Big Awesome - Party On (Cover Artwork)
Staff Review

Big Awesome

Party On (2015)

Jetsam-Flotsam


Big Awesome are one of those emo bands who own up to the fact that they're not reinventing the wheel. What makes them even more appealing is that in doing so, they still manage to steer clear of carbon copying any musical influence on their sleeve and I'll be honest, there's quite a few they channel. If they do, it's in measured doses. If you loved their Birdfeeder EP, then you'll be pleased to know they cleverly built on what they constructed the last time around and as they do so, they flourish in an ever-growing indie realm with so many bands, who smartly equip themselves to sound differently from the other, no matter what. Party On is their upbeat shift into gear that'll no doubt take them out of 'obscurity'.

This debut LP is very guitar-driven with mathy musical structures a la Algernon Cadwallader. The guitars, as seen on tracks like "What Grows Up Must Get Down" and "Hooper" right off the bat, intertwine and wrap around each other so intricately but still feel fleshed out with a modern, raw indie aesthetic. You feel bits and pieces of bands like American Football and even the pop-punk sensibility of Lifetime as wispy guitars and crisp kitwork collide under a surprisingly high-quality production. John Blanken's vocals feel stronger under a raw setting but for some reason, his on-the-mic expression really comes to light here. It's reminiscent, when packaged as a whole with the instruments, of what bands like Annabel and Sorority Noise delivered this year. Not similar in vocal elements but as I mentioned, in terms of a wholly delivered sound.

Thick crunchy basslines, melodic hooks and dynamic indie sprawls comprise most of the record, which I admit could have cut some fluff here and there but overall, it's one of the more indie-accessible joints you'll hear in 2015. "Foliage" also stands out on this note, feeling made for fans of The Hotelier and Runaway Mother. What I really admire is that Big Awesome embrace the emo stereotypes of their music and really outlive them. This album's all about seizing the day, in theme and ultimately, as a sonic signature. It invokes nostalgia but more so, it converses over so many real issues - friendship, loss and love - that you can't help, no matter how overdone records like these have been, but latch onto the messages that Party On has to deliver.