Daily Staff Writer

“Bad Love”

Randy Newman

FOUR STARS

For anyone who simply knows Randy Newman as the guy who did the song from Toy Story, “Bad Love” is a testament to the songwriter’s incredible talent for insight into even the most mundane situation.

“Bad Love” represents Newman’s first full length album of new material in over 10 years. As always, the characters of Newman’s songs represent the entire landscape of America, but many songs seem to deal in particular with Newman’s ex-wife.

In that respect, “Bad Love” has a similar feel to Dylan’s “Blood on the Tracks” and “Desire,” both written shortly after Dylan’s divorce. Newman moves from “I hate you, bitch” to “I miss you so much” at the drop of a hat.

Newman puts everyone under the microscope on “Bad Love.” Newman’s gift, and possibly his curse, is his insight into even himself. On “I’m Dead (But I don’t know it),” Newman mocks himself and other musicians who don’t realize when they’re dried up, as he sings “Each record that I’m making is just like a record that I’ve made/ Just not as good.”

On “The World Isn’t Fair” Newman acknowledges the beauty of Karl Marx’s dreams, and apologizes to the late social theorist for the continued inequality in the world.

In addition to the more intellectually-based songs, Newman also shines on a few touching piano ballads. “Every Time it Rains” is a heartfelt look at loneliness, and “I Miss You” is an apology to Newman’s ex-wife.

It takes real bravery to write a line like “I’d sell my soul and yours for a song,” and that’s the kind of honesty that Newman delivers.

Everyone will find something he relate to on “Bad Love,” even Buzz Lightyear.

—Ben Godar

“The Soft Bulletin”

The Flaming Lips

FOUR STARS

Anyone who saw “The Flaming Lips Experiment” at Veishea 1998, or who heard their related four-disc experimental album “Zaireeka” has been acquainted with the remarkable things the band can do with sound. They bring that talent out on “The Soft Bulletin.”

As “Race for the Prize” kicks off the album, it sounds as if you’re listening to an alternate theme for “Falcon Crest.” The song soon blends the cheese into a catchy pop song about two scientists on a quest for knowledge at all costs.

“Buggin’,” also featured on the “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me Soundtrack,” is an infectious tune comparing summer love and the bite of a mosquito.

“The Soft Bulletin” plays almost like a Pink Floyd album, with many songs blending seamlessly into the next. The Lips use a wide variety of sounds on the album, so the sound never becomes repetitive.

The only major problem with the album is that the lyrics aren’t nearly as engaging as the music. The album seems to be an exploration of a connection between science and love, but most of the time it is just plain vague. I’m sure the message is in there somewhere; in fact I bet after about nine tabs of acid this thing reads like the Dao De Ching.

So whether you get it or not, “The Soft Bulletin” is an impressive mood album from a very daring band.

—Ben Godar

“Fundamental”

Puya

FIVE STARS

OzzFest ’99 has a culturally-unique band playing on the bill this year. It comes by the name of Puya, a new genre-breaking rock band with tasty Latin influences backing it.

Puya’s debut album, “Fundamental,” is a testimony to the ancient phrase, “Don’t leave home without it.” OK, so maybe that isn’t exactly an old adage to live by, but it is definitely a description of how Puya found its sound.

After leaving Puerto Rico for the United States, the band settled down in the Florida music scene. It was obvious that Puya’s Latin heritage hadn’t been left behind, however, and the evolution of their salsa/thrash metal produced 12 songs of intense music produced by Gustavo Santoalalla (Cafe Tacuba, Molotov).

The album opener, “Oasis,” a tribute to the band’s homeland, is a screamer of a song with a blazing guitar solo that pounds back at Curbelo’s infectious voice. Songs like the razor-sharp “Fake” and the speedy “Montate (Get on it),” crash forward with enough might to put KoRn and the Deftones each in their place.

“Fundamental” is a song that mixes soothing croons by Curbelo with anger filled choruses, while the band simplifies things with catchy beats on “Keep It Simple.”

Puya’s “Fundamental” is purely original, mixing heavy metal with their native beats. Each magnetizing song shows the versatility of these guys who go from all out headbanger brawls to quiet and groovy Latin interludes that can tame the wildest mosh pits into salsa dance floors.

Puya plays Hairy Mary’s in Des Moines on Wednesday, June 30.

—Kevin Hosbond