Chart Watch: Crash Test Dummies

Title: God Shuffled His Feet (1994)
Label: Arista
Genre: Rock

Pro-Social Content: None, though several nonsensical songs avoid offensive themes.

Objectionable Content: A wave of sexual double entendres floods "Swimming in Your Ocean." "In the Days of the Caveman" includes Darwinist philosophies ("See in the shape of my body leftover parts from the apes and monkeys"). Tequila and swimsuit magazines are recommended as positive distractions on "I Think I'll Disappear Now." The title track is disturbing in its irreverence for God, His nature, and biblical concepts, while the single "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" shows disrespect for churchgoers. Other songs speak positively of alcohol, medieval potions, and psychic phenomena.

Summary/Advisory: With a Jethro Tull-minus-the-flute style and lyrics often bordering on utter nonsense, Crash Test Dummies has found a niche with an audience tired of the downer music of various alternative bands. This group has a more upbeat tone, though it comes off sounding like the same tune played 12 different ways. These guys don't take themselves too seriously. But herein lies the problem: The band doesn't take it's lyrics seriously either, offering several less-than-wholesome messages. Crash Test Dummies are an accident waiting to happen.


Well there you have it. Beware the band who hums an entire chorus, likes to drink, and reads Tolkien and T.S. Eliot. While I have to agree with him about every Crash Test Dummies song sounding the same (more accurately the whole album sounds like the work of someone who read a how-to book on formulaic songwriting) that's not really unusual for an early 90s band. Both Hootie and the Blowfish and the Gin Blossoms had relative success writing the same song over and over again. In fact, the Spin Doctors are still trying to find a new way to rewrite "Jimmy Olsen's Blues." Also the only world in which Crash Test Dummies sound like Jethro Tull is one where Stephen Hawking has a chance at beating Carl Lewis in the long jump.