Big Beef Music Review
By Greg.

I've spent the last 8 years as a DJ, both on radio and performance (clubs, weddings, etc.), and I must admit it has changed my thoughts on music.  When I first started, I thought that what I enjoyed, everyone would enjoy if only they would listen.  College Radio gave me the venue I needed to share my passion for my music.  While I was at it, I be came a pretty good DJ. Soon, word of my skills traveled, and I was offered a professional DJ gig.
    I quickly learned that the tastes of the commercial world were very different than mine.  I was disillusioned.  I did learn though, what it meant to be commercially viable.  I decided, however, that I didn't want to pay my dues and deal with the overnights and weekends just to learn the professional craft.  I could only take so much of the "Good Times Oldie Magazine" every Sunday night.  That led to the club and performance work.
     As a "live " DJ I could hook the audience with their choices, and then play a few of my favorites.  The perfect balance I thought.  I soon discovered that I had to play more of their music than mine.  Since I  had to buy my own music, I developed an especially critical ear.  I could spot developing trends, and identify one hit wonders.  I was in tune with the music scene.
    It's because of all this experience that I feel I am especially qualified to comment on music.  It's also because of all this experience that I almost passed on such an awesome album.
    Maybe you've been brainwashed too by the New Radicals is a great album.  I almost passed on this album because the first single, You get what you give, is an upbeat, poppy song that caught my ear because of it's novelty.  I really enjoyed it, but I thought "one hit wonder."  Even though it has some pop appeal, it also has some very passionate vocals that managed to touch my heart.  An internal struggle raged.
    I listen to an alternative station out of Canada that I can get in when the wind blows the right way.  About the middle of July they started playing the second single from the album.  If you've ever loved someone, and you never knew quite what went wrong, Someday we'll know, will rip you up.

    I'm glad I didn't pass on the album.  The lyricists are great story tellers and they use powerful imagery.  A few of the songs are about drug addiction and recovery, and although I never experienced it, the stories moved me.  The rest of the songs are about love.  I'm a sap and a romantic, so the imagey and poetry grabbed me.  I'm in need of a miracle is a stand out. Mother we just can't get enough is a possible release, very upbeat and danceable.
    You should probably pick this one up yourself.  There aren't many albums like this.  I won't be giving many albums our highest rankings either.  This one gets it.
 
 

Ranking :  out of 5 BB&B's.