The Flaming Lips have announced their 17th studio album, The Teardrop Throbs, out January 22, 2027 via Third Man Records. It’s their first album of new material since 2020’s American Head, their first since the departure of Steven Drozd, and their first not released through Warner Records since 1990’s In a Priest Driven Ambulance.
Alongside the announcement, the band shared the album’s lead single, “God Will Control the Werewolves." Listen to it here:
Of the new song, Wayne Coyne said the song started with a game of hide-and-seek at the park with his two sons as it was getting dark, near a full moon. One of his sons asked whether the werewolves would get them while they were hiding, and Coyne told him, “God would control the werewolves for a little bit.” He said he heard the song as The Dark Side of the Moon with Syd Barrett still in the band.
The Teardrop Throbs was produced by The Flaming Lips, Taylor Johnson, Dave Fridmann, and Scott Booker, with additional production by Jon Fridmann and Mike Fridmann. In a statement about the record, Coyne said it came together over a two year process, and traced its themes of parenthood, loss, and ego death through the songs.
The album will be available digitally, on CD, and on vinyl in black and a limited edition “Teardrop Blue.” It follows a 20th anniversary reissue of At War with the Mystics, out November 13 via Rhino / Warner.
The Flaming Lips will also play a series of two-night stands in Nashville, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and London in 2027, beginning on release day at Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville. On the first night of each stand, they’ll play The Teardrop Throbs alongside songs from the 20th century, and on the second, new material played in a new way alongside songs from 2002 to 2020. You can see those dates down below.

The Teardrop Throbs is out January 22. Pre-order it here, and check the full tracklist below:
- Throb
- God Will Control the Werewolves
- Titan
- Every Teardrop Cried
- Hooray
- Instructions on How to Draw an Eyeball or How to Deal with a Loved One Who Is Addicted to Drugs
- You See You in Me
- You've Got Brain Damage
- At the End of the Day
- The Trees Are Getting Their Leaves
- Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell Part 2
- A Sunset Far Away
- Now I Understand
Tour Dates:
01/22 Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl
01/23 Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl
01/26 New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
01/27 New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
02/23 Los Angeles, CA @ The Bellwether
02/24 Los Angeles, CA @ The Bellwether
02/27 Chicago, IL @ Metro
02/28 Chicago, IL @ Metro
04/02 London, UK @ O2 Shepherd's Bush
04/03 London, UK @ O2 Shepherd's Bush
The Needle Drop may earn an affiliate commission via purchases on ticket links through this article.
What do you think?
Show comments / Leave a comment