The Flaming Lips’ 20th Anniversary Reissue Adds Rare Songs and Live Sets

The Flaming Lips’ 20th anniversary reissue of At War With The Mystics brings together demos, rarities, soundtrack cuts, and two previously unreleased concerts.

A kaleidoscopic return to At War With The Mystics

The Flaming Lips are opening the vaults for a sprawling 20th anniversary reissue of At War With The Mystics. True to the band’s unpredictable spirit, this is not simply a remastered album with a couple of bonus tracks attached. The six-CD collection brings together the original 2006 record, unreleased demos, alternate versions, soundtrack appearances, radio sessions, rare releases, and two complete live performances.

The reissue is scheduled to arrive on November 13 through Rhino and Warner Records. It marks two decades since At War With The Mystics continued the group’s habit of blending psychedelic rock with electronica, orchestral color, experimental production, and a generous dose of joyful weirdness.

The original album remains at the center of the collection, with songs including “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song,” “Free Radicals,” “It Overtakes Me,” “The W.A.N.D.,” and “My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion.” Around that core, the new edition expands into the wider creative world surrounding the album.

Unreleased demos reveal the album taking shape

The first preview from the 20th anniversary reissue is a previously unreleased demo of “The Sound Of Failure.” It offers an early glimpse of the song before the studio polish fully settled in, with its rough edges becoming part of the appeal.

The second disc digs even deeper into the writing and recording process. It includes multiple demos for “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song,” “Free Radicals,” “Vein Of Stars,” “Mr. Ambulance Driver,” and “You Gotta Hold On,” along with instrumental sketches, vocal demos, alternate mixes, and brief fragments documenting the album’s ideas in motion.

For longtime listeners, this is where the collection becomes especially revealing. Finished songs can feel inevitable in hindsight, but demos show that records are built from experiments, wrong turns, half-formed melodies, and occasional flashes of magic.

A large collection of rarities, soundtrack songs, and special releases

The Flaming Lips’ world during this period extended far beyond the standard album cycle. The third and fourth CDs gather music connected to films, television, games, compilations, promotional releases, radio appearances, and special editions.

Among the rarities are songs associated with Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, The Heartbreak Kid, Spider-Man 3, and Stubbs The Zombie. The collection also includes “Free Radicals” in a Simlish version, “The W.A.N.D. Supernaturalistic” remixed by Goldfrapp, and “Time Travel… Yes!!” featuring Steven Michael Burns.

The fourth disc moves through iTunes Originals recordings, radio sessions, unusual alternate versions, and covers including “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “(Just Like) Starting Over,” “War Pigs,” and “No Quarter.” It is a colorful snapshot of a band happy to follow an idea wherever it wandered.

The original tracklist is also represented through a video for “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song,” one of the album’s most immediate and memorable singles.

Two concerts capture the band at full volume

The live material gives the box set its biggest jolt of electricity. Disc five presents U.F.O.S At The Zoo – The Legendary Concert In Oklahoma City, a 2006 performance featuring “Race For The Prize,” “Free Radicals,” “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots,” “The W.A.N.D.,” and “My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion.”

Disc six collects the previously unreleased Live At The Hollywood Bowl. The set follows a similar path while adding “Do You Realize??” and “War Pigs” to the finale. Across both concerts, songs from At War With The Mystics sit alongside older favorites, creating a portrait of the band’s live identity during this era.

The result is less a tidy historical document and more a neon-lit scrapbook: big choruses, strange detours, familiar songs in unfamiliar settings, and the sense that anything could happen before the next track begins.

The complete six-CD tracklist

CD1: Original album remastered

At War With The Mystics — originally released April 3, 2006

1. “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (With All Your Power)” — 4:51
2. “Free Radicals (A Hallucination Of The Christmas Skeleton Pleading With A Suicide Bomber)” — 3:42
3. “The Sound Of Failure/It’s Dark… Is It Always This Dark?” — 7:19
4. “My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion (The Inner Life As Blazing Shield Of Defiance And Optimism As Celestial Spear Of Action)” — 4:51
5. “Vein Of Stars” — 4:15
6. “The Wizard Turns On… The Giant Silver Flashlight And Puts On His Werewolf Moccasins” — 3:41
7. “It Overtakes Me/The Stars Are So Big… I Am So Small… Do I Stand A Chance?” — 6:50
8. “Mr. Ambulance Driver” — 4:22
9. “Haven’t Got A Clue” — 3:26
10. “The W.A.N.D. (The Will Always Negates Defeat)” — 3:43
11. “Pompeii Am Götterdämmerung” — 4:22
12. “Goin’ On” — 3:40

Non-LP tracks

1. “Why Does It End?” — 4:39
2. “You Gotta Hold On” — 4:52
3. “Your Face Can Tell The Future” — 5:21
4. “The Gold In The Mountain Of Our Madness” — 4:48
5. “Time Travel… Yes!!” — 3:22

CD2: Previously unreleased demos

1. “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (With All Your Power) [2 Demos]” — 3:10
2. “Free Radicals [2 Early Demos]” — 1:43
3. “Free Radicals [4-Track Demo]” — 4:18
4. “The Sound Of Failure [2 Demos]” — 3:42
5. “It’s Dark… Is It Always This Dark? [Demo]” — 0:30
6. “My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion [Ta! Da! Demo]” — 2:02
7. “Vein Of Stars [Cruel World – 2 Demos]” — 1:29
8. “Vein Of Stars [4-Track Demo]” — 2:19
9. “It Overtakes Me [Demo]” — 1:17
10. “The Stars Are So Big… I Am So Small… Do I Stand A Chance? [Demo]” — 1:21
11. “Mr. Ambulance Driver [4 Demos]” — 2:51
12. “Haven’t Got A Clue [Vocal Demo]” — 1:27
13. “The W.A.N.D. [2 Instrumental Demos]” — 2:06
14. “The W.A.N.D. [Early Demo]” — 1:29
15. “Why Does It End? [Demo]” — 1:21
16. “You Gotta Hold On [2 Demos]” — 2:57
17. “Your Face Can Tell The Future [Demo]” — 0:33
18. “The Gold In The Mountain Of Our Madness [Demo]” — 3:21
19. “Enthusiasm For Life Defeats Existential Fear… [Demo]” — 3:46
20. “A Confession” — 0:22
21. “The Unknown” — 0:51
22. “It’s Dark… Is It Always This Dark?” — 2:06
23. “The Stars Are So Big… I Am So Small… Do I Stand A Chance?” — 4:03
24. “Time Travel… Yes!! (Steve Burns Version)” — 3:50
25. “Mr. Ambulance Driver (Alternate Mix)” — 3:59
26. “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (Instrumental)” — 4:52
27. “The W.A.N.D. (Instrumental)” — 3:44

CD3: Rarities and special releases

1. “I Was Zapped By The Lucky Super Rainbow” — 3:33
2. “Don’t Be Shy” — 3:15
3. “Love The World You Find” — 2:32
4. “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium” — 3:57
5. “The Tale Of The Horny Frog” — 3:51
6. “Maybe I’m Not The One” — 4:13
7. “What Does It Mean?” — 5:10
8. “The Supreme Being Teaches Spider-Man How To Be In Love” — 3:24
9. “Spider-Man Theme” — 2:22
10. “Puri Kura Theme Version 1” — 3:35
11. “Puri Kura Theme Version 2” — 0:49
12. “If I Only Had A Brain” — 2:17
13. “Free Radicals (Simlish Version)” — 3:40
14. “Enthusiasm For Life Defeats Existential Fear…” — 5:05
15. “Smokin’ A J With The Fearless Freaks” — 2:18
16. “Death In Picher” — 3:18
17. “Jesus And A Spider” — 1:56
18. “The W.A.N.D. Supernaturalistic (Goldfrapp Remix)” — 3:19
19. “It Overtakes Me (Single Version)” — 3:15
20. “I’m Afraid Of Dying… Aren’t You?” — 4:09
21. “Free Radicals (The Bird And The Bee Mix)” — 5:14
22. “Time Travel… Yes!! (With Steven Michael Burns)” — 3:15

CD4: iTunes Originals and film/television releases

1. “Free Radicals (iTunes Originals)” — 3:39
2. “Do You Realize?? (iTunes Originals)” — 3:25
3. “Why Does It End? (iTunes Originals)” — 3:33
4. “Cow Jam! (iTunes Originals)” — 2:28
5. “Pompeii Am Götterdämmerung (iTunes Originals)” — 3:12
6. “War Pigs (iTunes Originals)” — 4:01
7. “My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion (Radio Session)” — 4:37
8. “Goin’ On (Radio Session)” — 3:42
9. “Unmade Bed (Radio Session)” — 6:56
10. “No Quarter (Radio Session)” — 3:58
11. “The Sound Of Failure (Radio Session)” — 4:02
12. “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (Chicken Fried Hoedown Protest Rally)” — 4:43
13. “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (In Anatropous Reflex)” — 4:19
14. “Vein Of Stars (Operatic Spook)” — 4:13
15. “Vein Of Stars (Radio Session)” — 4:49
16. “Bohemian Rhapsody” — 6:37
17. “(Just Like) Starting Over” — 3:35
18. “Gates Of Steel” — 4:59
19. “Silent Night/Lord Can You Hear Me” — 4:33

CD5: U.F.O.S At The Zoo – The Legendary Concert In Oklahoma City

1. “U.F.O. Intro” — 1:14
2. “Ta! Da!” — 2:18
3. “Race For The Prize” — 5:41
4. “Free Radicals” — 3:49
5. “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Pt. 1” — 8:25
6. “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Pt. 2” — 3:17
7. “Vein Of Stars” — 7:20
8. “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song” — 9:25
9. “The Spark That Bled” — 6:27
10. “The W.A.N.D.” — 4:17
11. “My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion” — 5:07

CD6: Live At The Hollywood Bowl

All tracks previously unreleased

1. “Hollywood Bowl Intro” — 1:53
2. “Ta! Da!” — 3:13
3. “Race For The Prize” — 6:00
4. “Free Radicals” — 5:00
5. “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Pt. 1” — 9:06
6. “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Pt. 2” — 3:38
7. “Vein Of Stars” — 4:56
8. “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song” — 9:39
9. “The W.A.N.D.” — 4:52
10. “[Usrh12603280]”
11. “My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion” — 5:34
12. “Do You Realize??” — 4:52
13. “War Pigs” — 4:29

Why this anniversary edition matters

At War With The Mystics became the band’s highest-charting album at that point and earned two Grammy Awards at the 49th ceremony. The group won Best Rock Instrumental Performance for “The Wizard Turns On…” and Best Engineered Album.

The reissue follows earlier archival revisits, including the expanded treatment given to 2002’s Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots. The complete collection first appears in the CD edition, with the material later set to become available through vinyl releases as well.

Elsewhere, the band’s story has continued through both triumphs and difficult moments. Earlier in the summer, a performance was canceled after frontman Wayne Coyne was hospitalized with pneumonia. The Flaming Lips’ most recent studio album remains 2020’s American Head, their 16th studio record.

The band’s colorful visual world and extensive catalog can also be explored through official music-inspired prints and products.

Conclusion

Two decades later, At War With The Mystics still feels like a record with several doors opening at once. This reissue throws every one of them wide open, offering demos, oddities, collaborations, soundtrack curiosities, and live recordings for anyone who wants to spend a little longer inside the band’s colorful musical universe.

The six-CD edition is available to pre-order, while the complete collection is also planned for later vinyl releases.

FAQ

• What is included in The Flaming Lips’ 20th anniversary reissue? The collection includes the remastered original album, non-album tracks, unreleased demos, alternate versions, soundtrack material, radio sessions, special releases, and two live concerts across six CDs.
• When was At War With The Mystics originally released? The album was originally released on April 3, 2006.
• Which live performances are included? The set includes U.F.O.S At The Zoo – The Legendary Concert In Oklahoma City and the previously unreleased Live At The Hollywood Bowl.
• Will the collection be released on vinyl? The complete material included in the CD edition is planned for later vinyl releases.
• What is The Flaming Lips’ latest studio album? Their latest studio album is 2020’s American Head.

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