The Big Nothing

When critics write about Dropsonic, the bands that keep coming up as points of comparison are Led Zeppelin and Radiohead, but the first-time listener may be forgiven for not quite getting the relevance of those referents. Granted, singer and guitarist Dan Dixon occasionally channels the spirit of Thom Yorke, at least a little bit, and the drums are big, loud, and busy. But everyone in this trio is big, loud, and busy, and if the end result harks back to any great band of a couple of decades ago it's Mission of Burma more than Led Zep. Big Nothing was originally issued on the Moodswing label in 2001, but when Dropsonic signed with 54 40 or Fight the band decided to reissue both Big Nothing and its predecessor, Belle, for the new label. Equal parts math rock, vintage AOR, grungy metal, and punk anarchy, Big Nothing is an exhilarating and cathartic mess of a record that surprises with its staying power. Not everything is wonderful all the way through, but keep your focus all the way to the end and you'll be rewarded with such gems as the long and surprisingly complex "Inside Out" and the slow and corrosively pretty "Sleepwalking." You'll have to work just a bit to get there, but you'll be glad you did.