BIGELF

I've heard the name BigElf before, but always written them off as perhaps a nerdy D&D flavoured band (mostly because of the 'Elf' part of their name). I'd heard tale of their love for progressive music, which is a good thing, but not quite enough to make me dip my toes in their particular sonic soup. My luck out then, as this is a fantastic album of Kings-X/Galactic Cowboys/80s Hard Rock/Beatles Orchestrated/Pink Floyd-type psychedelic rock. It's a lot more fun than I anticipated too, with many of the songs flirting with bizarre circus-ring imagery. It's a groovy son of a bitch too, and should get the crowds gurning in a live setting. Highlights for me are the should-be-a-single-if-not-already 'The Game' and the gloriously epic and silly 'Counting Sheep'. That's not to say that the rest of the album is sub-par, not at all, but those two tracks have the bar set so high that it's impossible to craft an entire album of such quality. So, this is clown music for the nu-flower power generation, and should be enjoyed by anyone who has a fun-lovin' rockin' pulse in their body. And if you don't, then give this a spin and you might just give up your emo CD collection and stop wearing spray-on jeans, get yourself a pair of loons and groove yourself to Saturn and back. I know I will.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Powerage Records

Album

CHEAT THE GALLOWS

Review by Steve Cowan

RUNNING TIME:

56:53

RELEASE DATE:

7th Sept 2009

TRACK LISTING

1) Gravest Show on Earth
2) Blackball
3) Money, It's Pure Evil
4) The Evils of Rock & Roll
5) No Parachute
6) The Game
7) Superstar
8) Race with Time
9) Hydra
10) Counting Sheep

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

USA

"...clown music for the nu-flower power generation, and should be enjoyed by anyone who has a fun-lovin' rockin' pulse in their body."