In the land of low budget indie pop, you have to wonder who the top dog actually is. The genre rules seem quite strict and shining like a star above the competition seems to be actually frowned upon. Therefore, in order to excel you have to be a bit clever…
The Big Picture have been a bit clever here. While Mikael Salomonsson's vocals (for he is your creative force here) tend towards the laconic, his lyrics do not lack dry humour and there's melody aplenty. Taking "A Good Start" as an example, this song is about as jolly as he gets. The clever bit about these songs is that they sound a lot simpler than they actually are. Most indie pop sounds like little more than an expanded demo but there is much more to enjoy here if you listen carefully. That Morrissey chap is usually credited with being the king/master/devil of indie pop but there is another potential contender. Whilst listening to "I Wonder What you're Doing Now", Dean Friedman popped into my mind. Dean Friedman as a father figure for indie pop? As those Fender Rhodes-esque notes echoes round the room then perhaps, perhaps perhaps…
Of the rest of the songs, the half mumbled "Just give me an excuse" sounds like a Jan and Dean revenge song if there were such a thing. Follow the path from your bedsit to the beach and settle some old scores. No one likes sand getting kicked in their face. Ending the album is a slice of melancholy mastery called "I Want It To Come From You".
I doubt that your aged granny would find it remotely difficult to drink Mikael Salomonsson under the table. He's just too sensitive a guy. However, he steers well clear of self pity territory thus making this album all the more enjoyable. Recording quality is variable but it is clear that a hell of a lot more attention has gone into the arrangements than is usual for a low budget release like this. Certainly a contender for the crown.
Available from Series Two Records.