Dead Man (Self song)

Last updated
"Dead Man"
Song by Self
from the album Gizmodgery
ReleasedSeptember 5, 2000 (2000-09-05)
Recorded1999–2000
Studio Bennett House (Franklin)
Genre
Length3:03
Label Spongebath Records
Songwriter Matt Mahaffey
Producers
Audio
"Dead Man" on YouTube

"Dead Man" is a song by the American pop rock band Self, released via Spongebath Records on September 5, 2000. It appears as the fourth track of their fourth studio album, Gizmodgery . The song revolves around electronic power pop instrumentation mixed with elements of alternative rock, lyrically dealing with mortality and existential confusion. Upon release, critics praised "Dead Man" for its sound and songwriting. In the early 2020s, "Dead Man" experienced a resurgence after a video of Tally Hall listening to the track helped it gain new popularity.

Contents

Composition

"Dead Man" exclusively uses toy instruments, a style consistent with its origin album, Gizmodgery (2000). It follows an electronic harpsichord melody with programmed drums, [1] using frequently changing panning on its synthesizers. A keyboard bass copies the drum pattern, while the song's chorus introduces an electric guitar and more drums. The track follows an 8-bar verse–chorus form, additionally incorporating a spoken bridge and an instrumental break. The song's intro stops a note early, resulting in the track containing 91.5 bars. With a tempo of 120 beats per minute and a time signature of 4/4, "Dead Man" has a duration of 3 minutes and 3 seconds. The song is in the key of B major, with some usage of its parallel minor. It lyrically discusses mortality and a failure to understand life, using black comedy as a coping method. Lead member Matt Mahaffey sings this in a mid-to-high range, matching the melodies underneath. The chorus' lyrics are accentuated with more space and sustained notes. [4] The song was recorded using a condenser microphone, with Mahaffey using Pro Tools to equalize the toy instruments' typical mid-range frequencies. [5]

Release and reception

"Dead Man" was released on September 5, 2000, through Spongebath Records. It appears as the fourth track of Gizmodgery, Self's fourth studio album. [6] Spencer Owen of Pitchfork compared the song's chorus to the Rentals' soundscape, describing it as a "marvelous slice of power pop". [1] Mark Woodlief of CMJ lauded the track as "quirky, catchy new wave", [2] while J Noise of Hybrid Magazine likened the keyboard style of "Dead Man" to Greg Hawkes', praising the song's witty lyrics and calling attention to its potential as a radio single. [7] Gerald Dih of AudioPhix complimented the track's full production despite using toy instruments, highlighting its "catchy popcraft" and "clever songwriting" as making the song one of the best of Gizmodgery. [4] In the early 2020s, "Dead Man" became a sleeper hit on Spotify, [8] with the trend being sparked by a video of rock band Tally Hall listening to the song. [9]

Performances

Very few concerts were performed to promote Gizmodgery's release, limited by the extensive cost of batteries required to power the band's toy instruments. [10] As such, "Dead Man" was usually performed on acoustic instruments after the tour was completed. In 2001, Self uploaded a downloadable video of the band performing "Dead Man" taken during their tour for free on their website. On March 25, 2015, Self performed the song as part of a Daytrotter session. [11] Prior to their show at WRLT's Ellison Place Street Festival on July 22, 2017, the band published an acoustic performance of the track to YouTube. [12]

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. [13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Owen, Spencer (August 21, 2001). "Self: Gizmodgery Album Review". Pitchfork . Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Woodlief, Mark (January 2001). "Best New Music - Gizmodgery". CMJ . No. 89. pp. 24, 70. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  3. ↑ Reiss, Randy (2001). "44.1 KHZ - Music Reviews". Neumu . Archived from the original on September 10, 2001. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Dih, Gerald (November 6, 2025). "Dissecting the song that broke Self back into the mainstream decades later". AudioPhix . Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  5. ↑ Botchick, Cheryl (November 8, 2000). "SELF: Regression Therapy". CMJ . Archived from the original on February 11, 2001. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
  6. ↑ Huey, Steve. "Gizmodgery Review". AllMusic . Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  7. ↑ Noise, J (March 3, 2001). "Reviews | Self - Gizmodgery". Hybrid Magazine. Archived from the original on March 4, 2001. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  8. ↑ Besecker, Gabe (December 11, 2023). "sElf-Indulgent: A Retrospective on the Band That Started Matt Mahaffey's Career". Woof Magazine. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  9. ↑ Hughey, Noah (July 10, 2025). "Self-Made Genius: Tracing the Musical Legacy of Matt Mahaffey". Mixed Alt Mag. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  10. ↑ Gdula, Steve (November 2, 2000). "Self Plays With Toys". Wall of Sound . Archived from the original on January 26, 2001. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  11. ↑ "sElf - Daytrotter Session". Paste . March 25, 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  12. ↑ Buckley, Dan (July 21, 2017). "sELF performs Dead Man and Sucked Out of the Center". WRLT . Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  13. ↑ Gizmodgery (Media notes). Self. Spongebath. 2000.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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