Big Shot Chronicles

Game Theory's second album with Mitch Easter, Big Shot Chronicles, was recorded shortly after the first one, Real Nighttime was released.

The title refers to the Big Shot (photo) studio in Berkeley where the songs were rehearsed, but the album was recorded at Mitch Easter's Drive-In Studio in North Carolina. It sounds much more like the work of a band than Real Nighttime, but there's no doubt that Scott Miller is still The Man.

Scott wrote all 12 songs on the album, and the first half ("side one" for old timers) is sequenced like a pseudo-narrative, from "Here It Is Tomorrow" through "Regenisraen". There's a mini drop in song quality in the second half, but the finale "Like A Girl Jesus" rewards patient listeners with a gourgeous gem at the end.

The next album Lolita Nation is widely considered to be Game Theory's magnum opus, but I think Big Shot is the album that set the table for it. There are three or four songs that could have been hits with the right luck and promotional power. Here's the video for "Erica's Word" that seemed to be played a lot during the final 15 minutes of 120 minutes during a four month period in 1986-87.



I remember noticing that the lineup for the video was different than the pictures on the album cover. The short haired bassist was replaced by another bassist (with a mullet) and a blonde guitarist. Between all five members, this Game Theory lineup had the hair market cornered.