Big As Life

Amazon.com

One-man-band Ed Hamell not only commands attention, he absolutely demands it. If you're talking during one of his shows, expect to hear about it. Immediately. If you're listening to Big As Life, don't expect to use the album as background music. Hamell's likely to jump right out of your stereo and remind you of why you put the album on in the first place. Like a male Ani DiFranco, Hamell shows up with an acoustic guitar and an attitude, and he treats his guitar the same way DiFranco does: he strums it hard and fast, making for a kind of thrash-folk setting. But Hamell's a bit older, he's done a lot more living, and his position gives him a real sense of perspective on a variety of "big" issues. The subjects range from race relations (the title track, in which Hamell realizes why "Count Basie, he don't wanna talk to me/Miles Davis never rang my phone off the hook and I'm not anticipating any calls from Spike Lee" ), to drugs and human nature (the haunting spoken word "Piccolo Joe"), and really crappy bands ("Z-Roxx"). Hamell gets right to the heart of the matter and delivers what might as well be the last word on the subject. Yet it's the lovingly crafted goodbye to his deceased mother "Open Up the Gates" that is the most moving song on the album. Hamell's voice reflects his gruff attitude, so when he finally turns tender, it's all the more affecting. His demeanor comes through even here, with a threat to St. Peter ("Heaven hath seen no fury/like a son that's scorned/Be forewarned"), lest the saint not treat Mrs. Hamell properly. --Randy Silver, ISBN13: B000001EHX ISBN10: B000001EHX Material Type: audioCD