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Big as Life is an album by the American musician Hamell on Trial, released in 1994.[1][2] It was put out by Doolittle Records, and picked up by Mercury the following year.[3][4] "Sugarfree" was released as a single.[5] Hamell on Trial promoted the album by touring with Syd Straw.[6]

Production

Produced by Jeff Cole, Big as Life was recorded in Austin, Texas, in a warehouse room above the Electric Lounge club.[7][8][9] Alejandro Escovedo helped Hamell with the demos.[10] Hamell played a 1937 Gibson on the album.[11] The instrumentation consists of guitar, sometimes accompanied by violin or bass.[12] "Blood of the Wolf" is about a childhood friend who attempted to rob a Kentucky Fried Chicken with a fork.[13] A cover of "Folsom Prison Blues" appears as an unlisted track.[14]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[15]
Robert Christgau(1-star Honorable Mention)[16]
Deseret News[14]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[10]

The Tulsa World wrote that Hamell's voice "is militaristic, clipped, strident; his guitar—a 1937 small-body Gibson—is wired, alive, wincing to hold up to Hamell's infernal strumming."[17] Robert Christgau praised "Z-Roxx" and the title track.[16] The Dallas Observer stated that Hamell "destroys the perception of the self-serious acoustic folkie who believes wisdom lies in glib aphorism and weepy revelation."[18]

Entertainment Weekly determined that "what sounds thrilling on stage comes off as rushed and overbaked on record."[19] The Indianapolis Star commended the "intriguing if creepy stories."[20] The Record concluded that "Hamell combines explosive punk-edged fury and a scathing acoustic guitar style ... with poetic lyrics that are sometimes humorous, sometimes upsetting, sometimes poignant but always edged with a razor-sharp honesty."[21]

AllMusic wrote that Hamell "combined the best elements of the one-man-band storytelling tradition with an aggressive, hyper-rhythmic acoustic guitar attack that absolutely demanded attention."[15] In 1997, The Austin Chronicle deemed the album "six cups of coffee and two hits of crystal meth—frenzied."[22]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Sugarfree" 
2."Harmony" 
3."Blood of the Wolf" 
4."Brother Franklin" 
5."Big as Life" 
6."Pep Rally" 
7."Z-Roxx" 
8."Dead Man's Float" 
9."Piccolo Joe" 
10."In the Neighborhood" 
11."Open Up the Gates" 
12."Get in the Game" 

References

  1. ^ "Hamell on Trial Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  2. ^ McLeese, Don (16 May 1995). "This week marks the end of the Austin run for Hamell on Trial...". Austin American-Statesman. p. E5.
  3. ^ "Dancing About Architecture". The Austin Chronicle.
  4. ^ Riemenschneider, Chris (30 Nov 1995). "Hamell on Parade". Austin American-Statesman. p. 16.
  5. ^ Bessman, Jim (Feb 3, 1996). "Mercury's Hamell on Trial: Energetic shows are half the picture". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 5. p. 19.
  6. ^ Tyer, Brad (July 4, 1996). "Hamell on Trial". Music. Houston Press.
  7. ^ Verna, Paul (Mar 23, 1996). "Big as Life". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 12. p. 75.
  8. ^ DeLuca, Dan (23 Feb 1996). "The Energetic Intensity of Hamell on Trial". Features Weekend. The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 17.
  9. ^ Bialczak, Mark (March 13, 1996). "Not Guilty! Hamell on Trial Enjoys the Freedom That a New Album and Notorious Act Bring". Syracuse Herald-Journal. p. C1.
  10. ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. pp. 520–521.
  11. ^ Doane, Randal (September 4, 2019). "Images of America in Rock and Roll: Stories from a Cold Case at the Cleveland Museum of Art". Harper's.
  12. ^ Cote, Michael (May 14, 1996). "Rockers". Scripps Howard News Service.
  13. ^ Okamoto, David (January 6, 1995). "Expect fierce, personal music". Guide. The Dallas Morning News. p. 35.
  14. ^ a b Iwasaki, Scott (March 15, 1996). "Hamel on Trial: 'Big as Life'". Deseret News. p. W12.
  15. ^ a b "Big as Life". AllMusic.
  16. ^ a b "Hamell on Trial". Robert Christgau.
  17. ^ "Hamell on Trial - Big as Life". Tulsa World.
  18. ^ Wilonsky, Robert (January 5, 1995). "Roadshows". Music. Dallas Observer.
  19. ^ "Big as Life". Entertainment Weekly.
  20. ^ Allan, Marc (19 Mar 1996). "Hamell on Trial, Big as Life". The Indianapolis Star. p. D1.
  21. ^ Johnson, Steven C. (16 June 1996). "Hamell on Trial Big as Life". Books & Music. The Record. p. 15.
  22. ^ "Record Reviews". The Austin Chronicle.
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