Big Troubles – Romantic Comedy (2011) [Slumberland] // Grade: C+

I’m one that believes that a good label’s output is perfect example of the greater than the sum of its parts saying, a synergistic sound if you will. In the 30-year case of Slumberland Records’ consistent catalog, it will stand the test of time more for its overall stride’s journey rather than the individual steps that created it. Knowing this, it’s sometimes odd when said label pushes forward specific bands and specific songwriters to the forefront, praising their individual talents like they were, well, better than the place they are coming from. Slumberland head honcho, Mike Schulman, has been known as a guy that doesn’t accept submissions or demos- if you are good enough, he’ll find you. Then, if you are that good, that established, why would you need to convince me and lead me along in thinking that your new thing is so perfect, so must-hear? This is the how Romantic Comedy, the second album from New Jersey’s poppers Big Troubles is prefaced. In their introduction the album, the label calls the release “brilliant” and “a masterpiece of modern pop” and it seems pretty convincing. Sure, this isn’t the fault of the band but it’s important to point out a bounding, glowing praise for an album that does in fact sound very much like the flurry of other releases the imprint’s already dropped.

Here to follow their fuzzy and jagged debut collection, Worry, this quartet’s new material is more mature and blithe to the key of Smiths fandom (and guitar) and melodramatic diary dumps. There’s not much in the way of singer Alex Craig’s encapsulating vocals throughout these 10 bouncy songs and the band want it that way. Egging on the annuals of dream pop, jangle, vintage indie rock and all those sound’s romantic melodramas, Romantic Comedy tells the stories you’d expect (love, loss, girls, etc.) without the cringe that makes it all sound too cheap; Slumberland is known for its brand and Big Troubles are hip to their loyalty. Produced by Mitch Easter (Let’s Active, Pavement, R.E.M.), what we end up getting from Comedy is decently giddy but far from any sort of  “masterpiece.”

The songwriting duo of high-school friends Alex Craig and Ian Drennan, their band’s sophomore effort’s best selling point comes in its lyrics. On-the-brain assertions mixed with well-planned jabs at the opposite sex creating lines of self loathe, it’s tunes like “Sad Girls” and it’s damn catchy hook, “I don’t want to love anymore and if I hear that word again, I’ll drill a hole in my head” that give you a taste of what to expect. An album standout, the song plays on like a casual, come-hither take on something off the Smith Westerns’ latest. Going through, some of what you’ll get here includes: Shy girls (“She Smiles for Pictures”), just wanting fun (“Misery”) living at your parent’s home while making future plans (“Make it Worse”) and sad songs and “masochistic remedy” while the world burns (“Minor Keys”).

Big Troubles channel both their labelmates (I’m sure you’ll cry those Pains of Being Pure at Heart) and influencers clearly to deliver a sophomore album with ease. The overall results might be expected but Romantic Comedy is no album-wide bunt in the wrong direction and is certainly worth some weight in dollar downloads thanks to a set of solid tracks like “Sad Girls” and “Misery” if you’re one for the singles shuffle. Slumberland has fostered and maintained a style of music like this so long and when they try and slip one by us calling it groundbreaking, that’s the only thing that seems like a move in the wrong direction.

- The Holloweyed