Big Inner
by Matthew E. White
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
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  1. come2whereiam
    Jun 1, 2013
    9
    Every once in a while an album arrives that no one saw coming, it arrives without fanfare and slowly grows to become a classic, Matthew E White’s ‘Big Inner’ is one of those albums. Seven glorious tracks that exist at the point where soul, Americana, R&B and gospel meet to form a record of such crafted beauty that even upon first listen it feels like an old friend. White has enlisted theEvery once in a while an album arrives that no one saw coming, it arrives without fanfare and slowly grows to become a classic, Matthew E White’s ‘Big Inner’ is one of those albums. Seven glorious tracks that exist at the point where soul, Americana, R&B and gospel meet to form a record of such crafted beauty that even upon first listen it feels like an old friend. White has enlisted the house band from his collective/studio and added to them with a 10 piece orchestra and a twelve piece choir, the results are a stunning sun drenched collection that brings to mind The Band, Neil Young, Al Green and The Polyphonic Spree. White obviously has a vast knowledge of music and skilfully blends all his influences into the compositions, but it’s the music that wins out all rich and layered while his slight voice floats over the top like a summer breeze. Lyrically we are in familiar territory love, sex, religion, death, several songs even contain mantra-style repartition and with such deep subject matter it would be easy to fall into the morose if it wasn’t for the big band sound keeping you afloat. What White has done here is make a record that sounds new and fresh while at the same time borrows brilliantly from past masters and a long line of classic tradition, it’s in the place where these two things meet that we have found an amazing new talent.… Expand
  2. jyo_tirmaya
    Oct 7, 2012
    9
    After one listen to this album I was hooked. I just wished it was longer. Do yourself a favor and check this one out. H I G H L Y R E C O M M E N D E D!
  3. brockcheese
    Mar 11, 2015
    9
    This album is so refreshing to the alternative music scene. Mixing Jazz, Soul, and Rock, Matthew E. White creates a sound all of his own. He utilizes as many instruments as an orchestra to achieve many of the larger sounds that permeate this record.

Awards & Rankings

31
#31 Best Album of 2012

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. The Line of Best Fit
    Feb 11, 2013
    90
    The music on Big Inner is so wondrous that it seems entirely obvious that we’ll always find that peace, joy and contentment in music rather than anywhere else.
    Read full review
  2. Mojo
    Feb 6, 2013
    80
    A debut album of psychedelic gospel-tinged gems. [Mar 2013, p.94]
  3. musicOMH.com
    Feb 1, 2013
    90
    Overall, Matthew E White and his Spacebomb house band have created a brilliant debut, one that will undoubtedly have artists queueing up to be a part of this newly established project.
    Read full review
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