This is one of my many CD's from the CD club. I got it because I had already bought Stunt and was craving some more BNL music. So I bought their very first CD. And it's pretty dang good. One thing, though, before I start. These guys, I'm sure are very nice, and they're obviously capable musicians and all, it's just, in all these pictures in this album THEY LOOK LIKE IDIOTS. Thank you for letting me get that out.
"Hello City" It's not that nice of a song, the words anyway, but it's very catchy and I find myself humming it sometimes. An interesting way to start out the album, maybe not what I would have picked for the first song, but what do I know?
"Enid" I had heard this song on KURE and it didn't make that much of an impact on me but the more I listen to it, the more it grows on me. Actually, I would say the whole album has been going that way for me. Being a fan of flavored Lip Smackers, I especially enjoyed the line about remembering the taste of her lip gloss.
"Grade Nine" This is an extremely funny and cute song. CMTLWCD (causes me to laugh with childish delight). I'm embarassed to admit that when I first heard it, I was unable to identify the riff from a Rush song they play towards the end of the song! I later realized it was from "Tom Sawyer," then later they have a little turn from "Spirit of Radio." Some excellent images contained in the words, although I don't know if I've ever been so impressed by someone as to describe them as "wailin" =) A little-known fact about this song is that it was in the movie "Mighty Ducks III;" a fine film that also contains the immortal line "Don't you know what sarcasm is?" "Nooooo".
"Brian Wilson" A useless song. Ok perhaps that was a bit abrupt. I just think this song is really lame and it bugged me that it was released as a single from Rock Spectacle. Especially when there were better choices.
"Be My Yoko Ono" An interesting premise for a song. It wanders a bit, but in the end succeeds and it's actually one of my favorites now.
"Wrap Your Arms Around Me" Ok, I still don't really know what to make of this song. It doesn't bug me to the extent that I have to click past it when I listen to the CD. But nothing about it is really memorable, either.
"What a Good Boy" I really love this song! It could only be described as "bittersweet." It's very mellow and it fits well on the album. It's sort of about the inevitablilty of life and the complications brought on by love. Ok I just made that up but I tried anyway.
"The King of Bedside Manor" This song is actually a little bit too silly for my taste. I realize that's a trademark of BNL but for whatever reason the quirky just doesn't do it for me in this case. I do love the part where someone shouts "Styx!" and they sing "Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto...domodomodomodomo etc." One of many references to the immortal Styx tune in popular culture including Homer Simpson chanting "Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto" to encourage Otto to pick up a 7-10 split in bowling. Also the guy in the Volkswagen commercial that I absolutely love.
"Box Set" Kind of a downer, but what can you do. Some interesting ideas, but doesn't quite hit the mark.
"I Love You" Essentially a simplication of every sappy love song that came before it.
"New Kid (On the Block)" This song is good, but it tries a little too hard.
"Blame it on Me" Ditto.
"The Flag" A sad, creepy song. Gives me chills. Good characterization, storytelling, whatever, in the lyrics.
"If I had $1,000,000" The original. I would say almost better than the live. It gets close to the line of almost trying too hard to be funny, but gets away with it somehow.
"Crazy" Noteable if only for the line "Absence makes the heart grow fungus."
Jump to the Stunt review.
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