Customer Reviews

Fluent In Stroll

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For those expecting a straight punk or ska album, you won't find it here. While Big D usually keeps one foot firmly in the land of ska, they also continue to grow and develop, musically, lyrically, and stylistically. This new record, in the style they dub "stroll," takes elements not only from classic reggae, but also from soul music, double-dutch, 50's tunes, rock, jazz and more, creating a perfectly balanced and fun summer album, with hints of true lyric intelligence sprinkled throughout. It features the Doped Up Dollies, some smooth girl singers whose backup vocals are prevalent, and amusing, often thoughtful lyrical strands from lead Dave McWane. Surprisingly deft piano figures from usual guitarist Sean P Rogan bolster some tracks, as do surly horn lines and growling, funky bass lines. (Dana Colley of Morphine supplies some bass sax parts). The guys know how to build a song, and clearly were well-guided by producer (and Bosstones bassist) Joe Gittleman. Some tunes sound like gritty go-go numbers dipped in whiskey (Doped Up Dollies), some are summery love songs(Describing The Sky), and some actually reminded me a bit of the Stone's classic album "Exile On Main Street" (We Can Live Anywhere), with an almost bluesy tinge. Indeed, the best songs on the record are, in my opinion, the ones least like the band's previous work.

If you are a young kid who gets angry when your bands experiment with different styles, or you think they are 'selling out' when they do something new, this is probably not for you. Come back and check it after you've grown up a bit. Big D is obviously playing what they feel, and you feel it yourself when listneing. The band is not adhering to some formula in a mission to replicate the success of past albums; it's not the aggressive punk music of the band's early years. But if you like a good skank, and you are open to Big D sharing their newest vibes with you this summer, this is a good CD to pick up. It's in heavy rotation this summer for me!

It's not punk, it's not exactly ska, but it's Big D and they kept the horn section! ;)

This album has not left my stereo since I bought it last week on the release date. I can't get enough of it! :D

I love the sound, I love the optimism, the Doped Up Dollies are a nice addition, and Dave's lyrics are great as always. Regardless of sound I love Dave's lyrics.

Yeah yeah yeah I know some people are bashing this album because "OMG Big D changed their sound!!!!" - but it's still them! And they didn't completely ditch the horn section like other ska bands have done! They're still rocking and I'm happy with the new direction. :)

I have liked Big D ever since I heard their cover of the Specials' classic "Little Bitch". LA X is a great song. So is "Noise Complaint". But this album is far better than their previous work. It is a masterpiece, their ".. And Out Come the Wolves", their "Joshua Tree", their "Born to Run". Buy it now.

I hate to quote Fall Out Boy, but it is true that "the songs you grow to like never stick at first." If you're like me, this whole album won't stick at first. Or at second. By the third time your toes are going and by the fifth and sixth, you can't stop listening.

Some songs are cute, some are raunchy, some are sweet, some are hilarious ("If I found myself stranded on an island with six million girls -- well, I'd put 'em all to work, and build a kick-a sailboat to get me back to you"). They're all unique and definitely Big D -- chill, slick, and smooth. It's a great album.

Best songs: Doped Up Dollies, Describing the Sky, Been Wishin' On, Fluent in Stroll, and I, I, I.

I heard Big D for the first time with this album, so I have no previous reference for the band. This cd, however, is great. I like the cool ska sound, and the songs are really upbeat and amusing. If you enjoy lyrics about life and love with a punk/ska sound this is a really nice album. It hasn't left my cd player all summer!

Cause damn. It's really good but it's so different. It's almost a shock when one of you're favorite Big D songs is 'Girls Against Drunk Bitches' a classic thrash ska song. But i gotta say I love it and I'll be surprised if you don't.

Hands down their best album. It's definitely different at first, but it is now my favorite album of theirs. Also i think it is one of the best ska albums to come out in quite a while. It is very unique, and has a clean polished sound.

Since high school i'Ve loved Big D. There last album came out just as a started my relationship with my loving wife and mother of my child. When this album came out it totally encompased everything i went through (Chin up, boy) to everything i feel now (We can live everywhere). Like other reviewers have said, you want an album of intensity, youthful drama trips, and the dating scene, get an earlier album. But if you want the happiness and fulfilling love of a good relationship grab this album and put it on repeat.

Really great and up-beat cd! It definitely has a lot less of the "punk" flare than most of their previous albums, but I like this different sound that they're creating. It's just great feel-good ska music, and the more I listen to it, the more I grow attached to it.

When a popular band that is stamped as "punk," or otherwise know for having a punk influence, releases an album where they attempt to break down their sound and get more experimental it's always open to being torn apart by the fans. People expect a certain sound from the band over the course of their previous albums and the sudden left turn isn't always welcome. That being said I've been a big local fan of Big D & The Kids Table for years. And even as they've slowly evolved their music over the last 7 years following the Gypsy Hill EP I've remained a fan. I think I always will love going to their shows and I've enjoyed a couple of the songs from Fluent in Stroll at their performances but I can't enjoy this record on its own. In fact as much as I fight each listening finds me liking it less and less. It doesn't reflect my feeling for the group, but for me Fluent is Stroll ends up a slow and meandering chain of songs that don't leave me with any sort of emotion of feeling when it's over

There is no rock influence on any track of this record. Nor is there any of the ska-punk sound from their previous records. The whole sound to Fluent in Stroll lies on some dub, a little jazz and some old rhythm and blues and some mixture of modern reggae sounds with aren't quite reggae. The title seems to reflect the feel of the record: as if it's music for just strolling along on a summer day. But as I said the tunes are so bland I would never find this adding much to a calm, easy day in my life. As the record progresses it plods along as a slow pace with nothing much to break up the overall sound or vibe of it all.

It's also hard to identify the record as ska on the whole. Any ska fan is familiar with 90s ska bands dropping their sound for more commercial genres. Well that is NOT what I'm claiming Big D has done here... but they've attempted to do something different by mixing the genres I mentioned before. Since the experimental (but badly produced) dub EP "Salem Girls" or even their Hip-Hop record "Porch Life", Big D has shown they can explore their musical abilities, but still keep their eye on their ska and punk fans so as not to alienate them like so many 90s bands did after the ska bubble burst. But this is not an experimental EP or small pressed CD sold at their shows, this is their new full length sold nation wide. Yet there are only a handful of 1st wave inspired ska songs on here. The rest straddle this dull jazzy, old R&B sound that Fluent in Stroll carves itself.

The lead singer has also shown more talent for a borderline talking/singing punk style used perfectly on the "Gypsy Hill EP." But the moments from their last record, "Strictly Rude," where he attempts to toast and sing with traditional and Jamaican inflections always sounded like parody of the singing style he attempt to achieve. Yet apparently the band does not feel that way as nearly every song has him attempting more of the same.

Overall I love this band and will always enjoy going to their shows and listening to their previous records. But Fluent in Stroll is a flat and lifeless attempt at chill out music and leaves me feeling more uptight then when I hit play.