Great Big Dreams is an apt description for this quartet because much like our unconscious thoughts, you have no idea where their music is going to take off to next, often switching tempos mid-song without warning. This group has an obvious affinity for the heyday of 90s alternative, as well as a huge Radiohead complex, unfortunately they are unable to mesh these two influences effectively.
The album opens with “Losing Atmosphere,” which begins as a nice melodic, almost ambient song, but midway through it abruptly turns into hard rock. The bulk of the remaining tracks follow this same template. The soft/loud dynamic of generic alt-rock was boring in the 90s and it hasn’t aged well. Singer/guitarist Chris Fahey has a pleasant voice when he sings softly, something akin to a smoother sounding Matt Pryor of Get Up Kids fame, but when the band starts to rock he affects a faux Billy Corgan whine, which to my ears is the aural equivalent of chewing on tinfoil.
The band works best when it leaves the generic rock behind. “After You Jumped Off A Bridge And Didn’t Die (Doggy Paddle),” is a good song despite its pretentious title. The track starts out rather ominous, but it later breaks into a ridiculous disco groove that somehow works. “Razor Fight” is a stellar throwback to good 80s pop/rock. The album’s closer, “Baby Seal,” shows the potential of what Great Big Dreams could be. It’s a quiet song through and through, and the metaphor of a baby seal meeting an oil spill as a descriptor for a poisonous relationship is some very creative lyric writing.
Great Big Dreams has the ability to be a great band if they would leave the sudden sonic shifts behind and concentrate more on the quieter, mellower stuff they do best. TH
www.greatbigdreams.net |
