Album Notes

"Bigger is Better," the debut release of Dan Reich & Friends, is far from a typical debut effort. Singer-songwriter Reich is a seasoned veteran with roots in rock n' roll and improv theater. He has performed with Robin Williams in The Wing, Bill Murray and John Candy in Second City, recorded on Fantasy Records with Sylvester, and had a novelty hit in 1982 with "49ers In The Super Bowl."

Dan Reich & Friends have put together a collection of wry, rollicking songs that jab sharp barbs into the underbelly of American culture with wit, insight, and a big load of fun. "Bigger is Better" is a polished, cohesive collection of material that takes on Reich's favorite targets such as corporate greed, religious intolerance, fast food and the sort of mindless consumerism that fuels the title track.

Stylistically diverse, with a generally unplugged sound that varies from irreverent country to Americana to anthemic rock & roll, Dan's "friends" (musicians he's played with for more than ten years) supply catchy and inventive backing vocals as a counterpoint to Dan's straightforward, rough-hewn delivery and down-home guitar and dobro. Anne Nachtrieb Zesiger, an accomplished artist with several albums to her own credit, adds beautifully-sung and arranged harmonies throughout. Michael Woods' distinctive Telecaster spans a broad range from Sun Records-style picking to moody atmospherics to grinding grunge. Two bassists (John Gomes and Paul Lamb) each appear on about half the songs, combining with drummer Joe Paulino to form a tight yet supple rhythm section. Paulino also engineered and produced the CD, giving it a clear, distinctive sound and adding hilariously apt sound effects.

Among the album's highlights are "Big Ol' Thing," a cowboy-styled ode to sport utility vehicles, "Glowing Screen," a Celtic-tinged pub singalong comparing video games to a cult (dedicated to Reich's two teenage sons) and "When I Retire," a lament about a former Enron worker with a busted retirement plan punctuated by a twangy dobro and gospel-style harmonies. "So Much," a poignant meditation on mid-life, avoids the humor on most of the tracks in favor of a strong melody and meaningful statement that could hold its own on an album by any number of better-known songwriters.

The album's origins began with a handful of songs written during the spring of 2002. In August of that year Reich was diagnosed with a brain tumor, although it failed to deter him from writing more songs in a similar vein. By the beginning of 2003, Dan's "friends" offered to lend their efforts to the making of an album. Sessions were arranged at Joe Paulino's "Studio P". Although Dan was undergoing chemotherapy during the sessions, 11 songs were recorded. The support and love of his friends and the energy of the project itself helped him deal with the ups and downs of his diagnosis and treatment. Currently Dan is rigorously pursuing a program of alternative treatments and nurturing a long-dormant spiritual side. Fortunately, he continues to improve and his prognosis is good.

Dan Reich & Friends hopes to follow "Bigger is Better," with live appearances and subsequent releases, as there seems to be no shortage of material for Dan's distinctive views on life in America.