Big Shot in the Dark
Big Shot in the Dark | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1991 | |||
Studio | The Doghouse (Austin) | |||
Genre | Roots rock | |||
Label | I.R.S.[1] | |||
Producer | Pat and Barbara K. MacDonald | |||
Timbuk 3 chronology | ||||
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Big Shot in the Dark is the fourth album by the American band Timbuk 3, released in 1991.[2][3] "Mudflap Girl" was released as a single.[4]
Production
[edit]Big Shot in the Dark was Timbuk 3's first album as a four-piece band. Courtney Audain played bass and steel drums, and Wally Ingram served as the drummer/percussionist.[5] "The Border Crossing" was inspired by the fall of the Berlin Wall.[6] Evan Johns played guitar on "Mudflap Girl".[7]
Critical reception
[edit]Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Calgary Herald | B[9] |
The Chicago Tribune called Timbuk 3 "a distinctly American band both in its spare, rootsy rock sound and its thematic obsession with the American dream gone awry."[10] The Calgary Herald deemed the album "Timbuk 3 at its twangy, idiosyncratic best."[9]
Kenneth Bays of AllMusic wrote: "On their fourth album, Timbuk 3 officially became a foursome ... there's a newfound sense of instrumental adventurousness all around. (''49 Plymouth' employs a lute, while an instrumental version of 'Sunshine' is played on steel drums)... Big Shot in the Dark has a bluesy, droning quality throughout, a vibe that would be amplified further on Timbuk 3's 1994 EP Looks Like Dark to Me."
Track listing
[edit]- All songs written by Pat MacDonald, except where noted.
- God Made an Angel
- Sunshine
- Two Medicines (Barbara K. MacDonald)
- The Border Crossing (Barbara K. MacDonald)
- Big Shot in the Dark
- Mudflap Girl
- Dis•••land (Was Made for You & Me)
- Wake Up Little Darlin'
- '49 Plymouth
- The Little Things
- Sunshine (Instrumental)
Personnel
[edit]- Timbuk 3
- Pat MacDonald: Vocals, Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Harmonica, Lute, Sampler
- Barbara K. MacDonald: Vocals, Electric Guitars, Violin, Percussion, Keyboards and Programming
- Courtney Audain: Bass, Keyboards, Steel Drums, Various Other Percussion
- Wally Ingram: Drums, Percussion, Handclaps
- Additional Personnel
- Liz Harrah: Organ on track 1
- Evan Johns: Lead and Slide Guitar on track 6
- Gary Moon: Hand claps
- John Treanor: Washboard on tracks 3, 4, and 9
- Production
- Arranged and produced by Pat and Barbara K. MacDonald
- Recording by Gary Moon; technical assistance by David Roach
- Mixed by David Tickle (The Bunker, Malibu)
- Mastered by Alan Yoshida at The Mastering Lab
References
[edit]- ^ Erskine, Evelyn (19 Oct 1991). "Timbuk 3 Big Shot in the Dark". Ottawa Citizen. p. C3.
- ^ Okamoto, David (19 July 1991). "Sardonic Timbuk 3 still prefers modest prosposals to preaching". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. p. D4.
- ^ Johnson, Robert (July 12, 1991). "Timbuk 3 set to unveil new tunes". San Antonio Express-News. p. 13F.
- ^ Mackie, John (20 Dec 1991). "Texas blues band's biting lyrics tug at the conscience, but gently". Vancouver Sun. p. D9.
- ^ Christensen, Thor (27 Aug 1991). "'Big Shot in the Dark' is on target". The Milwaukee Journal. p. D1.
- ^ Howell, Peter (18 Oct 1991). "Timbuk 3 expands from Timbuk 2 to Timbuk 4". Toronto Star. p. D16.
- ^ Couture, Pete (3 Jan 1992). "'Big Shot' Hits the Mark for Timbuk 3". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 18.
- ^ Big Shot in the Dark at AllMusic
- ^ a b Zimmerman, Kate (22 Sep 1991). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. E2.
- ^ Heim, Chris (6 Sep 1991). "Timbuk 3 is now a foursome". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. N.