Like the computer geek I am, the first time I heard Edie Brickell was in the music video packaged with Windows 95 - “Good Times, Bad Times”. I enjoyed watching it for its lazy, summery feel and the nostalgia it induced despite the fact that I was only 14. “Good times, bad times, give us some of that!” There was no indication as to who sang the song, but a bit of searching uncovered the name “Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians”.

When I acquired their album “Shooting Rubberbands at the Moon”, I expected a simple, hot afternoon feel - a good driving CD - and I wasn’t disappointed. The CD starts with the song “What I Am”, a satire of someone not wanting to get into philosophical discussions that made the top ten back in 1989. The lyrics - “I’m not aware of too many things / I know what I know if you know what I mean” - aren’t particularly clever, but they’re pleasant to listen to. With the jumpy bass line and Kenny Withrow’s fun guitar solo, it’s easy to see how the song climbed the charts.

The trend of light vocals and guitar licks continues through the album. Edie Brickell’s lyrics, like the cover art for the album (which she drew), reflect a sense of childlike pleasure in the way we communicate. She enjoys playing with the meanings of words, and her clear singing voice - unusual in this genre - allows us to enjoy it with her. The song “Nothing” is a good example:

Are you mad at me? - let it show
Don’t tell me nothing.
There’s nothing I hate more than nothing
Nothing keeps me up at night
I toss and turn over nothing
Nothing could cause a great big fight.

It’s this playful, breezy feel that makes the album worth listening to. It’s not an emotional album; it won’t change your life or convince you of some philosophy. But it’s perfect for a slow summer drive with your windows rolled down.