The Terror
by The Flaming Lips

Dark electronic psych masterpiece

From teague 08/31/2021 18:40 | #273131

Dark yet bright. Heavy yet light. Flaming Lips create the ultimate paradox with The Terror.

From JulianR 03/30/2018 08:53 | #211984

I remember when I was first exploring the FLips discography I didn't care much for this album (though Try To Explain has been one of my favorite songs ever since I heard it). However, I don't think I gave this album its due. Its got a really cool sound to it, with tons of synthy layers, almost shoegaze-y in some parts. Though it can get a little repetitive, it makes p for it well in overall atmosphere and ambiance. It plays almost like a loud ambient album.

75/100

The terror, is similar to, embryonic, in it's style and delivery. It's great that the band are still pushing themselves, and, the terror, is a lovely blend of ambition, noise and melody. Another strong Lips record.

From ShadowColossi 06/03/2016 11:23 | #167688

It may take a little bit, but give this record a chance and it will resonate with you a little more with each listen. It's a little harsh with some of the tones, kinda sounding like static-y noise, but it's that way because Wayne Coyne is obviously taking a darker tone with this record- much of the songwriting was done after Wayne Coyne's divorce. It does get a little over-indulgent at times, especially during "You Lust" (even though I love that track, it drags on a little too long). Highlights for me are "Look... The Sun Is Rising", "Be Free, Away", "Butterfly (How Long It Takes to Die)", and "Always There, In Our Hearts"

I tried to like this album, I really did. I can appreciate the progressive and experimental elements of the material. To me it seem way overproduced and self indulgent, It just hasn't hooked me. Maybe I need to put it away for awhile.

From RockyRaccoon 07/09/2013 19:45 | #80716

Lately, The Flaming Lips have entered a very experimental stage of their career. They’ve always been fairly experimental and odd in their music, but lately they’ve been going in a very different direction from some of their earlier albums like “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots" and “The Soft Bulletin". It’s been good though, and I feel like it reaches it’s apex here on this album. There are a few moments where this album gets a little over-indulgent, on the roughly 13-minute long “You Lust", for example, but generally speaking this album is great. The songs are beautiful, dealing mostly with themes of depression and loneliness, and musically they sound that way too. Songs like “Try To Explain" and “Be Free, A Way" are so ethereal, they transport you to another place. The music is beautiful.

From junodog4 06/12/2013 17:33 | #78686

It's funny - I kept hearing how angry or melancholic this album was, so I was expecting it to sound dire and gloomy. It doesn't. It resonates a darker tone, but without sounding sludgy. It creates a powerful tone. There's no instantly striking melodies or catchy hooks, but the sound is impressive. This may grow on me.

From HoldenM 05/05/2013 00:29 | #75258

Certainly another incredible album from The Flaming Lips. The Terror is an experience, and while this doesn't live up to the songwriting with which Wayne Coyne and co. are usually so great, The Terror is deeply moving and raises a lot of interesting ideas. One of the best albums of 2013.

From sageamagoo 04/26/2013 00:53 | #74464

All I can say is... WOW. I had really low expectations of this, but it came through for me in the end :)

It's completely different from everything else the Lips had done. It dosen't have songs, per se, it has one big collage of noise and electronics. It gets progressively better as you go along, and by the end you step back and realize it's much more than you expected it to be.

A side note: the bonus UK ep sounds like it was meant to be the end of the album. The All You Need Is Love cover choked me up...