TDC's Opinion of Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King (Overall Score: 62%)

[ThememanXX]

As an album, 1 being your least favorite to 10 being your favorite.

So far:

Before These Crowded Streets: 98%
Under the Table and Dreaming: 88%
Crash: 86%
Busted Stuff: 70%
Come Tomorrow: 63%
Everyday: 48%
Stand Up: 17%

[blumathu]

I have always loved studio SMLAM, but this album doesn't get put on much.

[DMBCLSTJ]

Originally Posted by blumathu I have always loved studio SMLAM, but this album doesn't get put on much.

I got all excited when I heard that first track but the album fizzled towards the end with Baby Blue and You and Me.

[Steveo Style]

A good (loud) album with turds at the end. Nominated for rock album of the year and album of the year and lost to Chili Peppers and Taylor Swift if I recall.

[ThememanXX]

I can't stand the production on this one. The music just sounds bad.

Some really great songs on this one and just a few turds. I never go back and listen to this one only because I think it's their worst-sounding studio album that isn't Stand Up.

[Josh.0]

Same. I don’t like the production, most of the lyrics, most of the guitar work, and think the album lacks any real flow.

It’s not the worst they’ve ever done but I think it’s the second worse. It was a massive step up from Stand Up but feels like middle-aged men trying to sound like disingenuous, cool rock stars.

[Bluewater34]

I’ve only listened to it twice, ever. Don’t care for it, obviously, but I’m not going to give it a rating, because it’s been like four years since those two listens and I don’t retain much of it. All I really remember at this point is that I don’t have any desire to return to it.

[Tomacco]

Album was a massive breath of relief. I’ve probably listened to it close to 100 times. Grux all the way through Seven is awesome, IMO. The last three tracks aren’t great, which is a shame. But they don’t ruin the album overall for me. I like the production overall. I love the variety of songs and “colors” on the album. Takes you places.
Lyrics and lack of solos are the weak points for the album. But there are a few modern classics here, and it also gave us a really solid B-side album too.

Oh yeah, and this is probably Carter’s best album. He sounds absolutely incredible throughout.

[NiCK (Crush)]

Originally Posted by Bluewater34 I’ve only listened to it twice, ever. Don’t care for it, obviously, but I’m not going to give it a rating, because it’s been like four years since those two listens and I don’t retain much of it. All I really remember at this point is that I don’t have any desire to return to it.

That sounds like a 3 to me.

[ThememanXX]

And obviously, this is another record that could've gone WAY differently if Roi didn't have his accident.

[morgadt]

7-11 is a solid run for this era.

[Tomacco]

I feel like this poll was done when the album came out. Curious to see how it compares to this new one 9 years later.

[dmb2much40]

Well, I only like half the songs on the album. But the four bonus tracks are better than the bad half of the album. Also, I agree the guitars don’t sound right to the point it’s distracting. I guess that translates to a 6.

[gweeps]

I've always loved Dive In and Baby Blue.

Why I Am's mix is still a disappointment. In fact, there are strange mix choices on this one. But that's Cavallo for you!

If the Little Red Bird E.P. was also mixed by Cavallo, he did a better job with it than the album proper.

You & Me is a guilty pleasure. Would be a perfect movie end credits song. Alligator Pie is also a enjoyable song that I rarely seek out.

Shake Me sounds too slow now.

Funny, Squirm and Lithog are probably my overall favourites. Funny made an excellent single. Too bad they apparently scrapped the band video in favour of that weird Dave solo video.

Spaceman is a song I forget about but enjoy when I hear. I don't like Seven. Time Bomb feels like a hodgepodge or bad ideas.

A 6. Hardly any Boyd and for obvious reasons little Roi.

[roshea999]

Went with a 6 - but this record kinda blows.

They couldn't have possibly gotten Why I Am more wrong in the studio. And I really do like it live.

Hands of God is an interesting song. I'm cool with Funny and Squirm, but neither are songs I ever really look forward to hearing.

Shake me sucks. Time Bomb really sucks. You and Me super sucks.

[dmblaststop]

Originally Posted by gweeps Shake Me sounds too slow now.

and Seven

[klillyblad]

3. Because I like Funny and Squirm, but I would totally be fine never hearing any of these songs again.

[Jayes]

This record is tough for me. And everyone else I’m sure.

The good:



LITHOG - fantastic song. I listen often.

Spaceman - not great on the record but I really enjoy this song live. It’s a good song

Seven - was fun a few times but they have murdered it with all the plays.

Squirm - great song. Really dig it. Don’t open shows with it.

Funny - just fine. Nothing amazing.

Why I am - terribly executed album song that is fun and good live.

SMLAM - don’t EVER want it live again, but I can dig the album cut.



The “whyyy?” :

Dive In - decent music with directly on-the-nose and subpar lyrics/sentiment. My nose is broken.

Time Bomb - awful pasted together piece of shit that encourages Dave-screaming.

Alligator pie - just never clicked with me. Hokey weirdness with Stella shoehorned in.

You and Me - grammatical ear-fuck. Pandering pile of shit with decent music that should’ve been used with better lyrics.

Baby Blue - robbed his own song and continues to overplay that song. Not good.


Write a Song and #27 should’ve taken the place of Time Bomb and Baby Blue.

[Josh.0]

The weird thing about Pie are the long stretches where there are no lyrics and you can tell there probably was meant to be but Dave couldn’t think of anything.

[Feathered]

As an album it was a pretty decent return to the band having a pulse after ED/SU. The mix is weird, it feels a bit like a hodgepodge of ideas all bashed together and mixed into a blender with a "eh fuck it we can figure these out live" theme running through most of the studio cuts. The songs were better out of the gate than the prior albums and mostly have held up well. I can't remember the last time I listened to that album though, i think iTunes LP was still a thing.

I think I would rate it a 7 but I'm docking it a mark because yet again they left some of the better cuts off the damn Album and regulated them to b-sides. Write a Song, #27, Beach Ball, hell even Cornbread. I just don't get the choices this band makes with tracking out an LP.