GINGERBREAD MAN

As soon as the band started with concept and story albums, there was maybe more emphasis on lyrics and presentation which doesn't mean it's bad music but it's more of an way of delivering ideas around. As they progressed through the years I really do think now that every RESIDENTS release got more and more like an soundtrack to the actual album; I don't know if it's because internet piracy or just because the band wants to their listeners greater experience with bunch of artwork, animation, movies, God knows how much booklets with more info on lyrics and such.

This CD originally went along with animations that would describe each of the characters in the songs. Like "Freak Show" before him, "Gingerbread Man" contains one song per character; culminating in 9 characters with Gingerbread Man going in and out of songs at random as well wrapping it all up in his last song. The theme that begins "The Weaver" of The Gingerbread Man song might sound cool at first, but then it surprises you because it repeats itself for the next 9 times. The music itself is almost completely the same every track, with just a bit of variation for every character which does grab your attention because you're hearing it all the time so every change is noticeable. The format of the songs is basically the Gingerbread Man tune which follows the character in the song singing in verse, maybe a bit of interlude here and there, and the rest of the song (usually a good half of it) is the said character in spoken word, or mumbling, yelling, whatever the case may be. The album is obviously something that you listen with lyrics in your hands as the spoken word can sometimes be too hard to grasp.

Other than that, I find the album interesting and if you're ready to ignore the negative points it might interest you too. There is no actual plot going on except Gingerbread Man who just sort of observes the characters. Characters aren't freaks like on the last album but everyday humans whose inner thoughts we hear. Sometimes they might be weird or dark but on some level I can see that some might relate to them (weaver who is paranoid her child will die on the way from school, butcher jealous of his coworker etc.). I should mention that these thoughts throughout the album mostly focus on the depressing feelings and never arise from that dark space of modern life. It really isn't for everyone and should definitely be listened along with animations as intended.