Rough Edge: Big Engine CD Reviews

BIG ENGINE

"Shot Like a Rocket" (Pavement; 2014)

Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton

Big Engine's "Shot Like a Rocket" is classic hard rock in the Quiet Riot / Slade kind of style. It's 14 tracks consisting mostly of fist-pumping anthems, a few syrupy ballads and enough chunky guitar to keep your air guitar hot throughout the nearly one-hour playing time of this CD.

"Shot Like a Rocket" starts off with "Party Like a Rockstar," a song that sounds exactly like you'd expect it to sound considering its title. It's a raucous party anthem with a driving rhythm that will have your head banging along almost instantly. And the rest of the album is more of the same: What else would you expect from song titles like "Shake That Thing," "Call Me for a Good Time," "Turn It On" and "Nice Sass" (yes, I spelled that correctly, at least according to the back cover of the CD).

There are a couple of slower songs, the so-called 'ballads," and they're harmless enough although, honestly, sometimes they feel like filler ... radio friendly filler, of course, but filler just the same. The band is at their best when they're calling for action!

Littered with delicious rock'n'roll clichés, "Shot Like a Rocket" doesn't break any new ground but I'd be disappointed if it did. This is a record for playing loud while you're drinking beer and playing pool with your friends. It makes no qualms about being about nothing but having a good time and that makes it easy to listen to, again and again and again.

For more information, check out http://www.bigengine.com.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

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