Read Review of Strategem by Big Head Todd & The Monsters
Review Summary
About the Author
Todd has a "Big Head" and some "Monsters"
Sep 05 '01 (Updated Mar 01 '02)
Pros Roots rock infused with blues
Cons Not my style by a long shot
The Bottom Line Recommended for it's obvious quality, but I can't listen to the music for the life of me.
Full Review
You've never heard of Big Head Todd & the Monsters. There's not really a good reason why, rather it's just a fact.
The band has been around for a while now. They've been on the college tour circuit and found a bit of an audience with the more open college radio crowd. They began their touring in the 1980's, and have continued even through today. Big Head Todd & The Monsters is a trio of fellows hailing from Colorado. They got their start long before the release of their third album in 1993 titled Sister Sweetly. That one actually managed to go gold and stay on the charts for enough time to further develop a fan base. The band's first indie release was in 1989 with Another Mayberry.
The three members of the band are as follows: Todd Park Mohr (vocals, guitar, keyboard), Rob Squires (bass), and Brian Nevin (drums). Their sound is very much a rock-pop blended neatly with comfortable jazz and blues. The first time I was exposed to their music, I felt it was very much like Hootie & The Blowfish circa mid 1990's. The music also is much like Blues Traveler and even John Mellencamp. With roots like that it seems that this is a band of roots rockers. And that's exactly what we've got here.
Strategem was the band's second album and was released in 1994. They followed that album by another major label release in 1997 titled Beautiful World. Their relatively small fan base got another treat in 1998 with the release of Live Monsters. Their sound really isn't my cup of tea. As a result, I will warn you that at times I will seem too critical of the poppy band. But, keep in mind that when it's all said and done I will still recommend this album. There's nothing too wrong with it, and Big Head Todd & the Monsters could be a good addition to any collection that is filled with any of the bands I mention below or mentioned above.
I also want to mention briefly that my first exposure to Big Head Todd & the Monsters came in the form of their contribution to the Led Zeppelin tribute album entitled Enconium. The masterfully remade the lovely song "Tangerine" along side other tracks from the likes of Stone Temple Pilots, Sheryl Crow, Tori Amos, and Duran Duran.
"Kensington Line" is one of the best tracks on this album. It begins with a motorcycle engine revving and is quickly followed by really great bluesy guitars and vocals. It immediately reminds me of an odd combination between Mellencamp and other roots rockers. If you're goig to listen to one track from this album, this is the first one. It gives you a great introduction to the band. A must listen from the album.
The title track is also a rockin' blues song. It's on par with the first, but to be quite honest I feel myself getting somehow bored with the blues-infused sound. Todd's vocals also wear on me. "Strategem" is an okay track. Only okay because I can't fully appreciate their style as a result of the kind of music I generally like. "Wearing only Flowers" reminds me very much of other similar artists. The tempo is a bit slower and the music is a bit less bluesy. In fact, I like it a bit better than some of the other tracks. The sound lends itself well to commercial television. If you've heard this song, you understand what I mean.
I'm completely indifferent to the fourth track, "Neckbreaker". Eh. Not bad, just boring. Maybe it's the fact that it sounds very much like a Dave Matthews Band track (I despise them with a passion), or maybe I'm just not crazy about the track in general. In my opinion, "Magdelina" is a bit easier on the ears. It seems that the band is trying to be more of a folky-pop band rather than blues guys. I like that sound better than when they are forcing blues out of their pop guitars.
Again, I have to express my indifference about "Angel Leads Me On". The sound just isn't for my metal-rock-electronica ears. I do find myself at least partially drawn to the faster, more upbeat stylings of the seventh track "In the Morning". I'm completely appalled by the track that follows. It sounds way too much like country for my rock ears. Blech. "Candle 99" can just go find itself a home besides on my stereo polluting my delicate ears. The same can be said for "Greyhound". One listen is surely enough to hate the track. Two was just way too much for me.
"Poor Miss" is a decent track. The band drops both Country and Blues in favor of a poppier rock sound. It's a slow, delicate track. Definitely one of the best on the album. "Shadowlands" bores me. That's enough said about that track, I think.
It's very difficult for me to review this album. I realize that there are redeeming qualities about it. It's just that I am not it's ideal audience. If you like soft, mellow, blues-infused rock like Hootie or Dave Matthews Band this album could definitely be for you. It's just not for me. I am giving it 2 stars, but I also have to recommend it for the reasons explained about. Blech.
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