Big Star

[crosshair]

Oh no you di int just spam the Big Star thread...

[ricv64]

with a song by the replacements too. wtf

[electr.]

I beg to differ. while I agree with the "watching a trainwreck" notion, I find esp. the fucked-upness of certain songs very attractive. Then again, I knew "Like Flies On Sherbert" before I knew Big Star, so I was drawn to Chilton's way of fucking up songs on purpose for the better. To my mind, "Nighttime" and "Kanga Roo" play in the same league as "Thirteen", and "Kanga Roo" esp. because it's so unfinished. While I enjoy the sheer craftmanship in song writing an production of #1, I sometime wish, it would be a bit rougher on the edges. I'm glad they included all the demo tracks with the "Keep An Eye On The Sky" box. The "Back Of A Car" demo does it so much more for me than the album track. </2cents>

Lol...I knew that would be controversial.
When I listen to 3rd, I hear the potential for great songs, but unrealized because Chilton was too busy f'n around and eating handfuls of pills.
It's interesting as a document, and for the voyeuristic thrill of watching a slow-motion trainwreck, which by all accounts it was. But to my ears nothing on 3rd can match the best of #1 Record or Radio City.*

I think for a lot of people (myself included) 3rd was the first Big Star record they heard, because through the 80's and early 90's it was hard to find copies of the first two, while that PVC pressing of 3rd was readily available. So, that was the one that became significant to the punks & new wavers and nascent indie rockers, who were drawn to the darkness and pathos. I liked some of it but could never listen all the way through. I didn't really get into Big Star until I got a garbled 3rd-generation cassette copy of the 1st two albums, and that got to me right away.

There was a really good feature story on Big Star in MOJO several years back, maybe it's online somewhere.


*edit: OK I just listened to 3rd again, and Nighttime is up to that standard. I like Jesus Christ and Oh Dana too.

[Kevin123]

The Big star of india is sharuk khan

[ricv64]

THe Big Star of screenprinting is ________________ ?

[Stainboy Reinel]

Love Big Star. I have the original vinyl pressings. They sound amazing.

[stinkbait]

What The Fuck? Where have you been Stainboy?

[Stainboy Reinel]

Heh. I've bee right here the whole time, Geoff. On top of all the other shit I have going on, I have a new band, Staying busy. How are you?!

[anasimp00]

Hey i have got an old vintage t shirt of their concert. that's kinda too old.

[dave welker]

Thanks Loco for the Elliot Smith. Still sad about losing him.