Released 1986 (1986) Release date 1 January 1986 | Length 37:24 | |
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Similar Big Black albums, Noise rock albums | ||
Big black atomizer full album
Atomizer is a 1986 album by the American punk rock group Big Black. It is their debut full-length album as all previous releases are EPs. The LP is accompanied by liner notes that explain the stories behind many of the songs. The album reached number 197 in the Billboard Hot 200 chart.
Contents
The most popular song on the album and possibly by Big Black, "Kerosene", has a shaky guitar line that gives it an odd appeal and a slower rhythm than most Big Black songs. It discusses being bored and then as a result wanting to be set on fire. Violent lyrics such as these can be seen throughout Big Black's entire discography.
Singles
One song from the album, "Big Money", was released as a B-side to the "Il Duce" single prior to the release of Atomizer. Homestead Records also issued "Big Money" and "Il Duce" the A-side of a 12" record with three live songs on the B-side (including the live version of "Cables" that would appear on Atomizer) with the agreement that the 12" be used for promotional purposes only. The label sent the promo 12" to radio stations, then sold extra copies outside of Big Black's native Chicago, hoping the band would never find out. When they did, Big Black left Homestead and signed to Touch and Go Records.
Sticker
In the year after Atomizer's release, Big Black recorded their 4-song Headache EP and released it with a sticker that bore the words, "Warning! Not as good as Atomizer, so don't get your hopes up, cheese." The same sticker also appeared on Sonic Youth's EP Master=Dik.
CD release
Atomizer was compiled on Compact Disc, along with the Headache EP and "Heartbeat" single, as The Rich Man's Eight Track Tape, which omitted the instrumental "Strange Things", as well as the artwork and liner notes from the original records. Instead, Steve Albini expressed his general dislike for the CD format in the CD's liner notes, saying, "This compact disc, compiled to exploit those of you gullible enough to own the bastardly first generation digital music system, contains all-analog masters. Compact discs are quite durable, this being their only advantage over real music media. You should take every opportunity to scratch them, fingerprint them, and eat egg and bacon sandwiches off them. Don't worry about their longevity, as Philips will pronounce them obsolete when the next phase of the market-squeezing technology bonanza begins."
Reception
The album received positive reviews and is regarded as a big influence on the genres post-hardcore and noise rock. The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Track listing
All tracks written by Big Black.
Personnel
Big Black always credited Roland along with the band's members, though Roland is a brand of drum machine and not an actual person.
Songs
1Jordan - Minnesota3:21
2Passing Complexion3:05
3Big Money2:29