Disco de Big Country: “Why the Long Face [Bonus Tracks]”

I've heard this reissue of the 1995 studio album from Big Country has a different mix. It certainly has the same tracks, but it does have a different cover. I preferred the original cover's visual pun. This must be one of my favorite BC studio albums, else why would it get played so much in my office. I still say to those 1980s fans of the band: get Buffalo Skinners, Why the Long Face, and the new Driving to Damascus and you will not be disappointed. I love this group and I love their 1990s studio stuff as much as the 1980s. When the US rediscovers this band Stuart Adamson will be recognized as a songwriter and instrumentalist on par with Pete Townsend or Paul Weller--none too soon.

Perhaps radio will catch on to them and give Buffalo Skinners, this lp, and Driving to Damascus some airplay?

I agree with Grant, the Aussie, in most respects. I did not notice the country influences as much as I did the even harder rock than many BC releases. True, "Far From Me To You" is a standout track and one of my favorite BC tracks, but it is one of the few here to have an overt country influence. "Ships" from the even better release, The Buffalo Skinners, has a stronger country flavor. The superlative, "Driving To Damascus", has a couple of country tinged tracks, as well. By the way, you gotta get this one just for the unplugged version of "In a Big Country". This cd has 16 tracks and is a good value for the money. Not the place to start your BC collection, but you'll have to have it.

The fact that Big Country continued to make records long after the MTV fave 'In a Big Country' seems to surprise most listeners. I absolutely loved BC in the 80s, but even I let them drop off my radar around '89 or so. Anyone that listened to BC way back when and got caught up by the anthemic sounds of their early work should definitely invest in 'Why the Long Face.' The sound isn't quite as majestic as the first LPs, but it's harder, it's louder, and Stuart Adamson's lyrics are - dare I say it? - even better than the old stuff. Once I discovered the CD, it quickly became my favorite.

The fact that Big Country continued to make records long after the MTV fave 'In a Big Country' seems to surprise most listeners. I loved BC in the 80s, but even I let them drop off my radar around '89 or so. Anyone that listened to BC way back when and got caught up by the anthemic sounds of their early work should definitely invest in 'Why the Long Face.' The sound isn't quite as majestic as the first LPs, but it's harder, it's louder, and Stuart Adamson's lyrics are - dare I say it? - even better than the old stuff. Once I discovered the CD, it quickly became my favorite.

This one left me a bit cold at first. Why, I can't really tell. Only on my last summer's road trip around Norway, listening to this on my car stereo for many times, it started to grow on me - and I found myself liking it quite a lot. Pretty damn great road rock music! I'm still in a bit mixed feelings about this album, but it rocks hard enough when it needs to, and although it may not contain the absolutely best Big Country songs, it does have plenty of good music. "Take you to the moon" is a good example of the band's better songs. "Sail into nothing" could also have been a hit single.

A good album. No more, no less. Worth purchasing.