{"id":500,"date":"2013-11-05T18:03:45","date_gmt":"2013-11-05T18:03:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/batterymedia.com\/blog\/?p=500"},"modified":"2014-05-03T18:53:17","modified_gmt":"2014-05-03T18:53:17","slug":"rs-449-big-star-thirdsister-lovers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/batterymedia.com\/blog\/?p=500","title":{"rendered":"RS #449: Big Star, Third\/Sister Lovers"},"content":{"rendered":"

#449<\/p>\n

Big Star,\u00a0Third\/Sister Lovers
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Release Date:<\/strong>\u00a01978
\nPreviously Owned:<\/strong>\u00a0No
\nFirst Time Listen:<\/strong>\u00a0Yes<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Big
This album is no day at the beach, that’s for sure.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Impressions: <\/strong>As mentioned earlier<\/a>, I’m pretty smitten with Big Star’s catchy,\u00a0influental ’70s guitar pop. But, I’ve never touched their third (and last) “experimental” album that barely got released. Seems weird to review these in reverse order, but here we go\u2026.Oh man, from the first few notes on “Kizza Me” this album makes me anxious. With Chris Bell long gone, this is Alex Chilton’s show and he’s not in a good frame of mind as the\u00a0band and his label dissolve around him. The riffs and grooves are still there, but there is something a little strung-out about the sound. At first listen, “Thank You Friends” sounds like a great, almost celebratory, rave up, but coming in as the second song on the album, it ends up coming across as sarcastic. This cynicsm also infects otherwise up-beat sounding cuts like “Jesus Christ,” and “Till The End of The Day.” Poor Alex sounds like he’s falling apart. No wonder they didn’t release this album until years later.\u00a0One minute a\u00a0big classic Big Star guitar riff will come in, then the song will\u00a0take a turn into something more experimental to\u00a0keep the listener\u00a0off balance. Wow, “Holocaust” ends with the devastating line “You’re a holocaust.” Then\u00a0the grinding “Kangaroo” comes in and compounds the turmoil.\u00a0Spare, echo-y production along with occasional strings and piano give these songs like “For You” and “Nighttime” some extra emotional punch and some tracks\u00a0(“Dream Lover”) barely seem to hold together as songs. Still, this\u00a0fractured collection of gems\u00a0won me over and had me wanting to give Chilton a hug, buy him a beer and say “I feel for you, man.”\u00a0I could\u00a0see how this album was used for\u00a0fuel for\u00a0introverted\u00a0mix tapes and inspired innumerable\u00a0college bands in the ’80s and ’90s.
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\n<\/strong>Starred Songs:\u00a0<\/strong>“Thank You Friends,” “Holocaust,” “Nighttime”
\nSneaky Track:\u00a0<\/strong>“For You,” “Big Black Car”
\nShould this album be on the\u00a0list?<\/strong>\u00a0Yes
\nWill you listen to this again?\u00a0<\/strong>Yes. Although, not when I want a pick-me-up.<\/p>\n

Verdict:\u00a0<\/b>Beautiful, cracked ’70s guitar-pop tunes from a band on its last legs that degrade gracefully and provide for a rewarding if difficult listen.
\nRating:<\/strong>\u00a0 \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n