Big Troubles - Misery by Slumberland Records published on 2011-07-08T23:53:08Z Big Troubles were formed by a group of kids who had been friends since high school, playing in bands, listening to records and coming of musical age together. As children of the 00's they're lucky enough to have a vast history of pop and indie rock to draw upon. Like the best of their peers they're omnivorous musical consumers, as enamored of classic Brit Pop gems as they are of 90s slacker indie rock. Led by two very gifted singer/song-writers in Alex Craig and Ian Drennan, Big Troubles are that rare beast: a band with two distinctive musical voices that smoothly mesh to create one integrated personality. Early recordings by the pair were of the lo-fi home recorded variety, but over time they've grown (with the addition of drummer Sam Franklin and bassist Luka Usmiani) into a full four piece band to more fully realize their tunes. Their first album Worry (2010) and its attendant singles were excellent fuzz pop records in their own right, but to make their new record the band has taken the step of bringing in help in the form of the legendary Mitch Easter, whose resume includes stone cold classics from the likes of REM, Pavement and his own Let's Active. With Mr. Easter's expert engineering help, Big Troubles' excellent new album "Romantic Comedy" is a masterpiece of modern pop; a perfect balance of grit and polish, gorgeous guitar sounds and angelic vocals, underpinned by a set of superb songs. "Romantic Comedy" kicks off with "She Smiles For Pictures," a brilliant slice of jangle-pop marked by an ear-tugging guitar lead and gorgeous choirboy vocals. "Misery" is a perfect 2:23 of teen angst, fired by a huge bassline and echoed, chorused riffs that are as much 90s Brit Pop as they are 00s indie rock. First single "Sad Girls" is a lovely slice of updated power-pop based on a catchy stop-start verse that gives way to an indelible, spiraling chorus; this tune is as big and bright as they come. "You'll Be Laughing" gears down for a nuanced meditation on suburban ennui, showing that this band had more up its collective sleeve than just kicking out pop anthems. And so the record continues, through sure-fire entries into the noise-pop canon like the Boo Radleys-esque "Minor Keys," the lovely rush of "Softer Than Science" and the glam-tinged feedback-fest that is "Time Bomb." "Romantic Comedy" wraps up with the dreamy "Engine" and the driving "Never Mine," adding two more gems to this excellent album. Big Troubles have that very rare combination of taste, skill and talent, and aided by Mr. Easter's recording acumen they've created a virtually perfect modern pop album -- one that tips its hat to choice bits of pop past and present, but at the same time creates something totally fresh. Genre Pop Comment by CARLOS Retro in a beautiful way... reminds me of MEDICINE, mid-90’s noisepop bliss 💖 2023-02-17T03:18:40Z Comment by Austinnn Best songl 2015-01-28T14:22:53Z Comment by Tm I just wanna 2014-06-01T10:42:13Z Comment by Tm Its always such a drag 2014-05-31T14:54:26Z Comment by Brian Kish's Lounge Pants found this on bandcamp a while back, real catchy tune! 2014-03-07T07:13:35Z Comment by mushino's audio dustbin this is great!! 2013-01-11T21:10:35Z Comment by 8R()L4\/ This song is awesome. Brings me back to the days of listening to The Smashing Pumpkins :) 2012-03-07T04:01:09Z Comment by Bass Head Rippa My life and every event in it expressed through vibration 2011-11-07T03:08:07Z Comment by Memory Girls love. 2011-09-23T13:36:28Z Comment by DJ Dingo Susi love it 2011-09-21T16:12:23Z Comment by realigndadj this is great material! music, melody and lyrics 2011-09-19T19:13:43Z Comment by thatusernameisalreadyta this is unbelievable 2011-08-24T11:54:00Z Comment by Emperors Club Cool track. 2011-07-25T18:33:58Z Comment by the olive shoots Nice Slowdive-like sound on voice! 2011-07-24T19:52:17Z Comment by ViennaCC good idea: instrument following singer 2011-07-11T06:34:40Z Comment by Giga Herbs My kinda sound 2011-07-10T15:58:32Z Comment by SHIFTER good- sifter say 2011-07-09T01:05:59Z Comment by Randy Shipclark HEY great sound. Keep posting your stuff 2011-07-09T01:04:34Z Comment by onmyradar Sounds a lot like Silversun Pickups ... in my opinion anyways. 2011-07-09T00:21:56Z Comment by Mace Monkey Pace 2.22 perfect time to end a song ;) 2011-07-09T00:03:22Z Comment by Mace Monkey Pace Good one, like the voice and very much like the tune :P Keep it up ;) 2011-07-09T00:02:30Z