RSSStephen Ulrich [extended]
- Big Lazy [Tasankee, 2000] ***
- New Everything [Tasankee, 2002] A-
- Postcards From X [Tasankee, 2007] *
- Don't Cross Myrtle [Tasankee, 2014] ***
- Music From This American Life [Barbès, 2023] A-
See Also:
Consumer Guide Reviews:
Big Lazy: Big Lazy [Tasankee, 2000]
Henry Mancini as guitar-bass-drums, which undercuts the showbiz and programmatic in his noir ("Just Plain Scared," "Crooked") ***
Big Lazy: New Everything [Tasankee, 2002]
From the Raybeats and Love Tractor and the Dixie Dregs to Tortoise and the Thinking Fellers Union and Frisell Feeling Frisky, guitar-based instrumental groups have long been a fact of the rock and roll life, and generally they split the difference between expert and professional. These three guys--headman Stephen Ulrich playing one guitar at a time, agile Paul Dugan dwarfed by his string bass, and show drummer Tamir Muskat doubling as chief producer--up the ante. They cross genres without making a thing of their eclecticism. They love melody, and they also write it. They seem through-composed even when they're improvising. They're virtuosic and interactive without speed runs or shows of collective sensitivity. Most endearingly, they don't think intelligence requires subtlety. Their last album was soundtrack in mood. This one's more program music--told that one track was called "Train Travel" and the other "Tavern Life," you'd know which was which. You might have more trouble distinguishing "Tavern Life" from "Homesick." But by then you won't care much. A-
Big Lazy: Postcards From X [Tasankee, 2007]
"Boy, have we been keeping busy! Hope we see you real soon!" ("Thy Name Is Woman," "France"). *
Big Lazy: Don't Cross Myrtle [Tasankee, 2014]
Now guitarist Steve Ulrich's band solely, with Tamir Muskat's drums missed, so it's to the leader's credit that he's kept the atmospherics spooky and compelling ("Unswerving," "Human Sacrifice") ***
Music From This American Life [Barbès, 2023]
Especially with Romanian-Israeli drummer Tamir Muskat making his Gypsy racket, guitarist Ulrich's Big Lazy was pretty disruptive. Here well-connected sidemen Thomas Bartlett on keyboards and Dean Sharenow on drums help him fit in on a show that regularly tests without challenging the NPR politesse that permits Ira Glass to tweak if not pump liberal values without making more trouble than is good for him. Since Ulrich gets full composer credit throughout, I congratulate him for having achieved a rare thing--masterminding 10 easy-listening tracks that have certifiably enlivened not just dinner but breakfast at my house. I've always admired his sense of tune. But I'm nonetheless allowed to hope he still has Muskat in his phone. A-