The Flaming Lips have announced a new 20th anniversary reissue of ‘At War With The Mystics’, which features unreleased songs from that time, live recordings and more.
Set to arrive on November 13 via Rhino / Warner Records, the new release celebrates two decades since the classic album came out in 2006, and saw them continue to push their music in new avenues – combining psychedelia, electronica, orchestral elements and more.
Now, the reissue is set to feature the original tracklist, which included songs like ‘The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song’, ‘Free Radicals’, ‘It Overtakes Me’ and ‘The W.A.N.D.’, as well as a collection of previously unreleased recordings, rarities, and material from the wider world surrounding the album.
Spread across six CDs, the rarities include non-album tracks, B-sides, and alternate versions. There is also music created by The Flaming Lips especially for film, television and documentaries, as well as recordings that featured exclusively on soundtracks, compilations and special releases.
Radio sessions and other live performances are also captured across the six discs – including 2006 concerts ‘U.F.O.s At The Zoo’ and ‘Live At The Hollywood Bowl’ – and today (September 30), the first taste of the unreleased material arrives with a previously unreleased demo of ‘The Sound Of Failure’. Check it out below.
This is the latest in a few re-releases that The Flaming Lips already have under their belts, with previous albums being revisited including 2002’s ‘Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots’.
For the upcoming re-release of their 2006 album, the complete collection of material featured on the CD edition will later be made available across vinyl releases too.
Visit here to pre-order, and check out the complete tracklist for the reissue below.
‘At War With The Mystics: 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition’ tracklist is:
CD1: Original Album Remastered: At War With The Mystics (Originally Released 4/3/06)
1. ‘The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (With All Your Power) [4:51]’
2. ‘Free Radicals (A Hallucination Of The Christmas Skeleton Pleading With A Suicide Bomber) [3:42]’
3. ‘The Sound Of Failure/It’s Dark… Is It Always This Dark? [7:19]’
4. ‘My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion (The Inner Life As Blazing Shield Of Defiance And Optimism As Celestial Spear Of Action) [4:51]’
5. ‘Vein Of Stars [4:15]’
6. ‘The Wizard Turns On… The Giant Silver Flashlight And Puts On His Werewolf Moccasins [3:41]’
7. ‘It Overtakes Me/The Stars Are So Big… I Am So Small… Do I Stand A Chance? [6:50]’
8. ‘Mr. Ambulance Driver [4:22]’
9. ‘Haven’t Got A Clue [3:26]’
10. ‘The W.A.N.D. (The Will Always Negates Defeat) [3:43]’
11. ‘Pompeii Am Götterdämmerung [4:22]’
12. ‘Goin’ On [3:40]’
Non-LP Tracks
13. ‘Why Does It End? [4:39] (From The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song, CD Single, Released 4/17/06)’
14. ‘You Gotta Hold On [4:52] (From The W.A.N.D. CD Single, Released 3/7/06)’
15. ‘Your Face Can Tell The Future [5:21] (From Greatest Hits Vol. 1 Deluxe Edition, released 2018)’
16. ‘The Gold In The Mountain Of Our Madness [4:48] (From The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song, CD Single, Released 4/17/06)’
17. ‘Time Travel… Yes!! [3:22] (From The W.A.N.D. CD Single, Released 3/7/06)’
CD2: Previously unreleased demos
1. ‘The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (With All Your Power) [2 Demos] [3:10] Previously Unreleased’
2. ‘Free Radicals (A Hallucination Of The Christmas Skeleton Pleading With A Suicide Bomber) [2 Early Demos] [1:43] Previously Unreleased’
3. ‘Free Radicals (A Hallucination Of The Christmas Skeleton Pleading With A Suicide Bomber) [4-Track Demo] [4:18] Previously Unreleased’
4. ‘The Sound Of Failure [2 Demos] [3:42] Previously Unreleased’
5. ‘It’s Dark… Is It Always This Dark? [Demo] [0:30] Previously Unreleased’
6. ‘My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion (The Inner Life As Blazing Shield Of Defiance And ‘Optimism As Celestial Spear Of Action) [Ta! Da! Demo] [2:02] Previously Unreleased’
7. ‘Vein Of Stars [Cruel World – 2 Demos] [1:29] Previously Unreleased’
8. ‘Vein Of Stars [4-Track Demo] [2:19] Previously Unreleased’
9. ‘It Overtakes Me [Demo] [1:17] Previously Unreleased’
10. ‘The Stars Are So Big… I Am So Small… Do I Stand A Chance? [Demo] [1:21] Previously Unreleased’
11. ‘Mr. Ambulance Driver [4 Demos] [2:51] Previously Unreleased’
12. ‘Haven’t Got A Clue [Vocal Demo] [1:27] Previously Unreleased’
13. ‘The W.A.N.D. (The Will Always Negates Defeat) [2 Instrumental Demos] [2:06] Previously Unreleased’
14. ‘The W.A.N.D. (The Will Always Negates Defeat) [Early Demo] [1:29] Previously Unreleased’
15. ‘Why Does It End? [Demo] [1:21] Previously Unreleased’
16. ‘You Gotta Hold On [2 Demos] [2:57] Previously Unreleased’
17. ‘Your Face Can Tell The Future [Demo] [0:33] Previously Unreleased’
18. ‘The Gold In The Mountain Of Our Madness [Demo] [3:21] Previously Unreleased’
19. ‘Enthusiasm For Life Defeats Existential Fear… [Demo] [3:46] Previously Unreleased’
20. ‘A Confession [0:22] Previously Unreleased’
21. ‘The Unknown [0:51] Previously Unreleased’
22. ‘It’s Dark… Is It Always This Dark? [2:06]’
23. ‘The Stars Are So Big… I Am So Small… Do I Stand A Chance? [4:03]’
24. ‘Time Travel… Yes!! (Steve Burns Version) [3:50]’
25. ‘Mr. Ambulance Driver (Alternate Mix) [3:59] Previously Unreleased’
26. ‘The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (Instrumental) 4:52] Previously Unreleased’
27. ‘The W.A.N.D. (Instrumental) [3:44] Previously Unreleased’
CD3: Rarities and special releases
1. ‘I Was Zapped By The Lucky Super Rainbow [3:33] (From Greatest Hits Vol. 1 Deluxe Edition, released 2018)’
2. ‘Don’t Be Shy [3:15] Previously Unreleased’
3. ‘Love The World You Find [2:32] (From Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, released 2007)’
4. ‘Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium [3:57] Previously Unreleased’
5. ‘The Tale Of The Horny Frog [3:51] (From The Heartbreak Kid: Music From The Motion Picture, released 2007)’
6. ‘Maybe I’m Not The One [4:13] (From The Heartbreak Kid: Music From The Motion Picture, released 2007)’
7. ‘What Does It Mean? [5:10] (From Greatest Hits Vol. 1 Deluxe Edition, released 2018)’
8. ‘The Supreme Being Teaches Spider-Man How To Be In Love [3:24] (From Music From And Inspired By Spider-Man 3, released 2007)’
9. ‘Spider-Man Theme [2:22] Previously Unreleased’
10. ‘Puri Kura Theme Version 1 [3:35] Previously Unreleased’
11. ‘Puri Kura Theme Version 2 [0:49] Previously Unreleased’
12. ‘If I Only Had A Brain [2:17] (From Stubbs The Zombie – The Soundtrack, released 2005, and also on Greatest Hits Vol. 1 Deluxe Edition, released 2018)’
13. ‘Free Radicals (Simlish Version) [3:40]’
14. ‘Enthusiasm For Life Defeats Existential Fear… [5:05] (From The Fearless Freaks – 20 Years Of Weird: The Flaming Lips 1986-2006, Released 2006)’
15. ‘Smokin’ A J With The Fearless Freaks [2:18] Previously Unreleased’
16. ‘Death In Picher [3:18] Previously Unreleased’
17. ‘Jesus And A Spider [1:56] Previously Unreleased’
18. ‘The W.A.N.D. Supernaturalistic (Goldfrapp Remix) [3:19] (From The W.A.N.D. CD Single, Released 2006)’
19. ‘It Overtakes Me (Single Version) [3:15] (From It Overtakes Me EP, released 2006)’
20. ‘I’m Afraid Of Dying… Aren’t You? [4:09] (From It Overtakes Me EP, released 2006)’
21. ‘Free Radicals (The Bird And The Bee Mix) [5:14] (From It Overtakes Me EP, released 2006)’
22. ‘Time Travel… Yes!! (With Steven Michael Burns) [3:15] (From It Overtakes Me EP, released 2006)’
CD4: iTunes Originals and film/television releases
1. ‘Free Radicals (iTunes Originals) [3:39] (From Flaming Lips – iTunes Originals, released 5/29/07)’
2. ‘Do You Realize?? (iTunes Originals) [3:25] (From Flaming Lips – iTunes Originals, released 5/29/07)’
3. ‘Why Does It End? (iTunes Originals) [3:33] (From Flaming Lips – iTunes Originals, released 5/29/07)’
4. ‘Cow Jam! (iTunes Originals) [2:28] (From Flaming Lips – iTunes Originals, released 5/29/07)’
5. ‘Pompeii Am Götterdämmerung (iTunes Originals) [3:12] (From Flaming Lips – iTunes Originals , released 5/29/07)’
6. ‘War Pigs (iTunes Originals) [4:01] (From Flaming Lips – iTunes Originals, released 5/29/07)’
7. ‘My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion (Radio Session) [4:37] (From If You Could Blow Up The World With The Flick Of A Switch Promo Cd Sampler, released 11/06)’
8. ‘Goin’ On (Radio Session) [3:42] (From If You Could Blow Up The World With The Flick Of A Switch Promo Cd Sampler, released 11/06)’
9. ‘Unmade Bed (Radio Session) Tt: [6:56] A [2:56] (From If You Could Blow Up The World With The Flick Of A Switch Promo CD Sampler, released 11/06)’
10. ‘No Quarter (Radio Session) B [3:58] (From If You Could Blow Up The World With The Flick Of A Switch Promo CD Sampler, released 11/06)’
11. ‘The Sound Of Failure (Radio Session) [4:02] (From If You Could Blow Up The World With The Flick Of A Switch Promo CD Sampler, released 11/06)’
12. ‘The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (Chicken Fried Hoedown Protest Rally) [4:43] (From If You Could Blow Up The World With The Flick Of A Switch, released 2006)’
13. ‘The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (In Anatropous Reflex) [4:19] (From If You Could Blow Up The World With The Flick Of A Switch, released 2006)’
14. ‘Vein Of Stars (Operatic Spook) [4:13] (From If You Could Blow Up The World With The Flick Of A Switch, released 2006)’
15. ‘Vein Of Stars (Radio Session) [4:49] (From If You Could Blow Up The World With The Flick Of A Switch, released 2006)’
16. ‘Bohemian Rhapsody [6:37] (From Killer Queen: A Tribute To Queen, released 2005)’
17. ‘(Just Like) Starting Over [3:35] (From Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign To Save Darfur, released 2007)’
23. ‘Gates Of Steel [4:59] Previously Unreleased’
18. ‘Silent Night/Lord Can You Hear Me [4:33] (From Greatest Hits Vol. 1 Deluxe Edition, released 2018)’
CD5: ‘U.F.O.S At The Zoo – The Legendary Concert In Oklahoma City’
1. ‘U.F.O. Intro [1:14]’
2. ‘Ta! Da! [2:18]’
3. ‘Race For The Prize [5:41]’
4. ‘Free Radicals [3:49]’
5. ‘Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Pt. 1 [8:25]’
6. ‘Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Pt. 2 [3:17]’
7. ‘Vein Of Stars [7:20]’
8. ‘The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song [9:25]’
9. ‘The Spark That Bled [6:27]’
10. ‘The W.A.N.D. [4:17]’
11. ‘My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion [5:07]’
CD6: Live At The Hollywood Bowl – All tracks Previously Unreleased
1. ‘Hollywood Bowl Intro [1:53]’
2. ‘Ta! Da! [3:13]’
3. ‘Race For The Prize [6:00]’
4. ‘Free Radicals [5:00]’
5. ‘Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Pt. 1 [9:06]’
6. ‘Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Pt. 2 [3:38]’
7. ‘Vein Of Stars [4:56]’
8. ‘The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song [9:39]’
9. ‘The W.A.N.D. [4:52]’
10. ‘[Usrh12603280]’
11. ‘My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion [5:34]’
12. ‘Do You Realize?? [4:52]’
13. ‘War Pigs [4:29]’
When it was first released, ‘At War With The Mystics’ was given a glowing review from NME which read: “When you consider the fact that The Flaming Lips have been together since 1983, it’s remarkable how they consistently manage to outdo themselves. […] It’s astonishing how the band are unafraid to take on serious issues yet remain so much fun.”
The record went on to get their highest chart placement at the time, and also nabbed two Grammy Awards at the 49th ceremony – winning for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for ‘The Wizard Turns On…;’ and Best Engineered Album.
In other news about the indie giants, earlier this summer The Flaming Lips were forced to cancel a show after frontman Wayne Coyne was hospitalised with pneumonia.
The band released their 16th and latest studio album,‘American Head’, in 2020.
