(Single from album, "How We Operate")
This is a rather quirky little track, and, as well as that, also represents the next in a long line of request song reviews...
I must confess this is only a quick review; basiaclly, that's because I started writing it, yonks back, and I've revisited it, bit by bit, as the weeks have passed, writing in other requests since. Frankly, I had to get it finished, and I didn't want to start again, so if it comes across as brief, do forgive an otherwise-preoccupied-with-school, budding music journalist...who knows, if the snappier format works, I may continue using it...hmmm...that's an idea...do let me know in the comments wheat you think...
I had never heard of Gomez before listening to this track, and it would appear, given the age of this track and the fact that's it's the band's biggest song, that I am unlikely to hear of them again. Perhaps not curiously, for both a band and a hit US record that seem to have slipped under the musical radar (almost totally unnoticed), it isn't that bad a song.
It opens with this bizarre little acoustically picked riff, with a very Radiohead chord change, and then an eruption of bass that is fairly comparable in conjunction with the vocal, to Nirvana. In fact, lyrically, Kurt Cobain has quite a prominent influence here; the dramatic act of 'tearing pages' from one's life story, feelings of 'hollowness' - all themes previously explored on hugely successful records like "Nevermind" and "In Utero". It's a stab at a faster, poppier Nirvana for sure, and, as a final tip-of-the-hat, the vocal phrasing cements this homage totally.
It's a fairly harmless track with some interesting guitars (especially those opening the track, and the Weezer style whines during the choruses, the first of which starts at around 1:50). The rhythm section also does a fine job of conveying a suitably polished grunge, sonic aesthetic, and, whilst not danceable, it is quite catchy, and in fact, rather moody. The bouncy acoustic section comes back again just over midway through, and the whole song ends up feeling that more complete and fulfilling as a result.
I like it. The lyrics make a very interesting and alternative take on a love song, and the instrumentation does everything justice in a mainstream and yet, rather indie way with the unconventional composition and conversely rocky sound. Failure to chart in the UK seems odd for this track...I would presume it was a publicity thing, but, if given the chance and the right promotion, there's no reason that this couldn't have been a top 40 UK hit for Gomez on this side of the Atlantic as well...the UK music buying population mystifies us still...
★★★
Versions of “How We Operate”
Single Version - 4:41
Album Version - 5:26