Bigwig

Reclamation

4/5

Key Tracks: A War Inside, Owned and Operated, Timebomb, No Thought, No Spine

With what looked like a faded ink butterfly on the front cover, and a band name of "Bigwig," I really had no idea what I was getting myself into as I pressed the little triangular play button on my stereo. Little did I expect the wave of sharp social criticism, onslaught of wild razor-edge lead riffs, or chanting-like voice of lead singer Tom Petta, and sickly talented drumming that just sounded completely angry.

The only thing, perhaps, that is a bit of a peeve is that the screamo chanting vocals got a bit tedious after a few tracks into the album. The lyrics, however, so thought-out and so observant of American society in its not-so-pretty warring state, definitely dominate all other aspects of this successful full-length.

A War Inside is a track about conforming to "slave under the gun" and being provided a false sense of security as everything you see about war on the media seems to be distant. Owned and Operated is an open rejection to war with other countries while budgets are being cut at home that leave kids sleeping in the streets with lyrics like "Can this 'land of liberty' win the 'war on poverty?'" along obvious hints of dissatisfaction with the president with lines such as "We voted in the past, not voting anymore. Another four!? Another four!? Of poverty and war."

My personal favourite of the album was No Thought, No Spine, which was a harshly critical take on consumerism, which again ties in with conformity and the idea of ditching money, ethics, and values in trade for appearance via labels. "Being spoonfed garbage, and now you're the target of no thought."

Not only for the lover of alternative punk rock, but also for the social critic and entertainer of social issues and ideas.

+Grace
May 16, 2006