Big Star, In Space (2005) A Review

Big Star, In Space (2005) A Review

Ghost Writer

Rock N Roll Animal

September has always being good to me, life always bring me magnificent presents for birthday, just consider that Beach Boys maestro Brian Wilson delivers finally after four decades his legendary Smile record on September 2004, now, a year later, again in September just when in Mexico everybody was starting to believe that right wing populist president Vicente Fox was not delivering the goods as he promised after his historical triumph in 2000, and as I had prevented, another big musical surprise came to me, it was kind of like a dream come true, but obviously I wasn't expecting a masterpiece, simply it was a matter of something that was not destined to happen, but in September 2005, the impossible happened and Big Star, the legendary band led by the great Alex Chilton, returned on record, In Space was the result of Chilton and company finally heading into the studio after a couple of years of touring, Chilton and original BS drummer Jody Stephens along two members from The Posies managed to get a new collection of songs that hardly followed the transcendental tradition of the legendary band, but at least managed to capture some of the spirit, and Alex Chilton at his most focused in decades.

Of course, In Space is not the masterpiece anybody could be expecting from Chilton and company, is a confusing record, but I like being confused, it's way better than being boring and opening track almost delivers the good, Chilton sounds confident and guitars recall the best power pop traditions, razor sharp along heavenly chorus, but it's on small details were Dony fails, and that's on the sax lines that simply rest impact to the guitar crashing appearance as it simply goes nowhere.

Best Chance We've Ever Had is another definite highlight with the band (the most enduring Big Star lineup ever) playing at the top of their game, a definite joy to hear Chilton in such a good shape perfectly backed by sympathetic musicians perfectly fit to follow and compliment his vision, and Chilton reverence towards the Beach Boys is no secret, and the tongue in cheek intro to Turn My Back On the Sun is both enthusiast and embarrassing, a kind of homage to Wilson's legendary band, becoming that nostalgic aura Wilson gave to those obscure 70s Beach Boys recordings.

Some may argue that Love Revolution is kind of a stand out tune on the record, but I see it as a total misstep, a sort of funky disco thing going on whose only assertion is the chance of hearing a groovy Chilton sounding a bit like a fish out of water, but the band quickly recovers on the brilliant February's Quiet which I happen to find wonderful with a stunning drum and bass work here, showing up a bit the enormous influence Chilton and his legendary band had on bands like R.E.M., and then going on a Kinks like rocker called Mine Exclusively that almost makes us forget the Love Revolution failure.

A Whole New Things is truly confident with guitars that would make Chuck Berry proud, with Chilton giving a 60s cool spin on the vocals line, just as the band arrives to the closing themes on the record, Hung Up With Summer is another stunning tune, emotionally devastating and with Chilton going all the way in order to reclaim his title as king of power pop, I'm not completely mad about Do You Wanna Make It despite its blaring guitars and powerful bass work, it sounds a little bit undercooked, messy and chaotic, but unfortunate, weird because the previous Big Star record Third/Sister Lovers was messy and chaotic but brilliant at the same time, just as Chilton anarchist vibe which I always loved surfaces on the wonderful Makeover, a tune that serves as the definite goodbye by an artist and a vision and the legendary band that despite bad luck managed to left a deep footprint in the history of rock music, those great things that September always brings.