2009년 발매된 최고의 락 앨범이자 플래이밍 립스의 디스코그라피에 또 하나의 걸작으로 남을 [Embryonic]!!
1983년 오클라호마에서 결성된 플래이밍 립스. 밴드의 리더 웨인 코언이 인근 교회의 악기를 훔쳐서 밴드를 시작했다는 에피소드나 밴드명을 포르노 제목에서 따왔다는 이야기는 이미 팬들 사이에서 널리 알려져 있다. 이런 에피소드들마저 예사롭지 않은 이 밴드는 인디 씬에서 활동하다가, 1991년 메이저 레코드사와 계약을 맺었고 새 앨범이 나올 때마다 믿을 수 없을 정도로 완전히 새로운 스타일을 선보여 왔다.
이번 신보 [Embryonic]도 예외는 아니다. 6-70년대 싸이키델릭 락의 영향을 받은 몽환적이고 기묘한 사운드를 들려준다. 앨범의 첫 곡 "Convinced of the Hex"에서는 디스토션을 잔뜩 먹인 기타 연주로 고의적으로 노이지한 사운드를 끌어 냈으며, 마일즈 데이비스에게서 영감을 받은 "Aquarius Sabotage"와 "Scorpio Sword", 노이지 하면서도 소울풀한 "Your Bats"는 퍼커션과 스트링, 브라스 연주의 섬세한 구성이 돋보인다. 한편으로 보코더를 이용한 "The Impulse "나 "Gemini Syringes"는 좀 더 차분하고 사랑스러운 순간들을 맛보게 한다. 달콤쌉사름한 느낌의 "Powerless"는 앨범에서 가장 빛나는 지점이라 할 수 있을 것이다. 밴드 Yeah Yeah Yeahs의 프론트 우먼 케런 오가 피쳐링한 "I Can Be a Frog"는 제작비도 거의 안 들고 만든 것 같은 참신한 뮤직비디오로 전세계 네티즌 사이에서 관심을 끌고 있으며 "Worm Mountain"은 MGMT가 참여하기도 했다.
컨셉 앨범은 아니지만 하나의 컨셉 앨범같은 느낌을 주는 플래이밍 립스의 신보는 2009년에 발매된 앨범 중 최고의 앨범으로 외국 평론가들 사이에서 선정되고 있다. 플래이밍 립스의 최고 앨범으로 뽑히는 1993년작 [Transmissions from the Satellite Heart]나 1999년작 [The Soft Bulletin] 이래, 10년 만에 또 하나의 걸작을 만들어냈다. .... ....
Saw your nightmare bat go by my window Saw them two lingering Couldn't be a rabbit Flying like usual Couldn't be the habit You saw them, too Oh, every evening
So oh, goes Oh, into the nightmare Sun rising black instead of gold Now or never Saw your nightmare bat go by my window
Honey, you're just paranoid You should do what you enjoy No one is ever really powerless That's what she said when she gave me a kiss No one is ever really powerless Nothing could no one could really is
One, two, three, four, Oh, tender, once you see their faces Oh, they're just like us Tending their wants Standing in their places Oh, their ego is crushed
The only way out Is to destroy all traces Oh, destroy yourself There's no way back There's complete devastation Oh, there's no way out There's no way out How can you destroy your ego? Would you believe it? There's no way out How can I kill your ego? Would you still believe it?
Oh, the red one's come Don't shadow changes Oh, the sparrow looks up Red spots on the sun Is there evil in nature? Oh, the eagles spread claws An invisible cloud Makes invisible changes Oh, an ant takes the crown A man holds a gun There's no explanation Oh, he shoots at the sun
She said I can be a frog I can be a bat I can be a bear Or I can be a cat
She said I can be a lion I can be a guillemonster I can be a warrior Indian I can be a helicopter
She said I can be a wolf I can be a finch I can be a jaguar Or a locust on the bridge
She said I can be a monkey I can be a tiger I can be a tornado Knocking down your wires
Well, it seems like she can be anything Any kind of creature she wants to be Oh, it seems like she can be anything Any kind of frog Any kind of bear Any kind of monkey She wants to be
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, begin again We can be like they are We can be free We can be like they are We can be free
Free to be evil Free to believe Free to be slaves now To this silver machine (Can it help us?)
Yes, yes, yes We can be like they are (I can be like they are) We can be free (I can be free) We can be like they are (I can be like they are) We can be free (I can be free)
Free to eat the fruit (I can eat the fruit) From the evil tree (From the evil tree) Free to be one now (Free to be one now) With the silver machine (Can it help us?) Yes, yes, yes, yes
If you'd just come down From your space tower jail I could have shown you Those colors aren't so pale The way it glows The way it shines The way it plays on The dimensions in your mind
But it seems like nothing's gonna satisfy Your shapeless urges You tryin' Tryin' Tryin' Tryin' Tryin'
You say you're unhappy That you don't like your hair I could have shown you There are heavens everywhere We go through tunnels And we go up high But you just got frustrated With those electric power glides
And it seems like nothing's gonna satisfy Your shapeless urges You tryin' Tryin' Tryin' Tryin' Tryin'
She keeps feeling for the blindfold She keeps wishing for the secret society To fall She keeps watching for the jaguar With the silver trembling hand Dagger Night Fight Tomorrow She forgets about the fear
When she's high When she's high When she's high When she's high
She puts diamonds on her forehead They remind her how the animals and Trees and insects call Is it wrong not to believe Nature makes us all compete Daggers Night fight Tomorrow She forgets about the fear
When she's high When she's high When she's high When she's high