The Smiley Smile Message Board

Anyone else see this? Yoko, Sean, the Flaming Lips playing live on Letterman this week. Yoko has a new P.O.B. album. Here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXXn3-UpusI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXXn3-UpusI)

One of the real (re)discoveries I made in the past two years was the original "Yoko Ono - Plastic Ono Band" album, which I had pretty much cast aside since the 1980's yet felt I needed to give it a new listen. I got a new appreciation for it, it is pretty compelling at times, the musicianship is unique and the guitar and drum/bass work throughout is excellent. The whole vibe of the album does feel very futuristic, like you were hearing something that was 30 years ahead in the future as far as music and the trance/noise effects.

But I do think having John on guitar and his esteemed Plastic Ono bandmates is what set that particular album apart. I don't think on this week's performance the Lips gave that same compelling foundation to get lost in. They're playing a similar plodding, heavy groove as John and the guys did in 1970, but it somehow just doesn't feel unique enough to be as compelling. I guess fans of Wayne Coyne would disagree, but I thought his time was wasted on this performance, and appearing in a bag was just a bit schlocky or gimmicky. I'd much rather have heard him play guitar.

What do you think?