King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Oddments (2014) Review
When it comes to zany and psychedelic music, few bands can rival the creativity and prolificness of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. After listening to this album, I named the website after this album because of the psychedelic and creative imagery it is associated with in my mind. The album cover perfectly encapsulates the whimsical spirit of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: chaotic, cartoony, and psychedelic. “Oddments" lives up to its name, offering a journey through a collection of B-sides and songs that didn't quite fit anywhere else in their discography.
The album begins with "Alluda Majaka," a little Lofi psych-pop jam that is by no means revolutionary, but it serves as a charming opener for a compilation of B-sides. "Stressin’" exudes the classic lo-fi era sound of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. Lazy and hazy in all the right ways, this track carries Stu Mackenzie's unmistakable signature sound. The vibrato in the guitar part is worth mentioning. Despite its somewhat grating vocals, "Vegemite" boasts a charming melody. It's a song that might not have fit on other albums, but it's hard not to enjoy its quirky appeal.
"It’s Got Old" is a good song; it's a nostalgic listen for me that reminds me of college. The addition of the flute showcases the band's willingness to experiment with various instruments and influences and is consistently one of the reasons King Gizzard is such a great band. The track “Work This Time” delivers a smooth and laid-back melody that complements the lyrics exceptionally well. Stu Mackenzie's knack for painting vivid pictures with his lyrics shines through, along with the signature delay effects that define a part of the band's sound, no matter which genre they tackle. Some of the drum fills on this song sound so good. Despite being one of the shortest songs in their discography at just 16 seconds, "ABABCd" manages to be surprisingly catchy.
“Sleepwalker” may be the standout track on the compilation for me. The song has an infectious melody with a soundscape reminiscent of the 1960s, especially the sound of the synth. It could have easily fit into "Float Along - Fill Your Lungs" with its upbeat energy.
"Hot Wax" is groovy and psychedelic, featuring King Gizzard’s signature exciting harmonica work. The song easily has the best and most creative music video on this release. The nod to The Beach Boys is a nice part of the song. This was the first song by King Gizzard where I heard Ambrose sing and I thought he was a girl initially. Either way, any song where Ambrose is on vocals is always going to be a slapper.
The next song on the album, “Crying,” especially the vocals, reminds me of the Burger Records sound from the late 2000s and 2010s (definitely some King Tuff in there.) The bells in the production are unique for this genre and a really pleasant part of the song. The final verse seemingly draws some inspiration from The Velvet Underground, then leads directly into the next song. "Pipe Dream" is a brief, minute-long song that essentially serves as an extended outro for "Crying."
“Homeless Man in Adidas is an acoustic tune that serves as the album's final song. It features sparse production and decent imagery in its lyrics. It is not a bad track, I can see why it wasn’t released to any of their albums up to this point. The album concludes with "Oddments," a quick 25-second bluesy snippet that is more of a chant or add-on than an actual song.
"Oddments" proves that even King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard's B-sides and oddments are worth exploring. While not their best work, this compilation offers a glimpse into the band's creative process and the songs that didn't quite fit elsewhere. I revisited this album after listening to EDM all day and the contrast in production is jarring, to say the least. It’s not anywhere near the best King Gizzard has to offer, but you have to keep in mind that this is mostly a compilation of cut songs and some are basically just demos and snippets. “Oddments” is not bad for what it is and there are a handful of tracks worth checking out.
5/10 - Average