The second single "Things I Do For Money" by Canadian rockers The Northern Pikes is a far cry from the more radio-friendly and upbeat vibe of "Teenland" and most of their singles in the 90s.
The song shows off the band's depth: I'm a fan of the sparse instrumentation and the moody yet melodic arrangement. The mysterious intro makes it hard to figure out where the tune is heading. In fact, the song starts with minimalist verses that build slowly, before it simmers, dazzles then crashes into a terrific crescendo before the fade to end.
The lyrics are powerful, even chilling, and a perfect match to the dark music.
Fave lyrics: "I used to be quite practical but now I find I'm tactical".
For comparison, check out their debut single; the more peppy and poppy "Teenland".
