HiRez Poll Flaming Lips, The - YOSHIMI BATTLES THE PINK ROBOTS [Blu-Ray Audio (Dolby Atmos)]

[rtbluray]

Please post your thoughts and comments on this new reissue of the album "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" by the Flaming Lips.
This 20th anniversary edition has been released on Blu-Ray Audio disc featuring a brand new Dolby Atmos mix alongside the original 5.1 surround mix originally released on DVDA-V.

 

[ergalthema]

Wow, first time I've been first to a poll here! I'll paste my review from the other thread:

The 5.1 mix is what got me interested in surround sound back in the day. I've heard this album way more than any other surround mix. So, the 5.1 will always have a certain perfection for me. But the Atmos mix did not disappoint. I enjoyed hearing new details. Beyond the mix being different, there is a pristine clarity to the resolution that I have never heard before. I am even more amazed at the multitudes of production techniques at every level and layer of this masterpiece.

I'm glad that a slightly different approach was used for the Atmos mix. I love all the ping-ponging of the 5.1 mix, but the Atmos mix gives my brain a little more of a break. (I'm near certain that the 5.1 mix gave me headaches for the first few years - like my nervous system didn't quite know how to process everything.)

Simply put, the Atmos mix sounds great to me. The playfulness is still there, and it sounds more epic and huge than ever. There are a few sections that sound almost identical to the 5.1 panning-wise. Maybe 2/3 of the album has similar panning, and the rest is different to some degree. Do You Realize?? is probably the most completely different mix.

That said, I was hoping for more discreet sounds in the height channels. There were maybe 3 specific events that stood out, but the height speakers were mostly reserved for spaciousness and subtle decorations. Like, if one of the ping-pongy songs had treated the height as equally discreet as the horizontal plane (random synth bass notes jumping up, etc.), I would have been happy. That's probably my only complaint.

My brain is so used to hearing the room spin during DYR??, I was kinda waiting the whole song for it to start moving. I look forward to future listens, now that I know what to expect. I'm glad that the 5.1 mix is included with this Blu-ray. Those are my immediate thoughts. I might have more to add later.

Edit: I also would have appreciated less seizure-inducing imagery as an alternative to the visualizer. I most enjoy listening with my eyes closed, but I can still sense the strobing! Easy enough to just turn the TV off, but something like a slideshow of the art would have been nice.

Edit: Also, props to Jon's liner note about how streaming is compressed compared to the Blu-ray - something most people don't realize.

 

[Dynamic Editor]

I also would have appreciated less seizure-inducing imagery as an alternative to the visualizer. I most enjoy listening with my eyes closed, but I can still sense the strobing! Easy enough to just turn the TV off, but something like a slideshow of the art would have been nice.

Oh my god. It's so overwhelming. Someone's gonna have to help me understand how to put different video over this audio, because it's flat out unwatchable, and it makes it really hard to enjoy the music when then things are flashing like this.

THIS VIDEO IS A SERIOUS SEIZURE RISK. PLEASE KEEP THIS IN MIND BEFORE WATCHING.​

 

[4-earredwonder]

Oh my god. It's so overwhelming. Someone's gonna have to help me understand how to put different video over this audio, because it's flat out unwatchable, and it makes it really hard to enjoy the music when then things are flashing like this.

THIS VIDEO IS A SERIOUS SEIZURE RISK. PLEASE KEEP THIS IN MIND BEFORE WATCHING.​

THEN TURN THE VIDEO OFF!

 

[SomethingAnything]

Oh my god. It's so overwhelming. Someone's gonna have to help me understand how to put different video over this audio, because it's flat out unwatchable, and it makes it really hard to enjoy the music when then things are flashing like this.

THIS VIDEO IS A SERIOUS SEIZURE RISK. PLEASE KEEP THIS IN MIND BEFORE WATCHING.​

Hopefully your remote has something like mine (Cambridge Audio), which has a button called 'Pure Audio', which switches the screen off.

Also, just to note, this is a poll stream, best to keep these non-review digressions to the general stream about this album. Anyway, good luck!

 

[Dynamic Editor]

Also, just to note, this is a poll stream, best to keep these non-review digressions to the general stream about this album. Anyway, good luck!

I don't see how this isn't pertinent to the discussion. I literally had to turn the whole thing off because I couldn't handle it.

I didn't know Pure Audio actually allows me to play audio content from my Xbox One X with the TV off. It was flat-out impossible for me to do it any other way. Good to know, and thank you. @SomethingAnything

 

[H.A.L.]

I voted 9 -- the music is good, the mix is good, although I took a point off for the fact you have to crank it a bit, which makes some parts a bit louder than it should be, and a bit softer in other places. There is a bit of a theme that I swear was lifted from another song -- maybe a Donovan song? Can't quite place it, but it is definitely a rip-off, not that I mind. Consciously or unconsciously, plenty of musicians do that!

 

[PurpleMoustache]

Feel like I give a lot of things here a 10 but honestly I don't know what other score to give this one.

As per the discussion in the release thread, I too have found the old 5.1 somewhat fatiguing. I'm not sure if it's the volume or dimensionality of it, but this Atmos mix fixes that and overall is a wonderful release to listen to. Use of wides and heights expand the soundscape for the album dramatically, and the visuals are seizure inducing... but fun.

And you have the old 5.1 in DTS-HD, a high res stereo of the album, and all the music videos. The booklet included is a great way of explaining Atmos to the layperson (though I'm sure some would be offput by the claim that "only blu ray can capture the full resolution", downloads can too, but a disc is definitely what is more palatable to a big label like Warner).

With the DR ratings from the other thread putting the Atmos at 12, this is far and away the most dynamic version of the album to date, and packed with previous versions, music videos, all for $25! And its not limited! I'd say this is an essential release for all who are interested in multichannel

 

[j9]

I voted 9 -- the music is good, the mix is good, although I took a point off for the fact you have to crank it a bit, which makes some parts a bit louder than it should be, and a bit softer in other places. There is a bit of a theme that I swear was lifted from another song -- maybe a Donovan song? Can't quite place it, but it is definitely a rip-off, not that I mind. Consciously or unconsciously, plenty of musicians do that!

You’re recognizing Cat Steven’s “Father and Son”. And so did he—he now gets 75% of the royalties.

 

[svtmike]

You’re recognizing Cat Steven’s “Father and Son”. And so did he—he now gets 75% of the royalties.

Yep. 75% of the royalties for Fight Test, and he's credited as a writer. The Lips recognized it at the time of recording and they didn't do the courteous thing and reach out, ended up getting sued, and lost.

 

[svtmike]

I've had a listen to the Atmos mix, and this is an easy 10.

It's a different experience than the 5.1 -- especially Fight Test -- but really sublime in its use of the mix to enhance the music. Easy on the ears too as others have noted because the dynamics have room to breathe.

 

[minimumtumbleweed]

I don't see how this isn't pertinent to the discussion. I literally had to turn the whole thing off because I couldn't handle it.

I didn't know Pure Audio actually allows me to play audio content from my Xbox One X with the TV off. It was flat-out impossible for me to do it any other way. Good to know, and thank you. @SomethingAnything

I have to agree with you for the most part. I don't know if I would call it flashing lights, but it definitely bugs your eyes out. More critically it's just ugly and pointless. Just an album cover with the track name would have been a massive improvement. Perhaps the video component should have some value in these polls - like half a point or so.

I enjoyed the album, I've heard it over the years but never really connected with it, and haven't heard the 5.1. The mix is very good though so I will give it a 9.

 

[Bill B]

I had heard others talk about how great the surround mix was n this album but I had never listened to it or the stereo mix. So it is all totally new to me. After listening to it for the first time I'm not sure how to categorize the music (psychedelic?, electronic ?, techno?) but I know I like it and the aggressive surround mix. I’m not usually a fan of electronic or techno music but regardless of the label it’s still accessible music for a rocker like me. Overall beautiful music to my ears.

I'll give it a 10 and am very glad I finally got the opportunity to get the album in a surround format without having to pay a ridiculous amount. It had been on my radar for a long time. An overall groovy vibe musically with a stellar surround mix is an easy 10.