When you name your band "Big Fat Jam," at least two things are expected of you: a sound that A. is out of the ordinary and B. makes up for/lives up to your name. Fortunately for Big Fat Jam, Welcome to Wonderland has a big sound, an enthusiastic delivery and more jams than aisle nine of your local supermarket.
Musically, the four-piece, southern rock band (ironically from Minnesota) reminds one of everything from the Black Crowes and Guns N' Roses to the classic rock of Led Zeppelin and Lynyrd Skynyrd. What results is a carefree, deep-fried southern rock flavor that counterbalances anything lacking artistically on the album with a fun performance.
The album opens with "Everything," a respective nod to the rock era of the late 80s and early 90s. Praising God for His sovereignty and omniscience, lead singer Lance Dalbey sings, "You were there when I denied You. I never knew You could love such a fool...Now I'm giving you everything." A background of wailing guitars continually scream their way into the forefront of the up-tempo song, fighting with Dalbey's vocals for the spotlight, though both get ample exposure. Lyrically, BFJ sets a standard for the entire album on the opener, taking a straightforward approach that leans far from any hidden meanings.
"Searchin'" is a down-home, Dixie foot-stomper that rumbles from start to finish like a runaway freight train. Featuring sizzling harmonica and guitar work, the tune is a salvation experience testimony of the most enthusiastic sort. The song jumps back and forth through multiple tempo changes and Dalbey's soulful vocal acrobatics, demonstrating a tight, cohesive effort on the part of all the band members.
"Close to the Ground" and "Red, White and Blue" are ballad-like songs interspersed throughout the rock mayhem and show a band that knows how to slow things down a bit. The former tells the story of "another fallen down angel" struggling from the grip of an abusive relationship and realizing her true identity in Christ, while the latter recognizes the post 9/11 world's need for salvation through Christ. Dalbey provides insightful thoughts on the song when he sings, "People said that they couldn't believe, but their eyes showed reality. The full effect you'll never conceive of the common man's mortality."
Dalbey's earthy voice fits a frontman role perfectly, falling somewhere along the lines of Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish or Mac Powell of Third Day, but maintains its own unique style. The bluesy guitarwork of Pete Hosmer is also a continual highlight of "Welcome to Wonderland."
What impresses about BFJ the most is that they don't seem to be trying to cater to a particular audience or pattern themselves after a more popular artist; they simply sound like a group of guys that love to sing about Jesus, while rocking southern-style. That's not to say that BFJ is for everyone: even the most avid of southern rock lovers might want something a little more poetic, lyrically, once in awhile. But the originality and confidence exuded on the album must be respected and might even become contagious if you're not careful.
For southern rockers: 4.5 tocks. For everyone else: 3 tocks
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #99Reviewed by Melba JacksonThis album takes me back to a happier time. Back when my last husband was alive (rest his soul), I knew what it meant to be loved. You see, I'm not an attractive woman. But when my Maynard would wrap those arms around my waist I would quiver and shake like the world couldn't hold me up — just like the woman in Proverbs 30:23. We lived in Jacksonville, Florida and we had the most wonderful…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Brian A. SmithBig Fat Jam successfully ignore every current trend in music -- they are not nu-metal, they avoid the whole rap/rock thing, they don't do prefab r&b tunes, and they certainly are not a boy band. So why would anyone buy Welcome to Wonderland? Because it flat out ROCKS. Big Fat Jam combines the best of southern rock mixed with Faith No More-style funk rock to produce the best debut album I've heard…
