Big Black- "Atomizer"

Big Black
"Atomizer"
Homestead Records
1986


Well, it's been a while but here we are, reviewing a full length album. The boys from Chicago, after years of touring, hellbent on releasing EPs and pissing people off, finally succumb to the long play record. And it's a board to the face with "Atomizer."

At this point, Big Black was not a band to break character and try something new and daring. The band was already new and daring, with enough clout to carry them no matter what mass amounts of similar sounding material they wanted to drop from the sky. The songs are an angrier, more aggressive version of "Racer-X" EP, and that shit was angry. But, let's not forget, also hilarious.

The record opens with "Jordan, Minnesota," an Albini seething tale of a true story of a child sex-ring in this small Minnesotan town. While many were aquited of charges, and it's said the song is factually inaccurate, it's never the less disturbgin as shit. The song is an never ending start stop jackhammer, guitars as weapon swooping in, and Albini screaming in a childlike tone "suck Daddy, suck Daddy." Ewww.

Song like "Kerosene" and "Fists of Love" are slower but equally as angry and menacing as Jordan, Minnesota." "Passing Complexion" is the hit, an unforgettable screeching guitar lead that could crack the Top 40 charts in some bizarro world.

"Atomizer" has bit of weak finish after such a pummel. "Strange Things" is a repetitive instrumental with animalistic, sarcastic punk shouts echoing in the background. Nevertheless, it's kind of a cool song. Then, a live, weaker-than-"Bulldozer" version of "Cables" closes the record. Again, great fucking song, but a live version to end such a powerhouse? I don't know. But, it's not negative enough to keep me from listening all over again.

Perhaps, "Atomizer" was Big Black at their best. Their creative strengths that seemed to come so seamlessly all surmounted in this angry, disturbed, machinary of pop-songs put through a grinder. All hail THE ATOMIZER!

10/10