Big Science (Laurie Anderson album)

{{Other uses|Big Science (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Big Science

| type = Studio album

| artist = Laurie Anderson

| cover = LaurieAnderson_BigScience.JPG

| alt =

| released = April 19, 1982
June 18, 2007 (reissue)

| recorded = The Lobby, The Hit Factory, New York City

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = {{hlist|Art pop|electronic|minimalism}}

| length = 38:19

| label = {{hlist|Warner Bros.|Nonesuch|Elektra}}

| producer = {{hlist|Laurie Anderson|Roma Baran}}

| prev_title = You're the Guy I Want To Share My Money With

| prev_year = 1981

| next_title = Mister Heartbreak

| next_year = 1984

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Big Science

| type = studio

| single1 = O Superman

| single1date = October 1981 (UK){{cite book | last1 = Bacon | first1 = Tony | title = Singles | publisher = Backbeat UK | year = 2006 | pages = 195 | isbn = 978-1-871547-73-3}}

}}

}}

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/big-science-mw0000188955 |title=Big Science – Laurie Anderson |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=August 31, 2005 |last=Mason |first=Stewart}}

| rev2 = Blender

| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal |url=http://www.blender.com/guide/rArchive.aspx?itype=3&sb=reissue |title=Laurie Anderson: Big Science |journal=Blender |access-date=May 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011083248/http://www.blender.com/guide/rArchive.aspx?itype=3&sb=reissue |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |url-status=dead }}

| rev3 = Encyclopedia of Popular Music

| rev3Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |last=Larkin |first=Colin |author-link=Colin Larkin (writer) |publisher=Omnibus Press |edition=5th concise |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-85712-595-8}}

| rev4 = Pitchfork

| rev4Score = 8.7/10{{cite web |url=http://www.pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10455-big-science/ |title=Laurie Anderson: Big Science |work=Pitchfork |date=August 2, 2007 |access-date=August 3, 2007 |last=Klein |first=Joshua}}

| rev5 = Rolling Stone

| rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/laurieanderson/albums/album/118865/rid/5945420/ |title=Laurie Anderson: Big Science |journal=Rolling Stone |issue=371 |date=June 10, 1982 |access-date=May 12, 2006 |last=Holden |first=Stephen |author-link=Stephen Holden |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726103612/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/laurieanderson/albums/album/118865/review/5945420/big_science |archive-date=July 26, 2008 |url-status=dead}}

| rev6 = Smash Hits

| rev6score = 6/10{{cite magazine|last=Birch|first=Ian|author-link=|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Smash-Hits/1982/Smash-Hits-1982-04-29.pdf|title=Laurie Anderson: Big Science|magazine=Smash Hits|location=Peterborough|publisher=EMAP National Publications, Ltd.|volume=4|issue=9|page=21|date=29 April – 12 May 1982|issn=0260-3004|access-date=13 November 2022|via=World Radio History|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113111259/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Smash-Hits/1982/Smash-Hits-1982-04-29.pdf|archive-date=13 November 2022|url-status=bot: unknown}}

| rev7 = Spin

| rev7Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mCQFHMhVuA8C&pg=PA124|title=Reissues|journal=Spin|volume=23|issue=9|date=September 2007|access-date=May 2, 2017|last=Hermes|first=Will|author-link=Will Hermes|page=124}}

| rev8 = Uncut

| rev8Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal |title=Laurie Anderson: Big Science |journal=Uncut |page=89 |quote=[T]he broader themes of alienation and disconnection, as voiced in deadpan manner on 'From the Air' still resonate ...}}

| rev9 = The Village Voice

| rev9Score = A−{{cite news |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv6-82.php |title=Christgau's Consumer Guide |newspaper=The Village Voice |date=June 1, 1982 |access-date=January 11, 2012 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau}}

| noprose = yes

}}

Big Science is the debut studio album by American performance artist and musician Laurie Anderson. It was the first of a seven-album deal Anderson signed with Warner Bros. Records. The album consists of a selection of musical highlights from her eight-hour production United States Live, which was itself released as a 5-LP box set and book in 1984.

The album is best known for the single "O Superman", which unexpectedly reached No. 2 in the UK after being discovered and promoted by BBC DJ John Peel. After Big Science, music played a larger role in Anderson's work.{{Cite Grove |last=McClary |first=Susan |title=Laurie Anderson}}