The Best of Crash Test Dummies

by Crash Test Dummies

Overview

Amiable and eclectic Canadian alternative rock ensemble Crash Test Dummies enjoyed a nice, even-handed dose of moderate success after the release of their warm, wry 1991 collegiate folk-pop debut Ghosts That Haunt Me. Led by the impossibly low baritone of singer/songwriter Brad Roberts, the Dummies were as polarizing as they were congenial, which made it even more surprising when the first single off of their 1993 follow-up became an international hit. "MMM, MMM, MMM, MMM," with its wordless chorus, Tim Burton-esque lyrics, and surreal video, all of which made it an unlikely candidate for the Billboard Hot 100, but it pushed the album God Shuffled His Feet to number nine on the U.S. charts and number nine in the U.K.. Later albums like Worm's Life, Give Yourself a Hand, I Don't Care That You Don't Mind and Puss 'n' Boots flirted with electronica and even rap, falling victim to their own whimsy and subsequently losing the band's middle of the road fan base that came into the fold in the early '90s, but 2004's dark and largely acoustic Songs of the Unforgiven proved a strong return to form. Best of Crash Test Dummies touches on all of these albums, grabbing the strongest cuts (many of which were initially buried amongst more cringe-inducing moments) and bringing them front and center. Songs like "Unforgiven Ones," "Ghosts That Haunt Me," the still heartbreaking "Superman Song" and even the one-off cover of XTC's "Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" (recorded when the original was only a year old), and the oddball faux-neo-soul of "Keep a Lid on Things" are oddly infectious, though just as divisive now as they were in their heyday. [Sony's 2008, expanded European edition included two bonus tracks.] ~ James Christopher Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	04/29/2008
Label:	Commercial Canada / Sony Bmg
UPC:	0886971518429

Tracks

1. Superman's Song
2. Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
3. The Ghosts That Haunt Me
4. Afternoons & Coffeespoons
5. The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead
6. He Liked To Feel It
7. Flying Feeling
8. Every Morning
9. Keep A Lid On Things
10. The Day We Never Met
11. The Unforgiven Ones
12. It'll Never Leave You Alone
13. Laid Back
14. You Said You'd Meet Me (In California)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Crash Test Dummies   Primary Artist
Ellen Reid   Featured Artist

Technical Credits

Jamey Staub   Audio Production,Mixing
Andy Partridge   Composer
Crash Test Dummies   Audio Production
Ed Thacker   Mixing
Greg Wells   Mixing,Audio Production
Eric Swanson   Audio Production
Scott Harding   Mixing,Audio Production
Pete DeBoer   Audio Production
Jerry Harrison   Audio Production
Michael Fossenkemper   Audio Production
Stewart Lerman   Composer
Dan Roberts   Audio Production
Tom Lord-Alge   Audio Production
Brad Roberts   Audio Production
Stuart Cameron   Composer,Audio Production
Brian Scheuble   Mixing,Audio Production
Michel Dorge   Audio Production
Terry Manning   Audio Production
Steve Berlin   Audio Production