90's CD Review: God Shuffled His Feet by Crash Test Dummies

When the Canadian band Crash Test Dummies first came to my attention back in 1994 with the surprise hit single MMM MMM MMM MMM from the smash movie Dumb and Dumber soundtrack, I was intrigued by the band's unique sound and style.

When I saw the CD God Shuffled His Feet on the shelf of a local store, what could the meaning of the title possibly be, I thought. Could the title be a reference to basketball, suggesting the Almighty travelled with the ball or what?

When the chance came to do a 90's music review, this wouldn't be the most commercial choice, but few, if any 90's CDs could be considered as unique. So here goes, a review of the 90's classic God Shuffled His Feet.

Actually, this 90's classic CD got it's moniker from the title song, the opener of the CD. In the title song, God Shuffled His Feet, the song refers to the Creator's reaction to questions put to him by some of his subjects. Questions like "do you have to eat, or get your hair cut in heaven?". Also, the musical query is asked "and if your eye got put out in this life, will it be waiting up in heaven with your wife?"

With obvious religious overtones, one might suspect Brad Roberts, the frontman of Crash Test Dummies, to be an avowed Christian or at least a "spiritual" believer. In subsequent interviews, Roberts denies any such notion.

While some might denounce such a song as heresy or even blasphemy, my own view is that Roberts has a definite curiousity when it comes to God and that's not necessarily a bad thing, whatever his personal beliefs. Many professed Christians, if honest, would admit to some of the same types of thoughts.

As the song concludes there is a line "I'm not quite clear about what you just spoke, was that a parable or a very subtle joke?"

The 90's classic CD turns more uptempo with the second cut Afternoons And Coffeespoons. This is one of my favorite pop songs of all time and serves as sort of a personal theme song/slacker anthem.

Although the subject of the song is apparently ill, what with having his "lungs checked with X-rays" and such, I can relate to the idea of "wearing pajamas in the daytime" measured out with "coffeespoons and T.S. Eliot".

Sort of like beer, to some the gravel-voiced Brad Roberts' voice may be an acquired taste and his lament in the song that "I've heard the rattle in my bronchi" could be taken literally. Also, like beer, Roberts kind of grows on the listener, or at least on this one.

The MMM song falls next on the 90's classic CD. Anyone who listened to rock radio in the 90's has heard this song numerous times. The song could be about child abuse or maybe just children who are considered "different". I'm not quite sure, but it is a 90's classic single that still holds up to this day.

In The Days Of The Caveman seems to be random thoughts on a camping trip about how cavemen survived way back when Dick Cheney was young. Tales of "foraging the forests like a primate, using sharpened tools instead of hotplates" set to a rocking beat.

Swimming In Your Ocean is another random thoughts kind of song, this time a sexual encounter. Brad Roberts, who wrote all the songs on this 90's classic CD, finds his mind wandering to such things as "I wonder if my seed will find purchase in your soil." All this to a lilting beat framed by Dan Roberts on bass and Michel Dorge's flawless drums and percussion.

Here I Stand Before Me is about a man in a doctor's office having X-rays taken. This song and others on the 90's classic CD fueled rumors of Roberts' impending demise. However, nearly a decade and a half later, in spite of a near fatal car crash a few years ago, Roberts is still alive and kicking. Some might even say that Roberts took the name of the band literally in 2000. This may sound doleful, believe me, it's not.

With a mix of Dan Roberts' (Brad's brother) funky bass guitar, Benjamin Darvill's harmonica and Michel Dorge's crashing drums and percussion, this is a rocking tune. How many rock songs speak of "my mind's eye" or phalanges, anyway? One of my favorite Dummy tunes.

I Think I'll Disappear Now is a tale of a guy running into an ex somewhere. Who can't relate to that? "Running into you like this without a warning, is like catching a sniff of tequila in the morning." "I think I'll disappear now, slip out sideways." Another of my favorites.

How Does A Duck Know is the musical question of how ducks know what direction south is and the like. Not one of my favorites, but it still beats the likes of Britney Spears, you know?

When I Go Out With Artists is a story of "cubists and dadaists" and all the intellectual posturing in an art gallery. As the song says, "if I were David Byrne, I'd go to galleries and not be too concerned." Good song.

The Psychic is about a man consulting a palm reader or tarot card reader or fortune teller of some kind about his future. This is a haunting ballad with Ellen Reid's voice blending beautifully with that of Roberts as Brad sings:

what does she think when she foretells a disease? Would she keep it a secret if death stood before me? What could some cards hold, where is her foothold, can I escape what she sees? And she said all the years that have come to pass, and all the years that shall be, I see here right before me.

Two Knights And Maidens is about medieval times and some possibly kinky behavior after the Knights shed their armor. The Dummies, or at least songwriter Roberts, seem fascinated with previous eras, particularly from centuries ago. This is another catchy song that is definitely not your typical rock fare.

The classic 90's CD God Shuffled His Feet with Untitled, a piano instrumental. Crash Test Dummies have seemingly moved on from the record compamy ratrace offering what music they do produce for download mostly.

This classic 90's CD was deftly produced by Jerry Harrison, formerly of the Talking Heads. Harrison has an impressive list of producing credits. The Crash Test Dummies received 3 Grammy nominations the year after the CD's release.

The Dummies are Brad Roberts on lead vocals and guitar, Ellen Reid on backup vocals and keyboards (with an occasional lead such as on the Dumb and Dumber soundtrack tune The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead, a real rocking tune), Benjamin Darvill on mandolin and harmonica, Dan Roberts on bass and Michel Dorge on drums.

I must admit I probably wouldn't be doing a 90's music review of this CD without our dog Roxy, or the Roxinator as we call her. It seems Roxy ate my copy of a mix tape one day that had several Dummies tunes on it which I had recently rediscovered. I had become so hooked on a couple of the songs, I was forced to purchase the CD.

As far as those who might say the title or some of the songs are a sacrilege, I say listen for yourself. Regardless of Brad Roberts' beliefs (or non beliefs), anything that might get people talking about God or some of the questions asked in the track can't be all bad.

The lyrics came from the liner of the CD and it can be purchased at:

www.last.fm/music/Crash+Test+Dummies/God+Shuffled+His+Feet

www.jr.com/product/music/pm/_93537/

www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1110134/a/God+Shuffled+His+Feet.htm

www.tower.com/god-shuffled-his-feet-crash-test-dummies-cd/wapi/105817566

www.amazon.com/God-Shuffled-His-Feet/dp/B00138D01Y