THE FLAMING LIPS to release classic EPs on limited edition vinyl for the first time

flaming lips
Photo credit: Blake Studdard

Launching a busy 2023, The Flaming Lips announce the release of two sought-after fan favourite EPs—Fight Test and Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell—on limited edition vinyl for the first time on March 17, 2023. 

“Fight Test” originally landed in June 2003 as the third single and opening track from the seminal 2002 Gold-certified opus Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. Upon arrival, it cracked the Billboard Top 100 and rose to #28 on the UK singles chart. The Fight Test EP adorned the 6-CD box set of Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots: 20th Anniversary Edition—which arrived last November. However, it has never been available on vinyl until now. Among its seven tracks, it boasts a remix of the recently Gold-certified hit “Do You Realize??”, “Thank You Jack White,” and a trio of covers, ranging from a live rendition of “Can’t Get You out of My Head” by Kylie Minogue and “Knives Out” by Radiohead. Meanwhile, “Fight Test” remains one of the group’s most famous tunes with over 23 million Spotify streams.

Then, there’s Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell. It houses seven tracks recorded during the “Yoshimi” days, and it also graced 2022’s 6-CD box set of Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots: 20th Anniversary Edition. Dropping on vinyl for the first time, its tracklisting consists of two versions of “Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell” (including a remix by Jason Bentley), a remix of “Do You Realize??” by The Postal Service, and four more non-album cuts.

The Flaming Lips

The Flaming Lips will launch their An Evening With Tour throughout the West Coast at the end of the month. These career-spanning shows will feature two-hour sets with alternating set lists filled with both fan favourites and deep cuts from their four-decade career. The jaunt commences with a two-night stand in Vancouver, BC and concludes in Santa Barbara, CA at Arlington Theatre. Starting Tuesday, April 25th in London the band will begin performing Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots in its entirety at venues around the world.

Released in July 2002, the sci-fi-themed quasi-concept album Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots remains the commercial high-water mark in The Flaming Lips’ wild four-decade journey, giving them their first RIAA-certified Gold Record. As the eagerly awaited follow-up to 1999’s masterwork The Soft Bulletin, Yoshimi proved that singer/guitarist Wayne Coyne and multi-instrumentalist Steven Drozd had yet another masterpiece in them.

The record yielded the band’s top-streamed track, “Do You Realize??” (a timeless stargazing anthem that, in 2009, was named the Official Rock Song of the band’s native Oklahoma) and also landed the Lips their first-ever GRAMMY Award® win for the cosmic album-closing instrumental “Approaching Pavonis Mons by Balloon (Utopia Planitia).”

Watch BELOW to see “Wayne listening to the multi-tracks for “Do You Realize??”

Also be sure to check out THE FLAMING LIPS SPACE BUBBLE FILM exclusively on The Criterion Channel now. Click HERE for details.

 

Xsnoize Author
Mark Millar is the founder of XS Noize and looks after the daily running of the website as well as hosting interviews for the weekly XS Noize Podcast. Mark's favourite album is Achtung Baby by U2.

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