I know I already wrote about my favorite Foster The People tracks months ago, but I think “Rabies Shmabies” may very well top the list as my most favorite FTP tune of their entire discography, and of course, of all time. Unfortunately for the rest of the world, it is only available on the Japanese deluxe edition of “Paradise State Of Mind” sold via Ebay and other such outlets, but I provided a link so you can buy it for a cool $45-50. Today I'll detail why I love the song and why FTP is evolving beautifully into their own in spite of the various lineup changes. Let's get into it, Foster kids.
I bet you didn't know that after the last song “A Diamond To Be Born” comes the “Rabies Shmabies”, a bonus track exclusively crafted for the Japanese market since manufacturing physical copies of CDs is sadly and ridiculously expensive there, thus adding extra songs provides incentive to splurge on more music. I adore this song the most out of everything on "PSOM", because it really displays growth in terms of musicality more so than lyrics, although I adore that as well. Perhaps it's just my affinity for 80s inspired dance pop or the fact that you don't often hear a song with these kinds of lyrics by three dudes from Los Angeles.
I sometimes question whether Mark Foster ever gets angry or if he simply refuses to take it out in the music. The following songs, I think, Foster seems genuinely pissed off on are: “Loyal Like Sid and Nancy”, “Downtown”, “Chasing Low Vibrations”, “Tabloid Super Junkie”, “Pumped Up Kicks”, “Lotus Eater”, “Pseudologia Fantastica”, and “Rabies Shmabies" . That's quite a handful but the latter takes the cake as the most scathing lyrics I've ever heard from the boys. It's a snappy song about living through the dystopian age of Covid as well as the death of our personal heroes.
Most, if not all, of “Paradise State Of Mind” reminds me of the storyline of “Supermodel” coming full circle primarily after the shit storm of the pandemic. Highlighting the theme of comradery during lockdowns is so reminiscent of celebrity worship on “Supermodel”. Creating an avatar version of yourself to seek attention in order to combat loneliness ties in perfectly between the two albums, particularly on a song like “Sometimes I Want To Be Bad”. I've scrutinized this track in the past, however, I can see how it all ties the package together with a pretty bow.
Everything about this song is so much fun: vocoder in the bridge distorting Foster's voice is so retro and vintage, scathing lyrics about the current and coming dystopian age, futuristic electronic beats makes me want to step back in time into an 80s dance club with colored fog and neon strobe lights. The overall aesthetic is a fun, fun, fun way to experience the rapid decline of civilization. Other similar songs on the album “See You In The Afterlife”, “Feed Me”, and “Glitchzig” add to the ambience of depression and anxiety concerning what lies on the other side of an already murky present obsessed with sensationalism. The over dependence on technology to satisfy our every need only deteriorates what's left of our humanity.
Although I'm sad this is only a bonus track, it's also pretty exciting there's still something else to discover from Foster The People. This is a hidden gem for hardcore Foster kids to make our own away from the prying eyes and grubby hands of the mainstream media.
That's my dissertation of Foster The People's bonus track “Rabies Shmabies”.
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