Strawberry Seed, by Big Bill

Strawberry Seed

by Big Bill

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Streaming + Download

Pre-order of Strawberry Seed. You get 2 tracks now (streaming via the free Bandcamp app and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the complete album the moment it’s released.

Purchasable with gift card

releases June 14, 2024

$7 USD or more
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Comes in a sturdy digipak case with original artwork by lead singer Eric Braden.

Includes digital pre-order of Strawberry Seed. You get 2 tracks now (streaming via the free Bandcamp app and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the complete album the moment it’s released.

shipping out on or around June 14, 2024

$10 USD or more
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Deluxe 12" vinyl version of our 3rd album. Pressed on classic black, with artwork by singer Eric Braden.

Includes digital pre-order of Strawberry Seed. You get 2 tracks now (streaming via the free Bandcamp app and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the complete album the moment it’s released.

shipping out on or around June 14, 2024

$20 USD or more

1.	Ex-Con 02:44	lyrics	buy track
Whenever I get dressed up I feel like an ex-con Trying to make good Whenever I get dressed up I feel like an ex-con Trying to make good Jean jacket and tie Feel like such a lie Then I go to your house I feel like I'm Casing the joint In the grocery store In line behind a mother and a child I'm going to take that child I'm going to take that child I'm going to take that child See because alone in my room I feel like such a part of the community But out on the streets I feel like a robot by the river Alone in my room I feel such a warmth for the community But out on the streets Out on the streets I feel like a robot by the river Looking for a drink
2.	Clean Feeling 03:35	lyrics	buy track
It’s windy and warm The sky is solid blue forever like it’s caught in a prism I kinda like the way the sun hits the water and the water it glistens Everyone’s working They’re all working on remembering what living even feels like I kinda think it feels like using our own bodies just however that we feel like Gimme a clean feeling Gimme a clean feeling If there is such a thing Angry at the ones we love Saying all the right things wrong All I know is everybody needs validation Gimme a clean feeling Gimme a clean feeling If you know what I mean C-L-E-A-N F-E-E-L-I-N-G I wonder if you Ever felt this energy C-L-E-A-N F-E-E-L-I-N-G I wonder if you Ever felt this energy C-L-E-A-N F-E-E-L-I-N-G I wonder if you Ever felt this energy Mud in the water Plastic in the harbor Salt in the Band-Aid Kids at the slaughter I wanna let go all the hatred Cuz my energy is sacred They wanna bring back child labor It was such a money saver It’s all about Energy companies Emergent technologies I don’t want to be part of these I just wanna live in harmony I wanna have a… Clean feeling Clean feeling Yeah, yeah yeah yeah Yeah, yeah yeah yeah
3.	Political Meat
4.	Strawberry Seed
5.	Throw it Away
6.	Poverty of Wires
7.	Crinkle the Wrapper
8.	That's the Dance
9.	I Can Still Get Lost
10.	Emotions
11.	People Talk on the Phone
12.	In the Garden
13.	Beautiful Angels of the City
14.	People I Meet (feat. Emily Whetstone)

about

Strawberry Seed, Big Bill’s third full-length LP, represents evolutionary growth for the Austin rock band. While the album includes some of the snide anthems they’re known for in songs like “Poverty of Wires,” “Throw it Away,” and “Political Meat,” much of the album feels warmer, with layers of acoustic guitar, synthesizers, piano, and background singers adding texture to their esoteric sound. Even when they go for the familiar angular riffs and propulsive drums—provided by former White Denim drummer Jeff Olson, who joined the band in 2020 and produced most of this record—the topics are more relatable than ever before, and more political, too. “Poverty of Wires” hits directly with post-punk fervor and a lyric about how rich people are always sick of talking about the poor, and “Political Meat” rails against a depressingly familiar cycle: “politely critique; get spit out like mouthwash and rinse and repeat.”
A careful layering of rough-hewn elements amounts to a polished collection, as evoked in the album art’s handmade strawberry with a diamond seed sitting beside it. In “Beautiful Angels of the City,” a kind of “Werewolves of London”-esque romp loosely based on a band trip to L.A. that name-checks Lucinda Williams (whose photo was on the band’s studio mood board), a choir of angels seems to descend upon the song with each chorus. The album’s second single, “Clean Feeling,” exemplifies the broadened skillset of the band with its opening lyrics sung by Braden over an optimistic acoustic strum: “It’s windy and warm; the sky is solid blue forever like it’s caught in a prism; I kinda like the way the sun hits the water and the water it glistens.” But in a soiled, morally corrupt world, can a clean feeling be found? The song quickly turns into an urgent list of things to avoid, from “energy companies” to “emergent technologies,” and the music grows increasingly ominous in turn. On Strawberry Seed, Big Bill is more mature and more self-assured, but you’ll never take the anxious energy out of the punk.

Released on Spaceflight Records, Austin, Texas

credits

releases June 14, 2024

Eric Braden: vocals
Alan Lauer: bass guitar, vocals
Jeffrey Olson: drums, percussion, synths, keys, piano, vocals
Alex Riegelman: guitar, vocals, piano

Cody Braden: vocals on People Talk on the Phone
Emily Whetstone: vocals on People I Meet; background vocals on Clean Feeling

The Choir:
Aubrey Hays: background vocals on That’s the Dance, I Can Still Get Lost, and Beautiful Angels of the City
Vanessa Jollay: background vocals on That’s the Dance, I Can Still Get Lost, and Beautiful Angels of the City
Anastasia Wright: background vocals on That’s the Dance, I Can Still Get Lost, and Beautiful Angels of the City

Album art and layout by Eric Braden
Art assistance by Ishaq Fahim

All songs mastered by Erik Wofford

license

about

Big Bill Austin, Texas

Influenced by the deadpan irreverence of The Monks and Talking Heads, Big Bill is known for their darkly comic, nervy take on punk rock. Though their brain-altering live show remains a huge part of their DNA, Big Bill's music has evolved across many lineup changes, stretching from the rawest, weirdest punk into shades of country, new wave and even quasi-classic rock. ... more

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