Big Talk - Big Talk (25/08/2011)
Few things are more frightening than hearing the words “the drummer is making a solo album”. Success stories are rare. Dave Grohl was a drummer who made a solo album, and he went on to lead the biggest rock band in the world. However, Ringo Starr was a drummer who stepped out from behind the skins, and he went on to narrate Thomas the Tank Engine.
Naturally, one can’t help but be cautious when approaching Big Talk’s debut album, the brainchild of The Killers’ drummer, Ronnie Vannucci. Fortunately, the result is more than pleasing, with Vannucci producing a modest and generally satisfying and inspiring pop-rock album.
Vannucci takes total control of Big Talk, assuming the roles of lead songwriter and vocalist, as well as performing most of the instruments. As a vocalist, it would be near impossible not to compare him to The Killers’ singer, Brandon Flowers. Oddly, even if Vannucci was in no way associated with The Killers, you’d be comparing him to Flowers. Vocally, they are strikingly similar. There must be something in those Vegas waters…
‘Katzenjammer’, as described by Vannucci, is the “big, dumb, rock’n’roll song” of the album. Honestly, it’s not all that big, dumb or even rock’n’roll. It probably is the heaviest song on the album, but it sounds too calculated and almost contrived. It’s glorified pop, feeling cool because it’s wearing leather and has broken curfew. It’s like when boybands in the ‘90s had the mandatory hip-hop inspired song to make them seem edgy; we’re not quite buying it, but it’s definitely catchy!
The rest of the album is full of uplifting hits that will undoubtedly repeat in your head for days. ‘Getaway’ is so dangerously catchy that it’ll stick to you like glue, and ‘Deeper Water’ has a killer chorus that I’d challenge anyone not to sing along to. ‘Replica’ has become the song of choice for fans, and is also apparently a favourite of Vannucci himself. Personally, I think it’s lacklustre and the least-impressive track on the album.
The album is definitely decent, but it doesn’t have the makings of a classic. Indeed, it exhibits Vannucci’s skill as a songwriter, which leaves great hope for future releases. If you’re after a feel-good pop/rock album to soundtrack your Summer, this should definitely be a contender.
Big Talk’s debut does suffer a bit from First Album Syndrome (when you can feel that a band is onto something good, but the album just didn’t quite get there). Unfortunately, our expectations for this album are simultaneously raised and lowered due to Vannucci’s association with The Killers. If anyone else had released it, it would have been a heroic effort and would leave us buzzing with anticipation for the next offering. As the side project for a member of one of the world’s biggest bands, it doesn’t quite hit the spot… but there’s more Dave Grohl to this story than Ringo Starr…
Lara Moates
Naturally, one can’t help but be cautious when approaching Big Talk’s debut album, the brainchild of The Killers’ drummer, Ronnie Vannucci. Fortunately, the result is more than pleasing, with Vannucci producing a modest and generally satisfying and inspiring pop-rock album.
Vannucci takes total control of Big Talk, assuming the roles of lead songwriter and vocalist, as well as performing most of the instruments. As a vocalist, it would be near impossible not to compare him to The Killers’ singer, Brandon Flowers. Oddly, even if Vannucci was in no way associated with The Killers, you’d be comparing him to Flowers. Vocally, they are strikingly similar. There must be something in those Vegas waters…
‘Katzenjammer’, as described by Vannucci, is the “big, dumb, rock’n’roll song” of the album. Honestly, it’s not all that big, dumb or even rock’n’roll. It probably is the heaviest song on the album, but it sounds too calculated and almost contrived. It’s glorified pop, feeling cool because it’s wearing leather and has broken curfew. It’s like when boybands in the ‘90s had the mandatory hip-hop inspired song to make them seem edgy; we’re not quite buying it, but it’s definitely catchy!
The rest of the album is full of uplifting hits that will undoubtedly repeat in your head for days. ‘Getaway’ is so dangerously catchy that it’ll stick to you like glue, and ‘Deeper Water’ has a killer chorus that I’d challenge anyone not to sing along to. ‘Replica’ has become the song of choice for fans, and is also apparently a favourite of Vannucci himself. Personally, I think it’s lacklustre and the least-impressive track on the album.
The album is definitely decent, but it doesn’t have the makings of a classic. Indeed, it exhibits Vannucci’s skill as a songwriter, which leaves great hope for future releases. If you’re after a feel-good pop/rock album to soundtrack your Summer, this should definitely be a contender.
Big Talk’s debut does suffer a bit from First Album Syndrome (when you can feel that a band is onto something good, but the album just didn’t quite get there). Unfortunately, our expectations for this album are simultaneously raised and lowered due to Vannucci’s association with The Killers. If anyone else had released it, it would have been a heroic effort and would leave us buzzing with anticipation for the next offering. As the side project for a member of one of the world’s biggest bands, it doesn’t quite hit the spot… but there’s more Dave Grohl to this story than Ringo Starr…
Lara Moates