"Canadians and border-town Americans know that the 90s was a rich era for Canadian rock, among others The Tragically Hip, Sloan, Rheostatics, The Watchmen, Spirit of the West, Barenaked Ladies, and the delightful Odds. Odds personified the Canadian blend of equal parts alternative and classic rock along with smart lyrics, and Good Weird Feeling represents the pinnacle of their body of work. For better or worse, Odds are one of those bands whose CDs require several listens before the listener really feels ready to cuddle up, before appreciation is fully formed. I spent the summer of 1996 backpacking through Southeast Asia and this was one of a handful of albums I had with me, almost the proverbial "desert island" scenario, and it just got better and better as the summer went on. It's a diverse album, well balanced between hard rockers, poppy alternative, and groove-based rock. "Truth Untold", "Radios of Heaven", and "Mercy To Go" respectively being the best of these three genres. They provide signposts for the solid tracks that occupy the rest of the album. As mentioned above and by other reviewers, it's not just the music but the well stated and introspective lyrics; again a delicate balance that avoids pretention and simplicity. "I cross myself and do my best acid queen/a cross between a dime-store witch/and a whirling painted Martin Sheen/I try on your lipstick/I try on your clothes/I wanna be you for a little while/and I'm freaked out enough to bloody my own nose" (Oh Sorrow, Oh Shame). "The first thing I did when I got in the gate/was crank up the left-hand dial/I got there first/the track star seemed to take a while/now I can dance like Nuryev/with these wings on my body/St. Peter complains that it's too loud down in the lobby (Radios of Heaven).
It's a shame that Odds didn't last longer than they did, but such is life. Instead of lamenting that fact go out and pick up this album. It's where a new Odds fan should start his journey."
Best you've never heard
Roger S. | Oak Creek, Wisconsin United States | 03/23/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I was surprised by this CD and ended up buying 2 more by ODDS. 'Good Weird Feeling' is my favorite by far. In particular the song 'Eat My Brain' is one of those that you will hear in your for head for a week after the first time you play it. The band has retained that certain garage band type feel, but is well polished and hook laiden as any other 'well know' band out there. They are an undiscovered gem."
Fresh sound from Canada
cured_one | Middle East | 02/01/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Very rock'n'roll sounding band... So nothing really new there, but old rock recipe seems to work very well with those guys.
If you like Dave Mathews Band - that will be new startling discovery for you ...
But beware - you may easily make yourself addicted to it!"
Neat Freak in a Hurricane
Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 10/29/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Odds have turned into one of my favorite "under the radar screen" bands. Each of their releases has a few tracks that go into my classic category of great rock. My favorite track is "Radios of Heaven" with Pat Steward's drums and Craig Northey's driving guitar, "There's a gorgeous sunset happening on the airwaves; I really want you to hear this song someday, so you behave." "The Last Drink" tracks a bit folky with acoustic strumming and Northey's wonderfully offbeat lyrics, "Someone stabbed my voodoo doll, now it hurts each time that nature calls, and you're lucky that nature's finished calling out to you. ... So I should swallow real hard & deal with this pain cause I'm as wasted as a neat freak in a hurricane." "Mercy to Go" gets a great groove going, "When you're a tower of strength, people climb up your back side." The tunes on "Good Weird Feeling" are consistently strong and at times sublime. Don't let this one get away! Bravo!"