Forget anything you may have read in NME or Rolling Stone. Unless you're interested in the slapping of unjustified lavish praise on the likes of The Prodigy or Beck, this disc definitely deserves a listen. From the opening riff of "You Dreamer" to the guitar acrobatics of "Message Of Love," "Wildland In My Heart," and "Far From Me To You," Big Country takes you on a sonic tour de force of unrelenting ryhthmic melodies certain to make any true rock fan forget the current musical flavor of the month. Stuart Adamson and the rest of the band have been at it since '83, but faded into obscurity on the stateside scene shortly thereafter. In that time, they have released a string of quality rock albums in the purest form. Combining earnest and insightful lyrics with solid musicianship and hooks aplenty, the band still stand as a testament to what real rock music has always been about - great songs on disc, or for anyone fortunate enough to catch them live (which plenty of Stones fans did during the european leg of The Voodoo Lounge tour). You can still find the import version if your lucky, and if further convincing is necessary, be sure to first que up the blistering axe-work demonstrated by Adamson on the most excellent "Blue On A Green Planet."

Big Country released this impressive album in 1995. This was consistently their strongest effort since Steeltown and the Seer. "You Dreamer", "Blue On a Green Planet", "Charlotte" and "One in a Million" are wonderful tunes and further testament to the late Stuart Adamson's songwriting abilities. Why this album was ignored at the time of its release is beyond me. A great cd from a great band. The songwriting and production on this cd are top notch. Production-wise, this one of the band's finest efforts. Not as lavish or as polished as their 80's albums, it has an refreshing honesty and passion to it, and the sound is still edgy and crisp. Stuart's death was a tragedy and a loss, his talent and voice will be missed.

The fact that Big Country continued to make records long after the MTV fave 'In a Big Country' seems to surprise most listeners. I loved BC in the 80s, but even I let them drop off my radar around '89 or so. Anyone that listened to BC way back when and got caught up by the anthemic sounds of their early work should definitely invest in 'Why the Long Face.' The sound isn't quite as majestic as the first LPs, but it's harder, it's louder, and Stuart Adamson's lyrics are - dare I say it? - even better than the old stuff. Once I discovered the CD, it quickly became my favorite.

This 1995 cd from 80S group Big Country is just wonderful. While not quite as catchy as some of their other efforts, the straight up rock and roll value is much increased! Simply put, it rocks and why I did not hear this on the radio is confounding. Standout songs include "You Dreamer", "Take You to the Moon", and "Blue on a Green planet." There is even an acoustic version of "In a Big Country" and a remake of Lou Reed's "Vicious" which are both a lot of fun. As usual, Stuart's writing is superb and both hopeful and hopeless.

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Scottish quartet Big Country are another group pigeon- holed with the stigma of being an 80's band, with a single shining moment in time. Of course the year was 1983, the album "The Crossing" and the singles "In A Big Country" and "Fields Of Fire".
From that initial siccess the Glasgow act was given but a small strand of rope from which to cling on to and any opprtunity to build a legion of followers from album to album was a small strand for fans hold onto.
"Why The Long Face" their 1995 release, is proof that the group have never stopped working on projects, and this record, like past Big Country offerings, is action- packed. Though a few a few tracks on "Long Face" are somewhat predictable, the emphasis on song and story by lead singer Stuart Adamson are the building blocks of the album.
The band are at their high- energy best with strong off- note vocal riffs, and a slight blues guitar touch on "Message of Love",a fuller dose of the latter and smooth hi- hat led work by drummer Mark Brzezcki on "I'm Not Ashamed", and a well- desigend E- Bow solo on the little song "Sail Into Nothing" .
The old bagpipe sound and rolling funk bass line propel "You Dreamer" and "Thunder And Lightning",with the latter expoliting Adamson's Scottish brogue creeping into the lyrics and Brzezcki's military inspired beat providing backdrop
"Send You" is a locomotive that builds up steam with a flawless guitar solo with the only drawback being that the song is too short.
Brezezcki shines again making tempo breaks seem routine with Butler aiding and abeiting,plus bright guitar work on Bruce Watson's part on "One In A Million",and more of the same on the albums most explosive track,"God's Great Mistake, which has about four infectious hooks squeezed into the body of the song. Other distinctions to bear include the hi- hat attacks in mid- stride by Brezezcki, muddy and sinister sounding guitar tones from Watson,and Adamsons matching lyrics including the lines, "Guns are the last thing we need. The latest in monsters a word from our sponsors, I wait for the weather map guy. Who dosen't offer much here but he's got a matching tie".
Add to the hi- lites the bright and punchy bass line and bluesy guitar mood of "Take You To The Moon",and there are enough distinctive traits out of the 14 tracks that make "Why The Long Face" a solid if not a perfect piece of work.
The strength of this album's better cuts cover up the basic wounds sufficiently enough for one to be able to stand upright,making it a note-worthy three star album....