Big Country Crossing CD

 Greatest debut rock album of all time?
I ask the question above, because, to me, this is one of the greatest rock albums ever. Yes, I said one of the best albums EVER. Big Country was ahead of their time by light years - and it shows even today (2007), 24 years after this piece of art was released. This album still sounds incredible today. The muscianship is incredible (see Mark Brzezicki's drumming on "Fields of Fire" as one of MANY examples). Stuart Adamson's songwriting is from the heart - complex in it's many themes, but still simple enough that his listener can capture the spirit he intended - while not being preachy or sounding dumb. Tony Butler's bass bottom is perfectly placed, without over-doing it. And Bruce Watson's "Robin" to Adamson's "Batman" is perfectly intertwined for an audio landscape that is SCOTLAND. Each song is a story, a magnificent story of life, loss and the everday man with a soundtrack of incredible Celtic-influenced music that is timeless. This is Adamson's epic, plain and simple.
Submitted by Ted (Frisco, TX)
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 Seminal Release From Scotland's Finest
'The Crossing' is the first and still the best release by Scottish sonic-rockers Big Country. Everyone knows about "In a Big Country", the band's anthem, but there are many other fine tracks on here that deserve a good re-listen. "Chance" is a near classic, "Fields of Fire" and "Harvest Home" are almost as good as IaBC, and both "Porrohman" and "The Storm" are haunting and powerful. A must have to anyone who even took a casual liking to the band. The bonus tracks are highlighted by the post-'Crossing' single "Wonderland", the battle anthem "All Fall Together" and the title track. One curioous exclusion is my favorite BC b-side from this era, "All Of Us". It would have made this album complete for me. Hard to believe producer Steve Lillywhite did this album, U2's "War", and Simple Minds "Sparkle In The Rain" all in the same year. A good year indeed.
Submitted by daveb361 (Seattle, WA, USA)
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 Crossing Into Legend
I was getting myself suited up for a high school (I went to Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond, IN) performance of Fiddler on the Roof (in which I played the role of Perchik), when I was a junior way back in 1983. I had MTV on and the video promoting "In a Big Country" suddenly burst onto the screen. I am not exaggerating when I say that it changed my life. From that point forward, I was a Big Country fanatic. The guitar breaks between the verses and after the middle eight(s) of "In a Big Country" mesmerized me. It wasn't just the fact that the guitars sounded like bagpipes, which they truly did, but it was also the melodies and the conviction with which they were played that made me realize Big Country would very soon be a regular visitor to my turntable. When I finally bought the album (I got the single first), I wasn't disappointed. I was enthralled with "Close Action's" 6/8 time and the way drummer Mark Brzezicki made it rock AND swing, I loved Stuart Adamson's and Bruce Watson's guitar interplay and Tony Butler's killer counter-melody at the hypnotic beginning of "Porrohman," I was captivated by the acoustic story-telling of "The Storm," and I was thoroughly swept up in the overall anthemic, triumphant feel of "Fields of Fire" -- and those are just a few tunes. They all have something to recommend them, and highly. In addition to the musicianship, I was mightily impressed with the passion of Stuart Adamson's vocals on the album. I found some of the lyrics a little difficult to "get," but I definitely "got" the sincerity put forth in the lyrics' delivery, which I believe is more important, anyway. I went on to buy every album (then CD) that Big Country subsequently released. All of them were stellar, and I mean ALL of them. The Crossing is the true starting point, however, and it's wonderful that the record company put so much sparkle in these seminal songs via the remastering. Even though Stuart Adamson's beautiful and troubled soul couldn't, I'm thankful that the music he and his bandmates created will always "stay alive."
Submitted by benlikens (Whiting, IN, USA)
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 it's a great present for remember the 80's
a great fiend of mine told me, he wants this record, because he wants to remember all his favorite music in a new version in cd, well I find this in a better price and service.
Submitted by a reviewer (calexico, ca, usa) 
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 Didnīt get the sucess they deserverd
Big Country is a great band which didn't get the sucess that they deserverd. Beautiful and touchy songs with great lyrics ! Unforgetable band from the 80's !
Submitted by Teresa tecarj_64 (Rio de Janeiro,RJ, Brasil)
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