The Big Thief classic inspired by Bruce Springsteen
Ever since Big Thief started releasing music, they have been amassing fans thanks to their honest ability to tell a story in an exciting way. The band aren’t afraid to write music that touches upon love, loss and everything in between. They also reach from several influences to create sweet, unique, unpredictable music.
As fans of narrative, it is hardly a surprise that the group like Bruce Springsteen. He will likely play a part in a lot of the music that they write, but one song in particular they claim is because of Springsteen is ‘Shark Smile’, from the 2017 album Capacity.
The song marked the first time that guitarist Adrianne Lenker turned her guitar up to 10, as a 30-second sample of chaotic and loud playing kicks the song off, which doesn’t play a massive part in how the rest of the track sounds but certainly sets up the tone of the track. The story told throughout the song is a harrowing one about a treacherous car journey, and this introduction sets the stage for the tale perfectly.
“That’s just kind of foreshadowing the turmoil that happens in the song,” said Lenker, “It’s a generally upbeat song, and it’s just giving it the tone.”
Lenker also says listening to Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen played a part in the song’s creation. Notoriously, Nebraska is one of The Boss’s most harrowing albums, as the narratives told throughout are some of his most poignant and gut-wrenching. ‘Shark Smile’ follows suit.
“I don’t even know if any of it carried over,” confessed Lenker, “but I think without listening to Bruce Springsteen, this song wouldn’t exist.”
The Nebraska element shines through in the song’s narrative, which is profoundly upsetting and reminiscent of Springsteen’s writing. It talks of protagonists who live on society’s edge and hold each other higher than anything else. They drive a yellow van in the Midwest, which ends up getting into an accident and killing one of the lovers.
Whilst one person survives, they do so surrounded by sadness and guilt. There is no sign of making the most of life following the incident, and instead, they wind up pleading to the heavens, saying, “Take me, too.”
It’s interesting to hear Big Thief cite Nebraska as inspiration, as Springsteen himself was inspired by the synth-punk band Suicide when putting the record together. He met the band in 1980, and upon listening to a playback of their album, he decided to create more twisted narratives in his music. “That’s one of the most amazing records I ever heard,” confirmed Springsteen, “I really love that record.”
It’s only fitting that that which inspired Springsteen should go on to inspire others, as it does so well with Big Thief. His story-telling abilities which are present throughout his music, likely impacted their writing, but it is most notable on ‘Shark Smile’, which draws from the harrowing edge of Nebraska.
