July 24, 2020
DOTWAV Records
If Caleb Carnell's previous album SUPER FUN YEAR proved to be his most accessible yet to a wider audience, Big Dawg is a test to see who sticks around for the thrill ride. While Carnell ventures into the brighter sounds of funk and neo-soul on tracks like "Choose" and "Self Control", the themes of doubt, existentialism, paranoia, and everything else troubling young black youth all come back into the fold. But still, taking a less conventional route, the artist has put together a record of warped afro-pop, showcasing an unusual sense of bravado and confidence on songs such as the title track, as well as the abrasive "Armed Robbery", featuring long time collaborator MAXXJAMEZ. An emotionally charged and revealing album in the same vain as 2018's WOW THIS IS THE REAL THING, Big Dawg continues to prove that the Wichita musician can outdo himself time and time again.