Flaming Lips/Blues Clues Collaboration Due Soon
Who let the dog out?

OK, so after the drugs and the spiders and the spiritual journeys and the amorphous references to porn and God, I figured the Flaming Lips teaming up with Beck is not so out of the ordinary, even with the bunny suits and all. Then I read they're moving on to record with The Chemical Brothers. OK, I can deal with that too. I may not be a huge fan of The Chems, but it's cool, I'm sure the Lips are more than capable of spicing up their music. And I was downright forgiving when the trio allowed Justin Timberlake to grace the same stage as themselves.

But sweet Mary and Joseph, the Flaming Lips have got to be indulging in too many Christmas trips to Mars, because when I read they'd be teaming with the guy from Blues Clues I truly flipped a lid. Well, I guess it was a proverbial lid, but still, I didn't trust any of my five senses after the Pitchfork announcement. Even tactile was in jeopardy! Since first reading about the project last year I sorta hoped it might have been quietly swept under an oversized Teletubbie-shaped rug or something, but it seems the Lips/Blues Clues collaboration now has a tracklist and a release date.

Birthing this August 12th on PIAS, Steve Burns' Songs for Dustmites was produced by Lips soundsmith Dave Fridmann at Tarbox Road Studios and engineered by Lips bassist Michael Ivins. Lips drummer Steve Drozd plays on many of the songs as well. As for Wayne Coyne himself... well sir, Mr. Coyne does not appear on Songs for Dustmites. However, according to the administrator of the Blues Clues web page (my homepage, I'll have you know), the pair have 'hung out' and Burns may appear in the Lips' upcoming Christmas movie. Burns' website also contains a bevy of information, both nonsensical and practical, about the album, how he scores chicks and squirrels. You can even stream the songs in their entirety. Here's a tracklisting to wet your Blues Clues-loving whistle:

01 Mighty Little Man
02 What I Do On Saturday
03 Maintain
04 >1
05 Troposphere
06 Stick Around
07 A Reason
08 Music For Montgomery County, PA
09 A Song For Dustmites
10 Super Strings
11 A Sniveling Mess
12 Henry Krinkles Lament

Now you may be thinking that this album is going to suck and you don't care if Ronald Jones comes back from his voyage to Nepal or whatever, THIS IS THE GUY FROM BLUES CLUES. But before you get your Joe Boxers in a knot, listen to what Pitchfork's own Eric Marth had to say about the album: " It's impressive." Thanks Eric, fire all the regular reviewers-- you're taking over! But he means it: marry a nu-Lips pop aesthetic and a big drum sensibility with the guy from Blues Clues singing and you have Songs for Dustmites, son. Word. Burns will also be touring, supported by off-kilter Oklahomans the Starlight Mints, throughout August. Dates: