Big Shot Chronicles

by Game Theory

Overview

Scott Miller broke in a new Game Theory lineup on their third album, 1986's The Big Shot Chronicles (a revolving-door cast of musicians was something he would get used to over the next decade or so). If the album lacks the narrative cohesion of the group's previous full-length effort, 1985's Real Nighttime, it's obvious from the album's first cut (the joyous and explosive "Here It Is Tomorrow") that the addition of Shelley LaFreniere on keyboards, Suzi Ziegler on bass, and Gil Ray on drums made Game Theory a stronger band in every respect. While Game Theory's attempts to rock out on Real Nighttime sometimes sounded a bit tentative, The Big Shot Chronicles reveals a band that's equally adept at flexing their muscles ("I've Tried Subtlety" and "Make Any Vows") or easing into a song's subtleties ("Regenisraen" and "Like a Girl Jesus"). Real Nighttime had a more ambitious concept in its tales of the perils of young adulthood, but The Big Shot Chronicles was meant to document a great band with a stack of top-notch tunes at the ready, and on that level it's even more exciting and engaging than Game Theory's breakthrough effort. As a songwriter, Scott Miller continued to grow ("Erica's Word" and "Don't Look Too Closely" are both smart-pop Heaven on Earth), and though he was fond of referring to his voice as a "miserable whine," he sure knew how to make it communicate. Finally, Mitch Easter's production guides the record through moody neo-psychedelia and uptempo hard pop with an equally sure hand; the record sounds just as good as the band plays. A superb set from one of the best (and most underappreciated) bands of the '80s, The Big Shot Chronicle may not have been their best album -- that honor would go to the wildly ambitious double set Lolita Nation -- but as a set of songs and performances, it's practically unbeatable. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	09/23/2016
Label:	Omnivore
UPC:	0816651014910
Rank:	152536

Tracks

1. Here It Is Tomorrow
2. Where You Going Northern
3. I've Tried Subtlety
4. Erica's Word
5. Make Any Vows
6. Regenisraen
7. Crash Into June
8. Book of Millionaires
9. The Only Lesson Learned
10. Too Closely
11. Never Mind
12. Like A Girl Jesus

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Game Theory   Primary Artist
Gui Gassuan   Bass
Scott Miller   Guitar,Vocals
Mitch Easter   Egg Shaker
Donnette Thayer   Guitar
Gil Ray   Drums,Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Shelley LaFreniere   Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Suzi Ziegler   Bass,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Greg Allen   Design,Reissue Art Director
Gavin Lurssen   Mastering
Vince Guaraldi   Composer
Hugo Montenegro   Composer
Lou Reed   Composer
Scott Miller   Mixing,Composer
Mitch Easter   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Bryan Ferry   Composer
Alex Chilton   Composer
Jack Keller   Composer
Pat Thomas   Reissue Producer
Todd Rundgren   Composer
Reuben Cohen   Mastering
Dan Vallor   Mixing,Engineer,Liner Notes,Reissue Producer
Robert Toren   Engineer,Photography
Lee Lodyga   Associate Producer
Michael Graves   Restoration
Jason Cohen   Liner Notes
Gil Ray   Liner Notes
Fred Juhos   Composer
Audrey Bilger   Project Assistant
Dorothy Stefanski   Editorial
Ernie Sheldon   Composer
Dutch Cramblitt   Project Assistant
Brad Rosenberger   Project Assistant
Shannon Vallor   Project Assistant
Joy Graves   Project Assistant
Katie Westhoff   Transcription
Kristine Chambers Miller   Executive Producer
Claudio Gonson   Project Assistant
Stephin Merritt   Liner Notes
Cheryl Pawelski   Reissue Producer