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I dusted this disc off while searching for something to review for Halloween
and cursing myself for not getting my Smashing Pumpkins CD back from that damn
ex.
I saw these guys at a club on Lansdowne Street in Boston shortly after
the disc was released. The lead vocalist, Brad Roberts, walked on stage, sang one note
and the whole room busted out laughing. This man is the king of
baritone.
The lyrics are thought-provoking and dark at times, laced with
wry humor. This band is most known for “Afternoons and Coffeespoons,” an upbeat ditty
about disappearing hairlines and wearing pajamas in the daytime, and “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm,” a
song about being a kid and being different. “How Does a Duck Know?” begs many questions,
including how does a duck “tell his wife from all the other ducks?” and “How come my body
parts so nicely fit together?”
Most of the tracks are upbeat, especially
the ones with the darker lyrics. Though the vocals are the highlight of this album, the
musicianship is amazing, rich with mandolin, harmonica, keys, guitar and a tight rhythm
section.
This talented Canadian band has been around since the mid
1980s, and they’re still going strong. For more info, check out their site at Crash Test Dummies.
