"Embryonic" is the twelfth studio album by experimental rock band The Flaming Lips, released on October 13, 2009, via Warner Bros. It marks the band's first double album and achieved significant success, peaking at number 8 on the Billboard 200 and receiving generally positive reviews.
The idea for a double album emerged from frontman Wayne Coyne, who envisioned weaving multiple themes and allowing for a sprawling sound. The album features contributions from various artists, including German mathematician Dr. Thorsten Wörmann on "Gemini Syringes," MGMT on "Worm Mountain," and Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs on "I Can Be a Frog" and "Watching the Planets," with her parts recorded over the phone by Coyne.
The lead-up to the album included a stream of the song "See the Leaves" on Pitchfork.com and an entire album preview on The Fly, accompanied by Coyne's track-by-track guide. The band promoted the album on The Colbert Report, streaming it on Colbertnation.com shortly before its release. Embryonic was also streamed on Clash Music a week before its launch, and Pitchfork named it the fourth best album of 2009.
Musically, Embryonic diverges from the polished sounds of previous albums like Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots and At War with the Mystics, incorporating influences from Joy Division, Miles Davis, and John Lennon. Coyne described it as having a "freak-out vibe," emphasizing a less polished, more spontaneous approach.
A deluxe version of Embryonic was released on the same day, including the original 18 tracks along with a bonus DVD-Audio featuring high-resolution audio. An exclusive "fur pack" edition available through the band's website included additional artwork, lyrics, and a lithograph of the album cover, with some pre-orders receiving an autographed lithograph.
Overall, Embryonic stands as a bold and ambitious entry in The Flaming Lips' discography, characterized by its experimental nature and collaborative spirit.
