Part of a major archival reissue campaign that
the Flaming Lips embarked on in 2018,
Scratching the Door: The First Recordings of the Flaming Lips is an entertaining reminder of just how much the band changed over the years. On these early tracks, they sound more like a scrappy garage-psych outfit than the weirdos they became soon after, to say nothing of the majestic alt-pop band they evolved into during the 2000s. The collection begins with their self-titled 1984 EP, which has been reissued several times but received a new remaster for this release. That
Wayne Coyne's brother Mark sings lead vocals only adds to the feeling that this version of the band is a different beast; his nasal twang is similar, but not quite recognizable, to listeners of
the Lips' later incarnations. Still, there are more than a few hints of what the band would become, whether on the grinding psych-pop of "Forever Is a Long Time," the doomy "Scratchin' the Door," or the spacious "Garden of Eyes." The collection also includes the band's first two cassette demos, which are even rawer than the EP and nearly as full of potential; "Jesus Shootin' Heroin," "Trains, Brains & Rain," and "Underground Pharmacist" prove that the band's distinctive viewpoint was in place from the start, even if their sound wasn't. Some surprisingly traditional covers -- including an engaging version of
the Who's "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" -- round out
Scratchin' the Door, a suitably gonzo document of the early days of one of indie's most idiosyncratic yet definitive acts. ~ Heather Phares