- Original Release Date: June 28, 2010
- Label: Rough Trade
- Copyright: 2009 Rough Trade Records Ltd.
- Total Length: 38:53
- Genres:
- ASIN: B0039M64MO
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
- Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,914 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)
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| Song Title | Time | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Play | 1. Excuses | 5:17 | $0.99 | |
| Play | 2. Promises | 3:03 | $0.99 | |
| Play | 3. Wet Cement | 3:55 | $0.99 | |
| Play | 4. Cold War | 1:44 | $0.99 | |
| Play | 5. Pleasure Sighs | 4:28 | $0.99 | |
| Play | 6. Hand Me Downs | 3:45 | $0.99 | |
| Play | 7. Mason Jar | 4:45 | $0.99 | |
| Play | 8. All Day Day Light | 3:38 | $0.99 | |
| Play | 9. Stitches | 5:04 | $0.99 | |
| Play | 10. Sleeping In | 3:14 | $0.99 |
Product Details |
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Jay James
Format:MP3 Music
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.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Jay James
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
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.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By T. Duham
Format:MP3 Music
I am a newcomer to this band from Berkeley CA. But I was an instant convert. Great pop hooks, but with a lot of eccentric things to keep you interested. I get the Phil Spector thing, but Brian Wilson / Beach Boys / Pet Sounds is what comes to mind for me. I say buy it! it's a refreshing difference to what is out there for American pop music.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By J. Loudon
Format: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.... Read more ›
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.... Read more ›
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format: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!
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Music
This reminds me very much of Phil Spector (as in the wall of sound as opposed to freakish wigs, murder or prison rape).
Excellent album. A number of great folksy indie tracks, the first number ("Excuses") really sets the tone. Ethereal, floaty, thoughtful... just right on the button.
Excellent album. A number of great folksy indie tracks, the first number ("Excuses") really sets the tone. Ethereal, floaty, thoughtful... just right on the button.
By Ryan Mouton
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Perfectly named, Big Echo, sounds just really, really, big. Very technical buildups to big, fat, sonorous releases. The songs on this album melt like butter, and i love every one. Absolutely no complaints, this album is undoubtedly worth the investment.
Format:Audio CD
An unbelievable return from Morning benders, was looking forward to this since there last prominent album talking through tin cans.
The fact that there so well underated and unknown makes me appreciate this music inevitably.
My main listen is hip hop, such as Madlib, Doom, Talib, Tribe, de la soul, and its good to take a break and listen to some thorough indie tunes.
This is def. a good catch, get the entire album.
The fact that there so well underated and unknown makes me appreciate this music inevitably.
My main listen is hip hop, such as Madlib, Doom, Talib, Tribe, de la soul, and its good to take a break and listen to some thorough indie tunes.
This is def. a good catch, get the entire album.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Larger-Than-Life, Eclectic Recording - Great Songs, Great CD
Big Echo! Indeed. This 2nd studio release from The Morning Benders falls into a more modern, almost "Vampire Weekend-ish" indie/alt genre than most all music recommended on... Read more
Published on March 19, 2011 by A. Boyd
5.0 out of 5 stars
Refreshing
I saw The Morning Benders play with The Black Keys in Omaha and instantly became a fan! Big Echo provides a mellow trance with kickback sounds to the 50's and 60's. Read more
Published on January 10, 2011 by K
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome Album All The Way Through!
It's so rare to find a gem of an album these days, that does not have any songs you wanna skip. This album I guarantee you will love from start to finish. Read more
Published on December 3, 2010 by vl1024
5.0 out of 5 stars
Happy to have found this group.
Just discovered them about a week ago (Sept. 2010) on YouTube. Different from the usual pop stuff. Many layers (almost like flavors)to their music. Just plain fun. Read more
Published on September 18, 2010 by SLC of GA
4.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining
If there was a 3 1/2 stars, that's what I would have given Big Echo. The first four songs on the album are great, and then it really just slows down... Read more
Published on August 5, 2010 by sarahalm91
4.0 out of 5 stars
Big Echo
The Morning Benders have put out a great album here. The soundscape is dreamy amd mellow, although not lacking musical integrity. Read more
Published on June 10, 2010 by Geoffrey Bland
3.0 out of 5 stars
Feels Outdated
This is pleasant indie pop with some very good songs on it. It uses the model of polite pop music that was so popular in the middle of this decade, that of the Shins and later... Read more
Published on April 2, 2010 by John Wraith
