Coulton embarked upon his Thing-a-Week enterprise in which he called upon himself to create one complete song per week in his own home music studio. "Thing a Week One" -- a 12-song collection -- was the first item off the assembly line. It's an entertaining pile of ones and zeros (speaking digitally).
I could go through the songs in CD/iTunes/Amazon/CDBaby order. Instead, I'll discuss my favorites first.
"Shop Vac" is a light pop-rock ditty whose seemingly perky message is this: The roar of a respectable Shop Vac can be useful when one needs to mask irritating noises such as crying or calls for help. Who knew?
"Brand New Sucker" relies on less musical subterfuge than "Shop Vac." It's a fairly straight ahead saga of betrayal driven by solid guitar-powered lick. It's a short tune so I always have to listen to it at least twice to feel as though I've gotten my fill.
"Furry Old Lobster" is a gentle, twisted folk tune about how old "lobsters" (which you may know by another completely different name) have been displaced by "monsters" sent by New York. If you are confused, you can check YouTube for illustrated versions of this tune that might help you come to grips with the biology involved.
"W's Duty" somehow inspires George himself to rap about his philosophy. Maybe this recording will end up on a tape loop in the G. W. Bush Presidential Library?
"The Town Crotch" is a gentle, guitar-strummy "love" -- or "lust" -- song in honor of ... well ... the title sort of gives this one away.
"Baby Got Back" is Coulton's cover of Sir Mix-a-Lot's 1992 hit. Jonathan's folkish spin, however, perhaps brings the core appeal of Mix-a-Lot's discourse to a new audience?
"Someone Is Crazy" might be Freud with a banjo and electric guitar. Or not.
"See You All in Hell" is less than one minute's worth of computer-generated vocals and a few digital audio manipulations.
"Drive" is an anthem for the slow and not so furious.
"My Monkey" is a pleasant song about how monkeys can be cranky on occasion.
"Sibling Rivalry" is a noble effort to bring an infomercial sensibility to a play-by-play of two battling sisters. But it doesn't wear well on repeated listenings.
"Podsafe Christmas Song" is Alvin and the Chipmunks updated for the New Millennium.
If you're buying individual cuts, I'd recommend the first three listed above without hesitation. If you're a music-collection maniac like me, it's worth it to snag the whole pile and get the group discount.
Above all, don't annoy the neighbors with your loud music!
