Album Review: Big Nothing – Chris

This album has made me evaluate where it is bands derive their character and personality from. Is it a democratic sum of parts where the personnel simply contribute to one organic process, or is a band a reflection of its key personality? I suspect the latter. A few bands manage to make a success of the multiple focus, mainly because the overall sound is usually dominated by the vocal performance. Big Nothing split the vocal duties on Chris three ways between Pat Graham (lead singer of Spraynard), Liz Parsons (formerly of Casual) and Chris Jordan (formerly of Young Livers). While the band has a distinct melodic alt-rock style, this dispersal of vocal duties leaves me wondering if there is a definitive Big Nothing sound, with all the implications for commercial and broadcast traction that carries with it.

That said, this is an album of excellent songs and a showcase for some substantial writing talent. Sonically, it is the kind of breezy, jingly-jangly alt-rock designed to soundtrack movie montages about summer romances and travelling in convertibles along dead straight desert highways. Mostly mid-tempo with some gorgeous guitar work, these songs are melodic with a high sing-along factor that adds to an overall strong feelgood vibe. It also has a kind of timeless quality, harking back occasionally to the crunchy guitar pop groove of bands like Semisonic and the All American Rejects. There are also moments of quirkiness in the performance, an occasional slight off-key waver in the vocal, for instance, that adds charm and a human touch to the performance.

All in all, a fine album of superbly well-crafted songs that will grow on you if you give it a chance. The sharing of vocal duties is a little distracting but doesn’t really detract from the overall feel of the album. Solid stuff and well worth checking out.

Big Nothing‘s Chris can be purchased via Salinas Records here