Search - Big Audio :: Higher Power

Low-key and laidback, but a rewarding listen

Ralph Heibutzki | SE Michigan, USA | 04/16/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I've always stuck up for this album, which is a decidedly different affair than its predecessors: "Looking For A Song" is the only real obvious link to BAD Past, with the bounce of old. The overall mood is low-key, and introspective; mainman Mick Jones confines himself to acoustic or muted electric guitar, while coproducer/keyboardist Andre Shapps takes a more upfront role.



The only other connection to BAD Of Yore is Jones's wobbly, off-kilter vocals, which remain appealing as ever; otherwise, the dominant feeling is not about winning any converts. If you've stuck with these guys this long, you already know that change is the order of the day.



Besides "Looking For A Song," the other classics include "Modern Stoneage Blues," and "Harrow Road," which wouldn't have sounded amiss on latter-day platters by Mick's old band, the Clash, and "Some People," which tackles another favorite Jones theme, petty gossip (hence, the line, "this city really can be a small town").



Special mention goes to "You Light Up My Life," where Mick sings to his kids ("I Like the way you wiggle when you walk"; in most other people's hands, this would have been a deadly mistake, but Mick's pop smarts carry the tune (whose rhythm is also similar to a childrens' song). Then there's "Lucan," a somber recounting of one of England's most notorious disappearing acts -- who else but Mick could have written this? Again, it's an unlikely theme, but works well.



If this album has a flaw, it's a tendency to let the mellow mood overpower the songwriting; for example, "Slender Loris" is a cool sounding reggae track, but -- lyrically speaking -- hasn't made a real impression, one way or the other. A couple of stronger songs would have reaped five stars, but, given what I've said, is a minor issue, really.



I'm not surprised this album got panned on its release; reviewers spent more time carping about the strategic name change, missing its punning connotations ("Higher Power" refers to the entity you rely on to stay sober, while the album cover is that of a stereo speaker!). In short, this album's subtlety kept it seriously out of step with the Britpoppin' likes of Oasis. Try it, anyway: for the faithful, the rewards are there, and for everybody else, you might find yourself pulled along with the mood."

Their best

Ralph Heibutzki | 06/26/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"i've heard all of the big audio(dynamite,dynamite 2)albums and there is not one of them that i like the whole way through except for this one.with songs like got to wake up,harrow road,slender loris,and the sort of clashish modern stoneage blues this is the b.a.d. album to get."

This iS Big Audio, No Dynamite

The Orange Duke | Cupertino, Ca United States | 07/31/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, BAD was cool. Those days are gone. Mick Jones and Co.'s first album `THIS IS BIG AUDIO DYNAMITE' was both a defining statement of purpose and a timeless dance masterpiece, it was a height they would never achieve again. They do keep trying. Now, instead of being trendsetters, they are simply dated. Their music is still lively, and Mick Jones' vocals are still as appealing as always but something has been lost in the translation. I have to give it credit; it's energetic and listenable, but not engaging. All but devotees should stick to `THIS IS BAD' or `THE GLOBE'. B"