Big Science [Enhanced, Original recording remastered]

Laurie Anderson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 17, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced, Original recording remastered
• Label: Nonesuch
• ASIN: B000QCU9QW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #68,009 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. From the Air

2. Big Science

3. Sweaters

4. Walking & Falling

5. Born, Never Asked

6. O Superman (For Massenet)

7. Example #22

8. Let X=X

9. It Tango

10. Walk the Dog [Enhanced CD MP3]

Editorial Reviews

Critics lauded the sonic experiments of this NY performance artist, and the UK gave her an unlikely hit when O Superman shot to #2. Here's the 1982 Warner Bros. LP that followed: O Superman; Big Science; From the Air , and the rest of these songs full of tape loops, found sounds and other ahead-of-their-time elements. Bonus audio and video, too!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Note From Nonesuch Records August 7, 2007

By J. Berman

Format:Audio CD

While we feel that the remastering of Laurie Anderson's Big Science dramatically improves the sound quality of the original CD, there was indeed a small omission: the first of two wolf howls that introduces track 2, "Big Science," is missing in the master used for the initial production run of the reissue. This error has since been fixed. Anyone who purchased the CD with the 'truncated' introduction to the title track may return it to us and we will send you the corrected version free of charge. Please see the product description above for more details.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic! April 25, 2001

By Brian A. Wolters VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

Having been a fan of different and "alternative" music, I was intrigued when I first saw the videos for "Sharkey's Day" and "O Superman" on MTV. I was just blown away. So, I went out and picked up my first Laurie Anderson album, Big Science. I was simply amazed at the quality and consistency of this album. I wanted to hear O SUPERMAN first, but when I started with FROM THE AIR, I didn't stop until the album was over. Mesmerizing is the best word I can think of in describing this album. While the lyrics may seem loony, they are actually very intelligent and thought provoking. One of the most haunting songs is BORN, NEVER ASKED. There is a line in that song that says, "What is behind that curtain?" This just underscores the simple yet fascinating aspects of Laurie's lyrics. I just never knew that I was "always falling when I was walking." If you didn't know that, then you must own this album. In fact, everyone should. This is simply a magical piece of art.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An American minimalist music classic July 22, 2007

By Paul Allaer TOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

When "Big Science" was originally released in 1982, it was one of the most unexpected successes of that year, not only as an album, but also generating one of the most unlikely top 10 singles ever with the 8+ min. "O Superman (For Massenet)". Certainly the video helped it make a success, but there was more than that.

Now, 25 years after the original release, comes the remastered and upgraded version. "Big Science" (9 tracks, 41 min., plus bonus materials) starts off with one of its best tracks, "From the Air", a threatening piece from the perspective of an airline captain. The beautiful title track follows, with its slow yet mesmorizing tone. Other highlights for me on the album are of course "O Superman", which still sounds as intruigingand hypnotizing as it did 25 years ago (I still lived in Belgium then, and can attest that this was a genuine hit single there and in many other European countries), and "Let X = X", another minimalist masterpiece. Some of the shorter tracks, such as "Sweaters" and "Walking & Falling" doen't really catch on for me, but it doesn't diminish the overall classic status of the album.

I had this on vinyl but never got the original CD issue, so I don't know how much the audio differs or improves, but regardless I think the audio quality of this remaster is great, so I'm not certain what the complaint about that could be. The bonus materials on the enhanced portion of the CD are skimpy but nice: the video for "O Superman" and an audio file for for "Walk the Dog", which was the B-side of "O Superman". Even though the song is certainly not "essential", it's too bad that it wasn't added onto the regular audio portion. Laurie Anderson also provides some nice liner notes.... Overall, I am very happy that I finally got this in my collection, and this album is a true classic of American minimalist music. Highly recommended! Read more ›

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtakingly beautiful, like a white neon sculpture. April 23, 2000

By Mark Renner

Format:Audio CD

The strangeness of this album's lyrics, instrumentation and structure is eclipsed and made totally irrelevant by the absolute beauty and vision of the work. As others have said, Big Science is a highly "technological" album, using a lot of collage elements, which she often uses as the basis for her tracks. I'd say the most unusual example of this (with the exception of Example #22, which could've been a bonus track on Bjork's "Telegram" if it didn't pre-date it by more than a decade) is "O Superman" where she uses a tiny vocal sample less than a second long as a metronome over which she layers enigmatic lyrics and a beautiful, fluttering flute melody.

Another one of the most amazing songs on the album is "Sweaters" not for the lyrics, or for the melody, but because it manages to use the bagpipes in a serious way without trying to be cute or gimmicky, and without it sounding like Laurie is trying to get a (now-fashionable) "Celtic" sound. It's just used in a totally un-selfconscious way and it comes off beautifully.

The songs, while diverse in sound and structure, are all marked by a simplicity of design and a clean-lined beauty that is really a joy to listen to, again and again. (And believe it or not, this is coming from an 18-year-old who's only had this album for about 4 months. I was in diapers when this was released, which should give you some idea of this record's timelessness.)

42 of 52 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Only worth it if you don't already own it. July 17, 2007

By J. B. Land

Format:Audio CD

This remastered and "expanded" 25th anniversary edition of Big Science is a huge letdown. Not only is the one audio bonus track not included on the cd proper (it's a file on the enhanced portion of the cd) but the remastering itself is negligible. Also, the introduction to the title track has actually been truncated from the original version. My disappointment is compounded by my purchase of Holger Czukay's Movies which was remastered with such care that, even though it was recorded slightly earlier than Big Science, sounds like it was recorded yesterday.

Big Science is a phenomenal and groundbreaking album. If you're interested in delving into Laurie Anderson's work, this is the place to start. However, if you're already a fan and you already own Big Science on cd, this is simply a waste of money.