Published on May 20, 1998
I swear, either I’m going to have to stop answering e-mails on
three different computers in two cities, or I’m going to have to
start writing down people’s names in my Franklin.
Every once in a while, I get a reader suggestion for an album
that I just happen to have on my short list. In the case of today’s
example, our mysterious letter writer (I’m sorry, buddy, I’m not
always this forgetful… sometimes I’m even worse) asked me to take
a look at
In Loving Memory Of…, the debut release from Big
Wreck.
When I first got this disc in the mail, it came with a bunch of
other Atlantic releases I had little interest in, so it got filed
in the “one-of-these-days” section of the Pierce Archives. Then,
when I heard the song “The Oaf” on the radio, I not only thought
these guys had a lot of talent, but I seemed to remember I had this
disc languishing in the Archives. When this reader suggested it, I
had the CD in my briefcase to listen to.
This Canadian trio led by vocalist/guitarist Ian Thornley is a
definite mixed marriage between the Black Crowes and Collective
Soul. There is a looseness to the music, but there is also a very
definite edge – and when they’re on, that edge is sharper than any
Ginsu steak knife out there.
In Loving Memory Of… has been receiving quite a buzz from
the single “The Oaf,” a song which shifts from light, jangly,
almost psychedelic guitars to a deafening crunch. For Thornley,
guitarist Brian Doherty, bassist David Henning and drummer Forrest
Williams, it’s one hell of a welcome to America greeting they send
out to us. (Why this song hasn’t gone through the roof I don’t
know.)
Of course, this is just foreplay – what else does this band have
to offer past track one on the CD? Turns out, the answer is
“plenty”. From the slide guitar-to-crunch tempo of “Look What I
Found” to the “gotta-be-a-hit-single” poppiness of “Fall Through
The Cracks,” Big Wreck is almost constantly clicking on all fours.
Indeed, for almost the entire album, I dare you to find one bad
track on it.
So where
can any fault lie? By the time you get to “Prayer” and
“Overemphasizing,” the final two tracks on the disc, it’s almost as
if you need a break from the powerful sound and music. Had these
two tracks been on another album, most likely they would have stood
out. But the listener can only take so much sonic assault, no
matter how good it is, before some of the tracks start to blend
together, and they lose focus in the album. For me, this happened
after 11 of the 13 songs.
Still, this is a minute point to make. Hell, the songwriting is
top notch, the production is great – this is an album that is just
waiting to make its big break into your living room. And frankly,
I’m surprised this hasn’t happened. Collective Soul made it on the
strength of one song, and they became the alternative world’s
darlings.
Aha!
That’s where the problem is! With alternative music in a
severe period of decay, some stations might not want to take a
chance on
In Loving Memory Of… if they deem it alternative. (Then
again, look what that chance did for Tonic – a band that Big Wreck
reminds me a lot of.)
In Loving Memory Of… is one of those albums I wish I had
the foresight to listen to a few months ago – it just might have
made it onto my “best-of” list. If these guys don’t get some
serious airplay and sales soon, it’s really going to be our
loss.
And to the person who suggested the review, take comfort in this
fact: You were right about this album. It kicks!