Big Loser – Love You Barely Living

Austin, Texas indie punk band Big Loser has slowly fallen on my radar. After the release of a couple of well selected tracks as lead singles and music videos, the quiet and reserved melodies grew on me until I finally cracked open the promo for Love You Barely Living and gave the full album a listen.  I was instantly impressed. Combining a vocal style somewhere in the ballpark of Alkaline Trio and Smoking Popes, the band’s simple but smooth style and passionate and approachable lyrics are effortlessly enjoyable.  

“Reveille!,” translated to “wake up,” opens the album in a beam of sunny optimism.  With opening lyrics that describe a carefree morning arrival at an airport, from casually slipping on a new coat, to checking the time and feeling the merciless breeze that ushers in another new day, it soon becomes clear that listeners are in for something a little out of the ordinary.  It’s about thirty seconds of talk that leads into another forty or so seconds of wispy horn driven instrumentation, setting a magnificent tone. Big Loser follows up with “Blisters,” which glides across a foundation of clear indie-punk with each line separated by a clear rhythm and deadpan delivery.  The Alkaline Trio reference remains true to songs like “When I Disappear” and “Beautiful Dark Room,” which delve into darkness in their delivery and messages.  “Post-almost-overdose” is particularly telling as a moment of raw and vulnerable of introspection, reflecting on an act of self harm with a reserved backdrop of acoustic guitar and piano keys.  “I try to focus on the TV / but my vision’s getting heavier / my heart is beating out my body,” he describes in song, which leads to a moment of dread and self doubt, “dial three numbers now or never / and with my finger on the button / with it all in my own hands / it is here that I will stutter.”  It’s a strong and connective moment that has the potential to link with listeners much like “Radio” did for Alkaline Trio at the onset of their career.

But the musical accompaniment isn’t all emotional turmoil.  For instance, “Persistent Heart” follows with a very alt rock style tune that lands on the more energetic side of bands like The Midwestern Charm and Sorority Noise.  Lyrics like, “You were in the room when I vomited last night, I’m sorry I never came to,” may fall flat when read out of context, but they just work on such an intuitive level in the context of the album.  Meanwhile, “Barely Living” further switches things up with a little country twang, and “Love You” introduces a slight math rock flutter. All these variations are subtle but engaging, enhancing what ultimately amounts to a hotbed of excitement amidst a blanket of gloom.  

Love You Barely Living is a remarkably strong debut.  The disc is accessible enough to just sort of have on in the background, but also thoroughly engaging for a close and nuanced listen. Big Loser has given us an unapologetic introduction to the band’s predominantly dark and articulate experience. Love You Barely Living is a defining entry point that makes a great first impression while leaving the door open for any number of new ideas in subsequent releases.