In an amazing coincidence, my DH is not only a secondary school music teacher, but also listening to The Flaming Lips right now!! Sounds like your DS is doing GCSE music? Where is he at school? DH teaches in Camden at the mo and is will be in Watford from Sept.
DH writes:
The way I?d suggest doing this is for your DS to think about what they like about this song. Is it the dreamy, psychedelic mood (created by the soft vocals and lots of reverb in the record production)? Or the combination of acoustic instruments (e.g. guitar, oboe) and electronic ones (e.g. synths, drum machine)? Or the kind of chord structure it has (e.g. slow moving chord changes, lots of juicy added notes)? Or something that I?ve not thought of at all? (Unless it?s the lyrics, which ? like it or not ? GCSE music pays very little attention to.) Once you?ve figured out what you like about the song, it?s easier to find other ones which do similar things.
Personally I wouldn?t get too hung up on the ?add9? thing (unless of course that?s what your DS?s music teacher has said to go for, in which case his/ her word is LAW).
Below are just a few ideas ? not by any means an exhaustive list!
Other spacey/ psychedelic songs: lots by the Beatles (Octopussy?s Garden; Within You Or Without You; Blue Jay Way); The Beach Boys (e.g. Heroes and Villains); The Doors (e.g. Light My Fire); or some more recent Trip Hop things like Groove Armada (e.g. At the River)
Other songs with acoustic and electronic instruments: try Guillemots (e.g. Trains to Brazil, Annie, Let?s Not Wait); The Killers (e.g. Human, Mr. Brightside); Britney Spears (e.g. Toxic) ? gosh this could go on and on, there are so many!
Other songs with slow, juicy chords: billions here ? maybe try Muse, Soldier?s Poem or REM, Everybody Hurts. Or any number of smoochy boy bands (but, I?m taking a wild guess that this might not be your DS?s cup of tea?).
Hope that helps! and happy listening.