There was a backlash against Laurie Anderson in "serious" musical and artistic circles after the completely unexpected mainstream commercial success of her debut album, Big Science. (The eight-plus-minute single "O Superman" was a chart hit in England, unbelievably enough.) A fair listen to Big Science leaves the impression that jealousy must have been at the root of the reception because Big Science is in no way a commercial sellout. A thoughtful and often hilariously funny collection of songs from Anderson's work in progress, United States I-IV, Big Science works both as a preview of the larger work and on its own merits. Opening with the hypnotic art rock of "From the Air," in which an airline pilot casually mentions that he's a caveman to a cyclical melody played in unison by a three-part reeds section, and the strangely beautiful title track, which must feature the most deadpan yodeling ever, the album dispenses witty one-liners, perceptive social commentary (the subtext of the album concerns Anderson's own suburban upbringing, which she views with more of a bemused fondness than the tiresome irony that many brought to the subject), and a surprisingly impressive sense of melody for someone who was until recently a strictly visual artist. For example, the marimba and handclap-led closer, "It Tango," is downright pretty in the way the minimalistic tune interacts with Anderson's voice, which is softer and more intimate (almost sexy, in a downtown-cool sort of way) than on the rest of the album. Not everything works -- "Walking and Falling" is negligible, and the way Rufus Harley's bagpipes intentionally clash with Anderson's harsh, nasal singing and mannered phrasing in "Sweaters" will annoy those listeners who can't take either Yoko Ono or Meredith Monk -- but Big Science is a landmark release in the New York art scene of the '80s, and quite possibly the best art rock album of the decade.
No one knew quite what to make of Laurie Anderson's ethereal thingamabob, Big Science, back in the early 1980s, but they liked what they heard, and this weirdly atmospheric track became a most unexpected hit.
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Laurie Anderson has a new, better website ...and with this comes three announcements, with decreasing specificity:- Big Science (my favorite album ever, and the subject of my very first MOG post) to be issued in a remastered and expanded edition in June, including "rarities, remixes and never before heard tracks."- A new album called Homeland to be released in early '08, accompanied by a tour (...
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One pleasant side effect from participating in embryonic MOG is the unplanned review of my older music collection. I'm rediscovering many old favorites - some left unplayed for years. Right now it's Laurie Anderson's Big Science. What a great album!Here is a vintage video of one of my favorite trax
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I compose my first MOG post in tribute to my favorite album by my favorite aritst: Big Science by Laurie Anderson. In 1982, she made a record that-- in 1990, or so-- would send my childhood world of music, media and thought crashing into the future. Though artists have taken influence from it (Spiritualized particularly come to mind; they didn't just cover "Born, Never Asked," either-- try the ...
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While I don't really know Laurie Anderson personally, I feel I have a tenuous connection with her. We both love Lou Reed and share a birthday.June 5, 1969 is the day I started dying.Gotta say, so far it's been a good run but I have some complaints. My knees, they haven't worked right since the Navy. My eyesight, it's getting to near legendary badness and being born colorblind (thanks Pappy) doe...
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Today (June 5, 1969) is my 38th birthday. My first with MOG. I must say it has been good a good birthday so far, but the day is young. My kids got me a membership the "Lehigh Valley Amateur Astronomical Society":http://www.lvaas.net/. I know, I know the first thought you had after seeing that is "GEEEEK". Well you are right, but the coolest thing about membership is access to some super cool te...
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This is a great classic track by Laurie Anderson off her Big Science album. Dig it.
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Laurie Anderson has a new, better website ...and with this comes three announcements, with decreasing specificity:- Big Science (my favorite album ever, and the subject of my very first MOG post) to be issued in a remastered and expanded edition in June, including "rarities, remixes and never before heard tracks."- A new album called Homeland to be released in early '08, accompanied by a tour (...
More >
I compose my first MOG post in tribute to my favorite album by my favorite aritst: Big Science by Laurie Anderson. In 1982, she made a record that-- in 1990, or so-- would send my childhood world of music, media and thought crashing into the future. Though artists have taken influence from it (Spiritualized particularly come to mind; they didn't just cover "Born, Never Asked," either-- try the ...
More >
No one knew quite what to make of Laurie Anderson's ethereal thingamabob, Big Science, back in the early 1980s, but they liked what they heard, and this weirdly atmospheric track became a most unexpected hit.
More >
such a nice person, the visitorwhoreturns,can we trust him to reingratiate himself, heinto our old circles?the human body, our cells are all new, you've not seenthese bodies—they've been entirelyreplaced, we arecompletely new, and old, friends.so wehada (remember your old town?) partyand you tookitfor yourown.you gotusasong to destroy in ourunhearingears.who are your new people? i canbe them.d.
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One pleasant side effect from participating in embryonic MOG is the unplanned review of my older music collection. I'm rediscovering many old favorites - some left unplayed for years. Right now it's Laurie Anderson's Big Science. What a great album!Here is a vintage video of one of my favorite trax
More >
| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 From the Air |
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| 2 Big Science |
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| 3 Sweaters |
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| 4 Walking & Falling |
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| 5 Born, Never Asked |
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| 6 O Superman (For Massenet) |
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| 7 Example #22 |
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| 8 Let X = X |
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| 9 It Tango |
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 "Big Science")
