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TarTar
* Dog in the Sand *
1968 Posts |
 Posted - 05/08/2004 : 15:55:51
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Just got this yesterday, and it's a nice addition to the Big Star-related albums catalogue. Even though it's got Eubanks, who never had anything to do with Big Star, at the controls for most of the songwriting, Chris Bell and Jody Stephen's presence really makes it sound like Big Star. This album is great late-60/early 70's pop rock, with a spiritual tone to a number of songs which is simultaneously kind of annoying and kind of peaceful. I can't say that without Chilton, Bell's work isn't much, because his I Am The Cosmos album is spectacular, but this Rock City album, with Bell taking the creative backseat to Eubanks (though Bell seems to have plenty of input on sounds and arrangments), it just doesn't compare to Big Star. The songs just aren't as instantly classic and quite a few songs tend to go towards the big rock sound of Big Star songs like Don't Lie To Me, which was never one of my favorite Big Star songs. But still, it's a fine record. Recommended for any Big Star fans.
"(insert clever quote here)" |
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TarTar
* Dog in the Sand *
1968 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2004 : 16:47:29
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Damn, ain't hardly nobody looked at this one. None of yah'll homeslices dig on Big Star? Damn!
"(insert clever quote here)" |
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peter radiator
= Cult of Ray =
USA
667 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2004 : 19:28:57
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quote:
Originally posted by TarTar
Damn, ain't hardly nobody looked at this one. None of yah'll homeslices dig on Big Star? Damn!
"(insert clever quote here)"
Just saw the post. I'm a bit of a Big Star fanatic - but then again, I dig on The Feelies as well...
Where did you get this album? Is it commercially availabale or some sort of fan-made boot?
I have some wonderful unreleased Big Star material on disc if you'd like to trade copies...
BTW - "Don't Lie To Me" is one of my faves, but I agree, it lacks the nuance of their more refined stuff.
~ Peter Radiator
"Real music is out there and real people are making it." ~ Webb Wilder |
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Atheist4Catholics
= Cult of Ray =
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2004 : 20:16:40
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Big Star is recording a new album with Ken and Jon of The Posies.
Third Sister Lovers is my favorite.
 "Join the Cult of Frank / or The Clops gets it!" |
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peter radiator
= Cult of Ray =
USA
667 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2004 : 21:30:42
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quote:
Originally posted by Atheist4Catholics
Big Star is recording a new album with Ken and Jon of The Posies.
Third Sister Lovers is my favorite.
"Join the Cult of Frank / or The Clops gets it!"
That sounds like it has great potential. It's about time they did some new stuff. I hope, however, that Alex actually puts his back into it, and doesn't use it as another excuse to trot out some hoary R & B nuggets instead of refined Anglo-Pop.
Don't get me wrong - I love the hoary R & B shtick, but I'd just like him to keep his personas distinct and not blur the line. I assume that Ken and Jon would want the same thing.
I dig Third as well, but let's face it - it wasn't really a Big Star record, was it? If it weren't for Jody showing up on a few tracks it would stand as the first "official" Chilton solo disc. I always heard that he initially objected to the Big Star name being used to market it after the fact, as he viewed it as a solo departure.
What's your take on that?
~ Peter Radiator
"Real music is out there and real people are making it." ~ Webb Wilder |
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TarTar
* Dog in the Sand *
1968 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2004 : 22:04:48
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The Rock City record is commercially available. The local record store here has it in the Big Star section.
As far as Third/Sister Lovers not being a REAL Big Star album, well, I can't think of it like that since it was the first Big Star album I ever purchased and have thought of it as Big Star for a long time. And it's a great album. Who cares what name is on it? At least it's available. Now if only people actually knew about it.
"(insert clever quote here)" |
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peter radiator
= Cult of Ray =
USA
667 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2004 : 05:50:56
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quote:
Originally posted by TarTar
Who cares what name is on it? At least it's available. Now if only people actually knew about it.
"(insert clever quote here)"
Oh, don't get me wrong. I love the album. I just always thought it was kind of weird for it to have been marketed that way. It would be like if MCA had taken Tom Petty's first solo LP (Full Moon Fever), which had Mike Campbell playing guitar on some of it, but none of the other Heartbreakers (I believe), and slapped The Heartbreakers name on it, and then left off the musician credits entirely, just to sell more records.
The funniest part is that in reality, the first two Big Star records sold so poorly, that an argument could be made that the record label would have had a better chance going with Alex's own (relatively unknown) name on the thing!
By the way - do you own the Ryko reissue of Third/Sister Lovers, with the revised song order and the bonus tracks?
~ Peter Radiator
"Real music is out there and real people are making it." ~ Webb Wilder |
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Atheist4Catholics
= Cult of Ray =
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2004 : 21:29:34
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They should have billed Third/Sister Lovers as a Box Tops record since that's the only name he ever sold much under.
"Join the Cult of Frank / or The Clops gets it!" |
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TarTar
* Dog in the Sand *
1968 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2004 : 00:05:08
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Yeah, I own that version, the one released in 1992. I've heard that many consider it an inferior order. The music geek on Comedy Central's Beat the Geeks has a recommended order to put the songs in. I don't think a proper order has ever been decided, but supposedly the Ryko reissue isn't the best order. Though I know that Take Care is supposed to be the last track, number 14. Course, then again, it's not since there's tons of bonus material after that.
"(insert clever quote here)" |
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Rock City - Pre-Big Star
