T-Clog is Sentenced to Life in Prision!

Volume #12: Undercover (Mixdorf, September, 2006)

When giving an overall grade to each song I use this: Best song EVER! = 10,
Loved it = 9, Liked it =8, Not bad = 7, Could take it or leave it = 6,
Uninspiring/boring = 5, Didn’t like it = 4, Hated it = 3, Worst song EVER! = 2,
You’re an idiot for putting this on a CD = 1.

0. Number of new songs to me on this album. Undercover

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1. Song number 1’s lyrical grade. Be My Girl -- Sally

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1. Song number 1’s musical grade.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1. Overall grade for song number 1.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1. What do like about song number 1?

I really liked the naughty lyrics of this song. It was very bizarre and unusual. The line I pop up for to the most is: “And when I am feeling naughty, I blow her up with air.” I also enjoy the fast tempo at the beginning and end of the track. The British accent made the story that much more creepy. Now don’t think that I don’t like creepy, the fact is that I really do like this creepy song.

1. What do you dislike about song number 1?

I was disappointed the first time I heard this track, but after listening to it for a month I grew to appreciate it as a novelty.

1. Additional comments for song number 1:

The screaming at the very end of the song was a nice addition. It reminds me of the screaming monster in the video Dan, Pat, and I made at camp a few years ago. I believe that Jason was suppose to be the monster. Do you remember the red glowing globe thing that spins?

2. Song number 2’s lyrical grade.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 So Lonely

2. Song number 2’s musical grade.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

2. Overall grade for song number 2.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

2. What do like about song number 2?

I really like the chorus. Sting has a very distinct voice and it is a welcomed sound to my ears who have been in a Sting drought for a number of years. I use to listen to Every Breath You Take – The Singles by the Police exclusively, but in college I bought a number of Sting’s albums through BMG. My favorite Sting album hands down is Ten Summoner’s Tales.

At about the 2:28 mark, there is a nice bit of guitar work going on. I am becoming a big fan of the electric guitar and the sound of them is touching a place in my ear that has never been touched before. The electric guitar highlights (solos) are seducing my inner ear. In high school and college I never liked a lot of electric guitar. I guess things change. If you listen close enough I think that you will even hear a harmonica. Always welcome the harmonica is!

2. What do you dislike about song number 2?

I can’t pick out anything to criticize in this song. I think that it was a good pick to put on this album.

3. Song number 3’s lyrical grade. Can’t Stand Losing You

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

3. Song number 3’s musical grade.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

3. Overall grade for song number 3.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

3. What do like about song number 3?

I love the little UUHH at the 1:41 mark. What was that? I think the lyrics are good and the beat goes a long way at keeping this song moving forward. The Police seem to repeat the hell out of words in their chorus. Is anyone else noticing this? It works for them and the songs that they sing. I chalk it up to one of the things that I like about the Police.

3. What do you dislike about song number 3?

There is nothing that I don’t like about this song. Another good pick Methuen.

3. Additional comments for song number 3:

I actually own this song already. It is on the Every Breath You Take – The Singles album. After the song Every Breath You Take, the second most played song on that album for me is Can’t Stand Losing You. This song really dates itself with the following line: “..and my LP records and they’re all scratched.”

4. Song number 4’s lyrical grade. Regatta de Blanc

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

4. Song number 4’s musical grade.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

4. Overall grade for song number 4.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

4. What do you like about song number 4?

I like the fact that this song was a change of pace. It didn’t break pace with repeating, but it threw in a bit of world language. Is the title of the song French? I heard them say, “Areba” early in the song. Is that Spanish? It has a great beat and the musical aspects make this a highly energetic song for me. I caught myself bobbing my head a few times and tapping my foot too.

4. What do you dislike about song number 4?

I was not taken this song. Please read me correctly because I want you to understand that it is not a bad song. It just didn’t do a whole lot for me. Thus, an overall score of seven.

5. Song number 5’s lyrical grade. The Bed’s Too Big Without You

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

5. Song number 5’s musical grade.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

5. Overall grade for song number 5.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

5. What do like about song number 5?

I love the music. The drums and the other instruments are busting it out well to create a fabulous melody. It is hypnotic. I think that I hear a shaker in the background. It adds just the right spice to this delicious tune. This song maybe my favorite.

5. What do you dislike about song number 5?

Thought it was awesome!

6. Song number 6’s lyrical grade. Bring On The Night

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6. Song number 6’s musical grade.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6. Overall grade for song number 6.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6. What do like about song number 6?

I greatly dig the big booms. Is sounds like a basketball in a lonely gymnasium.

6. What do you dislike about song number 6?

This song was too boring for me. It seems that another song about the night was just what I didn’t need. It lost me almost instantly. It is hard to say what exactly throws me for a loop. I will take a break and come back to it later…… After spending about an hour thinking about it, I think that I might have a clue now. It has a reggae feel. I greatly dislike reggae music and I can’t dig Bob Marley at all. It reminds me of this asshole I worked with at Philmont in 1993. He listened to Bob Marley all of the time and our personalities always created heated situations when we worked near each other.

7. Song number 7’s lyrical grade. Man in a Suitcase

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7. Song number 7’s musical grade.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7. Overall grade for song number 7.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7. What do like about song number 7?

I think that it was cool of them to have a woman talking on the intercom in the background. They are trying to give you a feeling that they are in an airport. Once again a repeating moment for the band. It is truly a trademark of theirs. I like the line where they say, “I would invite you back to my place.” “ Is it me the man with a stranger’s face?” is an example of creative writing. The lyrics are simple but very creative. Reminds me of the Three Trolls how they can write about the oddest things with such success. Good stuff here.

7. What do you dislike about song number 7?

Nothing that I didn’t like. Mixdorf has put together another hit album. Way to go you brilliant bastard!

7. Additional comments for song number 7:

Has anyone ever seen the album cover on Ghost In The Machine? After starring at it for a few minutes it fianally hit me that the red digital design is actually an abstract drawing of Sting, Andy, and Stewart. It was like looking at one of those hidden 3-D pictures. The image just pops out at you after a while of looking hard.

8. Song number 8’s lyrical grade. Canary in a Coalmine

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8. Song number 8’s musical grade.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8. Overall grade for song number 8.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8. What do like about song number 8?

I like the line about getting a case of influenza.

8. What do you dislike about song number 8?

The music just was a stick in the mud for me. The lyrics other than what I liked, see above, are ungood (I know it is not a wordJ). Sorry to be so hard on this song, but it is like drinking diet Mt. Dew when you love regular Mt. Dew. This is obviously my least favorite song. I would have included Invisible Sun in the number eight spot instead of this track.

9. Song number 9’s lyrical grade. Secret Journey

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

9. Song number 9’s musical grade.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

9. Overall grade for song number 9.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

9. What do like about song number 9?

I love the Myst like beginning to the song. It is ambient and it sets the stage nicely for the secret journey. There are some power ups that sound to me to be some type of spaceship getting ready to warp into the unknown sectors of deep space. The dinging of the bell takes you to another level. It says, “Hey stop all engines! What was that?” I thought that it was awesome to just stop the song and to add a secret element. Nice touch Police. This song is one of my favorites on this album. Great find brother.

9. What do you dislike about song number 9?

I like the whole song!

10. Song number 10’s lyrical grade. Hungry For You

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

10. Song number 10’s musical grade.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

10. Overall grade for song number 10.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

10. What do like about song number 10?

The song was just alright for me. Man there was a lot of good songs on this album, but this was not one of them. Not good, but not bad either.

10. What do you dislike about song number 10?

I can do without the French. I welcomed it earlier in the album, but it is too much now. It reminds me of Jason Bartlett and his desire to ride in the Tour de France. The horns don’t really do it for me right now. Normally I like to hear the horns, but it sounds to Scrooged to me. It has a familiar sound and that’s why I believe that I am not too excited about this song. I wish that there were a better Police song to end the album with. Overall, Methuen did a great job. I don’t think that I could have done a better job. My hat is off to the great Bostonianish man in Methuen.

Final Grade for: Undercover

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10