damn.

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Sep 272005
 

Did you know that Elliott Smith’s “Thirteen” (one of the saddest and most beautiful songs I know) is a freaking cover? If so, why the hell didn’t anyone tell me? It was recorded by Big Star in 1974 or so. Incidentally, they also have a song called “I’m in Love With a Girl,” which is in fact not a song that Elliott Smith recorded but was probably his inspiration for writing that song.

Anyway, I’m totally dumbfounded. Also, I’m going to listen to Big Star, who I have heard of but never listened to, nonstop for the next week.

And if you read this thinking to yourself, “Jake sure is a moron, Big Star are a huge deal,” well, you’ll be interested to know that they have a new album, their first since 1993. Or you already knew that too, in which case I give in and admit that you are way smarter and more awesome than I am.

Addendum: they also recorded the song used as the theme to That 70′s Show. Big Star, you’re everywhere.

 Posted by JHW at 5:15 pm
  • charlie

    allow me to recommend that you pick up #1 record / radio city, big star’s first two LPs that can be had on one CD. personally, i find third/sister lovers AND alex chilton’s solo stuff to be a little weird, but maybe that’s just me. i’m not going to touch their new record with a ten-foot pole.

    also, listening to the elliott smith cover for the first time right now. it’s good but it sort of brings out the fleetwood mac of “thirteen” somehow which does not make me very happy.

    it’s pretty wild how the burgeoning indie rock mania is causing people to go dig up everyone’s influences…sort of turning everyone into a student, which is definitely cool. so many bands (gang of four is one of the best examples, imo) are enjoying resurgences right now that may be making them bigger than they ever were in their heyday(s). by sheer number of listeners, aren’t the pixies reaching more new ears now than they ever did in like 1990?

    okay, that’s enough.

    c

  • Nate

    Hey, is this the Charlie I know? I sure hope so. Anyway, way to reference Gang of Four. I never heard them until a friend of mine played them for me back in 2004, but when she did I have to say my attitude went from “I love the Rapture” to “I feel abused by the music industry.”

    Jake, I’m confused by your cross-postings. Which is the preferred site for comment?

    N

  • http://www.en-dash.com Jake

    Thanks Charlie for the thoughts. I spent much of yesterday listening to #1 record / radio city and it’s really pretty awesome. I hope you’re right about the renaissance for all these important bands–I know that’s been my personal experience–but my suspicion is that most people are still just listening to boring crap.

    Nate, I’m cross-posting because some people are lazy and other people are having trouble with getting this site to load. This is probably the preferred site for comment, all things being equal on your end.

  • Nate

    Huh, well having two separate comment areas just doesn’t sit well with my sense of order. Which is the better place to comment if I want to bait the Libertarian?

  • http://www.en-dash.com Administrator

    I think the libertarian reads the other page, but this is a more influential site. It’s read by all the right people.

   
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