Atlantic / Wea
2006
Big City Rock
About This Album
Big City Rock's 2006 full-length LP bears the name Big City Rock, as did their three previous EPs, so there should be little surprise that this major-label debut also shares a bunch of songs from those EPs. Four songs, to be exact, which is nearly half of this ten-song album, but just because these are the same tunes doesn't mean they sound exactly the same. Since their 2004 EP, Big City Rock has added a member and has signed to a major, recording their album with Brian Malouf and Fountains of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger; it was mixed by superstar Chris Lord-Alge, best known for his work with Green Day, Bon Jovi, Faith Hill, Alanis Morissette, Stone Temple Pilots, and Savage Garden. In the hands of Malouf, Schlesinger, and Lord-Alge, Big City Rock now has a sound that fits their name: it's absolutely huge and shiny, playing up their new wave and '80s arena rock influences, but sounding modern, particularly in how it pushes the hooks to the front of the mix, whether they're sung or on a guitar or keyboard. Some bands would sound crushed or needlessly inflated when given this kind of treatment, but it fits BCR better than the relatively direct production of their EPs. After all, they make big music, so they need a big soundstage, and they get it here, but it doesn't come across as empty pomp and circumstance, thanks in part to the savvy professionalism of their producers, but mainly due the group's considerable pop skills.
Track List (try tracks 1,4,5,7 and 10)

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