The Flaming Lips are marking two decades of At War With The Mystics with a sprawling deluxe reissue set to arrive November 13 through Rhino and Warner Records.
Originally released in 2006 on the heels of Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, the album pushed the band further into psychedelic rock, electronic textures, orchestral flourishes and off-kilter pop songwriting.
The record delivered fan staples like “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song,” “Free Radicals,” “It Overtakes Me” and “The W.A.N.D.,” capturing The Flaming Lips during one of the most creatively fearless stretches of their career.
The upcoming 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition amounts to far more than a simple remaster of the original record.
Spread across six CDs, the collection packs in 19 previously unreleased demos, 14 previously unreleased studio recordings and another 42 non-album tracks pulled from B-sides, alternate versions, radio sessions, soundtracks, compilations and other side projects from the era.
Two major live recordings from 2006 round things out.
U.F.O.s At The Zoo, captured in Oklahoma City, and the previously unreleased Live At The Hollywood Bowl both appear on CD. The Hollywood Bowl set features songs including “Race For The Prize,” “Free Radicals,” “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots,” “The W.A.N.D.,” “Do You Realize??” and a cover of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs.”
Among the previously unheard material is “The Sound Of Failure (2 Demos),” which has already been released ahead of the full collection.
The deluxe package also widens the lens on the wider creative stretch surrounding At War With The Mystics, folding in music recorded for movies, television projects and other releases, along with covers, alternate mixes, radio sessions and early versions that trace how the album came together.
The Flaming Lips will release At War With The Mystics: 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition on November 13 in 6CD, 6LP and digital formats.
The CD and vinyl editions carry different configurations, with the full lineup of material from the CD edition expected to eventually make its way across vinyl editions as well.
AT WAR WITH THE MYSTICS: 20TH ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION 6CD TRACK LIST
CD1
Original Album Remastered
At War With The Mystics
Originally released April 3, 2006
The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (With All Your Power)
Free Radicals (A Hallucination Of The Christmas Skeleton Pleading With A Suicide Bomber)
The Sound Of Failure/It’s Dark… Is It Always This Dark?
My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion (The Inner Life As Blazing Shield Of Defiance And Optimism As Celestial Spear Of Action)
Vein Of Stars
The Wizard Turns On… The Giant Silver Flashlight And Puts On His Werewolf Moccasins
It Overtakes Me/The Stars Are So Big… I Am So Small… Do I Stand A Chance?
Mr. Ambulance Driver
Haven’t Got A Clue
The W.A.N.D. (The Will Always Negates Defeat)
Pompeii Am Götterdämmerung
Goin’ On
Non-LP Tracks
Why Does It End?
You Gotta Hold On
Your Face Can Tell The Future
The Gold In The Mountain Of Our Madness
Time Travel… Yes!!
CD2
The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (With All Your Power) [2 Demos] – Previously Unreleased
Free Radicals (A Hallucination Of The Christmas Skeleton Pleading With A Suicide Bomber) [2 Early Demos] – Previously Unreleased
Free Radicals (A Hallucination Of The Christmas Skeleton Pleading With A Suicide Bomber) [4-Track Demo] – Previously Unreleased
The Sound Of Failure [2 Demos] – Previously Unreleased
It’s Dark… Is It Always This Dark? [Demo] – Previously Unreleased
My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion (The Inner Life As Blazing Shield Of Defiance And Optimism As Celestial Spear Of Action) [Ta! Da! Demo] – Previously Unreleased
Vein Of Stars [Cruel World – 2 Demos] – Previously Unreleased
Vein Of Stars [4-Track Demo] – Previously Unreleased
It Overtakes Me [Demo] – Previously Unreleased
The Stars Are So Big… I Am So Small… Do I Stand A Chance? [Demo] – Previously Unreleased
Mr. Ambulance Driver [4 Demos] – Previously Unreleased
Haven’t Got A Clue [Vocal Demo] – Previously Unreleased
The W.A.N.D. (The Will Always Negates Defeat) [2 Instrumental Demos] – Previously Unreleased
The W.A.N.D. (The Will Always Negates Defeat) [Early Demo] – Previously Unreleased
Why Does It End? [Demo] – Previously Unreleased
You Gotta Hold On [2 Demos] – Previously Unreleased
Your Face Can Tell The Future [Demo] – Previously Unreleased
The Gold In The Mountain Of Our Madness [Demo] – Previously Unreleased
Enthusiasm For Life Defeats Existential Fear… [Demo] – Previously Unreleased
A Confession – Previously Unreleased
The Unknown – Previously Unreleased
It’s Dark… Is It Always This Dark?
The Stars Are So Big… I Am So Small… Do I Stand A Chance?
Time Travel… Yes!! (Steve Burns Version)
Mr. Ambulance Driver (Alternate Mix) – Previously Unreleased
The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (Instrumental) – Previously Unreleased
The W.A.N.D. (Instrumental) – Previously Unreleased
CD3
I Was Zapped By The Lucky Super Rainbow
Don’t Be Shy – Previously Unreleased
Love The World You Find
Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium – Previously Unreleased
The Tale Of The Horny Frog
Maybe I’m Not The One
What Does It Mean?
The Supreme Being Teaches Spider-Man How To Be In Love
Spider-Man Theme – Previously Unreleased
Puri Kura Theme Version 1 – Previously Unreleased
Puri Kura Theme Version 2 – Previously Unreleased
If I Only Had A Brain
Free Radicals (Simlish Version)
Enthusiasm For Life Defeats Existential Fear…
Smokin’ A J With The Fearless Freaks – Previously Unreleased
Death In Picher – Previously Unreleased
Jesus And A Spider – Previously Unreleased
The W.A.N.D. Supernaturalistic (Goldfrapp Remix)
It Overtakes Me (Single Version)
I’m Afraid Of Dying… Aren’t You?
Free Radicals (The Bird And The Bee Mix)
Time Travel… Yes!! (With Steven Michael Burns)
CD4
Free Radicals (iTunes Originals)
Do You Realize?? (iTunes Originals)
Why Does It End? (iTunes Originals)
Cow Jam! (iTunes Originals)
Pompeii Am Götterdämmerung (iTunes Originals)
War Pigs (iTunes Originals)
My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion (Radio Session)
Goin’ On (Radio Session)
Unmade Bed (Radio Session)
No Quarter (Radio Session)
The Sound Of Failure (Radio Session)
The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (Chicken Fried Hoedown Protest Rally)
The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (In Anatropous Reflex)
Vein Of Stars (Operatic Spook)
Vein Of Stars (Radio Session)
Bohemian Rhapsody
(Just Like) Starting Over
Gates Of Steel – Previously Unreleased
Silent Night/Lord Can You Hear Me
CD5
U.F.O.s At The Zoo – The Legendary Concert In Oklahoma City
U.F.O. Intro
Ta! Da!
Race For The Prize
Free Radicals
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Pt. 1
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Pt. 2
Vein Of Stars
The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song
The Spark That Bled
The W.A.N.D.
My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion
She Don’t Use Jelly
Do You Realize??
A Spoonful Weighs A Ton
Love Yer Brain
U.F.O. Outro
CD6
Live At The Hollywood Bowl – All Tracks Previously Unreleased
Hollywood Bowl Intro
Ta! Da!
Race For The Prize
Free Radicals
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Pt. 1
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Pt. 2
Vein Of Stars
The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song
The W.A.N.D.
My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion
Do You Realize??
War Pigs
