Last year, Brooklyn’s Big Data took the alternative music world by storm with the hit single “Dangerous.” The song, which features fellow indie rockers Joywave, was initially released in October of 2013, but didn’t take off until hitting the airwaves in early 2014. A year removed from first exposure, Alan Wilkis is all set to release his debut full-length as Big Data, entitled 2.0.
“The Business of Emotion,” a feel-good tune featuring Morgan “White Sea” Kibby of M83 fame, kicks things off. Together, the cooing and crooning of dueling vocalists Kibby and Wilkis complements the techno-y sounds quite well, making “The Business of Emotion” a fitting album opener. The 2014 smash hit “Dangerous” comes next. Its infectious bass line and guest vocals, both courtesy of Joywave, still sound fresh, even nearly a year and a half after the song’s initial release. Its successor, “Clean,” is a catchy banger that features soul singer Jamie Lidell. “Clean” is the epitome of “electro-soul,” a seldom-used portmanteau in rock. Needless to say, it’s not something you hear every day, even on alternative radio.
“The Glow” is the first “weak” track on the record; I use that term very loosely, as it’s not a bad song by any stretch of the imagination. It’s just not nearly as phenomenal as the previous three tracks, even with Kimbra’s guest spot. “Snowed In,” however, is up to snuff and then some. Indeed, with Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo lending his talents and the music itself sounding like a video game of some sort, the song inspired by the Edward Snowden NSA leaks is actually among the album’s strongest. “Big Dater” is the first, and only, song on the album without a guest vocalist. Originally, on 1.0, the tune featured Daniel Armbruster of Joywave, but Wilkis decided to go it solo on the album version. The result is a head-bobbing jam almost identical to its EP counterpart, but with more fitting vocals.
“Automatic” features Jenn Wasner and is the longest song on the record. It’s also one of the album’s most subdued moments. This contrasts quite well with “Get Some Freedom,” the upbeat synth-rocker. With Dragonette’s rhythmic singing in the foreground and a rocking instrumentation underneath it, “Get Some Freedom” is definitely single-worthy. Bear Hands get the feet stomping on “Sick for Me,” an up-tempo tune that’s more Bear Hands than it is Big Data, although the electronics are definitely still there. The final song on 2.0 is “Perfect Holiday,” a fun song that features Twin Shadow and wraps things up rather nicely.
Some fans brand Big Data’s music as “alternative dance;” others call it “indietronica;” others still know it as “electropop.” While the label may vary from listener to listener, one thing is for sure: Wilkis has crafted a fantastic full-length debut, from start to finish. Even the two “weak links” of the record aren’t all that weak; they just don’t sound nearly as spectacular as the others. 2.0 may not be perfect, but it’s certainly well above average, making it a must-listen for any alternative music fan. Even those with limited familiarity of Big Data will be impressed with this release.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8b4xYbEugo[/youtube]
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