{{use dmy dates|date=May 2021}} {{Infobox album | name = Not Art | type = studio | artist = Big Scary | cover = Not_Art_by_Big_Scary.png | released = {{Start date|2013|06|28|df=y}} | recorded = | studio = *Metung (East Gippsland) *The Landen Manor (Melbourne) *Mixed Business Studios (Melbourne) | genre = Pop rock<ref name="AM">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/not-art-mw0002551195|title=Not Art CD|website=AllMusic|access-date=2 May 2021|archive-date=2 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502060113/https://www.allmusic.com/album/not-art-mw0002551195|url-status=live}}</ref> | length = {{duration|m=42|s=48}}<ref name="AM"/> | label = *Pieater * Barsuk Records | producer = *Jo Syme, *Tom Iansek | prev_title = Vacation | prev_year = 2011 | next_title = Animal | next_year = 2016 | misc = {{Singles | name = Not Art | type = studio | single1 = Phil Collins | single1date = February 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9HIgE6_H0E|title=Big Scary - Phil Collins (Not Art LP 2013)|publisher=YouTube|date=February 2013|access-date=1 May 2021|archive-date=1 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501032150/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9HIgE6_H0E|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Big Scary 4"/> | single2 = Luck Now | single2date = April 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_EjSuYWzxA|title=Big Scary - Luck Now (Not Art LP 2013)|publisher=YouTube|date=April 2013|access-date=1 May 2021|archive-date=1 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501032151/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_EjSuYWzxA|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Big Scary 4"/> | single3 = Twin Rivers | single3date = 12 July 2013<ref>{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/twin-rivers-ep/1512574810/ |title=Twin Rivers – Single by Big Scary on Apple Music |publisher=Apple Music |date=November 2013 |access-date=9 August 2020 |archive-date=5 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005023042/https://music.apple.com/au/album/twin-rivers-ep/1512574810 |url-status=live }}</ref> | single4 = Invest | single4date = February 2014<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFhhU_DcLVA|title=Big Scary - Invest *Official Video* (Not Art LP 2013)|publisher=YouTube|date=February 2014|access-date=1 May 2021|archive-date=1 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501032153/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFhhU_DcLVA|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://mixdownmag.com.au/news/music/major-leagues-release-new-clip/|title=Big Scary Releases New Single|website=Mix Down Mag|date=February 2014|access-date=1 May 2021|archive-date=1 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501032152/https://mixdownmag.com.au/news/music/major-leagues-release-new-clip/|url-status=live}}</ref> }} }} '''''Not Art''''' is the second studio album by Australian Indie pop duo Big Scary. It was released in Australia on 28 June 2013. The album debuted and peaked at number 32 on the ARIA Charts. In late 2013, the duo signed with Barsuk Records and the album was released in North America in March 2014.<ref name="TD AMP"/>
At the J Awards of 2013, the album was nominated for Australian Album of the Year.<ref name="2013winner">{{cite web|title = The J Award 2013|website = Triple J|url = https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/jawards/13/|publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation|year = 2013|accessdate = 15 August 2020|archive-date = 24 November 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201124012613/https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/jawards/13/|url-status = live}}</ref> At the AIR Awards of 2013, the album was nominated for Best Independent Album. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2013, the album was nominated for Breakthrough Artist - Release and Best Independent Release.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/search/?text=big%20scary|title = ARIA Awards Search Results - Big Scary|work = ARIA Awards|accessdate = 17 August 2020|archive-date = 4 July 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210704132804/https://www.aria.com.au/awards/past-winners|url-status = live}}</ref> At the Music Victoria Awards of 2013, the album was nominated for Best Album.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://musicvictoria.com.au/musicvictoriaawards/previous-nominees|title= Previous Nominess|website= Music Victoria|accessdate= 13 August 2020|archive-date= 19 September 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200919214225/https://www.musicvictoria.com.au/musicvictoriaawards/previous-nominees|url-status= dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://musicvictoria.com.au/musicvictoriaawards/previous-winners|title=Previous Winners|website=Music Victoria|accessdate=13 August 2020|archive-date=19 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919220836/https://www.musicvictoria.com.au/musicvictoriaawards/previous-winners|url-status=live}}</ref> The album won the 2013 Australian Music Prize.<ref name="TD AMP">{{cite web|url=https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/big-scary-win-30000-australian-music-prize/|title=Big Scary Win $30,000 Australian Music Prize|website=Tone Deaf|date=5 March 2014|access-date=2 May 2021|archive-date=2 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502051437/https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/big-scary-win-30000-australian-music-prize/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Singles== The lead single "Phil Collins" was released in February 2013. Tester McFlyn from ''The Music Network'' said "This slow burning song defies the conventions of a lead single".<ref name="TMN"/> Tom Iansek said its selection of lead single was a ploy to misdirect saying "We released 'Phil Collins' first knowing that it wasn't a single at all. It's kind of moody, there's no real catchy chorus. I guess we just thought it was more of a mood-setter for the album. Bands tend to put the catchiest, poppiest out first as the single, then everyone is expecting a bright, catchy album to follow it. A lot of the time that isn't the case. We wanted to suggest that it would be a darker record and we definitely tried to keep people guessing a bit."<ref name="Big Scary 4">{{cite web|url=https://www.beat.com.au/big-scary-4/|title=Big Scary 4|website=Beat Magazine|date=2013|access-date=1 May 2021|archive-date=1 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501033653/https://www.beat.com.au/big-scary-4/|url-status=live}}</ref>
"Luck Now" was released in April 2013. In an album review, ''FBI Radio'' called it the "standout" saying "[it's] a song that leads a delicate piano intro into a solid wall of synth, harmony, drum and string."<ref name="FBI"/>
"Twin Rivers" was released digitally on 12 July 2013 and included two remixes of the song. The music video was released in November 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnXkGcpK5GY|title=Big Scary - Twin Rivers *Official Video* (Not Art LP 2013)|website=YouTube|date=November 2013|access-date=2 May 2013|archive-date=14 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114085723/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnXkGcpK5GY&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref>
"Invest" was released in February 2014 as the fourth and final single.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFhhU_DcLVA|title=Big Scary - Invest *Official Video* (Not Art LP 2013)|publisher=YouTube|date=February 2014|access-date=1 May 2021|archive-date=1 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501032153/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFhhU_DcLVA|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://poetryinanemptycokecan.com/2014/02/03/big-scary-invest/|title=Big Scary – Invest|website=poetryinanemptycokecan|date=February 2014|access-date=1 May 2021|archive-date=2 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502055726/https://poetryinanemptycokecan.com/2014/02/03/big-scary-invest/|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Critical reception == {{Album ratings | rev1 = AllMusic<ref name="AM"/> | rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}} }} ''FBI Radio'' said "The duo have left behind the rock-heavy sounds of their debut, ''Vacation'', to find a more emotive sound [and] as the album progresses, so does the band's experimentation". They concluded saying "This album asks a lot of questions, but doesn't provide many answers. It forces you to consider 'What is Art?' and 'What is Not Art?'. Reward yourself with a listen, and make up your own mind."<ref name="FBI">{{cite web|url=https://fbiradio.com/album-review-big-scary-not-art/|title=AOTW Review:: Big Scary Not Art|website=FBI Radio|date=1 July 2013|access-date=2 May 2021|archive-date=30 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730205746/https://fbiradio.com/album-review-big-scary-not-art/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Bernard Zuel from ''Sydney Morning Herald'' said the album "gets under your skin" saying "Even when everything is simple and calm, these songs seem to bulge with powerful doses of passion of all types."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/not-art-review-big-scarys-second-album-gets-under-your-skin-20130725-2qk5c.html|title=Not Art review: Big Scary's second album gets under your skin|website=Sydney Morning Herald|date=27 July 2013|access-date=2 May 2021|archive-date=2 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502060113/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/not-art-review-big-scarys-second-album-gets-under-your-skin-20130725-2qk5c.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Andrew P Street from ''The Guardian'' said Big Scary have "...created a sonically lush and diverse work that's already a shoo-in for being one of the best Australian albums of 2013, filled with guitars, keys, percussion, electronics and more."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/australia-culture-blog/2013/sep/20/big-scary-not-art-interview|title=Big Scary: 'We're not thinking about whether it's artful or not' – interview|website=The Guardian|date=September 2013|access-date=2 May 2021|archive-date=2 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502060114/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/australia-culture-blog/2013/sep/20/big-scary-not-art-interview|url-status=live}}</ref>
Tester McFlyn from ''The Music Network'' said "Big Scary are still in the process of discovering their sound and ''Not Art'' is indicative of that. While the record is more focused than their debut, the sonic influences are still wildly diverse; from Jeff Buckley to Bruce Springsteen to Kanye West, ''Not Art'' pays homage to an eclectic blend of artists and genres and that’s the best thing about it."<ref name="TMN">{{cite web|url=https://themusicnetwork.com/album-review-big-scary-not-art/|title=Album Review: Big Scary Not Art|website=The Music Network|date=2013|access-date=2 May 2021|archive-date=2 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502060114/https://themusicnetwork.com/album-review-big-scary-not-art/|url-status=live}}</ref> Matt Collar from ''All Music'' said the album "showcases the band's melodic, atmospheric and stylistically varied sound."<ref name="AM"/>
==Track listing== {{Track listing | headline = ''Not Art'' track listing | total_length = | title1 = Hello, My Name Is | writer1 = {{hlist|Tom Iansek|Joanna Syme}} | length1 = 3:12 | title2 = Luck Now | writer2 = {{hlist|Iansek|Syme}} | length2 = 3:56 | title3 = Harmony Sometimes | writer3 = {{hlist|Iansek|Syme}} | length3 = 2:31 | title4 = Belgian Blues | writer4 = {{hlist|Iansek|Syme}} | length4 = 4:31 | title5 = Phil Collins | writer5 = {{hlist|Iansek|Syme}} | length5 = 4:01 | title6 = Twin Rivers | writer6 = {{hlist|Iansek|Syme}} | length6 = 4:03 | title7 = Invest | writer7 = {{hlist|Iansek|Syme}} | length7 = 4:30 | title8 = Lay Me Down | writer8 = {{hlist|Iansek|Syme}} | length8 = 4:00 | title9 = Why Hip Hop Sucks in '13 | writer9 = {{hlist|Iansek|Syme}} | length9 = 5:43 | title10 = Long Worry | writer10 = {{hlist|Iansek|Syme}} | length10 = 3:46 | title11 = Final Thoughts with Tom and Jo | writer11 = {{hlist|Iansek|Syme}} | length11 = 2:35 }}
== Charts == {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Chart performance for ''Not Art'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2013) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|Australia|32|artist=Big Scary|album=Not Art|rowheader=true|accessdate=2 May 2021}} |}
== Release history == {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+ Release history for ''Not Art'' !Country !Date !Format !Label !Catalogue |- ! rowspan="1" scope="row" | Australia |28 June 2013 | rowspan="2" scope="row" |{{hlist|CD|digital download|LP}} |{{hlist|Pieater}} |PIE006 |- ! rowspan="1" scope="row" | United States of America | 25 March 2014<ref name="TD AMP"/> |{{hlist|Barsuk Records}} |BARK138 |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Big Scary}} {{Australian Music Prize}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2013 albums Category:Barsuk Records albums Category:Big Scary albums