Dinosaur Pile-Up
I’ve Felt Better
Via Mascot Records
Lead singer, guitar slinger, muthafkn survivor Matt Bigland can make whatever the hell kinda music he wants. Which he and his much-loved band Dinosaur Pile-Up have done across all their previous releases. But this time the stakes are higher. Life or death. And it was almost the former for Matt who was so sick at one point even his doctors were panicking. There’s classic Dinosaur in this album. Opener ‘’Bout to Lose it’ and ‘Big Dogs’ have the trademark Bigland ‘Waaaagh!’ vocal that we’re all here for. There’s enough thrashing and crashing to require multiple cans of hairspray to keep your style in place, such is the opportunity to nod, shake and bang your head. Some songs are nothing to do with years of illness, eventually being unable to speak and eat due to Ulcerative Colitis, and the strength Matt found when his soulmate came into his life and – truth – saved it. ‘Love’s The Worst’ is about being cheated on in a previous relationship and then dumped – on his birthday. Standout self-deprecating surf vibe ‘Quasimodo Melonheart’ is the most gorgeous melodic ‘thank you for loving me’ song. This is one of the many joys of ‘I’ve Felt Better’. At no point is it self-indulgent or introspective. There’s not a single hint of woe is me. Just banger after banger, ranging from grungey ‘Big You and Me’, sun-kissed americana ‘Sunflower’ (so beautiful it makes yer girl cry), and radio-friendly screamer ‘Unfamiliar’, to featuring the whole damn lot (Eminem inspired ‘My Way’). F*ck album of the year shit. This is long haul stuff. ‘I’ve Felt Better’ will be listed as one of the top albums of all time.
Review by Jo Wright