REVIEW: Big Hello, Apple Album (Parasol)
- Bill Holmes
Chicago based Big Hello puts the "power" back in "power pop" through a combination of several key elements. Drummer Brad Elvis (yes, of the late great Elvis Brothers) champions the school of aggressive behavior, energetically driving the songs rather than being a metronome for the bass player. Vocalist Chloe F. Orwell seems to have found the perfect ground between girl-group pop and the sneering side of Debbie Harry. One minute she sounds sweet and lovable while the next she's might bite your head off. And perhaps most impressive, guitarist Johnny Million's rocket riffs and neck-squeezing leads are also augmented by sneaky fills and tones way out in left field that subtly fill out the canvas Big Hello paints upon. New band member j.a.c.k.i.e. (her punctuation, not mine!) on bass joined after the recording, but let's give her the benefit of the doubt.
Jimmy Johnson mixed and recorded the album, and his Cheap Trick pedigree shows through especially on "Pen Pal" and the manic "Hooked On The Girl". In fact, Cheap Trick might not be a bad point of comparison - drums snap and guitars growl, but they're all just serving the almighty hook. And Apple Album is chock full of 'em! Orwell ‘s two contributions are solid - "I Don't Like You" is mid-tempo Spector pop with Badfinger guitar sounds, and the leadoff track "O Canada" sets the table by matching her inspired vocal against Million's desperate guitar. Most of the song writing comes care of Brad Elvis - which means melodic uptempo stuff like "Star 69", the punky "Riot Girl" and the Ramones nod in "Kamikaze". He's also not above some Beatles nicks - check the nod to "Rain" in "Sister Mary". And after you enjoy the eleven tracks, Apple Album comes complete with alternate versions of each song followed by a paint-peeling snippet from an early rehearsal. These guys rock!
Elvis has always had good taste - Three Hour Tour is solid, The Elvis Brothers might be America's great lost pop band, and his one-shot group Screams scored with "Imagine Me Without You" (and boy would I like to hear Orwell tackle that one!). But (to drop another Cheap Trick reference) maybe this time he has "found all the parts". A very impressive debut from a band I am now dying to see live.
