Big Heavy World

Description

Big Heavy World is the fifth solo album by the American singer, songwriter, and bluesman Chris Lizotte, released on Metro One Recordings in 1997, distributed by Diamante. The album was recorded by Mike Stromsoe with Shawn Tubbs of The Violet Burning fame producing. Mixed by Dan Garcia.

Somebody upstairs gave Chris Lizotte a voice for the blues and a heart for praise. So what’s a guy to do? For Lizotte, who hails from Anaheim’s Vineyard Christian Fellowship, the result is a growing body of work that marries ethereal sentiment to earthy, aggressive music.

On ‘Big Heavy World’, Lizotte’s third release, much of that earthy sound comes from the brothers Tubbs of violet burning fame. Shawn Tubbs produced the album to a gritty, glistening sheen, co-wrote some of the songs, played inspired guitars and solid bass, and even brought along brother Lonnie to play drums. Veteran keyboardist John Andrew Schreiner only adds to the mix.

The lyrics are pure Lizotte, who has a knack for taking material that lesser lyricists would reduce to cliches and bringing it to life. In the slow, somber ballad, «Gold», Lizotte shines a redemptive light on a single mother’s sufferings: “All your heartaches, all your sufferings, all your trials are gold.” «The Almighty» doesn’t bang the listener over the head with how great God is but lets us come to the conclusion ourselves. And «The Breath of God» gives a fresh twist to communion with God: “I don’t wanna feel the breath of God/ On the back of my neck anymore/ I wanna feel it on my face.”

Even when he’s singing «The Sleep Song», a lullaby to one of his three children, the music on ‘Big Heavy World’ is slower, darker and more serious than some may like. And it’s certainly less transparently encouraging than the worship music Lizotte led at this summer’s Promise Keepers stadium rallies. But like a silver lining in a dark, gray storm cloud, the message of hope shines through. [Steve Rabey, CCM, October 1997]

> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/big-heavy-world/1618536025)

CD tracklist:

01. The Almighty – 3:58
02. Do You Know Who They Are? – 2:40
03. The Breath Of God – 3:42
04. You Know My Name – 5:39
05. Gold – 7:16
06. It’s My Right – 5:12
07. I Will Be Strong – 5:47
08. Far And Wide – 5:18
09. Big Heavy World – 7:29
10. The Sleep Song – 3:22

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Metro One Recordings.

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