Death in the Future Head goes a long way in completing the transitional process from confused ramshackle go-nowhere noisemaker hippies to the laser-focused Neo-psychedelic machine of the mid 90's, but it’s not quite there yet. There are still the occasional experimental goofs to be found – well, just one huge one that is hard to ignore at the end of the disc. The first half of the disc hazes back and forth between punkish, neo-psych headbangers like “Forever”, “Hit Me like you Did the First Time” (which sounds like Bee Gees mixed with Sonic Youth), and “Ginger Ale Afternoon”, and throbbing trippy ballads like “The Sun” and “Felt Good to Burn”. However, I do find the second half of the disc more compelling, thanks to one track in particular – “Halloween on the Barbary Coast”, which is a complete precursor of the stuff for the upcoming Transmissions of the Satellite Heart. Furthermore, the opening guitar riff is like a joke take on Led Zep’s “Kashmir”, so there is that for entertainment value. Despite the increase in levity, I also sense tension building in the otherwise hilarious “Frogs”, which for me is the other standout on the second side of the disc. “I’m waiting for the frogs to fall, down on me” – I am guessing this is meant to be a humorous lyric, but possibly there is a bit of dark humor hidden in here. Of course, the downfall of the second half of the disc is the last track, the infamous “Noise Loop”. The decision to put this on here is inexcusable. Without it you have a very good 40-minute CD, but with it now it is near 70 minutes long and not necessary. The only reason it could be there is to mess with people who are high on something and forgot to change to another CD. For me, this is the false start before the group really got things moving in earnest on the next two albums. I used to own the next CD but LOST IT SOMEHOW – it was easily a long time favorite – but I do have Clouds Taste Metallic which I think is good in its own right.