Arise Lord Vader

So, the Flaming Lips have a release date for "At War with the Mystics" set on April 4, 2006, which gives them plenty of time to work on "some tracks we've delved into production-wise, where we're trying to get some of that heavy rock'n'roll with heavy guitar riffs." Mars-tronaut Wayne Coyne notes that "we've tried to be more expressive in beautiful ways. But sometimes, volume and intensity are great too."

In the meantime, the Jan. 31st reissue of "The Soft Bulletin" in 5.1 gives you plenty of time to buy a copy for my birthday and a Dolby surround sound system to enjoy it.

But in the hear and now, the first single off their new album, "The W.A.N.D." has been released into the digital void. And, who can't enjoy a track about a homeless guy in OK City who wanders around with a stick that gives him self confidence?

In other music news, Jack White is still crazy.