Big Grief
Studio album by
Waax
Released23 August 2019
Recorded2019
StudioLa Cueva Recording, Byron Bay, NSW
GenreAlternative rock, punk rock
Length41:05
LabelDew Process
Producer
Waax chronology
Wild & Weak
(2017)		 Big Grief
(2019)
Singles from Big Grief
  1. "Labrador"
    Released: 27 April 2018
  2. "FU"
    Released: 27 February 2019
  3. "I Am"
    Released: 14 May 2019

Big Grief is the debut studio album by Australian rock band Waax, released on 23 August 2019 by Dew Process. It was produced by former Powderfinger frontman Bernard Fanning and Nick DiDia, it was recorded at Fannings and DiDia's studio in Byron Bay over the course of a year.[1][2] The album marks lead guitarist Chris Antolak's last recording as a member of the band.[3]

Background and promotion

The album artwork was created by Cristina Daura.[4] Describing the album, frontwoman Maz DeVita said:

"The whole album is about grief for so many things that I felt when we were writing the record and still do now. The way the world is so volatile at the moment, our environment, I talk about anxiety, mania, cutting ties with old friends and habits, my problems in the past with body image, and it's almost like a big mourning for all that. It's definitely an outpouring of grief in every sense of the word. But as much as I explored darker themes for Big Grief, I framed my melodies and vocal very colourfully and lively."[1]

Shortly after the band signed to Dew Process they released their first single "Labrador" on 27 April 2018.[5] The music video was released on 8 June.[6]

On 24 February 2019, the band posted the date "27.02.2019" to their social media accounts, hinting at a new single release.[7][8] The second single, "FU", was premiered on Triple J's Good Nights segment, and was then made commercially available a day later.[9][10] On 9 April, a music video for "FU" was released.[11]

On 14 May, Waax released their third single "I Am". On the same day they also announced an national tour for August, after their USA and Canadian tour.[12] On 18 June, the music video for "I Am" was released.[13]

Writing and composition

The single "Labrador" as being about the Gold Coast suburb Labrador which frontwoman Maz DeVita described as a place where a significant relationship ended in her life.[14] Speaking about the single "FU", DeVita said: "This song is about a situation with someone in your life who is taking advantage of you and finally having to acknowledge reality and stand up to them. I hope it’s as cathartic for the listener as it was to write."[15] The track "History" details DeVita's experience in her teenage years wherein she suffered from an eating disorder.[2] "Fade" is about a friend of DeVita's who went through a hard time being victim blamed and having no one believe them.[2] DeVita explained the single "I Am" as being "about wanting to please someone so much that you forget who you are in the process."[12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Depth8/10[16]
Hysteria9/10[3]
The Music[17]
Wall of Sound8/10[18]

The album received positive reviews. Jack Walsh from Depth magazine praised it saying the album's good points were: "Empowering words through hard themes. Nice runtime. Incredible production. Vocal skills are untouchable." However criticised the bad points as: "At times it feels more like a collection of singles than a cohesive and continuous vibe."[16] In a positive review from Wall of Sound, Rory McDonald said: "Big Grief is gold from front to back. [...] the band has stayed true to their authentic brand of punk and they have served it up nicely."[18] In a 9-out-of-10 review, Hysteria praised DeVita's emotional vocal delivery of the lyrics.[3] The Music, in a positive reviews states that: "WAAX have redefined what it means to be punk in the 21st century. This is an album that makes a point, one that sits on the top end of the anguish scale without sacrificing the band's melodic ingenuity."[17]

Track listing

Track listing adapted from Apple Music.[19]

All tracks are written by Maz DeVita and Chris Antolak

No.TitleLength
1."Big Grief"2:43
2."Labrador"3:41
3."No Apology"3:51
4."FU"3:47
5."History"3:50
6."Changing Face"3:38
7."Fade"3:39
8."Little Things"3:36
9."I Am"3:26
10."Why"2:15
11."Last Week"2:27
12."I.D.K.W.I.F.L" (stands for 'I Don't Know What It Feels Like')4:12
Total length:41:05

Personnel

Adapted from the album's sleeve.

Musicians

Waax

  • Marie "Maz" DeVita – vocals
  • Chris Antolak – lead guitar
  • Ewan Birtwell – rhythm guitar
  • Tom Griffin – bass guitar
  • Tom Bloomfield – drums

Technical

Artwork

  • Cristina Daura – album art

Charts

Chart (2019) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[20] 11

References

  1. 1 2 Issa, Chanel (25 June 2019). "WAAX // Announce Debut Album 'Big Grief'". Hysteria Mag. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 Newstead, Al (22 August 2019). "Good Grief, WAAX balance the vulnerable and visceral on a great debut". Triple J. ABC. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 Morawitz, Owen (19 August 2019). "WAAX // Big Grief". Hysteria Magazine. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  4. ↑ "WAAX - well, this is emotional: we finally have the..." Facebook. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  5. ↑ "Labrador by WAAX". Apple Music. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  6. ↑ WAAX (8 June 2018). "WAAX - Labrador". Retrieved 16 July 2019 – via YouTube.
  7. ↑ "WAAX - 27.02.2019". Facebook. 24 February 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  8. ↑ "WAAX - 27.02.2019". Twitter. 24 February 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  9. ↑ "WAAX - Tune in to @triplej Good Nights w/ @BHustwaite tonight from 6pm to hear our new single 'FU'". Twitter. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  10. ↑ Brown, Paul (26 February 2019). "WAAX finally debut that 'FU' song they've been playing at shows recently". Wall Of Sound. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  11. ↑ WAAX (9 April 2019). "WAAX - FU". Retrieved 27 June 2019 – via YouTube.
  12. 1 2 Langford, Jackson (15 May 2019). "WAAX Drop New Single 'I Am', Announce 2019 National Tour". Music Feeds. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  13. ↑ WAAX (18 June 2019). "WAAX - I Am". Retrieved 27 June 2019 – via YouTube.
  14. ↑ Sievers, Alex (5 May 2018). "WAAX Deliver A Candid & Emotional Past On 'Labrador'". KillYourStereo. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  15. ↑ Issa, Chanel (27 February 2019). "WAAX // Return With Powerful New Single 'FU'". Hysteria Mag. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  16. 1 2 Walsh, Jack (19 August 2019). "WAAX – Big Grief (Review)". Depth Magazine. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  17. 1 2 Rose, Anna (21 August 2019). "WAAX / Big Grief". The Music. Handshake Media. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  18. 1 2 McDonald, Rory (19 August 2019). "WAAX – Big Grief (Album Review)". Wall of Sound. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  19. ↑ "Big Grief by WAAX". Apple Music. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  20. ↑ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.

Big Grief at Discogs (list of releases)

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