Year in Rock 2012 Nominee: Big Wreck

-
BIG WRECK
Control
From: Albatross
Released: March 6

If absence makes the heart grow fonder, imagine what the combination of absence and stubbornly underwhelming side projects does. When Ian Thornley's post-Big Wreck outfit dumbed it all down, I shook my head in disbelief and mourned his former band (even if their second album was a bloated and joyless mess); I coudn't fathom that the same guy who blew my mind with The Oaf in 1997 was trying to get in with the Nickelbackian jock-rock crowd. Even if Thornley never stooped quite that low, it was a letdown to see such a talented musician stifle his own abilities. Well, it seems as though he'd finally seen the error of his ways by 2012; Big Wreck lives again. Albatross may not be a seamless return to form (although, after a dozen years or so between albums, what does one expect?), but when it shines, it shines incredibly bright. Check out the Knopflerian flourishes that colour the last two and half minutes of Control, and you might realize just how much you missed this band too.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

IN REVIEW: Hey Rosetta! - "Second Sight"

-
Image
There's a telling lyrical passage that stuck out to me upon listening to Newfoundland-based indie stalwarts Hey Rosetta's third full-length LP. During the uplifting, depression-battling anthem Cathedral Bells , singer Tim Baker exclaims, "the road is lit and I'm going home". It comes near the tail end of the album's most thrilling section of songs, during which the seven-piece (plus additional hands on deck for extra orchestration) take a formidable musical journey through several genres and moods. After exploring the arena-sized farthest reaches of Coldplay, the worldly rhythms of Vampire Weekend and the zealous, choral flourishes of Arcade Fire among others, it's the comfort of home that drives the group down the album's (pun intended, I suppose) home stretch. Long before we get to that point, however, we're treated to some of the band's most interesting material to date. The album starts with current single Soft Offering (for the Oft Suff...
Read more

Trent Reznor, You Glorious Scheming Bastard.

-
Image
As it turns out, something I said on this blog earlier this year had a little more resonance than I anticipated. From my January 15th article " What Are The Chances? ", where I gave a percentage chance for certain artists releasing a new album in 2013: 1% NINE INCH NAILS We know that Trent Reznor is gearing up to release How To Destroy Angels' debut. We also know that there's an Interscope-released Nine Inch Nails greatest hits collection being targeted for 2014, for which Reznor promises two new Nine Inch Nails songs. But, we also know Reznor likes to fuck with his fans and absolutely loved fucking with Interscope. What better way to do that than to bring out a brand new Nine Inch Nails record? What better way indeed? Surprise: A new #NIN album is finished, coming later this year on @ columbiarecords : tmblr.co/ZW-7vsm2kw_u #NIN2013 — Nine Inch Nails (@nineinchnails) May 28, 2013 Bravo, Mr. Reznor. I love it when a plan comes together. More on...
Read more