Take 1: There are few albums out there that offer successful recordings of both pleasant, surreal melodies and unnerving, vitriolic noise. Still fewer pull-off any mention of robots. One famed exception is the Flaming Lips’ Yoshimi: the album that turned a very good experimental music group from Oklahoma into full-force legends. In a world where “innovative” often has the negative connotation of “needlessly bizarre”, the Flaming Lips allow an inspired musical sensibility to be the driving force behind the band’s forays into the previously uncharted weirdness of alternative rock. Their most recent album, 2006’s At War With Mystics, won multiple Grammy’s—and isn’t bad either. Maybe their live DVD release, U.F.O.s At The Zoo, has addled my objectivity, but I don’t see the scheduling dilemma. Sure, the Lips’ show is on the same night as Peter, Bjorn & John. But, if you’re into the kind of Scandinavian silliness that gets reviewed on NPR, you might find the Flaming Lips a bit bold for a school night, anyway. The Paramount, 911 Pine St., 467-5510. $39. 8 p.m. VIRGINIA ZECH

Take 2: Have trouble singing along to—let alone understanding—the bizarre lyrics of the Flaming Lips? Tonight Peter, Bjorn, and John are playing at the same time, and the only thing you’ll need to know is how to whistle. Unless you’ve been living in a cave these last few months, you’ve heard the Swedish indie-pop trio’s infectious “Young Folks,” although most people call into stations requesting to hear the Whistle Song. They’ve got a knack for creating catchy tunes, combining soft vocals, the harmonica and guitar to create radio-friendly indie anthems that are easy to become infatuated with. Get ready to pucker up and blow. Showbox, 1426 First Ave., 628-3151. $20 adv./$23. 8 p.m. ERIKA HOBART

Thu., Sept. 20