MUSIC REVIEWS

The Flaming Lips

Album: “Oczy Mlody”

Grade: A

On the anniversary of David Bowie’s death, The Flaming Lips have done Ziggy Stardust proud.

With the 12-track “Oczy Mlody,” The Lips return with a moody, industrial and hypnotic CD that’s probably what Major Tom would be listening to, sitting in his tin can.

The Lips, always psychedelic and progressive, this time follow up their previous 2013 full-length CD, “The Terror,” with something lighter, less menacing and more whimsical.

How whimsical? How about the use of real frogs croaking? And the presence of Miley Cyrus (on the track “We a Family”). But there’s also danger lurking in the psychedelic-laden lyrics — severed eyes, edible butterflies and this question: “Have you ever seen someone die/in the summertime?”

The new CD is filled with ghosts, beeps and industrial squeaks, drum machines and cold, distorted voices. There are song fragments and sketches, and some songs have multiple threads crammed into one tune.

The song titles alone — “Listening To the Frogs With Demon Eyes” and “One Night While Hunting For Faeries and Witches and Wizards To Kill” — are simply insane. And if you dream of having sex while riding unicorns, you’re in luck: This is the album for you.

—Mark Kennedy, Associated Press

Run The Jewels

Album: “Run The Jewels 3”

Grade: A

There’s a lot fire behind Run The Jewels and their latest album, “Run The Jewels 3.” They’re longtime hip-hop practitioners on a current come-up, riding a crest of notoriety as much for their infectious, two-headed rap attack as for their outspoken political stance.

Run The Jewels is one-half Outkast protege and native ATLien (Atlanta) Killer Mike and one-half El-P, a seasoned Brooklyn hip-hop head. Together, they put forth a formidable combination of conscious-but-not-corny lyrics and urban street savvy.

On “RTJ3,” their third studio album, the duo opens with “Down (feat. Joi),” a down-tempo number replete with vocal back-phrasing reminiscent of Killer Mike’s ATL brethren from Outkast. It’s a solid song, but a somewhat underwhelming first track.

The good stuff begins with “Call Ticketron,” a breathless staccato assault chronicling RTJ’s rise to prominence, told through euphemism, street knowledge and gunplay imagery.

—Ron Harris, Associated Press