Regular Columnists

Artist: Band: II Big
Genre: Pop/Rock
CD Review:
That's the great thing about being a reviewer: you get to hear solid, big talent bands like II Big before anyone else the hell does. This is my 2nd lucky listen to a II Big recording. 1st was the previous EP. (When the hell are you guys gonna release a full cd??)

Eddy Ottenstein is the lead guitar genius behind these intensely POP rock songs. 3 songs, and the last 2 are especially incredible. The voice comes from Ron Hedley who would seem, if you close your eyes loosely, like a Michael MacDonald soundalike, carrying that smooth, 'he's my dad' voice that makes life and music definitely worth living when it comes out like this. Eddy clangs his guitar around the title song like he's one of the Youngbloods or something. Hey! Wait a minute, he is! Also played with Van Morrison. Well no wonder it's so pro.

Yeah, between the 5 guys of II Big, they have enough collective talent and years to reduce Nirvana back to the garage. And this is rock. No other genres need blend into it. The kind of rock you miss from the 80s. That tight ass sound, that way of making everything come out of the night (they couldn't Possibly play this stuff into the microphones in the daytime). 'That Kind of Neighborhood' is the champ of that genre. Cuts you like a blade.