Big Wreck's New Album Is Out Tomorrow. This Is Why You Should Be Excited.

By now, you may be aware that Big Wreck are returning from an 11 year hiatus that saw mainman Ian Thornley try his hand at hitting the Nickelback demographic (to varying degrees of success/failure) with Albatross, the first platter which the Big Wreck name has adorned since 2001's bloated and ultimately forgettable The Pleasure and the Greed. Of course, they're best known for their 1997 debut In Loving Memory Of... and, more specifically, its breakout hits That Song and The Oaf (My Luck is Wasted). That first album is not only one of the best to come out of a (part) Canadian band in the 90's, it also holds up remarkably well fifteen years after its original release.

Of course, the cynics will say it's not really Big Wreck anymore since only two of the original members remain. To them, I simply argue that those two original members are the two most important players in Thornley and co-guitarist Brian Doherty. So, your point is pretty much moot.

You might have heard the title track and lead single Albatross, and might even like it. For me, it's been a grower, pleasant enough but lacking the immediacy of their best tracks. However, with a couple of more recent vids posted up on their YouTube page, Big Wreck have gotten me frothing at the mouth. Exhibit A is the full performance of Control, a laid back groover with some top notch, dare I say Knopflerian fretwork. To not watch it all the way through is to deprive yourself some tasty guitar.

If Albatross and Control don't turn your crank, check out the album trailer for snippets of all of the album's tracks. Sounds like we have ourselves a crunchy, rocking affair on our hands.

Albatross is out tomorrow via Anthem/Warner Music Canada.

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