Label: Ear Music (Germany), 0206418ERE
Style: Hard Rock, Heavy Metal
Country: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Time: 55:43
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 398 Mb
There
are those who know NAZARETH only for 1975's "Hair of the Dog" (indeed a
great album),specifically the ball bustin' title track and radio smash
"Love Hurts"; just like there are those who know DEEP PURPLE only for
"Smoke on the Water". Then there are those who know NAZARETH as the
Scottish band that has been consistent (for the most part) in making an
immediately identifiable brawny/folksy/bluesy brand of rock music since
1968 and continue to do so today with original members Dan McCafferty
(vocals) and Pete Agnew (bass) still in tow. Much like UFO, NAZARETH has
aged like a fine wine; getting classier, blusier, and a little mellower
in the process, but continue to be unmistakably NAZARETH. These are all
characteristics that define "Big Dogz", a damn fine rock album and a
more than worthy addition to the storied act's catalogue.
"Big Dogz"
is an album that does include some classic-era rock elements (a riff
here, a pattern there) and on the whole it will not be mistaken for
anything other than a NAZARETH album. How could it be with McCafferty's
distinctive gravel-throated voice, which sounds as strong ever? Yet "Big
Dogz" offers more than just rockers and ballads; it is an album on
which intricate playing and a colorful, nuanced tapestry of blues, folk,
and pure soulfulness make every song unique, heartfelt, and 100 percent
enjoyable.
The best part about "Big Dogz" is that there isn't a
single song that doesn't move the listener in some way and keep him/her
hanging on to every note and every word. "Big Dog's Gonna Howl" sets the
tone with its earthy bass line, a stop/start riff that recalls some of
the mid-'70s material, and - like most songs on the disc - a truckload
of soul. That bluesy swagger is even more pronounced on "Claimed", which
also boasts some vintage nods to the past, while "No Mean Monster"
raises the temperature and gets a serious hot 'n bluesy groove going. It
is the album's second half though where the balls get bigger and the
rock comes struttin' on songs like "The Toast" (inclusive of some comic
relief),"Watch Your Back", "Lifeboat", and "Sleeptalker", which is the
one song that will most remind folks of the NAZARETH heard on albums
like "Razamanaz", "Loud 'n' Proud", and "Hair of the Dog".
It is the
mellower end of the spectrum on "Big Dogz" however where NAZARETH really
shines, as the combination of the nuanced playing and McCafferty's
vocals result in music that is nothing short of beautiful. Starting with
the largely acoustic "When Jesus Comes to Save the World Again", which
offers just enough Delta blues and grit, to put the "esque" in
ballad-esque, NAZARETH show themselves most capable of writing songs
that touch the soul. Most interesting is how well the pop-based "Radio"
comes off; it is another nice twist and a pretty catchy tune to boot.
After you've spent some time with "Big Dogz", it just may be the
seven-minute "Time and Tide" that stands out for its tear jerking,
nostalgic beauty. The song gets right to the heart of the matter and it
wouldn't seem strange to hear its basic, unforgettable chorus assisted
by a gospel choir. And somehow the band still manages to sneak in an old
school NAZARETH lick at one point. "Butterfly" is right there as well,
its essence one of sorrows-drowning sentimentality with a folk basis and
a certain grace in the piano playing that is all about the feel, rather
than the technique.
What may surprise you most about "Big Dogz" is
that it is not the strength of the punch that makes NAZARETH's rock
roll. Rather, it is the intricacy of the playing, the space between the
notes, and an approach to songwriting that makes the sum of those parts
not nearly as endearing as the whole. NAZARETH really classes up the
place here and offers an album that is about as honest as rock music
gets. Be careful with this one; it'll sneak up on you and leave you
helpless in its grasp.
(blabbermouth.net/reviews/big-dogz)
01. Big Dog's Gonna Howl (03:58)
02. Claimed (03:55)
03. No Mean Monster (05:01)
04. When Jesus Comes To Save The World Again (06:24)
05. Radio (04:17)
06. Time And Tide (07:20)
07. Lifeboat (04:58)
08. The Toast (03:59)
09. Watch Your Back (04:32)
10. Butterfly (05:30)
11. Sleeptalker (05:44)
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