When The Killers went on hiatus and frontman Brandon Flowers announced a solo project that promptly went on to be brilliant, it was easy to assign the main creative force in the band to the ‘Flamingo’ man. But, hold on, now drummer Ronnie Vanucci Jr. has teamed up with long-time friend Taylor Milne for solo project Big Talk and the duo have set about changing that assumption. And they may have just done it.
‘Big Talk’ is a bold and dazzling effort from Vanucci; energetic, driven, bright and fun from start to finish. Brandon Flowers seemed to show he was the main man with solo release ‘Flamingo’ last year, but Big Talk calls for a recount on that matter. Vanucci’s solid vocals even sound like Flowers, or is that sentimental thinking on my part?
‘Katzenjammer’ opens up a strong start, with a soft intro blossoming into soaring guitars, a rising chorus and a powerfully happy tune. From the first line ‘It’s not too early for whiskey/It’s not too early to smoke’ and the fact that ‘katzenjammer’ means ‘disagreeable aftereffects from the use of alcohol’, it’s clear this album is about having a good time and that’s exactly what it achieves.
It’s clear to see how much Vanucci puts into The Killers and how much he has got from it; first single ‘Getaways’ is a melodic and anthemic electro-pop hit, ‘Under Water’ has the same rich rock-driven style and ‘Replica’ is an amped synth-pop anthem that could fit onto any Killers album. The best moment comes with the more acoustic and softer ‘The Next One Living’ – a more touching feel, more a slow-arm-waving anthem and the gentle sense accompanied with the lyric ‘Well cry baby, do it every day/There is no cure without it’.
The strong start is carried on by the sparse country-bluesy ‘No Whiskey’, with the alcoholic’s pledge ‘I don’t need no whiskey/Don’t need no rum and coke/’Cos if I get that whiskey/You know I ain’t coming home’. Coupled with summery toe-tapper ‘Girls At Sunrise’, it’s a fine effort from Big Talk. The quality does however drop slightly for the next few tracks, all pleasant but not grabbing; the synth-led ‘White Doves’, samey ‘Living In Pictures’ and forgettable ‘Hunting Season’ slinking by without much of an impact.
Luckily it picks up for a proud farewell; the more purposeful and anthemic message of spite for a lover ‘A Fine Time To Need Me’ and the empty bluesy-marauding rock of closer ‘Big Eye’ (which mentions whiskey, again) making it an all-round memorable debut from Vanucci.
Big Talk reminds us Vanucci is responsible for some of The Killers’ best hits and their driving rhythm from the back of the stage with a melodic, bright and energetic album. Slightly rockier than his band’s exploits, it shows that there is more than one talented frontman within the vastly talented four-piece from Nevada.
Very good album, and here's my favourite song 'The Next One Living'.
NWR
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