Walking in the Shadow of the Big Man

• Artist: Guadalcanal Diary
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1984
• Genre: Rock

Review

Like R.E.M., the B-52's, and Pylon, this fine band hailed from the unlikely independent-rock hotbed of Athens, GA. The long jangle pop shadow of R.E.M. is extremely strong on this release, with seven of the ten tracks showing either full or partial influence of that group. Fortunately, the songs here are excellent, exhibiting much variety within this style. "Trail of Tears," a haunting antiwar number, sounds the most like their Athens counterparts. "Fire From Heaven" is more up-tempo, intense, and dynamic, while "Sleepers Awake" is an ominous, slowly unfolding song. "Ghost on the Road" is primarily a fast country-punk number that saves its R.E.M. stylings for its yearning chorus. "Gilbert Takes the Wheel" and the title track are jangly instrumentals, the former being a fast rocker with a thudding beat, the latter being a lengthy slow-tempo selection exhibiting noticeable psychedelic traits. Other territory is touched on as well. "Pillow Talk" is a winsomely energetic Everly Brothers-influenced song. The brilliant "Watusi Rodeo" is a jumpy pop number sporting over-the-top surf guitar licks and inspired hilarious-yet-uncomfortable lyrics about "Ugly American" cowboys in Africa. There's also an eccentric cover of the missionary hymn "Kum Ba Yah," complete with appreciative background audience shouting, an energetic drum solo, and extreme contrasts of loud and soft dynamics (sometimes within the same verse line). This odd yet strong album is well worth hearing. ~ David Cleary, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Trail of Tears	Murray Attaway, Jeff Walls	Guadalcanal Diary
Fire from Heaven	Murray Attaway, Jeff Walls	Guadalcanal Diary
Sleepers, Awake		Guadalcanal Diary
Gilbert Takes the Wheel	John Poe, Jeff Walls	Guadalcanal Diary
Ghost on the Road	Murray Attaway, John Poe, Jeff Walls	Guadalcanal Diary
Watusi Rodeo	Murray Attaway, Jeff Walls	Guadalcanal Diary
Why Do the Heathen Rage?	Murray Attaway, Jeff Walls	Guadalcanal Diary
Pillow Talk	Murray Attaway, John Poe, Jeff Walls	Guadalcanal Diary
Walking in the Shadow of the Big Man, Pt. 1	Murray Attaway, Jeff Walls	Guadalcanal Diary
Kum Ba Yah		Guadalcanal Diary

Credits

Murray Attaway (Guitar), Murray Attaway (Vocals), John Poe (Drums), John Poe (Bongos), Jeff Walls (Lap Steel Guitar), Jeff Walls (Vocals), Rhett Crowe (Bass), Jeff Walls (Autoharp), Jeff Walls (Guitar)

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