Let's face it, we cannot help but compare a band's new releases to their previous releases. But oftentimes such comparisons end up sounding like a call for the band to simply remake their previous releases and to stop changing/evolving at all, which is completely unrealistic.
Just as "God Shuffled His Feet" saw Crash Test Dummies depart from the country-sounding music and for-the-most-part realist lyrics of "Ghosts That Haunt Me", A Worm's Life sees CTD depart from the slow, beautiful, and hard-to-classify sound and historico-literary-religious lyrics of "God Shuffled His Feet". With the exception of a few tracks (notably 6, 10, and 12) the overall sound of "A Worm's Life" is much more like a rock album than their debut and sophomore releases. As a result you will hear a lot more hard-hitting drum beats and distorted guitars. However, hovering over it all will be that same phenomenal baritone voice of Brad Roberts (backed up of course by the ethereal vocals of Ellen Reid).
Besides the move toward a more rockin' sound, the other thing that you will notice is that the dreamy and metaphysical lyricism of "God Shuffled His Feet" is left behind for a strikingly clever realism. To offer a few examples: track 2 chronicles the different ways a boy likes to have his teeth pulled out, track 3 gives an account from a worm's perspective on the various challenges it faces (i.e. birds trying to eat it, being destined for a tequila bottle, etc.), while track 6 warns us not to put our tongues on frozen stop signs or to put forks into toasters unless we want to deal with the unpleasant consequences.
There are many points in this album - every single time I listen to it - where I simply cannot help but laugh out loud. Much of the humor stems from the sarcastic sincerity with which Roberts discusses the oftentimes insipid scenarios. Recall that great lyrical moment of "In the Days of the Caveman" where Roberts comments on the fact that back in prehistoric times there were no pajamas or doctors and you will have a glimpse of what "A Worm's Life" has to offer. This album is a fascinating step in CTD's evolution; one that proves they do not confine themselves to any stylistic or lyrical mold. It is replete with rockin' beats and guitar riffs, beautifully executed vocals/harmonies, and some of the funniest lyrics you will hear anywhere. I highly recommend it!
Just as "God Shuffled His Feet" saw Crash Test Dummies depart from the country-sounding music and for-the-most-part realist lyrics of "Ghosts That Haunt Me", A Worm's Life sees CTD depart from the slow, beautiful, and hard-to-classify sound and historico-literary-religious lyrics of "God Shuffled His Feet". With the exception of a few tracks (notably 6, 10, and 12) the overall sound of "A Worm's Life" is much more like a rock album than their debut and sophomore releases. As a result you will hear a lot more hard-hitting drum beats and distorted guitars. However, hovering over it all will be that same phenomenal baritone voice of Brad Roberts (backed up of course by the ethereal vocals of Ellen Reid).
Besides the move toward a more rockin' sound, the other thing that you will notice is that the dreamy and metaphysical lyricism of "God Shuffled His Feet" is left behind for a strikingly clever realism. To offer a few examples: track 2 chronicles the different ways a boy likes to have his teeth pulled out, track 3 gives an account from a worm's perspective on the various challenges it faces (i.e. birds trying to eat it, being destined for a tequila bottle, etc.), while track 6 warns us not to put our tongues on frozen stop signs or to put forks into toasters unless we want to deal with the unpleasant consequences.
There are many points in this album - every single time I listen to it - where I simply cannot help but laugh out loud. Much of the humor stems from the sarcastic sincerity with which Roberts discusses the oftentimes insipid scenarios. Recall that great lyrical moment of "In the Days of the Caveman" where Roberts comments on the fact that back in prehistoric times there were no pajamas or doctors and you will have a glimpse of what "A Worm's Life" has to offer. This album is a fascinating step in CTD's evolution; one that proves they do not confine themselves to any stylistic or lyrical mold. It is replete with rockin' beats and guitar riffs, beautifully executed vocals/harmonies, and some of the funniest lyrics you will hear anywhere. I highly recommend it!