When a band is as beloved as The Beatles, covering them is always a risky proposition. If your covers are too similar then people will deem them pointless and say that the original versions are better. But if you change them dramatically, well, people will still say the original versions are better. Unless, of course, it’s The Flaming Lips covering The Beatles. Sure, hardcore fans of The Beatles might consider this drastic re-imagining of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band to be nothing more that trash, but The Flaming Lips don’t have to worry about that because they’ve got an awfully big following these days and most of their fans are die-hards who are almost certain to like anything they do, as though frontman Wayne Coyne were a God incapable of making a mistake. I feel like I can look at this objectively because I’m neither a die-hard fan of The Beatles or The Flaming Lips, though I do enjoy most of the material by both. For the most part, I would call this cover album a success. I admire the Lips and their “fwends” for having the creativity to alter The Beatles songs as they’ve done. And I have a feeling The Beatles would like this because it’s very much an exercise in the psychedelic, something The Beatles threw themselves headfirst into during the later part of their career. One highlight here is “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” featuring Miley Cyrus and Moby, which is semi-faithful during the verses but turns into a loud, hallucinogenic trip during the chorus. Another must-hear track is “Lovely Rita” featuring Tegan & Sara and Stardeath and White Dwarves, which I dare say is better than the original.
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