Big High’s “Big High”: An Indie Rock Gem That Still Kicks (Mostly) Dirt in 2011
Alright, let’s cut to the chase—Big High’s self-titled debut album Big High isn’t perfect. But hey, neither is pizza with extra pineapple, and people still eat it. Released in 2011 via their own label Big High Music, this indie rock/pop-rock mashup from the US has its fair share of highs (pun intended) and… well, not-so-highs. With tracks like “Possessions,” “Angel Devil,” and “Symptoms of the Sun” on repeat, you’ll find yourself nodding along while occasionally scratching your head thinking, Wait, what year is it again?
First off, kudos to Big High for naming themselves after both the band and the album. Bold move. It’s either super lazy or genius branding—I haven’t decided yet. Either way, it sticks in your brain like gum under a school desk.
Now onto the goods. The tracklist reads like someone spilled coffee on a poetry notebook, but two songs really stood out for me: “Angel Devil” and “Cold Dark Garden.”
“Angel Devil” hits different because it’s got that moody vibe without taking itself too seriously. Imagine if Arctic Monkeys met Kings of Leon at a dive bar somewhere in Brooklyn—that’s this song. The guitar riffs are crunchy enough to make you wanna air-guitar in your kitchen, but the lyrics keep things grounded. You know those moments when life feels like one big contradiction? This tune captures all that chaos wrapped up in three minutes of solid indie goodness. Plus, there’s something about the chorus that makes you wanna shout-sing into a hairbrush—even if no one else gets why.
Then there’s “Cold Dark Garden,” which sounds exactly how it should given the title. It’s haunting, melancholic, and kinda beautiful in a ‘staring-out-a-rainy-window’ sort of way. If Morrissey ever needed a replacement band, these guys could probably audition. There’s a rawness to the vocals here that punches you right in the feels without being overly dramatic. And honestly, who doesn’t love a cold dark garden metaphor every now and then? Perfect soundtrack material for staring at your ex’s Instagram feed late at night.
Other standouts include “Whisper” (dreamy as heck), “Blacks and Blues” (twice?! Sneaky move), and “Chemicals,” though some tracks blend together faster than Monday morning caffeine cravings. No shade—it’s just hard to reinvent the wheel when you’re working within the confines of classic indie rock tropes.
What I appreciate most about Big High is its DIY charm. Sure, it’s rough around the edges, but that’s part of its appeal. These dudes didn’t have some mega-producer polishing each note till it sparkled—they let the music breathe, flaws and all. In a world full of overproduced nonsense, that counts for something.
So yeah, Big High might not change your life or anything. But it’ll definitely give you a few earworms and maybe even inspire you to start your own garage band. Who knows? Maybe someday we’ll look back on 2011 as the year indie rock quietly clawed its way back into our hearts—or maybe we won’t. Either way, Big High deserves a spot on your playlist shuffle rotation, even if only for old time’s sake.
Final thought: Listening to this album feels like finding an old mixtape in your car glove compartment. You’re not sure where it came from, but damn, it brings back memories you didn’t realize you had.
