[the story of next century's greatest album in the making]
Its been almost three years since Big Heavy Stuff released their last album, but set for release in early 2000 is their 3rd LP (following 1997's Maximum Sincere and 1993's Truck) once titled Commercial Sadness (allegedly an ironic title in reference to one of their more "commercial" sounding tracks) and now called Size of the Ocean.
The band have been previewing new material since late 97 (Hank was thrown into many a set as I recall), and much promising of new albums were made at gigs, but it wasn't until late-ish 1998 that the band took initiative and booked out studio time.
Sometime before all this drama the band departed from the Hypnotized label (which released the Maximum Sincere material) so the album's progression was slightly put back until they were signed to sydney indie popsters Ivy League (home to Youth Group, 78 Saab and Hoolahan).
After some scuffling and kerfuffling, the album's recording was put back until December 1998 but the band finally made it into Charing Cross studios with producer of choice Wayne Connolly and layed down the tracks to the LP. An unmastered copy was sent around the place, including to Richard Kingsmill's OZmusic Show. The first song he played was referred to as "The Nuge" (a private joke in reference to Ted Nugent) but officially was called Untitled on Commercial Sadness, and now has been renamed Forever Sighs the Ocean.
The LP was finally mastered and some extra vocal and guitar tracks added to it for the final masterpiece set to be released very very soon.
The tracks have been described by someone somewhere (slipped my mind, sorry!) as a mature sounding "Truck". Its got everything from the usual gritty rock (Sighs of the Ocean, Hank) to the more melodic pop numbers (like Redhead) and its darker moments (Freaks in the circus). Theres even a song about Helen Razor (called, cryptically enough, Helen's Razor).
For now, a single from it, Devils Tongue, is the first taste most of Australia's audiences are getting.
You can check out a preview of the lyrical genius in the album by choofing along to the Size of the Ocean lyric page.
