Having seen Howard Hawks’ great 1946 film The Big Sleep a dozen times, I couldn’t describe the plot with a loaded .38 pressed to my temple. Same goes for The Big Sleep, the blistering New York trio of bassist Sonya Balcharndani, drummer Gabriel Rhodes, and guitar marvel Danny Barria. They are depicted inside the Son of the Tiger CD booklet in a crude drawing that wouldn’t pass muster on an Art Instruction Schools entrance exam. The Big Sleep is more adequately represented on the debut disc’s ten sweltering, mostly instrumental tracks. Usually, rock music sans lyrics (there are occasional vocals, but they float in and out infrequently) is an excuse for the musicians to space out on twenty-minute jam jerkoffs and/or repeat riffs over and over and over. But these kids know a thing or two about composition—everything here is focused, interesting, and heavy on guitar noise, even if I’m not sure what the songs are “about.� Barria’s adventures occasionally recall Led Zeppelin and the more recent, melodic work of Sonic Youth. Collectively, the noisy axes, thundering drums, and pulsating bass give The Big Sleep a distinct sound. Listen close—you’ll want to—and catch some heavy metal crunch and a nod to the much-despised “art rock.� Son of the Tiger is a rare occurrence--young rockers that know when to keep their mouths shut and still have a lot to say.
Chris Manson
Release date: September 19, 2006
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