Big Eyes "Hard Life" LP (2011)

Details: Used black vinyl of Big Eyes 2011 album, "Hard Life," released on Don Giovanni Records. 

Description: "Twelve tough-edged songs that inhabit the most rock and roll corner of the punk rock world. Sing-along choruses, sick guitar riffs, and pop melodies abound. Also featuring Mark Bronzino of Kicking Spit on bass. Recorded at weird hours of the night at MacroSound Studios in Union, NJ; thanks to their friend who worked there and let them in to record when the studio was empty."

" BIG EYES falls somewhere between the MUFFS and the REPLACEMENTS, with really cool, tough girl vocals and of course there’s an invocation of the RAMONES. The sound on this LP is incredible, almost too perfect; it sounds like what you want the cool girl band to sound like in ’80s subculture movies, but they always end up with some shitty synth puff pastries. This is tough punk rock. City street rock, the sound of trash-strewn sidewalks, dogs tied up to chain link fences, feathered hair with leather jackets, a packet of Lucky Strikes, and beat-up Chucks. It’s totally the more rock end of punk, and it’s so easy to go into really gross territory when you are in those waters — you know, shitty rawkin’ Sunset Strip bar rock cheese chowder. This is somehow badass though. The band is so tight and the songs are so cohesive and tough-sounding, hooks in all the right places, melancholy and mean rather than posturing and limp. So catchy it’s relentless! I feel so cheesy writing this review, but it’s the band you wish the girl from Freaks and Geeks had formed after watching that terrible CREAM cover band her friends were in. Kate’s voice is sick, somewhere between Joan Jett, Kim Shattuck, and Paula Pierce… She invokes Joey Ramone and that’s just dreamy. Anyway, I was not expecting to like this record at all, but I am convinced!"--maximum rock n roll

Grade: NM (Cover) / M (Record)

TRACK LISTING SIDE A:

A1. Your Lies
A2. Pretend To Care
A3. Different Than I Thought
A4. I Know You're Wrong
A5. Pretty Sure
A6. Take The Time

TRACK LISTING SIDE B:

B1. Why Can't I
B2. Joke's On You
B3. Since You Left
B4. Now That You Aren't Mine
B5. The Bad And The Good
B6. Tired All The Time