Customer Reviews

Son Of The Tiger

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

 

 

Big Sleep is a largely instrumental trio from NYC who blend shoegaze and Sabbath with dabblings in slide guitar and electronica. Perhaps like Mogwai, you ask? While songs like "Like Herod" and "Mogwai Fear Satan" might be tangental reference points, Big Sleep sticks to more conventional rock explorations as a whole than Mogwai, and it works to the band's benefit (but don't get me wrong - I love what Mogwai does too). Note to the audiophiles: The guitarist gets a variety of cool sounds and tones (both live and on album), thanks to a combination of a hollowbody guitar, lots of gain and liberal use of reverbs and delays... Not unlike Jesus and Mary Chain stuff in some passages, I suppose. The rhythm sections are tight, and the drummer has some cool beats and fills. My favorite heavier songs are "Murder" and "Locomotion", although "Menemy" is a great slow jammer with contemplative acoustic picking in the background. The album closer, "New Strings", is my choice pick, though -- it's easy to get lost in the crescendo.

Have to dock a star for the weak (somewhat off-key and perhaps poorly mixed?) vocals on the few tracks that feature singing, as well as because the album cover and liner notes seem slapped together. Those criticisms notwithstanding, this is a solid modern rock album that is worthy of repeated listens.

After hearing "Murder" on a CD sampler I decided to pick up Son Of the Tiger a little while after it came out. WOW! This band hooked me in and wouldn't let go. An absolute perfect mix of heavy and melodic sounds with somewhat minimal vocals. From fuzzy rock, to an almost shoe gazer sound at times. Nice to have a CD in that can satisfy your mood for something heavy or mellow at the same time. Honestly there isn't one song on this CD that isn't good. From beginning to end it just delivers. The last song "New Strings" gives me chills and is such a great closer. They have such an original sound and their live shows are just flat out awesome! Kill the stage lights and watch them set up a few shop/work lights and just launch into an all out assault. I have seen them a few times and the band members are just really great people. Pick this CD up and get ready for their next CD "Sleep Forever" coming out soon. And DO NOT miss the opportunity to see them live!

This CD is outstanding. I saw the band play a few weeks ago at the Deli Magazine party and they were excellent.