Big Echo

The Morning Benders | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 9, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rough Trade Us
• ASIN: B00347ZYDO
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,764 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

BIG ECHO is an album made to be played LOUD.It sounds great on headphones. The band that made it is called THE MORNING BENDERS.They recorded the album in San Francisco and mixed it in Brookyln. CHRIS CHU and CHRIS TAYLOR (Grizzly Bear)produced it in eleven days. On the twelfth day they rejoiced. There are 10 tracks on BIG ECHO which THE MORNING BENDERS think is best length for an album. It should also be said that BIG ECHO is made of some of the most glorious pop music you'll hear this year or any year. "Shouting into a valley. Big Shout: BIG ECHO".

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent pop/something more, March 9, 2010

By 

Jay James (the bay, ca) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Big Echo (Audio CD)

The Morning Benders' Big Echo is both accessible and elusive. Much of the songwriting is simple: beautifully and thoughtfully crafted melodies sung beautifully, seamless transitions, etc. But the final products become much, much more. Every song is extremely layered, offering the listener a chance to discover something new even after multiple listenings. Ultimately, what results is a contrast between the songwriting and arrangements/production that pushes the listening experience into a different, more complex event. Definitely one of the best albums I've heard in a long time, and I look forward to listening to it for years to come.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Spatial Experimentation at its finest, March 11, 2010

By 

J. Loudon (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Big Echo (Audio CD)

Chris Chu started the Morning Benders as a solo project, recording his first EP, Loose Change, completely on his own. As a student at Berkeley in California, Chris soon joined forces with classmates Julian Harmon, Joe Ferrell, and Tim Or. The band's second EP, Boarded Doors, was released in 2007 and was received well by local publications, but still failed to gain much interest outside of the Bay Area. After taking a studio job to help finance a full length record, the band released Talking Through Tin Cans in 2008. With Chu handling most of the production and editing with the help of producer and engineer Patrick Brown, the new album garnered a surprising amount of success and was even named by iTunes as the best indie/alternative album of 2008.

Now, two years later, The Morning Benders are at it again; this time with more attention paid to the sounds and effects in the background while still maintaining their focus on the intoxicating melodies. One of Chu's goals for the record was to expand the band's sound in a style similar to Phil Spector's "wall of sound." The first track, "Excuses," does just that with a host of new instrumentation. Additionally, the album title, Big Echo, fits these new ideals beautifully. The band sounds much fuller with this release and a great deal of the credit should go to the reverb and echo that keep the listener's ears busy while also craving more.

Although "Excuses" is the clear single, the remainder of Big Echo flows brilliantly together. On slower tracks like "Pleasure Sighs" and "Mason Jar," the decreased tempos are balanced by increased dynamic range. It may sound experimental to some, but Chris Chu has clearly thought everything through on this record. Comparisons were drawn to the Beach Boys on their first album and while there are still a few glimpses of Brian Wilson's trademark magic hidden in the mix, The Morning Benders have created a sound that is very much their own and will please both independent and mainstream markets.

Similar Artists: The Shins, the Beach Boys, Vampire Weekend

Track Suggestion: Excuses

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT album!!, September 29, 2010

By 

MeredithNCSU girl (Raleigh, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Big Echo (Audio CD)

A friend of mine shared this album with me and I fell in love. Never had heard of them previously. The sounds are beautiful, upbeat, and fun to listen to. Perfect for a party, work out, or chill out time! Definitely recommend!