Album Review: Duncan Reid & The Big Heads - "Don't Blame Yourself"

 


Duncan Reid & The Big Heads' Bombs Away was one of the standout albums of 2017, taking the promise of its two predecessors and really fine-tuning the power-pop formula to excellent effect. Since then, they've gone through a slight line-up shift with guitarist Mauro Venegas leaving amicably and subsequently resurfacing in the Speedways to be replaced by former New Device/Yo-Yo's/Role Models man Nick Hughes.

I'm pleased to report though that the change doesn't seem to have done them much harm as songs like For All We Know, Little Miss Understood and To Live Or Live Not keep up the pure sunshine pop of their predecessor going in fine style, both written about seizing the day while you can. Likewise, he Monkees-referencing Ballad of a Big Head is pure '60s pop and a real joy to listen to.

It's far from a one-trick pony though as Motherfucker takes a well-earned swipe at the entitled bastards in government currently running this country into the ground while Tea & Sympathy looks at marital breakdown and The Grim Reaper is an almost Madness-style slice of ska looking at, as the title suggests, living on in the face of death. Oh What A Lovely Day meanwhile is a sparse slice of bass-and-keyboards pop which reminds me oddly of a more upbeat version of the old Cure classic Just Like Heaven and the tenderly bitter Came The Day shows that they can do ballads with the best of 'em. Elsewhere, the title track is a tale of despairing over the way the world is going to hell in a social media-sponsored handcart backed up by a meaty T-Rex style riff and Dave is a genuinely touching tale of a Big Heads fan whose reliance on music helps him through his recovery from cancer.

Credit to Duncan and his crew, they've chalked up another good album here with the band sounding supremely tight throughout and the tunes and songwriting being top notch as usual. Don't Blame Yourself is a much-needed ray of sunshine through the door in these uncertain times and I thoroughly recommend it. You can download or stream it from the Big Heads' Bandcamp page.

NITE SONGS RATING: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 (9/10)

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