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Review
On debut album Lights Out, Underwood and Costelloe have taken the bold decision to leave out any hint of a rhythm section, each track relying solely on the pair's sparring guitars (a mix of strummed acoustics and shimmering electrics) and shared vocals. At first listen this seems a shame, especially as some of the album's faster numbers (Chair, With the World at My Feet) would doubtless gain some extra crunch from the backing of a full band. With repeated listens, however, the wisdom of the decision is borne out, the sketch-like quality of the songs shining a brighter spotlight on the gorgeous melodies Big Deal are so frequently capable of delivering.
Costelloe takes the lead on vocals, which makes sense as the majority of the album's tracks positively ache with a feminine and specifically teenage romantic yearning. High school days might be behind her, but these heartsick odes are delivered with such conviction that it's clear these bittersweet memories are an abiding preoccupation rather than a calculated affectation. Lyrically, she's set herself up as an indie rock Lolita, halfway between vulnerable teenager and precocious siren. "Take me to your bed, don't take me home / I wanna be old, I wanna be older," she keens on Cool Like Kurt, and Homework finds a distracted Costelloe's school grades sacrificed at the altar of obsession with some undisclosed paramour. She builds such a complete picture that Underwood's somewhat forgettable voice suffers by comparison on the tracks where he takes the reins (Pi, Summer Cold). His vocal contribution seems to work best as a support and counterpoint to Costelloe's starring role.
Far from any negative presumptions, Big Deal have crafted a winning debut of lovelorn late-summer gems, taking their cues from the sunny melancholy of Best Coast or the emphatic melodies of Giant Drag, the latter's irreverence replaced with an earnest portrait of love at its youngest and most fragile. Whether for its bounty of warm guitar textures or for its still-rare insight into a distinctly female perspective on young love, Lights Out is surprising, sincere and, above all, a success.
--Chris Lo
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
Sunday Times Culture, July 31, 2011
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Customer Reviews
the lyrics are amazing, and alice is only 18, or maybe kc writes them, who knows, it's not a boy girl vocal in the traditional sense, they compliment each other, give the songs angst and beauty all at the same time.
this is such a great debut album, so excited to hear what comes next.
talk is probably my favourite, cos, ya know, all i wanna do is talk, seeing you, does, indeed, freak me out.
but my favourite line is 'i'm a mess, i'm a wreak, but you wouldn't know, 'cos i'm at my best when i'm with you'
stunning
It's crept up on me the songs are essentially raking over failed love-- the raking is powerful. Essentially anti -folk in feel but with more emotional gravity
one track unaccountably gets me thinking of the gutter twins.
It's more of a peach of an album than a mouldy one
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