Big Picture - Big Picture

Year of Release: 1993
Label: Drysdale Records
Catalog Number: DR9301
Format: CD
Total Time: 50:57:00

Genesis guitars, Marillion rhythms, Saga changes and a voice which sounds like a combination of Dane Stevens (Druid singer and Jon Anderson clone), Geddy Lee (Rush) and Peter Nicholls (IQ). We are talking about the Canadian sympho machine called Big Picture who with their self-titled album have released a very nice CD indeed. A song like "Fall From Grace" finds itself, where the not so evident use of percussive sounds is concerned, on the same wavelength as Rush. Very accessible but still very original is "Power Of Life" where I can find a similar style like Galahad. Compared to a lot of projects, a real drummer can be heard here and the amounts of sweat this guy is losing benefits the music. The songs benefit even more from his inventive playing. I love "That's Just The Way It Is" which works exactly like Supertramp: acceptable for "daytime radio" but still OK to be of interest for the album buying public.

Although this kind of music is often disrespectfully categorized as being "neo-progressive" the end result is still important enough to give it a serious spin. Hard work has gone into producing this album which is a thing you can clearly hear, especially in the arrangements. OK, Scott Pieper's voice will not be loved by everyone but what remains is more than worthwhile. A little recognition for the BIG picture shouldn't be too much to ask.

[A follow up was advertised, but I don't think it was ever released. -ed]

Tracklisting:
Shine On (8:02) / Power Of Life (6:05) / Choices (6:52) / That's Just The Way It Is (6:14) / Fall From Grace (8:20) / Cold World (6:37) / Identity (9:27)

Musicians:
Scott Pieper - lead vocals, guitar
Steve Mozden - guitars
Mark Pieper - keyboards, vocals
Norm Griffin - bass
Paul Bivans - drums, percussion

Discography:
Big Picture (1993)

Genre: Neo Prog

Origin CA

Added: January 1st 2000
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Hits: 3141
Language: english