BIG PICTURE

Big Picture is one of the many obscure prog rock bands from early '90s who produced only one album selftitled in 1993 issued at small label Drysdale records and then fall into oblivion. They are from USA and gone unfairly unnoticed then as now in prog circles. The music is far from being bad, there are 7 pieces, quite long some of them clocking around 9-10 min in lengh, with complicated arrangements and intresting instrumental sections. The pieces are well structured with higly melodic aproach of neo prog, specially the guitar and keyboards are most intresting. Influences can be traced from old school like Genesis, Saga, Rush, even Yes or Supertramp elements can be found here. All tunes stands as good to me, no boring moments here, even the album lacks originality, the vocal parts are intresting, a combination of Alex Lifeson from Rush with Roger Hodgson from Supertramp. Anyway some forte tunes to me is the opening, Shine on, maybe the best tune of the album, Fall From Grace or ending Identity. All in all a forgotten band that from my side I think would need a wider recognition. 3.5 stars, great art work.

The first song called Shine On is rescuing this boring album and makes me wonder how I'm gonna get back the 45 minutes I wasted. No, I must accept it: those minutes are gone forever.

The instrumentals moments are too few, but they could've been awesome since the sound of the 80's Rush is well reproduced. Instead, Big Picture is serving us an hybrid monster of Marillion and REO Speedwagon. Which means? Kevin Cronin vocals, Steve Rothery solos and such pastiches...again.

Somewhat this album could interest the die-hardcore-fans-who-would-do-anything-to-hear- more-80's-Rush since the song Shine On is becoming one of my favorites these days. Too bad the rest of the album is so gruelly boring and tacky.

I was curious, I listened, I sighed.

Despite the supposed influences and references, this album sounds like Rush from the "Signals"/"Grace Under Pressure" period. Scott Pieper's lead vocals sound remarkably like Geddy Lee, and his guitar most often sounds like an imitation of Alex Lifeson. Throw in compositions that borrow amply from Rush's late seventies and early eighties, a drummer who has obviously studied Neil Peart's fills, and some Rushlike keyboard fills, and you've got a pretty good Rush clone. All that's missing is an astounding bass player.

The first song, Shine On is the only piece that doesn't sound much like Rush. With some grandiose keyboards, and a slinky rhythm, it sounds most like Yes' Wurm. But after that, it's Rush to the finish.

By the way, I played this for two Rush fanatics, and they both loved it.