The Flaming Lips - Soft Bulletin

Before The Flaming Lips came along, I didn't know it was possible for music to sound like it was bouncing. Now I know, and I want to find out how. It mostly has to do with the ways the producer recorded this album, lots of compression and snazzy effects. It also has to do with the way Steve Drozd plays drums.

Steve was the only member of The Lips with any formal musical knowledge. He is admittedly the most talented musician in the band, and he plays a multitude of instruments, not just drums. His playing on this record is pretty fantastic, he seems to have complete independence with his 4 limbs, giving him a leg up over most rock drummers.

It's hard to describe the way Steve plays drums. It is very subtly unique. He played percussion in his High School Band (giving him some sweet snare chops) then began playing in his fathers polka band (which gave him sweet polka chops, which I am sure we could all use), then he got into loud ass 70's rock and roll (giving him these bombastic surges of energetic playing).

Then he started doing lots of drugs.

Lots of them. Mostly heroin.

While most junked out musicians can't get out of bed to eat or use the bathroom, Steve managed to put down on record one hell of a performance. The best musicians can express themselves through their instrument in a way that words cannot. I like to think of this album as Steve calling from the depths of hell the best way he knows how, with music. Music was either going to save his life or drugs were going to kill him. I never have to do heroin, I can figure out what it feels like just by listening to Steve Drozd play drums. Everytime I listen to this record I notice something new and intricate that he is playing, its like rhythms hidden inside rhythms.

Steve eventually cleaned up and is a successful, well respected musician touring the world and sleeping on piles of money, and since he doesn't do drugs anymore, he probably saved up his money and bought a nice house.

Audio/Video Evidence : Taps/Superman, Race For The Prize, Do You Realize/Waiting on Superman