Atomizer (album)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
Revision as of 20:52, 17 April 2014 Jahsonic (Talk | contribs) ← Previous diff |
Current revision Jahsonic (Talk | contribs) |
||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Template}} | {{Template}} | ||
- | '''Big Black''' was a [[noise rock]] band founded in [[Chicago, Illinois]], United States, and active between [[1982 in music|1982]] and [[1987 in music|1987]]. They were headed by singer, lyricist, guitarist, and co-songwriter [[Steve Albini]]. | ||
- | They sought and found little mainstream success, but the group's piledriver [[drum machine]]s and brutal, slashing [[electric guitars]] were widely influential, especially for [[industrial rock]]. Albini's snide, malevolent singing and provocative lyrics garnered much attention. | + | '''''Atomizer''''' is a 1986 album by the American [[punk rock]] group [[Big Black]]. It is their debut full-length album as all previous releases are [[Extended play|EP]]s. The LP is accompanied by liner notes that explain the stories behind many of the songs. The album reached number 197 in the [[Billboard Hot 200]] chart. |
- | They have been classified as [[noise rock]], and were a formative influence on [[industrial rock]], but the band members have always described the band as solidly [[punk rock]]: in the notes for ''Pigpile'', a live recording of their final [[London]] performance, Albini explicitly describes Big Black as punk. | + | The most popular song on the album and possibly by Big Black, "Kerosene", has a shaky guitar line that gives it an odd appeal and a slower rhythm than most Big Black songs. It discusses being bored and then as a result wanting to be set on fire. Violent lyrics such as these can be seen throughout Big Black's entire discography. |
- | == Discography == | + | |
- | ====Albums==== | + | On the back of the album is a membership card of [[The Electrifying Mojo]]. |
+ | ==Single== | ||
+ | One song from the album, "Big Money", was released as a B-side to the "Il Duce" single prior to the release of ''Atomizer''. Homestead Records also issued "Big Money" and "Il Duce" the A-side of a 12" record with three live songs on the B-side (including the live version of "Cables" that would appear on ''Atomizer'') with the agreement that the 12" be used for promotional purposes only. The label sent the promo 12" to radio stations, then sold extra copies outside of Big Black's native Chicago, hoping the band would never find out. When they did, Big Black left Homestead and signed to [[Touch and Go Records]]. | ||
- | * ''[[Atomizer (album)|Atomizer]]'' ([[Homestead]], 1986) | + | ==Sticker== |
- | * ''[[Songs About Fucking]]'' ([[Touch & Go]], 1987) | + | In the year after ''Atomizer's'' release, Big Black recorded their 4-song ''[[Headache (EP)|Headache EP]]'' and released it with a sticker that bore the words, "Warning! Not as good as ''Atomizer'', so don't get your hopes up, cheese." The same sticker also appeared on [[Sonic Youth]]'s EP ''[[Master=Dik]]''. |
- | * ''[[Pigpile]]'' (Touch & Go, 1992) | + | |
- | ====EPs==== | + | ==CD release== |
+ | |||
+ | ''Atomizer'' was compiled on [[Compact Disc]], along with the ''[[Headache (EP)|Headache]]'' EP and [[Heartbeat (Wire song)#Big Black version|"Heartbeat" single]], as ''[[The Rich Man's Eight Track Tape]]'', which omitted the instrumental "Strange Things", as well as the artwork and liner notes from the original records. Instead, [[Steve Albini]] expressed his views general dislike for the CD format in the CD's liner notes, saying, "This compact disc, compiled to exploit those of you gullible enough to own the bastardly first generation digital music system, contains all-[[analog recording|analog]] masters. Compact discs are quite durable, this being their only advantage over real music media. You should take every opportunity to scratch them, fingerprint them, and eat egg and bacon sandwiches off them. Don't worry about their longevity, as [[Philips]] will pronounce them [[Obsolescence|obsolete]] when the next phase of the market-squeezing technology bonanza begins." | ||
- | * ''[[Lungs (EP)|Lungs]]'' ([[Ruthless]], 1982) | + | ==Track listing== |
- | * ''[[Bulldozer (EP)|Bulldozer]]'' (Ruthless, 1983) | + | All songs by [[Big Black]]. |
- | * ''[[Racer-X]]'' (Homestead, 1984) | + | |
- | * ''[[Headache (EP)|Headache]]'' (Touch & Go, 1987) | + | |
- | ====7" Singles==== | + | # "Jordan, Minnesota" - 3:20 |
+ | # "Passing Complexion" - 3:05 | ||
+ | # "Big Money" - 2:30 | ||
+ | # "Kerosene" - 6:05 | ||
+ | # "Bad Houses" - 3:10 | ||
+ | # "Fists of Love" - 4:21 | ||
+ | # "Stinking Drunk" - 3:27 | ||
+ | # "Bazooka Joe" - 4:23 | ||
+ | # "Strange Things" - 3:54 | ||
+ | # "Cables" (live) | ||
- | * ''[[Rema Rema]]'' ([[Forced Exposure magazine]] giveaway, 1985) | + | ==Personnel== |
- | * ''[[Il Duce (single)|Il Duce]]'' (Homestead, 1986) | + | * [[Steve Albini]] - guitar, vocals, drum machine programming |
- | * ''[[Heartbeat (Big Black single)|Heartbeat]]'' (Touch & Go, 1987) | + | * [[Santiago Durango]] - guitar |
- | * ''[[He's a Whore/The Model]]'' (Touch & Go, 1987) | + | * [[Dave Riley]] - bass guitar |
+ | * [[Iain Burgess]] - [[recording engineer]] | ||
+ | Big Black always credited [[Roland TR-707|Roland]] along with the band's members, though Roland is brand of [[drum machine]] and not an actual person. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==See also== | ||
+ | *[[Jordan, Minnesota#Sex Abuse Scandal|Jordan, Minnesota]] | ||
{{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} |
Current revision
Related e |
Featured: |
Atomizer is a 1986 album by the American punk rock group Big Black. It is their debut full-length album as all previous releases are EPs. The LP is accompanied by liner notes that explain the stories behind many of the songs. The album reached number 197 in the Billboard Hot 200 chart.
The most popular song on the album and possibly by Big Black, "Kerosene", has a shaky guitar line that gives it an odd appeal and a slower rhythm than most Big Black songs. It discusses being bored and then as a result wanting to be set on fire. Violent lyrics such as these can be seen throughout Big Black's entire discography.
On the back of the album is a membership card of The Electrifying Mojo.
Contents |
Single
One song from the album, "Big Money", was released as a B-side to the "Il Duce" single prior to the release of Atomizer. Homestead Records also issued "Big Money" and "Il Duce" the A-side of a 12" record with three live songs on the B-side (including the live version of "Cables" that would appear on Atomizer) with the agreement that the 12" be used for promotional purposes only. The label sent the promo 12" to radio stations, then sold extra copies outside of Big Black's native Chicago, hoping the band would never find out. When they did, Big Black left Homestead and signed to Touch and Go Records.
Sticker
In the year after Atomizer's release, Big Black recorded their 4-song Headache EP and released it with a sticker that bore the words, "Warning! Not as good as Atomizer, so don't get your hopes up, cheese." The same sticker also appeared on Sonic Youth's EP Master=Dik.
CD release
Atomizer was compiled on Compact Disc, along with the Headache EP and "Heartbeat" single, as The Rich Man's Eight Track Tape, which omitted the instrumental "Strange Things", as well as the artwork and liner notes from the original records. Instead, Steve Albini expressed his views general dislike for the CD format in the CD's liner notes, saying, "This compact disc, compiled to exploit those of you gullible enough to own the bastardly first generation digital music system, contains all-analog masters. Compact discs are quite durable, this being their only advantage over real music media. You should take every opportunity to scratch them, fingerprint them, and eat egg and bacon sandwiches off them. Don't worry about their longevity, as Philips will pronounce them obsolete when the next phase of the market-squeezing technology bonanza begins."
Track listing
All songs by Big Black.
- "Jordan, Minnesota" - 3:20
- "Passing Complexion" - 3:05
- "Big Money" - 2:30
- "Kerosene" - 6:05
- "Bad Houses" - 3:10
- "Fists of Love" - 4:21
- "Stinking Drunk" - 3:27
- "Bazooka Joe" - 4:23
- "Strange Things" - 3:54
- "Cables" (live)
Personnel
- Steve Albini - guitar, vocals, drum machine programming
- Santiago Durango - guitar
- Dave Riley - bass guitar
- Iain Burgess - recording engineer
Big Black always credited Roland along with the band's members, though Roland is brand of drum machine and not an actual person.
See also