To start off with, let's investigate a local band with a long and storied history: The Big Cats. A semi-local four piece, in about thirteen years they have released two LPs and EP. In this time, they have seen their gutiarist die in a car accident, one member winning a Grammy, another having the day job of playing along side Green Day, and the creation of a record label based on the old Little Rock DIY principles, by some of the principle players in that scene.
The first Big Cats release, Worrisome Blues is a mixture of songs recorded over a nine year period. As such, you can discern the changes that the band and it's members have gone thru. The early songs carry a sound reminicent of Chino Horde, which several of the members were a part of (including the lead singer of both, Burt Taggart). Over time, the songs start sounding less like the early-90's punk scene and more of a tradiditonal rock feel (the 1997 recordings of Rock and Roll Nightmare, and Runaway demonstrate this well. Runaway is one of the standout tracks on the first album. Used to open the Towncraft documentary, it is featured on various compliation albums). The major shift occurs at the beginning of the 21st millium, when the Big Cats lose in a tragic car accident their gutiarist, Shannon Yarbrough. Songs after this carry a very different tone (not sorrowful, but more emotional. It could also have a lot to do with the aging of the group and it's members, and the changes in the way they view life between their teens and their late twenties). This album is a fine piece of work. There are a number of standout tracks, including Runaway, Fayetteville Blues, and Rock and Roll Nightmare.
The next Big Cats release didn't take nine years, it only took four. Recorded over a year period in Little Rock with a stable group (B. Taggart, Joshua Bentley, Colin Brooks, and Jason White), the tone and flavor of the album is more uniform, and the songwriting is impecable. Songs like The Hotel Sink, Little Windows, Man of Leaisure and Country Lanes describe the way Mr. Taggart and crew sees life in their early thirties, between kids, jobs, wives, and the occasional gig. I can't think of the best way to describe this album with out plagerizing, so I'll not admit credit for any of the following. This album is a very fitting tribute to the memory of Shannon Yarbrough. I think anyone would be proud of having an album of this caliber dedicated to their memory. I know I would.
Both of these albums are available for mail order directly from Max Recordings (http://www.maxrecordings.com/), and for download at iTunes/eMusic/etc.
-ab (07/22/2007)
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