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How Hard It Is
Rock · 1970 · 10 tracks

How Hard It Is

Big Brother & the Holding Company

A transitional, soulful collection of blues-rock and psychedelic jams. Stripped of its famous frontwoman, the band finds a gritty, organ-drenched second life.

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The sound of the 60s waking up with a hangover and finding the blues.

A weary but resilient blend of survivor's guilt and soulful musical rediscovery.

How Hard It Is · vs · Big Brother & the Holding Company
Self Examination+1.2σ

The writing leans notably further into self examination than the rest of the catalogue.

Tracklist · 10 Tracks
01
How Hard It Is
02
You’ve Been Talkin’ Bout Me, Baby
03
House on Fire
04
Black Widow Spider
05
Last Band on Side One
06
Nu Boogaloo Jam
07
Maui
08
Shine On
09
Buried Alive in the Blues
10
Promise Her Anything but Give Her Arpeggio
Moments Worth Waiting For
The heavy, mourning weight of the organ on 'Buried Alive in the Blues' serving as a wordless eulogy.
The shift from lazy acoustic strumming to a driving electric groove midway through 'Maui'.
The interlocking guitar and keyboard interplay on 'Nu Boogaloo Jam' that captures the band's improvisational telepathy.
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