AMG Review of Bad Days

Ned Raggett
All Music Guide

Though the song was a bit old by this point, "Bad Days" got a single release some time after the fact in the U.K. Its hilarious, winning sentiments about making the bad days end by doing things to one's horrible boss -- i.e., killing them -- somehow suit both the merrily crazed music and the Lips' mindset to a tee. The B-sides, perhaps a bit frustratingly for American fans, mixed previously available B-sides with newer ones. On the first disc, "She Don't Use Jelly," in its demo version, reappeared from the American Turn It On CD single. Happily the other two songs were other oddities from the vaults, specifically demos for Clouds Taste Metallic tracks. "Girl With Hair Like an Explosion," which eventually became "Guy With a Headache," starts as a loop-based jam, with the odd time structure certainly part of the charm, as are the subsequent quieter guitar and keyboard moments and wordless vocals here and there. "Giraffe," understandably the basis of "This Here Giraffe," is also an instrumental demo, quick but featuring Drozd's great drumming and entertainingly whining and furry guitar noises both.