KAHN: What stands out most on this album, though, are songs that take a stand on today's political issues. They see the sun go down but they don't see it rise. The FLAMING LIPS: (Singing) They only see the obvious. KAHN: To the sweetness of the 70's rock ballad. The FLAMING LIPS: (Singing) You've got that (unintelligible). KAHN: It's an album that should come with a seatbelt-a musical joyride that shifts track-by-track, from the punch of heavy metal. KAHN: The new Flaming Lips album is a single CD.

At times they could be outright avant-garde, like releasing an album on four CD's which were all supposed to be played at the same time. KAHN: Over the years, the Flaming Lips developed a cartoonish approach to songs and song titles. The FLAMING LIPS: (Singing 'Free Radicals') Fanatical! COYNE: Yeah, all this sort of junk, but still a lot of enthusiasm. COYNE: Couldn't play very well but we really wanted to do it all. COYNE: 1984-two words: amateur and enthusiastic. KAHN: Coyne is the guiding force behind the Flaming Lips, which he founded in 1984. The FLAMING LIPS: (Singing 'Free Radicals') You think you're so radical. KAHN: In their 22-year history, they've evolved from a punk band to what they are today: a creative sound laboratory. DROZD: Actually plays drums with us now live. DROZD: And then, live, we have a guy named Kliph Scurlock who's probably our biggest Flaming Lips fan I've ever met probably. COYNE: Michael is, sort of, more involved in the, sort of, technical parts of it and. KAHN: Wayne Coyne and Steven Drozd are two-thirds of the Flaming Lips, a music group from Oklahoma City that also includes bassist Michael Ivins. We're all obsessed with any sound we can get our hands on, and so, you just pile a bunch of stuff on and see what sounds cool and what doesn't. STEVEN DROZD (Band Member, Flaming Lips): I'm Steven from the Flaming Lips and I play assorted instruments. I sing and blow up balloons for the Flaming Lips and this is. WAYNE COYNE (Lead Singer, Flaming Lips): Hello, everybody. The FLAMING LIPS: (Singing) You used your money. The FLAMING LIPS: (Singing) You don't know what to do. The FLAMING LIPS: (Singing 'Haven't Got a Clue') You haven't got a clue. Listening to a Flaming Lips song is a bit like getting stuck between stations on the FM dial. MONTAGNE: Recently, the front man for Flaming Lips, Wayne Coyne, and band member Steven Drozd, played some of their songs and spoke with music journalist Ashley Kahn.

Now, after major changes in personnel and in their sound, the Flaming Lips have a new album. MONTAGNE: That appearance helped raise the band above cult status, but its popularity never climbed much higher. The FLAMING LIPS (Rock Group): (Singing 'She Don't Use Jelly') She don't use jelly or any of these. In 1994, the alternative rock group, the Flaming Lips, entered the pop mainstream after appearing on the T.V. Please help me welcome the cool, the crazy, the fabulous-Flaming Lips! Unidentified Speaker: They're backstage and ready to go.

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