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Big Mess
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Big Mess Image
Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 9 Ratings

  • Summary: The second full-length solo release for the prolific film and television composer was written during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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  • Record Label: Epitaph
  • Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Indie Rock, Hard Rock
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. American Songwriter
    Jun 11, 2021
    80
    The agitated, anxious emotions that explode over Big Mess create a difficult, even grating 73 minutes, which is clearly what Elfman was aiming for. It’s a bumpy, challenging, often exhilarating, sometimes scary experience. Strap in and hang on.
  2. AllMusic
    Jun 11, 2021
    80
    While the powerfully cathartic Big Mess does feel overlong, it may serve as a rare case where that's masterfully appropriate.
  3. Classic Rock Magazine
    Jun 11, 2021
    80
    Big Mess is dense and discordant and wilfully ugly at times, but also a richly original and impressively ambitious musical response to a nightmarish pandemic. [Jul 2021, p.84]
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  4. Mojo
    Jun 23, 2021
    60
    There's a pleasing, Bowie-ish swagger to Elfman's vocals and a steam-punk thrust to Big Mess's heavy, junkyard percussion, the album's caustic, chaotic arrangements utterly fearless throughout 18 rather exhausting songs. [Aug 2021, p.86]
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  5. The Wire
    Jun 29, 2021
    50
    Most of the songs here work in pairs, or groups of three, as if Elfman couldn’t decide where to finish an idea and instead offers a few variations on a theme, diluting the punch of each individual track. ... The best tracks here are the ones where Elfman acknowledges his own limits and fears, without hedging or flippancy. [Jul 2021, p.59]
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  6. PopMatters
    Jun 14, 2021
    50
    Many of these tracks don't even have much in the way of guitar riffs or interesting drum rhythms, even though studio aces like drummer Josh Freese and guitarist Robin Finck (both veterans of Nine Inch Nails) are doing excellent work with their playing throughout the album. Combined with Elfman's lack of vocal color, this makes the album sound like a buzzing, pounding collection of white noise punctuated by occasional bursts of interesting string themes or the odd downtempo track.
  7. Uncut
    Jun 11, 2021
    40
    It's a long, convoluted, tiresome listen. [Jul 2021, p.25]
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User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 1 out of 4
  1. 2phat
    Jun 18, 2021
    10
    Wow.. This record is a full-on experience from the first note to the last. It is not a casual listen, and I expect and understand that manyWow.. This record is a full-on experience from the first note to the last. It is not a casual listen, and I expect and understand that many people will take a quick dive and move on to something easier.
    The vinyl pressing is stunning, and listening to it on a good sound system is a soul rattling, mind blowing trip. It is very dense, and very, very detailed in its composition and production. It's so great to hear Danny's vocals again, and his dark, mischievous humor and social commentary again after all of these years.
    Awesome guitar work, drumming, and the familiar Steve Bartek string arrangements. Bartek and Elfman have been a team since the Boingo days, and it's a wonderful thread that ties all of their collaborative catalogue together.
    This record seems like the ultimate marriage of the ferocity and wit of Elfman's Oingo Boingo years and the dramatic storytelling compositions of his orchestral pieces.
    It's not an easy listen, but here at my house, we were stunned by this album. I've never heard anything like it.    … Expand
  2. AnimalLuvva
    Jun 12, 2021
    9
    Stunning album that sees Danny return from years of rock recluse to find a whole new voice. A genuine, passionate album clearly made for noStunning album that sees Danny return from years of rock recluse to find a whole new voice. A genuine, passionate album clearly made for no other reason than to express himself, in a rewardingly relatable and raw way. It never feels like the sentiment gets lost in the production and any impression that it might be a rich composer's covid-downtime ramblings are blasted out the water from the start.

    Everything feels immediate from Danny's heart and soul while he unleashes so much wild anger, emotion, love and even humour. Such a rush of chaotic feeling but never feels like a mish mash, which is pretty extraordinary. Compared to the rest, 2 or 3 songs feel like they don't really contribute much, but the length of the album is totally justified and listenable overall. Musically memorable, demanding and assaulting, rewarding and always fun, only Danny could come out with such a thing and he has really pulled it off.    … Expand
  4. Dunksyk
    Jun 11, 2021
    9
    Loved this album...Quirky, raw, jagged & beautiful. A chaotic collision of smooth strings, metal guitar and rock drums .Always interesting andLoved this album...Quirky, raw, jagged & beautiful. A chaotic collision of smooth strings, metal guitar and rock drums .Always interesting and often surprising, the compositions have a sprinkling of Bowie and a touch of New York punk but with that Elfman twist. Highly recommended for those who like there music off the main highway.… Expand
  5. Dunsweet21
    Jul 3, 2021
    0
    Álbum muito genérico.

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