Gizmodgery

Last updated
Gizmodgery
Self Gizmodgery Front.jpg
Studio album by
Self
ReleasedSeptember 5, 2000
April 25, 2001 (Japan)
StudioBennett House (Franklin)
Matt's Old House (Murfreesboro)
Genre
Length42:11
Label Spongebath
Producer Matt Mahaffey
Self chronology
Brunch
(1999)		Gizmodgery
(2000)		 Self Goes Shopping
(2000)
Singles from Gizmodgery
  1. "Trunk Fulla Amps"
    Released: February 2001

Gizmodgery is the fourth studio album by American pop rock band Self, released on September 5, 2000, by Spongebath Records. Recorded entirely with toy instruments, its music was written and composed by lead member Matt Mahaffey, with the band's other members contributing to select songs. The album received positive reviews from critics, discussing its unique production and playful energy. Commercially, Gizmodgery sold 10,000 copies in its first week and debuted at number nine on CMJ's Alternative Radio Airplay chart. The album was distributed on vinyl through El Camino Media in 2015.

Contents

Background

In 1995, Self was given the cover page of an issue of Virtually Alternative after the release of the project's debut album Subliminal Plastic Motives . Within the magazine, lead member Matt Mahaffey spoke about wanting to create an album solely with toy instruments, [4] a concept last attempted by Pianosaurus' in their 1987 album Groovy Neighborhood. He was additionally inspired by The Moog Cookbook and At Home with the Groovebox (1999), [5] Matt's older brother, Mike Mahaffey, later bought musical toys for his children, which sparked Matt to purchase more through eBay and begin developing the toy album. [6]

Production

Mahaffey recorded his instruments with a condenser microphone, later equalizing the audio with Pro Tools to fix abundant mid-range frequencies. [7] The songs "5 Alive", "Pattycake", and "Hi, My Name's Cindy" were additionally created using Logic Pro. Complications arose from this, as Mahaffey had to manually recreate the tracks with hundreds of separate files in Pro Tools to mix the songs. The files for "Hi, My Name's Cindy" were lost during this process, leading the song's final version to be a rough mix. [4]

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
"What a Fool Believes"
A 26-second sample of "What a Fool Believes" by Self, where parts of the first pre-chorus and chorus are heard.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Self was proposed by Count Bass D to record a cover of the Doobie Brothers' song "What a Fool Believes" during the album's creation, but the collaboration never came to fruition. Mahaffey later recorded the cover independently, drawn to creating large chords with small instruments. The song was constructed in a non-C major key to add variation to the album. [4] Some instruments such as the one-string Mattel star guitar made chord assembly arduous, requiring each note to be played one at a time. On the back of physical copies, Mahaffey compiled a list of all toys used for Gizmodgery. Of these, Cheryl Botchick of CMJ noted that the listed six-string electric guitar produced by Vox "could be construed as a rule bender". [7]

Self additionally worked on Breakfast with Girls (1999), an album planned to be released through DreamWorks Records, while making Gizmodgery. [8] Mahaffey wrote and recorded "Suzie Q Sailaway" for inclusion on the latter, but was requested by the label to put it on the former. [4] He subsequently re-recorded the song with a full band, wishing to contain toy songs to Gizmodgery. [9] This process delayed the release of Breakfast with Girls, which, combined with the track's shift in style, led to a retroactive dissatisfaction. [4] A remix of the song's toy recording was created in 1999 by Michael Simpson of the Dust Brothers. Mahaffey preferred this remix to the original version, [9] eventually adding it to the compilation album Selfafornia (2001). [10]

Release

Gizmodgery released through Spongebath Records on September 5, 2000, [1] and appeared in retail stores by October 31. [11] Issued exclusively on HDCD, [12] the album sold 10,000 units in its first week. [4] Copies were packaged with a parental advisory sticker on the front due to the song "Trunk Fulla Amps", [13] which repeats the word "motherfucker" numerous times. [3] Few concerts were connected to the album's release, limited by the extensive cost of batteries required to power the toy instruments. [14] "Trunk Fulla Amps" received a music video directed by Reed Ridley in February 2001, published through MTV. [9] Celebrating its fifteenth anniversary, the album was re-issued through El Camino Media on September 11, 2015, available as a digital download and physically as a blue vinyl. [12]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
The Daily Nebraskan Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [15]
Dead On The WebStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [16]
LMNOPStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [17]
Pitchfork 6.9/10 [3]
RockZoneA+ [18]
Portland Press Herald A [19]

The album received positive reviews upon release. Steve Huey of AllMusic gave the album a rating of 4/5, complimenting its detailed production against cheap toys and Mahaffey's "playful, often kitschy sense of humor". [1] Andrew Shaw of The Daily Nebraskan rated Gizmodgery 4 out of 4 stars, hailing the production and complete soundscapes achieved with the toys. [15] Spencer Owen of Pitchfork criticized the project's stylistics derivations and the noisiness of "5 Alive" and "Chameleon" while lauding the fun energy presented in other tracks, rating it a 6.9/10. [3] The album was reviewed more positively by Samuel Barker of RockZone, calling it a "good mix of old style funk with a dose of new age pop" and giving it an A+ grade. [18] Steven Fievet of LMNOP followed with a rating of 5 out of 6 stars, classifying the album as "toy pop" and magnifying its mix of lighthearted and serious undertones. [17] Ryan Peters of Portland Press Herald graded Gizmodgery an A, praising its tasteful mix of contrasting pop elements and Mahaffey's ability to avoid relying on a gimmick. [19]

Amy Phillips of The Village Voice positively reviewed the album's youthful themes, classing "Pattycake" as its best song. [2] Mark Woodlief of CMJ shared similar sentiment, admiring Mahaffey's production and comparing his experimental songwriting to Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips. [11] Scott Hefflon of Lollipop Magazine likened the song "I Love To Love Your Love My Love" to the Beatles and Jellyfish, commending its harmonies and doo-wop composition. [20] J Noise of Hybrid Magazine equated Mahaffey's guitar work throughout Gizmodgery to Brian May's, admiring the diverse combination of genres and stating a resemblance to Beck's Odelay (1996). [21] Carlos Ramirez of No Echo was pleased by Mahaffey's choice not to emulate the original singing style of "What a Fool Believes", enjoying its synthetic bouyancy. [22] Jeff Brown of The Pitch additionally approved "What a Fool Believes" and the varied moods of Gizmodgery, ranking the album as one of the best of 2000. [23] Bill Ribas of NY Rock held a similar ranking for the year, favoring "Trunk Fulla Amps" for its similarities to David Bowie's Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) (1980). [24] Ron Rollins of Dayton Daily News praised the album's energy and quirk, [25] while Ben Wener of The Orange County Register complimented its craftiness and use of childhood imagery. [26]

Use in media

"Dead Man" appears in an episode of Tally Hall's internet show, [27] which boosted the track in popularity on Spotify alongside "What a Fool Believes". [28] The latter song is featured in the first episode of the Netflix series FUBAR. [29]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Matt Mahaffey, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Am a Little Explosion" 3:35
2."5 Alive" 3:09
3."Chameleon" 2:53
4."Dead Man" 3:03
5."Trunk Fulla Amps"
  • Matt Mahaffey
  • Mike Mahaffey
  • Jason Rawlings
  • Mac Burrus
  • Chris James
3:24
6."Pattycake"
  • Matt Mahaffey
  • Rawlings
  • Burrus
4:05
7."Ordinaire"
  • Mahaffey
  • Mahaffey
  • Rawlings
  • Burrus
  • James
3:22
8."Miracle Worker" 2:02
9."Hi, My Name's Cindy" 2:29
10."What a Fool Believes"
3:42
11."9 Lives" 2:33
12."I Love To Love Your Love My Love"
  • Mahaffey
  • Mahaffey
  • Rawlings
  • Burrus
  • James
4:23
13."Trunk Fulla Amps" (Clean Version)
  • Mahaffey
  • Mahaffey
  • Rawlings
  • Burrus
  • James
3:26
Total length:42:11
Japanese edition
No.TitleLength
14."Resurrect"3:22
Total length:45:33

Notes

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

Charts

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Huey, Steve. "Gizmodgery Review". AllMusic . Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Phillips, Amy (March 6, 2001). "Boy Toys". The Village Voice . Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Owen, Spencer (August 21, 2001). "Self: Gizmodgery Album Review". Pitchfork . Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Harkey, Scott (September 11, 2000). "Self / Interviews". Silent Uproar. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  5. ↑ Jenkins, Tony (December 9, 2000). "Self Find Pop Magic in Toy Box". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on March 10, 2005. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  6. ↑ Hall, Rashaun (October 28, 2000). "They're Playing My Song". Billboard . Vol. 112, no. 44. p. 44. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  7. 1 2 Botchick, Cheryl (November 8, 2000). "SELF: Regression Therapy". CMJ . Archived from the original on February 11, 2001. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  8. ↑ Heisel, Scott (August 27, 2014). ""We never broke up, but we got burned out"—Matt Mahaffey on the return of Self". Alternative Press . Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 Duritz, Darius (March 10, 2000). "The PiG Interview with Matt Mahaffey". PiG Publications. Archived from the original on April 19, 2001. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Self - News". Spongebath Records . Archived from the original on June 22, 2001. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  11. 1 2 3 Woodlief, Mark (January 2001). "Best New Music - Gizmodgery". CMJ . No. 89. pp. 24, 70. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  12. 1 2 The Five 10 (August 4, 2015). "sElf / Matt Mahaffey to Release 15th Anniversary Vinyl of Gizmodgery". The Five 10. Retrieved December 24, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ↑ "Self more than just boys with toys". The O'Colly . October 12, 2000. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  14. ↑ Gdula, Steve (November 2, 2000). "Self Plays With Toys". Wall of Sound . Archived from the original on January 26, 2001. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  15. 1 2 Shaw, Andrew (October 26, 2000). "'Hungry, Hungry Harmony': Self uses toys to create music". The Daily Nebraskan . Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  16. ↑ Rizzo, Frank. "Gizmodgery - Disk Review". Dead On The Web. Archived from the original on January 24, 2001. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  17. 1 2 Fievet, Steven (November 2000). "babysue: LMNOP Reviews". LMNOP. Archived from the original on February 21, 2001. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  18. 1 2 Barker, Samuel (November 3, 2000). "Reviews: Self -"Gizmodgery"". RockZone. Archived from the original on December 28, 2001. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  19. 1 2 Peters, Ryan (October 15, 2000). "Self's fourth album 'Gizmodgery' is performed entirely on toy instruments and it's one lots of people are going to want". Portland Press Herald : 5E.
  20. ↑ Hefflon, Scott (April 1, 2001). "Self – Gizmodgery – Review". Lollipop Magazine. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  21. ↑ Noise, J. "Reviews | Self - Gizmodgery". Hybrid Magazine. Archived from the original on March 4, 2001. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  22. ↑ Ramirez, Carlos (March 15, 2014). "Self, "What a Fool Believes," from Gizmodgery (Spongebath, 2000)". No Echo. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  23. ↑ Brown, Jeff (December 14, 2000). "Best Albums of 2000: Critics' Picks". The Pitch . Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  24. ↑ Ribas, Bill (November 18, 2000). "Street Beat: Reviews of Unsigned, Newly Signed or Independent Label Bands". NY Rock. Archived from the original on August 20, 2001. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  25. ↑ Rollins, Ron (January 2, 2001). "Seen & Overheard - Rock Toys". Dayton Daily News .
  26. ↑ Wener, Ben (December 15, 2000). "Boy, can this guy play music". The Orange County Register .
  27. ↑ Tally Hall (December 22, 2012). "South By Southwest 2007". Vimeo . Event occurs at 1:45. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  28. ↑ Besecker, Gabe (December 11, 2023). "sElf-Indulgent: A Retrospective on the Band That Started Matt Mahaffey's Career". Woof Magazine. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  29. ↑ ""FUBAR" Take Your Daughter to Work Day (TV Episode 2023) - Soundtracks". IMDb . May 25, 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  30. ↑ "Japan Radio Top 100 Alternative Songs Chart". Top Charts. January 26, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
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