Bigwig

Bigwig: Unmerry MelodiesUnmerry Melodies (1997)
Fearless Records

Reviewer Rating: 3.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: InaGreendaseBrian
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on May 16th 2003The beginning for anyone, must start at the beginning. This is Bigwig's beginning. Not that this is an excuse, or even an alibi. This is a solid album, and not even the production can take that away. A little raw, but all first-time indie releases are (except for the modern era), Unmerry Mel.

The beginning for anyone, must start at the beginning. This is Bigwig's beginning.

Not that this is an excuse, or even an alibi. This is a solid album, and not even the production can take that away.

A little raw, but all first-time indie releases are (except for the modern era), Unmerry Melodies contain twelve jarring tracks (discluding the phone message thirteenth) that are now embedded in many of Bigwig's fans' minds, songs that serve as the anthems (and then some) for a good portion of Bigwig's sets.

The issues dealt with are, about half the time, serious issues that underlie the cynical, "fuck off" lyrics. But wouldn't you expect that in Bigwig's roots?

"Old Lady" asks the Social Security demographic to get the hell off the road. This song probably has some of the better backup vocals of any track on the disc, but because you can't relate to this song in any way, how about asking right-wing Christians to keep out of the business of abortioners in "Pro-Life Taker"? "Who decides what's right for this young scared girl's life?/It should be her decision/Maybe in this case there's no wrong or right/but it shouldn't be a fight/So you bomb another clinic"

The "Cheers" theme is a splendidly-crafted cover, and if this isn't sing-along anthemic then I don't know what is. It has that Dropkick Murphys bar-room feel of it, ironic as that sounds. The breakneck beats that lead us into "My So-Called Fiend" is an intro not to skip over.

Despite the band's claim to half of them being vegans, "Carnivore" displays some of that self-mocking playfullness. The song closes with "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXMEAT".

"Girl in the Green Jacket" reminds me of a punk rock version of the Ataris' old "Sleepy". It is a good closer before they predate the Sopranos and make fun of New Jersey mobsters.

There is no intricate guitar work like there is on later albums, especially Invitation to Tragedy, but the singalong longevity of it makes it a must for any Bigwig fan, because without the first album, there is no discography.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

CountDruckula (September 19, 2011)

My Favorite Bigwig Album

dlangl4 (December 3, 2007)

This CD is so good.

GlassPipeMurder (August 15, 2006)

Bigwig...the only good band left on Fearless.

Anonymous (January 3, 2004)

This is the shittiest band i've ever seen live. A bunch of jocks playing super fast to fans who scream fag to every passing kid. Why the fuck would catch 22 take these assholes on tour, whatever. They remind me why i hate going to jersey. Fuck bigwig, fuck jersey.

Anonymous (May 20, 2003)

best band ever.

NOFXPunkLTJ22 (May 18, 2003)

Uh oh brian with a crazy review

Anonymous (May 18, 2003)

Big wig Rocks and will keep rocking as time goes on.They Just get better with age.One of the true bands still left for the fans and not the comercial bullshit.Give er hard Big wig

Anonymous (May 17, 2003)

"Pro-Life Taker" is the best song

Anonymous (May 17, 2003)

yeah... this album isn't the greatest. but i like it for nostalgia and to see how far bigwig has come. but both stay asleep and invitation to tragedy are head and shoulders above this. and the new album is going to be ridiculous. and amazing live show indeed.

Anonymous (May 17, 2003)

this is funny. i think this album sux ass completely (3 score). i think stay asleep completely rules(9). invitation is solid(7.5).
cawknocker
ps. amazing live show

Anonymous (May 17, 2003)

well... josh breaking fingers just means that he's not on tour, but he's still in the band. brown sound from sum 41 subbed in for him on "sink or swim" for some of the dates with sum 41.

besides. josh is resting up for the ass-kicking corey feldman look-a-like contest.

this band is awesome and yes "drunken knight" might be one of the best on the album.

and they definitely did not peak with stay asleep. the best is yet to come.

Anonymous (May 17, 2003)

Carnivore is meant to be sarcastic. And this is a great CD but is definatly no Stay Asleep. God i love Bigwig they never have made a song i didnt like. Its just pisses me off how they cant keep members. like now Josh is away with a broken finger, whats next?

FortyMinutesWest (May 17, 2003)

I prefer Almond Joy.

Anonymous (May 16, 2003)

bigwig-greatest melodic hardcore band around today! (snickers)

Anonymous (May 16, 2003)

Bigwig sounds like Strike Anywhere? You are either a)Retarded or b)Making it up because you're just a dipshit.

Anonymous (May 16, 2003)

this album is decent. i like stay asleep and i've heard songs off ITT, but don't have the album yet, i've been slackin. i cant wait to see these guys in 2 weeks! hoo-dee-hoo

oh yea, why didnt you talk about 'drunken night', that song is good

Anonymous (May 16, 2003)

I think this record is alright, my main problem is with the song quality. The transitions from part to part are really sloppy sometimes and sound like shit. This band peaked at their 2nd record, good live show though.

Anonymous (May 16, 2003)

While I wouldn't want to pay for it (because I, of course, already bought this album back in 1997), in many ways I would want the current Bigwig to rerecord the songs on this album. If you've seen them live recently play any of the songs off here, they sound a whole lot better and heavier. Tom's voice has gotten a lot better, too. I liked it then, but it's awesome to hear them play the old stuff now and give it more balls. And how can that guy a few posts down not have "Stay Asleep?" That's a fucking travesty. This band is great.

Anonymous (May 16, 2003)

Do any of you know how too spelll? Are you all stoopid?

_911 (May 16, 2003)

bigwig are awesome for what they do.. i just saw them a few times this week.. great band and guys..

inagreendase (May 16, 2003)

im such a tool i still dont have stay asleep

TheOneTrueBill (May 16, 2003)

this is my least favorite Bigwig album. Still pretty good though

Anonymous (May 16, 2003)

The whole line-up on this cd is gone...besides Tom. The drummer Dan went off to be a karate teacher, Josh is married, and Jonn went to work on computers. So this is not the Bigwig we once knew. Actually stay asleep and ITT both only have Tom whos still in the band, w/e. Good cd thou, just the start of what was to happen. Everyone has the buy the jawbreaker tribute album it comes out in June on Dying Wish, and has the Bigwig's on it, with the new line up, im damn excited. Oh and Josh from Bigwig recently broke 2 fingers, so if your seeing them soon, he didn't leave the band, some guy from a band called the reason is a fill-in on guitar.

KirbyPuckett (May 16, 2003)

I bought this on a hunch way back when and I though I made a good guess.

- Scott
http://www.local-felons.com/
(la la la)

Anonymous (May 16, 2003)

Sickboi, I feel the same way...I fucking hate when a band will only play the popular part of a song and call it a cover...*hint* *hint* Lagwagon - Inspector Gadget

Anonymous (May 16, 2003)

Ted Danson is an ass.

-the phantom-

Anonymous (May 16, 2003)

You what I hate? They don't even play the whole "Cheers" song, just the popular part. If you're gonna do it half-ass, dont't do it at all.

-sickboi

Anonymous (May 16, 2003)

"Girl In The Green Jacket" is a pretty good song.

Ramo
(mash taters and gravy)

FortyMinutesWest (May 16, 2003)

If you think Strike Anywhere sound like Bigwig, you must be deaf.

Le_MAD (May 16, 2003)

Bigwig sucks hard, and Strike Anywere is just a hardcore version of them. Rise Against and D4 are good tought.

FortyMinutesWest (May 16, 2003)

No mention of Best of Me? Blasphemy.