The India Song Or How I Learned to Wish Upon A Big Star

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Well, guys, unlike the aging lot of you, I'm still a fairly young chap with "the" life ahead of me. So there's plenty of potential first times and first tries in the making. I listened to Spirit of Eden, and thus, Talk 2x for the first time last night, and while I need to give it more of a chance whenever I have some free time, I also delved into Big Star, dangerously enough, something I'd been looking forward to doing for a long time. And let me say this, FUCK Teenage Fanclub. Well, not really, but you get the idea. I cannot see for the life of me how some of you might hate on the rockers, like what Ethan said about them sounding like Kiss or whatever on that old Big Star thread. I have yet to go on to Radio City, but #1 Record is life affirming, for me at least. It reminded me of why I loved music in the first place, especially the first half of the album. I really REALLY liked The India Song, which sounds like Syd Barrett and George Harrison's love-child. It is so stoopid twee, just like meh. Feel is Saturday In The Park with ass-kicking boots and a smile on its face. Thirteen sounds like I've known it all my life, and it does tend to remind me of The Eagles (yea, yeahhh... SHADDAP!). It gives me that tingly sensation Hotel California gave me on my first listen, which is good, as it was the first song I learned to play on guitar; it reels in the memories. This whole record reeks of classic rock. I hear so many future sounds brewing, and lots of sonic cross-referencing. And I LUV it. Kthx, just wanted to share with y'all.

PS- Already started listening to Radio City, and What's Going Ahn? 0wnz. Sahara Hotnights have obviously listened to You Get What You Deserve more than a few. The question is, will I like Third/Sister Lovers given its difficult reputation. Not enough has been said on ILM, 'bout it. What gives? Start a thread, give out some pointers, anythang!

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 18:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Well done for liking that record, but India Song is like a poo stain on an otherwise sparkling pair of exotic boxer shorts.

― adaml (adaml), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 19:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm in the minority here clearly, but Third/Sister Lovers is a record with great moments surrounded by extremely overrated bunk, the latter of which grows on you after a while. "#1 record" and "Radio City" are stellar ones, though.

Then again, I like Chilton's "Like Flies on Sherbert" too, so take my opinion with a molecule of poo.

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 19:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, donut bitch=OTM.

"....Sherbert" is one of my very favorite records, though.

― adaml (adaml), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 19:03 (twenty-two years ago)

"overrated bunk?"

― Chuck Tatum (Chuck Tatum), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 19:07 (twenty-two years ago)

It's a bit of a strong term, but #1 Record/Radio City pisses all over it, yes.

― adaml (adaml), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 19:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, "pisses all over it" is actually true strong a term, but the last 4/5 songs (minus Dream Lover) are a bit bland.

― adaml (adaml), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 19:15 (twenty-two years ago)

not to keen on for you, you can't have me, whole lotta shakin or downs... but the rest... i'll have words with you levine ;-)

― Chuck Tatum (Chuck Tatum), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 19:36 (twenty-two years ago)

eat me

― adaml (adaml), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 19:45 (twenty-two years ago)

eat me for breakfast, monkey-face

― adaml (adaml), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 19:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I never liked the India song personally. It's mixed really LOUD in the mix of the album. You'll be cruising along and then that damn flute comes on or whatever it is. Ack. I always skip it.

Radio City is my fave album, with Third second, and then #1 Record. If you like the first one the best, get Chris Bell's I am the Cosmos. He wasn't too prolific after he left BS - it's a comp of his best stuff before he died. And unfortunatley only the first 5 songs are so are any good. But you'll be surprised at how much the record sounds like #1 Record in the production department. The acoustic guitars in 'You and Your Sister' are straight out of 'Thirteen.' I always thought it was Alex Chilton that was responsible for the tunefulness and gentleness of #1 but as IATC shows it was as much Chris Bell's game as Chilton's.

― calstars (calstars), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 19:53 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.games2remember.com/Board/monkeyface.jpg

― Chuck Tatum (Chuck Tatum), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 20:27 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.infoniagara.com/new-pictures/breakfast-buffet.jpg

This is what Chris Bell ate for breakfast the day he died.

― Chuck Tatum (Chuck Tatum), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 20:29 (twenty-two years ago)

pig

― adaml (adaml), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 20:33 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.photoshopdiva.com/images/images/composit/jesusave.jpg

― Chuck Tatum (Chuck Tatum), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 20:35 (twenty-two years ago)

third/sister lovers is devastatingly beautiful and you can all eat me.

― nu ilm (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 21:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Sister Lovers helped me get through a very difficult time in my life. #1 Record and Radio City sounded good when I was in high school but mean nothing to me now. Sister Lovers is the Big Star album that rises above the pedestrian.

― Maxwell von Bismarck (maxwell von bismarck), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 21:15 (twenty-two years ago)

OK, I'm crying foul on the whole "overrated" comment. It's a half-assed way to dismiss something by effectively saying "i don't like it because a lot of other people do".

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 22:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Sister/Lovers is not very good, in my opinion. It pales in comparison to the first 2 records. I can't understand why people seem to think it's so good.

― King Kobra (King Kobra), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 23:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't like most of Sister/Lovers just because it's overrated. I just don't think it's all that.. and just added that i think it's overrated.

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 23:40 (twenty-two years ago)

OK LEMME REPHRASE... (damn brane)

the reason i'm not too hip on the record is NOT that a lot of people like it. I just don't like it that much, but a lot of people happen to like it, hence me using the term "overrated".

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 23:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Third/Sister Lovers is an album I never tire of. One of the greatest, strangest records ever as far as I'm concerned. I come back to it again and again and it never fails to connect with me - it's intense, pretty, sad, totally broken in places, unpredictable, full of surprises, the playing is so totally accomplished and completely lackadaisical at the same time, a very unique record. Deserves it's place in the "canon" as much as any record that the vast majority of music listeners don't give a shit about can anyway.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 14 October 2003 23:47 (twenty-two years ago)

I like the three or four good songs that Chilton wrote.

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 23:52 (twenty-two years ago)

You guys are farkin' awesome. Thanks for replying. I just came back from a checkup with the medic. I had to wait 4 hours for a 10-minute routine, so I had plenty of time to listen to the Big Star combo and Talk Talk's Spirit Of Eden, which have been my latest acquisitions. After repeated listenings, I am definitely feeling #1 Record more like the pansy-ass poppy motherfucker I am. I really appreciate Chris Bell's contribution to the group, meaning that first record's lineup would probably be my favorite. I have read up on the unfortunate details surrounding his tragic and sudden death, so that's a bummer, but I'm eager to listen to that 'I Am The Cosmos' single soon. Just as I expected, the opinions on Third seem to be pretty divided, so I'll have to go to Amazon.com and hear the soundbites for myself and base a conclusion to this saga on that alone, since my modem here at home can't handle any of that sweet file sharing pie.

PS- Is Chilton's solo material really that crappy?

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Wednesday, 15 October 2003 00:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Chilton solo is pants, but with a very nice ass inside.
Box Tops Best Of, Like Flies on Sherbert and most Bach's Bottom = Classic.
1970s = fun.
Cliches, Tight Pussy, Destruction et al = for obssesives only (i.e. me).
Live in London = "xxxx"

― Chuck Tatum (Chuck Tatum), Wednesday, 15 October 2003 00:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Just listened to the 30-second sound clips of the first five tracks, and now I REALLY want to purchase it. But are the rest of the tracks as consistently good or do they vary in quality? I keep on reading everywhere that this would have made a better EP.

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Wednesday, 15 October 2003 01:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Third/Sister Lovers is the best by far. Like Flies on Sherbet is ehh. Haven't heard the I Am the Cosmos album, but I LOVE the song.

― Mike Ouderkirk (Mike Ouderkirk), Wednesday, 15 October 2003 03:02 (twenty-two years ago)

If you like 5 out of 5, for Christ's sake buy it! Where else you gonna get that kind of ratio?
(x-post)

When you've got that, check out Big Star Live, the live Columbia (newer live with Jody Stephens and a couple Posies), and Chilton's 19 Years collection.

― nickn (nickn), Wednesday, 15 October 2003 03:17 (twenty-two years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.