2000 Great Songs #1475: Big Brown Eyes
It's our second trip to the 1981 debut LP from The dB's , Stands For Decibels . And "Big Brown Eyes" could be the perfect transition point from late 70s skinny-tie power pop into 80s college radio jangle pop. Endless hooks and chiming guitars, though like all of the band's best work a steadfast unwillingness to keep it too simple, some sharp curves keeping it a little too unpredictable for radio. Which is a shame, as anyone stumbling across this track for the first time in 2026 would be perfectly justified in assuming this thing was all over the Top 40 at the time. Live 1981: 2024 reunion gig: Been a minute since we hit one of these, but here's yet another wonderful Matthew Sweet/Susanna Hoffs cover: See the entire Top 2000 to date in a sortable database !
