The Flaming Lips have been known to be a lot of things. Weird, confusing and insane are just a few. However, they’re also genius and I love them. Lead singer Wayne Coyne first started the ambitious movie/album project “Christmas on Mars” a few years ago, and everybody went crazy with anticipation. After finally being released in November, most people gave it a “meh.” Hampered by it’s own ambitiousness, the movie can come across as absurdly confusing.
The plot basically follows Major Syrtis during the first Christmas on the newly colonized Mars. He’s trying to put together a pageant to lift the spirits of the depressed colonists. There is also a baby being born that is extremely important for some reason. And then! Another martian person is introduced and it gets more confusing.
But to avoid all that, just pick up the soundtrack! It’s actually a great ambient trip that brings elements of science fiction into the ethereal world of the Flaming Lips. It’s not exactly a traditional Christmas album (keep in mind of course that these are not exactly “songs” as much bits of a movie score), but that’s what’s so great about it. It can take the bare essence of Christmas and turn it into odd, beautiful music.
Here are some highlights from the score:
The Flaming Lips – “Once Beyond Hopelessness” (MP3)
The Flaming Lips – “The Secret of Immortality: This Strange Feeling, This Impossible World” (MP3)
And the trailer for the movie:
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agreed