Background Gorillaz

While I do staff reviews and update calendars today, I’m listening to the new album by Gorillaz, “The Fall” thanks to a free online preview.

I like Gorillaz, but their music isn’t accessible to everyone–to some people, it can come off as video game loops, house music, or even experimental noise. Most of their songs won’t make pop radio and don’t sound like the current hit single. But they’re unique and interesting, and they make perfect background music while working. With the exception of a few of their older tracks–”Clint Eastwood,” etc.–you don’t have to worry about a catchy lyric getting caught in your head and somehow making it into the doc you’re working on. Oh, and this latest album was entirely produced on an iPad, which is sort of a geeky bonus.

I was trying to watch an online episode of “Chuck” while working today. I do that sometimes–watch TV (online) while working. Some of the tasks I do as part of my job are so mindless and routine that I can work at full speed and stay error-free while having a browser window open with a sitcom or hour-long drama playing. Of course, it has to be something you can get away with just listening to. If you really had to pay attention to the images on-screen, the show would pull you away from your spreadsheet too much.

Anyway, I was trying to catch up on “Chuck”, but because the reviews involved writing–which requires a different level of attention and engagement–I had to turn it off. Last thing I want is someone reading my comments in their review and seeing, “Employee excelled at communication and took a leadership role in the project and oh my god his mom’s a double agent, I did not see that coming.” That would make for an interesting performance review, but it would be hard to determine a merit increase from a statement like that.