I decided that it would be best to do a couple reviews at random, in order to totally be unbiased. My original plan of attack was to put my iPod on shuffle as I rode public transit to and from work one day. I tried that yesterday. It was a failure! I brought along my composition notebook and a pen as well as my iPod and ears. I found it difficult to scrawl decent reviews on a moving bus while being bumped and jostled by fellow passengers, so I quit. Today I am confident I have taken the right approach. I am sitting at my computer and putting my iTunes library on shuffle and I plan to review the first couple songs I hear. So let the shuffling commence and enjoy!
First up is Crimewave by “noise rock” band Health. For me just the genre is enough to know that it will be a song that I would only listen to once all the way through. Perhaps even halfway through the novelty will wear off, and I will be left with nothing but tiresome racket! My prediction was quite accurate, the track is nothing but strange strands of words set to a somewhat obnoxious barrage of sound. If noise bands are your thing Health would seem lovely I am sure but I personally just do not understand.
Second in line is Traffic by Chad VanGaalen. I like all things about Chad VanGaalen including this song. His strange voice and bizarre, obviously drug induced song topics do it for me! This song may not be all that out there in comparison to his other work, but it still is a chip off the old Chad VanGaalen block. Also I am impressed by any artist who not only writes all the music for an album but also plays all the instruments on it. This may not be one of the catchier tracks on the album but it is definitely worth a listen!
Traffic – Chad VanGaalen
Third is none other than the acoustic “skin and bones” version of Everlong by the Foo Fighters. When I first received this album for Christmas last year I really, really liked it. Whats not to like about a live acoustic album featuring everyone’s Foo favorites: My hero, Times like these and Everlong as well as new previously unreleased tracks? Nothing! It is a very likable album. And this song has never sounded better or more mellow. It is Foo Fighters for the City and Colour fan.
