One Track Mind

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Morrissey once famously wondered, “In my life, why do I smile at people who I’d much rather kick in the eye?” For such a simple lyric, it sure packs a punch, probably since the sentiment is one we can all identify with. Each of us has moments in life when we have to smile and shake someone’s hand when we’d prefer to wring their scrawny little neck.

While these situations aren’t all too pleasant in life, there is something to be said for a musical corollary of sorts: the song which hides ominous intent behind unassumingly blithe tones. A special sort of joy is reserved for listening to an innocuous melody and slowly realizing that there is something more complicated unfolding; just think back to the time you discovered that “Every Breath You Take” was a creepy stalker anthem, not a wistful tale of requited longing and you’ll understand what I mean.

All of which brings us to this song, the second track on Extended Play, the new debut EP from British musician Louis Jones under his Spectrals alias. “Chip A Tooth (Spoil A Smile)” is a candied, 1950s proto-soul ballad made modern with chiming, music box guitars and delicate trickles of keyboard. However, lurking beneath those mollifying tones is a set of lyrics with sharp, gleaming chompers.

“You would never want to chip a tooth when you could spoil a whole smile,” is Jones’ acerbic opener, adding “But perhaps you ought to bear in mind… I can force a smile when my mouth’s not really in it.”

It is a queer counterpart to his dulcet accompaniment but it’s also a clever little gambit–one that pans out and helps elevate the whole song to another level. In the end, it all makes for a shrewd bit of songwriting that clocks in at a lean two and a half minutes.