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Big Scary Monsters are a label hard not to love, having put bands like Get Cape.Wear Cape.Fly and My Awesome Compilation into public view whilst keeping a stable of some of the UK’s most interesting and exciting upcoming bands. The attitude the label exudes is one of dedication and ethics interested in the underground and roots of supporting bands not just cashing in on a quick buck. It is for these and many more why we need to buy this sampler to help the development of Big Scary Monsters. Also lets face it; it’s a cool name too.
With the fiery introduction from Meet Me In St. Louis, you know it’s going to be good. They are a band who is really starting to threaten to be on the cusp of big things, and this track the second I’ve heard from the upcoming album scares me. God, if they keep on making songs as good as I’ve now heard, it’s good betting that upcoming album ‘Variations On Swing’ will rearrange your mind. House of Brothers is something of a melodic change evoking an acoustic world around the template of Owen. One could be cynical and say that they function as a replacement for Sam Duckworth, but whisper this quietly kids, House of Brothers show signs of being an awful lot better.
‘Smokestacks’ by Secondsmile shows a lot of bands how to do the whole post rock thing properly with a delightful song full of twinkly bits and flashes of brilliant anger. I almost have to pinch myself to remind that it is only a demo. Jairus also try to get in on the demo action with their ear splitting brand of post hardcore, and whilst it doesn’t appeal to my tastes, the general level of musicianship is impressive. From here on in though, I run out of superlatives to describe the rest of the compilation.
This Town Needs Guns, bring out a lovely low tempo track but show no signs of abating with the ludicrous track titles. There is something regal about the track though and sounds a little like Loney, Dear. Cats and Cats and Cats fire the opening salvos in jangly rock in the war against Itch for supreme ruler of the throne and do it with yelps of delight. It may be about seven minutes long but as it chops changes and jumps about, your attention is kept.
Just if you hadn’t had enough variation Campaign For Real Time is a crazy dance funk mash up. Hell it’s even got spoken word in it, how can it not be a success? In truth though it’s one of the most promising and exciting songs on this album purely for difference. You can’t help but feel that with Campaign For Real Time could be a real winner for BSM. Itch just make me want them to release a new album. The song is that good.
Finally we get the forlorn vocals of acoustic artist Richard Walters singing a mournful and sombre track, which somehow manages to be both arresting and good enough to feel like you can float away to it. Then finally the instrumental grandeur of Yndi Halda arrives and makes Explosions in the Sky weep. Probably. It is a compilation of such inspiring talent that you need it in your life. While it feels like I’m a voice over for a dodgy TV advert, for an even dodgier compilation of songs, there has never been a more fitting tag line for this than ‘if you only buy one album this year, make it this one.
Listen: www.myspace.com/bigscarymonsters
Tracklist:
1. Meet Me In St. Louis - The Torso Has Been Severed At Mid-Thorax
2. House of Brothers - Lose Yourself
3. Secondsmile - Smokestacks
4. Jairus - Fallen Patricia
5. This Town Needs Guns - I’ll Forget About You Throwing That Rock, Cos That Dance Was Pretty Funny
6. Cats and Cats and Cats - Hotel At The End Of Youth
7. The Campaign For Real Time - Adjustments
8. Itch - It’s Not Rocket Science
9. Richard Walters - We Have Your Head
10. Yndi Halda - We Flood Empty Lakes
