The Flaming Lips are preparing to launch a new chapter in their psychedelic journey with *The Teardrop Throbs*, their 17th studio album, scheduled for release January 22, 2027, through Third Man Records.
The upcoming project represents a significant milestone for the Oklahoma-based experimental rock group, marking its first full collection of newly written material in more than six years. The announcement also arrives with a new single, “God Will Control The Werewolves,” offering listeners an introduction to the band’s latest creative direction.
For frontman Wayne Coyne, the inspiration behind the song came from an unexpectedly ordinary family experience. While playing hide-and-seek with his young sons, Bloom and Rex, at a park around sunset, a question about whether werewolves might appear sparked an imaginative exchange that eventually developed into the new track.
Musically, Coyne approached the composition with a distinctly psychedelic vision, drawing inspiration from the atmospheric experimentation of Pink Floyd’s *The Dark Side of the Moon* while imagining an alternate version of the legendary band that still included founding member Syd Barrett.
That combination of childhood imagination and classic psychedelic influences reflects the creative territory The Flaming Lips have explored throughout their career, although the upcoming album also promises a particularly personal perspective.
Across its 13 tracks, *The Teardrop Throbs* examines subjects including fatherhood, the passage of time, family connections, and mortality. Those themes suggest an emotionally reflective dimension to a band widely recognized for combining unconventional musical ideas with surreal imagery.
The recording brought together several familiar collaborators. Production was handled by The Flaming Lips alongside Taylor Johnson, Dave Fridmann, and Scott Booker, with Jon Fridmann and Mike Fridmann providing additional production.
Among the album’s tracks are “Every Teardrop Cried,” “Titan,” “You’ve Got Brain Damage,” “A Sunset Far Away,” and “Now I Understand.” The collection also includes “Ego Tripping At The Gates Of Hell Part Two,” a title that connects the new release to the band’s earlier musical catalog.
Fans will have several options for experiencing the album, including digital, CD, and vinyl editions. A special Teardrop Blue vinyl version is also planned.
To celebrate the release, The Flaming Lips have scheduled a series of relatively intimate performances across the United States and United Kingdom.
The concert schedule begins with two nights at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl on January 22 and 23, followed by appearances at New York City’s Irving Plaza on January 26 and 27.
The band will then head west for two performances at The Bellwether in Los Angeles on February 23 and 24 before visiting Chicago’s Metro on February 27 and 28.
The announced run concludes with two London concerts at O2 Shepherd’s Bush on April 2 and 3. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale October 30.
With a new single already available, a full album approaching, and a collection of live performances on the calendar, The Flaming Lips are setting the stage for an active start to 2027.
For a group that has spent decades exploring the unexpected, *The Teardrop Throbs* appears ready to bring another blend of psychedelic imagination and deeply personal storytelling into focus.
