How I Learned to Stop Worrying

The Bigger Lovers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 13, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Black Dog
• ASIN: B000059T61
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #414,841 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Catch and Release

2. I'm Here

3. Change Your Mind

4. Forever Is Not So Long

5. Steady on Threes

6. Casual Friday

7. Threadbare

8. America Undercover

9. Summer (Of Our First Hello)

10. A Year Ago

11. Out of Sight

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Buy Honey in the Hive first, then enjoy this, July 3, 2008

By 

R. Mahieu "Seattled Rick" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How I Learned to Stop Worrying (Audio CD)

I found the Bigger Lovers via their songs "Bought Your Ghost" and "Emmanuelle", recommended by Itunes. It was enough for me to buy all of their albums. After first listen I was a bit disappointed, but now after a few listens I see they're not far from great. They have a unique throwback sound to sixties love songs, but also incorporate lo-fi indie aspects, ala Fruit Bats and Rogue Wave.

The album opens with "Catch and Release" and is somewhat skippable. "I'm Here" however is a keeper. Reminds me of Tommy James, Monkees, Mamas and the Papas. It has a wonderfully catchy melody and is a highlight on the album. "Change Your Mind" continues in the right direction with lo-fi vocals, reminiscient of Elliott Smith at first, in its restrained misery, but then becomes The Bigger Lovers' bread and butter-- dramatic build ups and climaxes. Raw emotion comes thru here. "Forever is Not Too Long" has some Kinkish guitars and somewhat nasally vocals, and becomes generic immediately. "Steady on Threes" has a craftily constructed intro, then brings in filtered vocals, and tends to drag. Nothing new here. "Casual Friday" is an unexpected 5:54 and finds really emotive vocals, however, it really doesn't change much, save a spoken word sample at the end. "Threadbare" again is nothing special, albeit upbeat, and causes the album to drag a bit. "America Undercover" has that lo-fi static vocal to start, and uses a little guitar and drumkit to make the head bop in joyless bliss. What are they singing about?

"Summer of Our First Hello" is where they seem to change direction, with a nice piano/drum/percussion intro for a minute plus. Here the Bigger Lovers again turn to sixties pop, and it works for them. The song is over 5 minutes, but they do manage to change it up throughout. "A Year Ago" has some nice electric guitar and a Clash-ish bassline, and right away sticks. Nice little guitar licks ala early Beatles/George Harrison. "Out of Sight" starts with some steel pedal guitar and has an Americana country feel to it. A little bit of Jeff Tweedy here. Nice close to the album.

Overall, this is not a great album, but it does have its moments. Recommended for fans of Fruit Bats, Redwalls, and Rogue Wave. Standout tracks: I'm Here, Change Your Mind, Summer, A Year Ago, Out of Sight.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Recommended if you like Power Pop, January 5, 2002

By 

Mark Groth (St. Louis, MO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How I Learned to Stop Worrying (Audio CD)

I heard song #4 on the radio and simply had to buy it. This is a great power pop album. They're on Black Dog records, isn't that the Blue Mountain folks? This is rock not alt. country. Track#1 rocks out, I don't like the words so much, but man, it rocks and it's only 2 minutes long. #2 reminds me of Mitch Easter in Let's Active (in a good way). #3 is so cool, and recommended if you like Teenage Fanclub, great voice and harmonies. #4 is on my all-time great power pop song list; it doesn't get much better (great guitar, rhythm, humble words). #5 is my favorite song, great distortion and lyrics. #6 is sonically deep and interesting, I love the title. #7 is radio-ready, in St. Louis anyway. #8 makes me feel hungover but okay...like Beck's early stuff. #9 is beautiful...my 2nd favorite song (which means alot because I bought it based on one song). #10 and 11 are great too. Buy it, buy it, please buy it and let me know what you think. So sad and happy and rockin' (both fast & slow).

6 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A new Big Star?, September 11, 2001

By 

M. Lane Johnson (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How I Learned to Stop Worrying (Audio CD)

These guys are good Big Star descendants much like the Posies. And although theres alot to like here mothing on here equals the best moments on Big Star's Radio City.