Catskills based artist Brian McCue has created a fictional town and invited anyone who listens to their newest 14 song record “Songs From Big Pleasant” to visit. The 38 minute 5 second journey starts with “Speaking for the Trees”, the warm distorted guitar is a fuzzy blanket and the soft dry drums sounds forms a wonderful bed frame that makes me feel as though I did just wake up in the Catskills surrounded by the comfort of nature. Although lyrically the song speaks to a warning of expansion, the trees say “let us be”, you get it.
The pacing picks up during “the Aspidistra” (I had to look this up, it’s a “bulbous plant with large tapering leaves”. While the pacing picks up Brian McCue switches to an acoustic guitar which helps keep the sonic levels of “Songs From Big Pleasant” to a modest mezzo-forte dynamic. At this point the slacker-lo-fi rock record is indeed very pleasant to listen to.
“The Seagulls” is a continuation of the sound of “the Aspidistra” although I notice a bit more distortion on the vocals, I’m wondering if that is meant to semi-mimic the abrasive nature of a seagulls caw. I notice more distortion in this track hiding in the guitars off in the corner. A love song that has some very raw lines about the feeling of physical attraction.
“The Blackened Ooze and the Little Birds Too…” negates a drum arrangement at first which is a nice breath at the beginning of the tune as up to this point “Songs From Big Pleasant” has maintained a consistent arrangement.
“little birds” starts with a dreamy consistent pulsing acoustic guitar that features soothing vocals, the melodic progression reminds me a bit of something more emo than the rest of “Songs From Big Pleasant” to this point. When the drums join in the band the feeling becomes a bit more Kurt Vile but then out of nowhere a much more intense refrain enters with a repetition of “little birds” and just as soon as you’re hooked into it a gorgeous piano riff brings us to the end of the first third of the record.
The second act (or that’s how it feels) starts with “Me and You Decapitator”, the arrangement’s consistent with the first act but there’s a refreshed excitement to the pacing and the way the electric swells in creates the effect of shimmering lights. At only 1:37 this track is a bit ambiguous but still pleasant to listen to.
Overall the style of this record is right in line with slacker rock and I really love the idea of creating a town as creative output for songwriting, maybe someday there will be a comic to go along with Big Pleasant. There are lyrical themes that are easy to relate to, like maybe someone you used to see now has kids or just watching the clouds glide by. A great mix and a solid production are what you’ll get if you decide to check out this fictional towns soundtrack!
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