The stereotype goes (at least in my born-and-raised-in-New England head) that the weird people live on the coasts of the United States, with the 'normal' people bunched up in the middle. Exceptions are granted for Austin, Texas, New Orleans, and (maybe) Taos, New Mexico. So you live in Kansas, you're 'normal.' Iowa? Normal. Nebraska? Normal! Oklahoma? Uh, okay... wait a minute.
The Flaming Lips (from Norman, Oklahoma) totally blew my ideas of midwestern normalcy out the window. My first experience with them was after the release of The Soft Bulletin, a record that I liked but that didn't seem all that odd to me. But then Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots and At War With The Mystics pretty much set up a new prog/pop/weirdo landscape, as if the unknown love children of Robert Fripp and Kate Bush just appeared on the scene out of nowhere...
from Norman... freaking... Oklmahoma.
Of course, I'm not from the midwest and undoubtedly have this "no weirdo" thing wrong. In fact, I had this very same conversation once with a coworker who was from the midwest and his comment was that the region tends to produce people who are either "extremely normal" or "extremely odd." Imagine that.
Maybe, through a special phenomenon of cultural cross-currents, the intersection of weird and normal produces aesthetic bits that defy our expectations and stereotypes. So maybe a 'normal' person from Oklahoma isn't a NASCAR-lovin', Toby Keith-listening guy who works at the rail yard for an agribusiness concern. No, 'normal' is a guy with parents who love reading experimental poetry while listening to John Cage.
Well, all definitions aside, me and my ears are here to tell you that Embryonic is one of the odder records you're likely to hear coming out of the mainstream this year. Also, one of the most beautiful. Because of the unique nature of this recording's atmosphere, my investigations skipped the song-by-song thing in favor of the search for a sonic theme. After multiple listening sessions, I have found it: Itchy.
Article comments
1 - Mark Sahm
Agreed, great album even if there are a couple forgettable tracks.
Like any good itch, there is a certain pleasure in scratching it!
2 - Mark Saleski
a good sign for me is that i hear new things every time i listen.