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Album Review

Big Troubles
Romantic Comedy Slumberland Records

Article written by Ged M - Dec 29, 2011

Big Troubles: Romantic Comedy

If the broadsheets can spend an issue at Christmas reviewing what they should have featured earlier in the year, then why can’t we? The second record by New Jersey’s Big Troubles emerged in the autumn as a gorgeous melding of US and UK indiepop influences. Produced by Mitch Easter in North Carolina, it has the powerpop touches of his earlier bands like Let’s Active, or bands he’s produced like Pavement and Velvet Crush, combined with the intoxicating jangle of Teenage Fanclub and early Boo Radleys. ‘She Smiles for Pictures’ draws you in from the outset with its harmonious, twinkling guitar pop and the whole album then just swings from hook to hook. There’s something of the Pains of Being Pure At Heart to the jangly ‘Minor Keys’ and it’s easy to agree with Big Troubles that sadness makes for better records when they opine: “all the songs in minor keys always sounded all the best to me”. ‘Never Mine’ then rounds off the 34-minute keep-em-gagging-for-more album as it surfs home on waves of blissful guitar and cooed vocals.

There’s something very familiar about this sound, something that seems to fits as snugly as an old band teeshirt; it’s the sound you grew up on, learned to love and thought they wouldn’t make again. And then Big Troubles just did! And for what they lose in originality, they more than make up for with grin-inducing powerpop.

Links:
http://bigtroubles.bandcamp.com/
http://www.slumberlandrecords.com/catalog/show/188
http://www.facebook.com/BigTroublesBand