The 81s: Big Man (a review)
By:
Moose
This album centers around two ideas:
The first putting poetry to music and the second putting said poetry to music
via the platform of garage rock with a hint of Velvet Underground and Nico.
Exploring these two ideas are the writer/lyricist Tom Siering and musicians Tim
Carroll and Luella. This album “Big Man” is there second under The 81s. They
are not a band in the traditional sense this is more of a project for everyone
involved, where Tom presents the lyrics, and Tim and the other musician’s work
on the music, putting it simply.
The album revives a sound that was
or isn’t necessarily dead, but more like gone underground. Basically, you don’t
hear this sound in the mainstream. Through my first listen this feels like a
90’s album. Harkening back to the days of Freddie Jones Band and Screaming
Trees, only add a woman. These are comparisons, because I feel like Tim Carroll
(guitars, keyboards, vocals), Luella (Vocals, Tambourine, bells), Cameron
Carrus (bass), and Marco Giovino (drums) took Tom Siering’s words and wrapped
them around a sound that was meant to be a little more heavy and raw.
Considering how Nashville likes to pretty things up these days I think these
folks took some words and wanted to do something a little different, and yet
also tip the cap to the folks that walked the rock and roll wire before them,
and even paved a way.
I had a recent conversation through
email with Tim, Tom, and Luella, and basically this “project” was as simple as
this according to Tim “Tom likes to write lyrics and I like to play rock and
roll guitar. Doing that inspires us.” Tim wrote all the music, and the vibe
throughout the record is just a straight rock and roll record. Some songs yes,
sound like Velvet Underground, but that was more by happenstance than setting
out to do so. For all musicians and artists have influences, and sometimes a
song may sound like this somebody or that somebody but in the end it is you
that is playing it, and making that music. And, from what I have gathered from
Tim, Tom, and Luella was that this was simply that. Creating a sound that
revolved around Tom’s lyrics. I enjoyed the listen I had with this record. The
second and third, and through the fourth I heard different sounds or words than
before. Initially wasn’t quite sure what was going on, what were or are they
trying to get across, and through the listens I found my answers. Which were
simply to put music to these lyrics that reference Melrose Place and Manute
Bol. If you are not sure who Manute Bol was, look him up. His story is quite
amazing. The name “Big Man” comes from a basketball term for the center, and
the title track revolves around the great centers of yore. For me I think this
was the first time I had heard in song a reference to Manute Bol, which I enjoyed
along it with being a great way to close out a great album.
At the risk of repeating myself I
think this a great record. The players on it are pretty damn great, and it is
just a fun rock and roll record. I dig the rawness of it, and kind of the
middle finger to the prettiness that can happen through mainstream music. I
could dissect the album as well and go track by track and word by word, but
while that would be fun for me at some
point it would just get to the brass tacks of: if you dig rock and roll give it
a listen, put in your car, and take a drive somewhere that you have no
destination in my and give it the 45 minutes it needs to explain its story.
I’d like to close it out with the
question that I like to ask everyone I do this for, and that is why music? Why
this, of all things to do? And the following are Tom Siering, Tim Carroll, and
Luella’s answers.
Luella: I’ve done
music ever since I was a young child. It’s my primary language to communicate.
Through it I feel like I am maximizing my potential on this earth. Also if we
are lucky, we may move and inspire someone through it. Art lives on past us. I
do it for myself and if it resonates with others too then that’s
fantastic…especially rewarding.
Tom: That famous punker Friedrich Nietzche
said “Without music, life would be a mistake.”
Tim: I’ve been
playing guitar in bands on and off ever since I was a little kid. I guess it’s
just because I like it, and I follow my interest in it. And now that I’m
getting better at it, I enjoy it more than ever.
You can find the
record and all things 81s via the worldwide web at:
No comments:
Post a Comment