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MASTERS
OF ROCK MASTERS OF ROCK MASTERS OF ROCK
BIG COUNTRY
I never realized just how many hits Big
Country created across
their career. This disc strings them in one after the other. Look Away,
Fields Of Fire, In A Big Country, Peace In Our Time, King Of Emotion,
One Great Thing, East Of Eden, The Crossing, Where The Rose Is Sown
and another seven or so songs bloom with 80's memories all over it. Some
will also be familiar once you hear them, the title never registering.
The signature electric guitar with a Scottish folk, bagpipe sound and
Stuart Adamson's voice, together with a big sounding production, catchy
tunes and a conscious mission, the band pricked up many ears with their
debut album in 1983 and beyond. I remember reading years ago that Adamson
claimed his band to be the best in the world. Just like when I heard Dave
Mustaine from Megadeth
claimed he had the perfect Metal voice, I reacted in a "you're not THAT
hot"-way. But now that I think back on it, in such a competitive industry
a bit of arrogance and self-confidence is sometimes necessary to aid in
driving you towards perhaps one day living up to that claim. If not, at
least you had the balls make such a bold proclamation. With a bunch of
nominations and gold & platinum albums Big
Country was active
until recently when Adamson moved to Nashville in '97, calling it quits
in 2000. Their legendary rock songs are still out there to be enjoyed
by all, though, even those not around in the '80s - reminding us that
good songwriting is still a possibility and not a lost art.
PS. Around 18 December
2001 I got an SMS message from a friend in the UK reporting that Adamson
was found dead!
4 / A
- PB
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