# American Head

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***American Head*** is the sixteenth studio album by American rock band [the Flaming Lips](/source/The_Flaming_Lips), released on September 11, 2020, on [Warner Records](/source/Warner_Records) in the US and [Bella Union](/source/Bella_Union) in the UK.[3] Produced by [Dave Fridmann](/source/Dave_Fridmann) and [Scott Booker](/source/Scott_Booker_(music_manager)), alongside the band itself, the album represents a return to the band's American roots. It is the final studio album to feature founding bass guitarist [Michael Ivins](/source/Michael_Ivins)[4] and keyboardist Jake Ingalls, who both departed from the band in 2021, as well as drummer Nicholas Ley who departed in 2023.[5][6] It is subsequently the final album featuring the expanded seven person line-up of the group that began with 2017's *[Oczy Mlody](/source/Oczy_Mlody)*. This album also marks the last appearance of long time member [Steven Drozd](/source/Steven_Drozd) who departed in 2025 ending the core trio of Coyne, Drozd, Ivins that had been in place since 1996.[7]

It received critical acclaim upon release. Its release was preceded by six singles: "Flowers of Neptune 6", "My Religion Is You", "Dinosaurs on the Mountain", "You n Me Sellin' Weed", "Will You Return / When You Come Down" and "Mother Please Don't Be Sad".

## Background

On March 23, 2020, Drozd announced that the band's sixteenth studio album, titled *American Head*, was due for release that summer.[8] The album represents a shift in identity as the band decided to focus on their American roots on the album.[9] Many of the songs reference [Wayne Coyne](/source/Wayne_Coyne)'s turbulent upbringing with his brothers in Oklahoma City.[10] The band officially announced the album's release date as September 11, 2020, along with the single "My Religion Is You" on June 26, 2020.[9] Coyne gave a track-by-track breakdown of the album for [Apple Music](/source/Apple_Music).[11] The album artwork contains a photograph of Coyne's older brother Tommy, taken around 1970.[12]

## Critical reception

*American Head* received widespread acclaim from critics. At [Metacritic](/source/Metacritic), which assigns a [normalized](/source/Standard_score) score out of 100 to ratings from professional publications, it received a [weighted mean](/source/Weighted_mean) score of 80 based on 23 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[13] Tyler Clark of *[Consequence of Sound](/source/Consequence_of_Sound)* gave the album an A− rating, writing, "*American Head* stands alongside *[The Soft Bulletin](/source/The_Soft_Bulletin)* and *[Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots](/source/Yoshimi_Battles_the_Pink_Robots)* as one of the very best records the Flaming Lips have recorded".[14] Tom Pinnock of *[Uncut](/source/Uncut_(magazine))* gave the album a 9 out of 10 rating, praising the band for "examining the nature of family, love, death and nostalgia with a sincerity and tenderness that's been missed".[15] Jude Rogers of *[Mojo](/source/Mojo_(magazine))* praised the tracks "Mother I've Taken LSD", "Mother Please Don't Be Sad", and "Brother Eye", writing, "They suggest a place for the band's psychedelic imagination in more present, physical realms, which feels new."[16] *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))* gave the album a 7.7 with the summary, "At the top of their fifth decade, the Lips rekindle their past romance with [Neil Young](/source/Neil_Young)'s piano ballads, [the Beatles](/source/The_Beatles)' psychedelic guitar tones, and [Bowie](/source/David_Bowie)'s stargazing anthems on a deeply personal album."[17]

### Year-end lists

Year-end list accolades for American Head Publication List Rank Ref. Consequence of Sound Top 50 Albums of 2020 47 [18] Mojo The 75 Best Albums of 2020 10 [19] Spin The 30 Best Albums of 2020 21 [20] Uncut The Top 75 Albums of the Year 32 [21] Under the Radar Top 100 Albums of 2020 47 [22]

## Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's [liner notes](/source/Liner_notes).[1]

### Performance

**The Flaming Lips**

- [Wayne Coyne](/source/Wayne_Coyne)
- [Steven Drozd](/source/Steven_Drozd)
- [Michael Ivins](/source/Michael_Ivins)
- Derek Brown
- Jake Ingalls
- Matt Kirksey
- Nicholas Ley

**Other musicians**

- [Kacey Musgraves](/source/Kacey_Musgraves) – additional vocals (2, 3, 12)
- [Micah Nelson](/source/Micah_Nelson) – additional vocals (1), additional guitar (1)

### Technical

- The Flaming Lips – production, recording, mixing
- [Dave Fridmann](/source/Dave_Fridmann) – production, recording, mixing, mastering
- Scott Booker – production
- Dennis Coyne – recording, mixing, additional production
- Mike Fridmann – additional production

### Design

- Kenny Coyne – photography
- [George Salisbury](/source/George_Salisbury_(director)) – layout, design
- Wayne Coyne – layout, design

## Charts

Chart performance for American Head Chart (2020) Peak position

## References

1. *American Head* (liner notes). [Bella Union](/source/Bella_Union). 2020. BELLA1052V.

1. Whiting, Kyle (September 14, 2020). ["The Flaming Lips' American Head is dreamy, ethereal, and extremely psychedelic"](https://thekey.xpn.org/2020/09/14/the-flaming-lips/). *[WXPN](/source/WXPN)*. Retrieved April 27, 2021.

1. ["The Flaming Lips debut 'Flowers Of Neptune 6'"](https://web.archive.org/web/20201020202218/https://bellaunion.com/2020/05/the-flaming-lips-debut-flowers-of-neptune-6/). *bellaunion.com*. Archived from [the original](https://bellaunion.com/2020/05/the-flaming-lips-debut-flowers-of-neptune-6/) on October 20, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.

1. ["Spaceface on Instagram: "Hey y'all: I chose to leave The Flaming Lips …"](https://www.instagram.com/p/CSpqsvahUF-/). *Instagram*. [Archived](https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CSpqsvahUF-) December 24, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 17, 2021.

1. thesatellitehead (November 6, 2023). ["Wayne Coyne reflects on Nicholas Ley joining The Flaming Lips following his departure"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdS1_RfTgG0). Retrieved May 2, 2024.

1. thesatellitehead (December 4, 2022). ["Wayne Coyne on Michael Ivins & Jake Ingalls leaving The Flaming Lips"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbuHEzCsJqA). Retrieved May 2, 2024.

1. Harrison, Scoop (December 17, 2025). ["Steven Drozd Says He's No Longer in The Flaming Lips"](https://consequence.net/2025/12/steven-drozd-no-longer-member-flaming-lips/). *Consequence*. Retrieved December 18, 2025.

1. Hill, Jeffrey (March 23, 2020). ["The Songs (and Sounds) of Space with Steven Drozd & The Flaming Lips"](https://www.satellitetoday.com/podcast/2020/03/23/the-songs-and-sounds-of-space-with-steven-drozd-the-flaming-lips/). *Via Satellite*. Retrieved March 25, 2020.

1. Ehrlich, Brenna (June 26, 2020). ["The Flaming Lips Get Patriotic on New Album 'American Head,' Out This Fall"](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/flaming-lips-american-head-1020852/). *[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)*. Retrieved July 22, 2020.

1. Schonfeld, Zach (September 9, 2020). ["The Flaming Lips Revel in Patriotism and Druggy Fantasies on American Head"](https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/the-flaming-lips/american-head-album-review/). *[Paste](/source/Paste_(magazine))*. Retrieved September 11, 2020.

1. ["American Head by The Flaming Lips on Apple Music"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200912031449id_/https://music.apple.com/us/album/american-head/1516243970). *[Apple Music](/source/Apple_Music)*. September 11, 2020. Archived from [the original](https://music.apple.com/us/album/american-head/1516243970) on September 12, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.

1. "My oldest brother Tommy.. holding the photo ( I think from 1970) that turned into the American Head album cover image...". December 11, 2022.

1. ["American Head by The Flaming Lips Reviews and Tracks"](https://www.metacritic.com/music/american-head/the-flaming-lips). *[Metacritic](/source/Metacritic)*. Retrieved September 20, 2024.

1. Clark, Tyler (September 11, 2020). ["The Flaming Lips Return to Earth on Devastatingly Beautiful American Head: Review"](https://consequence.net/2020/09/album-review-the-flaming-lips-american-head/). *[Consequence of Sound](/source/Consequence_of_Sound)*. Retrieved September 11, 2020.

1. Pinnock, Tom. "Brainville: Lips go Americana, with added Kacey Musgraves". *[Uncut](/source/Uncut_(magazine))*. No. 280. September 2020 ed. p. 29.

1. Rogers, Jude. "Heads, you win: The Lips' reimagined radio rock history.". *[Mojo](/source/Mojo_(magazine))*. No. 322. September 2020 ed. p. 86.

1. Berman, Stuart (September 11, 2020). ["The Flaming Lips: American Head Album Review"](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-flaming-lips-american-head/). *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))*. Retrieved September 11, 2020.

1. ["Top 50 Albums of 2020"](https://consequence.net/2020/12/top-50-albums-of-2020/). *[Consequence of Sound](/source/Consequence_of_Sound)*. December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.

1. "The 75 Best Albums Of 2020". *[Mojo](/source/Mojo_(magazine))*. No. 326. January 2021. p. 54.

1. ["The 30 Best Albums of 2020"](https://www.spin.com/featured/30-best-albums-2020/). *[Spin](/source/Spin_(magazine))*. December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.

1. "The Top 75 Albums Of The Year". *[Uncut](/source/Uncut_(magazine))*. No. 284. January 2021. p. 74.

1. ["Under the Radar's Top 100 Albums of 2020"](http://www.undertheradarmag.com/lists/under_the_radars_top_100_albums_of_2020/). *[Under the Radar](/source/Under_the_Radar_(magazine))*. January 15, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2021.

## External links

- [The Flaming Lips: American Head](https://www.youtube.com/Hi7ueokyjVM) on YouTube

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [American Head](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Head) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Head?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.