In an article by David Bernstein in The New York Times about the Flaming Lips being up for a Grammy, you get a sense of why I like them. I also like the White Stripes but I’d be less likely to want to hang out with them or wish they were around when it’s time to clean out the garage…
“Two hours before the White Stripes and the Flaming Lips ushered in 2004 with their double-bill New Year’s Eve concert at the historic Aragon Ballroom here, the Flaming Lips were onstage blowing up oversize balloons, posing inflatable robots and setting up a giant video screen and confetti machine for their extravagant multimedia show.
By contrast, Jack and Meg White, who make up the White Stripes, were mostly backstage until performance time, their roadies, in black suits and bowler hats, guarding their dressing suite. The White Stripes are rock stars, and stars are not supposed to do stagehand work.”