When approaching an artist such as Martin Gordon for the first time, it can be appealing to just grab the best-of set instead trying to wade through his vast discography which spans not only 3 solo albums but a multitude of other bands. How Am I Doing So Far? makes that option even more appealing than usual. Culled from Gordon's three previous solo records it does a good job representing his finest material and even adding in some unreleased tracks.
Known for making witty and clever power pop, the main thing Gordon has to worry about is becoming too punn-y for his own good. Featuring songs with titles like "Her Daddy was a Dalek, Her Mummy was a Non-Stick Frying Pan" and "(Oh Dear What Shall We Do) Daddy's Lost His Head in a Coup" some might say it's already crossed that line.
However, even during those songs Gordon avoids (narrowly) the novelty category, in part because of how much breezy fun the songs are to listen to. Every track on the CD has a playful quality to it. Rockers like "Fuss Me", "Plug'N'Play" and "Fickle" make up a fair amount of the album and each have plenty of puns and references contained in them. Track #13 "Bad Light Stops Play" uses a phrase from the game Cricket to form a delectable pop piece.
On slightly darker material such as "Anyway Goodbye", the upbeat spirit still comes through. Here, in the way of a bubbly chorus. "Only One Dream Per Person" may be the most somber song on the album and it's premise is a re-imagining of Heaven if run by Germans. If there's one thing this record wants to get across it's that you shouldn't take most of it seriously.
Occasionally the songs feel a bit too polished with great guitars, excellent vocal arrangements, and a fantastic backing band making you wish for a slightly more raw and less sincere feeling. It can almost seem as if Gordon is trying too hard to make each song a model of sophisticated power pop. When you come near the end of the album you may feel worn out on it all. Thankfully, "Girls Fight Over Me" and "Good Girls Gone Bad Remix" serve up a bit more edgy, immediate fair.
Overall, How Am I Doing So Far? is a great CD on it's own and will serve as a good intro course on Martin Gordon for newcomers. He knows how to craft slick, catchy pop songs that would otherwise come off as novelty items.
Article comments
1 - Connie Phillips
This article has been placed at the Advance.net websites, a site affiliated with about 12 newspapers.
One such site is here.
2 - Brian Three-Gorillas
"Known for making witty and clever power pop, the main thing Gordon has to worry about is becoming too puny for his own good."
I agree, the last thing pop pickers want is weedy, unhealthy-looking blokes wielding guitars that are about to make 'em fall over. Three miles before breakfast! And get that hair cut!
3 - Cameron Graham
Brian - I compliment your keen eye. I (and the editors) completely missed that. Thanks for the laugh.
Cameron G
4 - Brian Three-gorillas
No, I mean it. I really hate those weedy-looking people, I want some real men to provide my pop fodder, not these milksops from reality TV shows that we all get fobbed off with. In my day, you got up at the crack of dawn, had a cold shower and a rubdown with a deep-frozen kipper, then it was four miles around the quad before Morning Thrashing, followed by Latin Declension and Unclenching till the games mistress appeared with hand-relief.
Sorry, I got a bit carried away there, but I daresay you take my point.