Two posts in one week!? I’m suddenly prolific!

Big Country – Wonderland (Extended Mix)
Big Country – Giant
I created this blog because of bands like Big Country. Anyone who’s only heard their sole American hit ‘In A Big Country’ and nothing else is really missing out on some of the best music of the ’80s. Big Country’s 1983 debut The Crossing is one of the defining albums of the New Wave movement – and it still holds up as an amazing record to this day. Their later stuff wasn’t as strong, but it was still better than a lot of the shit being shilled out by retards with too much Aquanet at the time. Despite the lackluster sales and mediocre recordings, they stuck together and in the 90s they released some really good live albums and a few critically-acclaimed studio ones too. Unfortunately, depression over the lack of sales and a longtime problem with alcohol caught up with lead singer/songwriter Stuart Adamson, and he killed himself in 2001, which puts ‘In A Big Country’ right up there with Badfinger’s ‘No Matter What’ as one of the most upbeat songs ever written by a dude that offed himself.

If that wasn’t enough of a downer, those dickless emo fuckers Dashboard Confessional recently recorded a cover of ‘In A Big Country’ (if you don’t value your ears you can check it out for yourself at Sessions@AOL.) I guess that whiney pussy-ass bitch got sick of butchering his own songs and decided to branch out and destroy someone else’s.

The version of Wonderland I’m putting up is twice as long as the original (which you can pick up on Big Country’s greatest hits collection) and I found it on the import version of the single, which was clear vinyl to boot. The B-side ‘Giant’ is a solid instrumental tune that’s never been released in the states in any form.

Down By Law – In A Big Country
I wasn’t going to post this, but fuck it, Dashboard Confessional really pissed me off. If you want a good cover of ‘In A Big Country’ check this one out by this L.A. punk band. This is off their greatest hits.

Pete Townshend – Pinball Wizard (Live)
Pete Townshend & John Williams – We Won’t Get Fooled Again (Live)
I don’t need to go off on how awesome Pete Townshend is, you already know. These songs were performed live for an Amnesty International benefit called The Secret Policeman’s Ball. I normally wouldn’t post tracks from a charity album, but it’s been out of print for a while.

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