As the title entails ironically I was brainwashed too because to this day I'm obsessed with this c.d. track for track! This is a top five c.d. for me right up in the ranks with SP and Tori. I think I'll never be able to say it better than when I described the c.d. in my "Your Five Most Influential c.d.s (Share Why, Stories, etc.)" Here's what was written:
I used to hate pop. I rebelled against what I thought was pop until I became obnoxious to everyone around me. "Maybe You've been Brainwashed Too" slapped me in the face, told me to lighten up and made me respect what a good pop album could do. It took every pop contrivance, mixed into a blender, multiplied the pop soul times 1,000,000,000, added psychotic almost non sensible lyrics that may or not have been dealing ironically with evils of commercialism and all the doo doo doos, heys, and whoos you can shake a stick at. Not only did this c.d. convince me to spend the most amount of cash on any one c.d. ever, it did it twice. I bought both of Gregg Alexanders solo c.d.s for $40 each. I even bought Danielle Brisebois c.d., who was also a contributor to the group for about the same price. (she has her own thread at Danielle Brisebois - Classic Rock Forum) After the New Radicals I opened myself up to artist without prejudice and eventually found myself enjoying c.d.s from everyone to Christina Aguilera to Mandy Moore to Justin Timberlake to more recently Kelly Clarkson and even Hanson! It also influenced me to discover groups like Junior Senior and Scissor Sisters.
Anyone who just passed this brainchild of the genius that is Gregg Alexander has robbed themselves. This c.d. is more than just a one hit (or debatable two) hit wonder nineties flash in the pan. This was the most enthusiastic, innovative, collage of pop celebration I've EVER heard.
Re: New Radicals-Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too
Track Listing
Mother We Just Can't Get Enough
This song hits you right off with how much of a trip the rest of the record will be with the line Make My ******* hard let's go! Then musically just in the first 30 seconds I'm greeted by a guitar hook that's like crack and a jubilant piano accompaniment. When Gregg comes in with his Whoa! Hey! Whoa! I'm already singing with the same enthusiasm as him. The song as it goes is perfect as it is but it's the random roads and chances that it takes that make it work so much more effectively. At 4:20 (hmmm) some chick is robotically claiming possession of everything from your credit card to your soul followed by some nonsensical reggae like chant from Gregg into a great guitar blast mixed with Danielle's complimentary background Oh Yeah! All Rights! I still left moments out but I LOVE this song!
Favorite Lyrics: There's something about you
That tears me inside out whenever you're around.
There's something about you
That makes me fly.
You're a heart attack, just the kind I like.
And there's something about your kiss,
Haunting and strange
That makes me feel so good.
I get a feelin', we got a feelin', we got a feelin'
Like we're alive.
You Get What You Give
This is the song that most of you have heard. What can I say besides there is a reason that this song got them heard BUT it doesn't solely represent them. It's such a feel good song with an edge of rebellion to it. I love the touches like the chuh cha cha cha at the beginning and the One one one one! ONE TWO! ONE TWO THREE AOOOOAAA! I also love the high Give it to me now! The video is fun as well.
Favorite Lyrics: Four A. M., we ran a miracle mile.
We're flat broke, but hey, we do it in style.
The bad rich, God's flyin' in for your trial... Ha-ha!
I Hope I Didn't Just Give Away the Ending
My favorite track of the album bar none! I love the trippy long nearly indecipherable vocal intro! LOVE it! When the actual song starts I love the lyrics. They are so crazy they crack me up to sing them but at the same time the song has a smoothness that makes me want to continuously listen to it over and over. Gregg has such a soul behind songs like these that it doesn't matter what he's singing.
Favorite Lyrics:
(All of them)
She wanted to be a nun
Until that fateful day we met
I beat the crucifix
In a game of Russian roulette
I burned my Beatles records
Because she hated number nine
She licked rock cocaine suckers
Laughed, said her moms doing mine
well, are you an illusion,
or am I just getting stoned
Because I can't take it alone
I can't take it alone
I hope I didn't just give away the ending
We started limping,
Caught the handicap shuttle to town
And yelled "God's healed us"
As we ran off the bus the driver just frowned
By the way this girl was sexy and she wouldn't touch you
That may not be true
But I said it so you'd feel involved with this song
Are you an illusion
Or am I just getting stoned
Because I can't take it alone
I can't take it alone
I hope I didn't just give away the ending
We caught a fey taxi driver
I smiled the ride was free
I felt like Amsterdam
She wanted more drugs and maybe me
I told her dealer I was broke
He hired a camera man
We did a porno film for coke
I hear I'm big in Japan
Are you an illusion
Or am I just getting stoned
Because I can't take it alone
I can't take it alone
I hope I didn't just give away the ending
we went back to her kitchen
Put the coke all in a can
Tied up a T.V minister
In walked her dad
He started drinking coffee
Too much sugar on the go
He fell dead on the floor
He thought the coke was sweet'n'low
well are you an illusion
Or am I just getting stoned
Because I can't take it alone
I can't take it alone
I hope I didn't just give away the ending
Boy was she upset but then she stole her dad's wallet and
I drove him to the hospital
To sell all of his donatable body parts
And this is where she dies
They brought the depressed junkie in
She shot his Cyanide up
I guess she thought it was errol flynn
I'm blamed in the confusion
The police being phoned
I don't even love you
We weren't even friends
It's just that I can't take it alone
Uh, huh
I can't take it alone
I hope I didn't just give away the ending (repeat 6 times)
Aw Jesus, Ah shit
I think I just gave away the ending
I Don't Wanna Die Anymore
A more straight forward ballad but pulled off great. It's really melancholy but at 2:40 with the aid of background vocals by Danielle Brisebois it really picks up into one of the most passionately delivered vocals on the album.
Favorite Lyrics: You wanna go you wanna stay you wanna
You really screwed my world
I gotta live but you stand in the way
I'm pullin out now "UHH"
Jehovah Made This Whole Joint For You Carolina
Just a fun song! His character portrayal of some hypocritical modern day hippy is perfect. I love the vocal Scat boy scat scat parts and the manic outro!
Favorite Lyrics:
So original in her black lipstick
Listening to some obscure band
But isn't she pissed at all the other non-conformists
who listen to that same obscure band
But that's OK shes helping the environment
By sipping on pure water and such
Then screams we better start thinking about the Ozone layer,
While tossing out a Styrofoam cup
Someday We'll Know
The second single and the last the airwaves would ever hear of the New Radicals. In my opinion, this is actually the weakest track of the album and an anticlimactic way to go out but it did have the radio marketability. It's a good song but just flat in comparison to the rest of the album.
Favorite Lyrics: I bought a ticket to the end of the rainbow
I watched the stars crash in the sea
If I could ask God just one question
Why aren't you here with me?
Re: New Radicals-Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too
Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too
This songs makes me want to share the same drugs that Gregg was on and I'm not anything near a recreational drug user! I have no idea what this song is about or how it got pulled out of Greggs ass but I LOVE it! It's absolutely nuts but I'm along for the ride for every single note! It's the most fun trip you can have with or without a bong!
Favorites Lyrics:
There are actual lyrics?
Bonus:
(proof that this is perfect stoner music, WTF )
In Need of a Miracle
Another just plain fun song and a good one to follow MYBBT! It brings the album back to a good but more centered vibe! I love the Breaking the law! Breaking the law! parts! It makes me think of Beavis and Butthead! My favorite part is at 2:25!
Favorite Lyrics: See I took a train to New York
And then I rolled into Chicago
Yeah, I've been all around this mean mean world
Only trying to find a heart of gold
Gotta Stay High
I think this is Greggs best vocals from a straight forward singing approach. This is my third favorite track on here! I think this is a better radio friendly track than Someday We'll Know. I love Greggs high notes in this one!
Favorite Tracks: I saw your eyes
Fell back to yesterday
An only child
Until you let me stay
I had no one on my side
Too weak to stand
Too scared to love again
The damn has broke
My soul is spilling all over your hand
Technicolor Lover
Such a corny song but it works because the campy sound effects, blatantly sexual lyrics and Greggs trip through the song make you follow along with a grin!
Favorite Lyrics:
She asked where to get that velvet colored hair
I said I got lot's more somewhere
If you touch my big ___
Flowers
Great chorus in this one! At 2:30 I like the actual bitterness in his vocals and his rant!
Favorite Lyrics: I love you hate me
I took math class that ain't a fair exchange
I call you, you hang up
Don't have to be a bitch and get your number changed!
I'm sorry, forgive me
I never meant to call you those names
But I'm lonely, so lonely please
Crying Like a Church on Monday
A good soulful closer that slows things to an end for the album! A great ending that leaves you satisfied for the three seconds before you start playing the whole c.d. over again from track 1!
Favorite Lyrics: I was dancing
With your shadow
Slow down memories hall
I said 'wait have I been seduced and forgotten'
You said 'Baby haven't we all'
Re: New Radicals-Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too
And yet another amazing review Bry, I don't think I could spend the time to write the in depth album summaries that you do, my compliments. I am not a big pop fan per-se, but I also agree that sometimes hidden gems get dismissed out of hand just because of the label.
They should use a similar genrification for Pop that Metal has now...
Serious Heavy Pop...the good stuff.
Medium Lite Pop...lighter but some decent songs.
Pablum Poop Pop...Britney, Miley, Jonas Brothers...etc.(With a Warning on the CD that this stuff could seriously impair your musical taste for a long time...)
I am not bothering listening to the songs you posted, I'll just get a copy and play it Properly on my stereo.
Re: New Radicals-Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too
Nice review, Bry. I dont have any New Radicals in my music library. To be honest I dont recall ever listening to them, but thanks to you and your well written review, I will obtain this album
Re: New Radicals-Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too
I finally had time to play it for the first time this morning. I have to give it another spin before I can really express what I think, but it was really easy going and I liked it.
I finally had time to play it for the first time this morning. I have to give it another spin before I can really express what I think, but it was really easy going and I liked it.
Re: New Radicals-Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too
I actually stumbled upon this gem by accident... well maybe not by accident because this was the cd I was looking for. At work I had heard You Get What You Give for the first time and being a big fan I went to The Exclusive Company right after work to buy the cd... I head right to the W's start flippin... hmmm... nothing. I go to the kid working there and asked where the new World Party cd was. He goes to the W's starts flippin and pulls out Egyptology... well after a bit more conversing I precede to sing the little that was playing over in my head... Don't give up you got a reason to live... come around we'll kick your ass's... he chuckles some and goes and pulls out MYBB2. I have been a fan since.
Re: Albums You Should Hear Before You Die: New Radicals-Maybe You've Been Brainwashed
I knew we were going to get along just fine Terra! Thank you for showing The New Radicals some love as I'm a big schill for them! Are you familiar with Gregg Alexanders solo work as well as member Danielle Brisebois? Great stuff IMO!
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