Cheer-Accident, The Why Album (CD)

Chicago's Cheer-Accident cover so much ground, both musically, and conceptually, that it's hard to even start a description of one of their albums. The Why Album, from 1994, focuses on their more accessible side, with lots of catchy vocal melodies and occasional references to 70s radio hits. It does include plenty of weird time signatures, strangely structured songs, and awkwardly bombastic drumming—it couldn't be mistaken for a hit record. It also nods overtly to their conceptual side—the song "Transposition" (which sports one of The Why Album's more memorable melodies) appears three straight times, with the second and third appending "(Same Mix)" to the title. Impenetrable and memorable lyrics round out the Cheer-Accident experience for this one.