It takes a special kind of music to be truly fun. This release from The Elms is that kind of music. It's summer music, the kind of stuff you put on at a backyard barbecue or a day at the beach throwing a frisbee around. It's fun!
The opening track "Hey Hey" is a nice start with its mix of Euro-pop/rock and horns. It is a nice summer sound which would make the perfect addition to a summer soundtrack. The second track, "Here's My Hand", talks about reaching out to God for help. The chorus is a prayer for God to help us stand.
Here's my hand
You told me I was good enough
To stand
Here's my hand
The title track "The Big Surprise" is a bit of an ode to an under appreciated friend. With the singer going through what he has done to try and impress his friend, with all his efforts going unnoticed.
I worked extra hard
To pick your birthday card
You just threw it out
And kept my money
I got up at six
To make your favorite dish
So I sank when you said
You weren't hungry
Filed your tax return
Let some candles burn
Played Mozart
To make your plants grow
Then I clipped the trees
Got down on my knees
Not to work
Just to pray you'd see me...
The album is not a ground breaking work. But I wasn't expecting it to be. It is an enjoyable album that fits nicely into a shuffle rotation or on its own.
2.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Rebel Base 2001Reviewed by Josh HurstAs a music critic, one of the most frustrating feelings in the world is when I hear a band that I really like, but they aren't particularly good. The Elms is a band that personifies this dilemma nicely. On the one hand, The Elms' debut full-length record, Big Surprise, boasts insanely catchy melodies, simple-yet-effective instrumentation, and some overall satisfying lyrics. On the other hand, The…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Ken MuellerThere has been a lot of buzz about this album, with everyone talking about the infectious, intelligent pop of The Elms. Unfortunately, the disc does not live up to those expectations. The big surprise with "Big Surprise" is that it comes off like the latest in a long list of "Hey, look, I signed to a major CCM label" releases. Most of the buzz I have heard comes from their indie days, but now…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Bert GanglDespite the relative youth of its members, The Elms are hardly newcomers to the pop/rock scene. Founded in 1996 by siblings Owen and Chris Thomas, the band, then known as Just Visiting, spent several months playing concerts and festivals before entering the studio to record their first independent album, Gardenshow. The group's second indie album, Just Visiting, followed in 1998. After changing…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Brian A. SmithIndiana quartet, The Elms, have the potential to be Christian rock's next big thing. With a style formerly dubbed "power pop," the band's debut album The Big Surprise captures nuances of well-known groups like PFR, The Waiting, Cheap Trick and The Replacements, while still managing to sneak in a distinctive sound sure to identify them. This is a band that will be all over Christian radio this…Similar sounding releases
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