October 12th, 2024 - Some Big Bam Boom Sippin' on a Saturday Afternoon

 

Hello and happy Saturday rockers, rollers, and craft beer fans!  Something a little different musically for you today... I'm paring something poppy from my early teen years, "Big Bam Boom" (on its 40th birthday!) from Daryl Hall & John Oates and a tart and tasty Big Sippin' Imperial Sour Ale from Odell Brewing Company! 

Album Info:

• Artist: Daryl Hall & John Oates
• Title: "Big Bam Boom"
• Recorded: Summer 1984 at Electric Lady Studio in New York City, New York
• Release date: October 12th, 1984 (12th studio album by Daryl Hall & John Oates)
• Record company: RCA Records
• Production: Bob Clearmountain and Daryl Hall & John Oates 
• Album cover art: Mick Haggerty (artwork and design) and Jean Pagliuso (photography)
• Personnel: Daryl Hall (lead and backing vocals, synthesizers, guitars, percussion, and arrangements) and John Oates (lead and backing vocals, synthesizers, guitars, synth guitar, percussion, and arrangements)
• Additional musicians: Jimmy Bralower (LinnDrum programming), Jay Burnett (additional percussion), Wells Christy (Synclavier programming), Mickey Curry (drums), Charles DeChant (saxophone), Bashiri Johnson (percussion and timbales), Robbie Kilgore (keyboards and synthesizer programming), Coati Mundi (Spanish vocals), Clive Smith (Fairlight CMI), G.E. Smith (lead guitars), and Tom "T-Bone" Wolk (synthesizers, guitars, bass, and arrangements)
• Musical style: Pop rock with elements of R&B, soul, dance rock, and even a little new wave
• Sound: Employing some of the most sophisticated recording equipment synthesizers used in the music industry at the time, "Big Bam Boom" had a more electronic, urban, and experimental sound than the duo's previous pop albums. Of the record, Hall stated: "We embraced each new device on its merits as a tool to enhance and integrate into the recording process. For us, they were instruments to be used to achieve an end: service and enrich the songs."
• Major themes: Love, relationships, desire, sorrow, loss, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Dance On Your Knees"
2. "Out Of Touch"
3. "Method Of Modern Love"
4. "Bank On Your Love"
5. "Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid"
6. "Going Thru The Motions"
7. "Cold, Dark And Yesterday"
8. "All American Girl"
9. "Possession Obsession"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Odell Brewing Company (Fort Collins, Colorado)
• Website: https://www.odellbrewing.com/
• Brew: Big Sippin' Imperial Sour Ale 
• Style: Imperial Sour Ale / Fruited Sour
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 8.0%
• IBUs: 8
• Ingredients: Pineapple, guava, and tangerine
• Pour: The Big Sippin' pours a very cloudy caramel color with a bright white, very thin head that dissipates quickly to a thin ring with very little lacing.
• Nose: The nose is fruity, citrusy, tart, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of tangerine, lemon zest, freshly cut pineapple, guava, passionfruit, light honey, cereal grains, cracked wheat, and a hint of booze.
• Taste: The taste of the Big Sippin' is tart, and slightly boozy.  There are notes of tangerine, orange juice, lemon juice, pineapple juice, bright guava, light grains, a splash of white rum, and a hint of honey. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Big Sippin' is very tart, crisp, and sharp with a lip puckering, yet clean finish.

Overall pairing: The Big Sippin' Imperial Sour Ale form Odell is a fruity and tart brew with lots of intense, yet inviting flavor!  The fruity, tart flavors go great with the upbeat, poppy vibe of the album while the bigger ABV and complexity works well with the technological approach and arrangements!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!