If nothing else, this debut from Columbus, Ohio, band Big Back Forty functions as a test case as to why it’s probably not a good idea to solicit opinions before listening to a record. A friend of mine who lives in Columbus compared this quartet to the fantastic Haynes Boys, another country-tinged outfit hailing from Cowtown. A few days later, another friend used the H word — “Hootie” — to describe them. Naturally, both pals were inaccurate, and that’s both good and bad: The Big Backs aren’t anywhere near the Haynes’ league, nor are they the second coming of Hootie.
There’s definitely a slick, mainstream feel to much of Bested, and that, along with Sean Beal’s deep voice — a cross between a young, misplaced Leonard Cohen and a less annoying version of that Crash Test Dummies guy — likely brought the visions of Hootie. And there’s no hint of backwoods menace here, part of the Haynes Boys’ considerable charm. This is particularly noticeable during the record’s first half: Though always pleasant, there’s not much worthy of praise, and a couple of the tracks (“8 Miles Down”, the mopey “Little Crucifier”) are notable only for a sheer lack of notable qualities. (The crunching “Monte Carlo Girl” is an exception.)
Things pick up down the road, and a stride of sorts is hit toward the end; “Party Girl” and “Big Man” are both nifty rockers, and “Been So Gone” has a nice, casual feel. Enjoyable enough, and if it comes down to Big Back Forty vs. Hootie and his compatriots, well, you know. Once the next Haynes Boys record arrives, however, all bets are off.
