Reviews (page 3 of 7)
More rock
I had never heard of Big Star. Good album. Not great, but very good. The songs are interesting and varied. It helps that they apparently had two leading singers.
Never heard of anything both by the artist and from the album. Does that mean this sucks though? Absolutely not. It's probably about as generic as rock gets from the early era of modern rock, but they still seem to do that well that I found myself enjoying the listen.
A pleasant, almost sickeningly optimistic and positive listen. Alex Chilton and Chris Bell (I Am The Cosmos is an amazing album, check it out) modelled their writing off Lennon/McCartney and it shows here, especially in Try Again. This feels like the missing link between Beatles-era pop music and the pop music of the 90s. Something about the production and style of this album feels like watching a video of an orangutan using tools. All musical and cultural merit aside, is this only on here because it has the theme song for That 70s Show? Highlights: Give Me Another Chance
3.5
Muy buenos temas! Cada uno de ellos con una personalidad única. Recomiendo escucharlo más de una vez.
1/3. Pleasant, but nothing special. I knew In the Street from that 70’s Show of course, and Ballad of El Goodo was a fun rocker, but the rest just didn’t grab me. Well recorded and well performed, maybe it was just the wrong day.
was fun to hear the that 70s show theme song but otherwise forgettable!
With a names like Big Star and #1 Record, you can tell they were really into nominative determinism. Jokes aside, this is alright. You can see the Beatles influence.
This is such a weird album to me, it's like, three or four of the lovelist proto-indie lo fi songs you've ever heard, surrounded on all sides by the most basic plodding 70s rock. I love it then I hate it, so idk three stars I s'pose!
Potentially the least catchy album I've listened to yet. Not a single song stuck out at all.
2.5. Very 70s AM radio.
I understand that this album was apparently pretty influential but I don’t feel like it was really good. It was okay but not amazing. Album 26, March 24, 2026
Good old seventies. Just solid good :) Maybe it deserves 4 stars! I just didn't save any songs from them, but it was nice and calm to listen to this album
If you’ve never listened to Big Star before, I imagine there’s an aha moment when you hear the real version of the theme to That 70’s Show. Not a lot of people seem to know or care about Big Star these days. Nobody really talks about them. They aren’t often played on oldies stations. I think that’s because they’re so chill and understated. This album is like something that was super hip for five minutes fifty years ago, so I get it. But every time I listen to the #1 Record, I want to put it on again. That’s saying something. This is lazy Sunday, sitting on the porch background music. Let it be noted, their later albums kind of expose more of a twerpiness. #1 Record, in my opinion, it the height of their coolness.
A little hard to grasp at times, but a strong album with great melodies and harmonies. I get the hype now, more or less.
Three 5 star days in a row. Big Star is simply foundational in the music I love. When I was developing my personal taste as a teenager, I was drawn to so many bands they have influenced, but I wasn’t aware of them yet. Once I heard it, I got it. It’s almost impossible to run in the musical circles I do, and not love this record. You’d get kicked out.
Pretty standard early 70s rock nothing special 5/10
Pretty good rock album.
I would give one big star, but I can’t so they will have to deal with multiple small ones
Very nice
It was fine, but kind of washed over me. I'd be happy to listen to it again, but wouldn't seek it out.
I was not expecting In The Street. The rest of the album is good. They were definitely trying their hardest to create a #1 record. Maybe it's the fact it's over 50 years old, maybe it was the same way at the time, it just sort of sounds like they are trying to hard.
HANGING OUT. DOWN THE STREET. What a tune. I thought this album was great, no skips, no sense of dread listening to any song from this record. I enjoyed the singer, the instrumentation, honestly no notes.
This was fine. Some songs were catchy but I wouldn’t scramble to go back to it right away. Strong neutral.
Not very familiar with Big Star but they had a really great sound from that time period and really nice melodic tones and production. Found myself bobbing around to this one and surprised they didn't make it bigger. Might have to dig in a lil more on them
Wow, where have these guys been hiding? Great album. I don’t remember how it felt to hear those classic 70s albums for the first time, but it must feel close to this. I especially liked the guitar work.
Cool to find out who did That 70s Show intro song. Easy listening.
Fine slice of 70s rock. But not much more than that.
Top Songs: Feel In the Street Thirteen
Meh
Pretty cool. I learned that the Cheap Trick covered and recorded the theme for that 70s show.
Not my vibe.
Big Star are a band that you might never have heard of, but you will know at least one of their songs, soundtrack to the hit tv show That 70's Show, `In The Street` is an ear-worm which should give you some indication of who they are. However since it's an altered cover version which graces the shows opening montage, you'd still be somewhat in the dark. Ironically the Big Star original is arguably more authentically 70's. Released in 1972 on the record boldly title #1 Record, your expectations might be low from the sleeve, title, and band name, but they are a revelation. And they have a sense of humour. At this point it's inevitable that their sound is drenched in nostalgia. But I suspect that they already did in the summer of love. #1 Album, their first record is so bittersweet it'll get you in ways you might expect from ELO, or even the Beatles. Their harmonies even sometimes resemble the Beach Boys. And their song all bear the hallmarks of classics. Any track from this records could be included as a needle drop in a Paul Thomas Anderson or Tarantino film and it'd bring the place down. Honestly, they deserved Big Star-dom. These guys rock, and you'd be relieved to know, they also rolled.
A creuser
Hmm, je veux pas péter votre balloune, mais c’est plus un #1454326 Record
Bright and heartfelt songs with great harmonies, I enjoyed most of this but it got a bit stale at some point. The acoustic songs were my favorites. Best song: Watch The Sunrise Worst song: The India Song Cover check: BIG
I kinda liked this pop album. I have no idea if this band is super popular but they are fun to listen to every once in awhile.
Solid 70s album! I enjoyed, I liked hearing the That 70s show even more. All of the songs were pretty basic but I didn't hate it.
So American. It's so easy to tell.
Teenage Fanclub are one of my very favourite bands of all time. Teenage Fanclub are basically a Big Star tribute act - hence 5 stars for the OG.
Easy listening american rock
4.6
Good album! Didn't know the band. Great to hear in rainy days, reading a good book.
That 70s Show theme
Album 8 3/10/26 I went into this with little expectations so this was an unexpected treat! I had listened to the top Big Star tracks years ago as I was first making my way through the first generation of Beatle-worshippers but didn't have the patience for this album and panned the band. The record's pacing through me for a bit of a loop. With Badfinger riffs and attitude, a bit of Hollies syrup, and a good helping of Byrds American seasonings, the first side was to my taste, if not a bit too bombastic. The transition from Don't Lie to Me (which kicks more ass than any Badfinger song) to the baroque instrumentation of India Song was amazing. I also loved the Mellotron on Give Me Another Chance and the slide on Try Again. Very 1971 Lennon/Harrison respectively, with none of the Spector and no Ringo coming crashing in at the minute mark. As the album ended though, the spareness of the acoustic second side left me wanting one more rock and roll romp. Overall, I'm pleased with this album and think it's a light 4. I will now see to their rightful addition to my playlists and give Radio City a chance when I can.
Pretty boring :(
This album was built for sunny day drive with potentially a little weed being involved just to open the aperture. I love the cohesiveness of this album. Feels like the songs were meant to be together ands the sequencing is impeccable. After 40 minutes this thing ends and you wonder where the time went. Frankly it's so impressive. Oh and this has Thirteen. My heroes love that song. When he sings "tell em what we said about "Paint it Black" I feel that. I will be returning to this...
8/10
Another happy album. This is what vibe coding will have sounded like.
i listened to this while building a Super Mario Piranha Plant Lego set. it was fine to listen to. nothing crazy, but it was aight to have on. pretty forgettable in all honesty. but shout out to the song that was then used for the opening to That 70's Show
Hell yeah, it’s the That 70s Show theme. I liked this album a lot more than I thought I would and enjoyed a bunch of the songs. Not quite a five star record so the title oversold, but four stars is nothing to complain about.
No reason why I shouldn't like like this, but also no reason why I should.
I genuinely liked it but I wasn't overwhelmed. Still, a solid album.
Power pop beginnings, Alex chilton, often cited by other artists The ballad of el goodo My life is right
Really good, concise, consistent
As a kid I discovered Alex Chilton by way of the Replacements. No idea who he was but I went out and bought High Priest, brought it home and was like what the fuck is this? But he grew on me, and I discovered Big Star. Can't say I love every song on this album, but this gets 4 stars the first half hits. Overall a pretty unique sounding album.
My guess is that #1 Record has the largest gap between musical importance and commercial success. Here is an album that is located somewhere on just about any “Top XXX Albums” list and a band that continues to be cited as major influence by bands today. The album is among the earliest examples of what would ultimately be called power pop. All this, yet only 10,000 copies were sold on release, despite receiving widespread critical acclaim. It is insane to think that Alex Chilton (vocals, guitar) would be making a living washing dishes in New Orleans a decade later. This was later rectified by music geeks, including bands like R.E.M. and The Replacements who saw the genius behind this music and brought them back to the consciousness of modern listeners. This is an outstanding record, particularly considering it was a debut. The song writing is solid throughout. Almost every song is solid. The vocals mostly from Chilton and Chris Bell, present a modernized version of the 2–3-part harmonies made famous by early Beatles recordings--whose influence is obvious throughout the record. The lyrics work throughout, with moments that evoke emotions. The production is outstanding, especially on the remastered version, with layers of depth that one doesn’t expect from albums from new bands. One interesting part of this album is the juxtaposition of wistful, dreamy ballads with more rocking, harder tunes. The transitions between these styles works because catchy hooks glue everything together (another testament to its song writing and production). On #1 Record, these two musical styles are mostly presented independently on songs, but Big Star would ultimately integrate them masterfully on the next two records that followed. The guitar work is outstanding throughout, often presenting a jangly pop style that would ultimately be emulated by many future artists. There are also some fantastic solos on some of the more rocking numbers. This album is a little hard to rate, but only because in my opinion their next two albums are arguably better, or at least more innovative and interesting. Still though, this is a great record that absolutely deserves a place on this list. Just don’t miss the next two to see where they take things next.
Better than I expected esp after first track.
It felt a little too generic for my tastes.
I learned about Big Star from REM and the Replacements. They knew what they were talking about. Favorites: The Ballad of El Goodo, In the Street, My Life Is Right, Watch the Sunrise (my god, what a beautiful song!) Would I listen to it again: Yes
The first four songs are huge, but I've still never really loved Big Star the way lots of people do. I think the two things that stop me are not really enjoying Chris Bell's vocals, and that the songs need a little more diversity in sound and style. Having said that, it's a good record with a handful of great songs
Great surprise. You can see the influence of this band. Depending on the song, they sounded like proto-70s bands like Zeppelin an CSNY
Dnf
Schwieriger Fall, gefällig aber die Knaller-Songs fehlen. Will aber kann nicht.
This is like a hidden gem
I enjoyed this album. A bit rock, a bit slow.
Very good, slightly slow start from high expectations but grew on me as it progressed. Could be a 5, but it's a 4 today.
Almost good, not quite, close but no cigar
Kinda unfair that I got this directly after Bowie. They are of a similar vein but just cant compete.
That was a pretty listen
This is about as generic as 70's rock gets. From the name of the band/album to sound of the music itself. Don't get me wrong. It was enjoyable. But I'm not surprised it has been forgotten over time.
I love teenage fanclub, who in turn love Big Star and the reasons I love the fannies are all over this. Little pop nuggets wrapped in sweet vocals, sweeter harmonies and pure melodies. Massively underrated playing too with guitars tha just jangle perfectly
Excellent power pop record
That was okay I guess, nothing too special
I liked this one, 60’s-70’s rock
Classic rock
Overall good instrumentation and less than great vocals.
This (specifically the song Don't Lie to Me) reminds me of working at the pub in my early 20's and the cover bands that would come in on Fridays and rock out. Same energy, close my eyes and I can see a beer bellied guy named Kenny shredding for free pints and me slingin wings and popping my head out of the kitchen between orders to tend to the cigarette in the back corner. Terry and I would stay late and close up and she'd refill my pint glass like 6 times.
Clean, chiming arrangements built from jangly guitars, melodic bass lines, tight drumming, and warm, yearning vocals move this Power Pop album like discovering a perfectly written letter that never got sent—immediate, sincere, and beautifully crafted, even as its modest scale keeps the emotion intimate rather than overwhelming.
I liked about half of it, last song is great. Elliott Smith..
Shame they fumbled the distribution for this, they had a great sound
this is an album from the 70s. that's all you can say about it
Crammed with tunes. There’s something spooky I’ve always sensed around Big Star. Still don’t know what, but the songs sound like they’re made by ghosts.
Often imitated, never close to being equalled, for my money the best power pop album ever. "The Ballad Of El Goodo" reliably cycles into favorite song contention frequently, with "Thirteen" and "Watch The Sunrise" right up there with it. The whole thing is great, intimately joined with "Radio City" on my original CD; you can clearly tell when "#1 Record" ends as the songs become scuzzier and less ornate, the lost influence of Chris Bell immediately apparent (still really good though). Go listen to his "You And Your Sister" if you don't know it.
When this one popped up this morning, I actually didn't have any idea what it was. After I started playing it, I realized that I knew a couple of the songs, just wouldn't have put the name of the band together with those songs. The descriptions I read about it described the music as power pop. I would call it a mix of yacht rock and southern rock. Really solid album and the sound was way before it's time in 1972. I surprisingly enjoyed this one!
Some high highs on this album, while other points don’t resonate with me. Over all a decent album
Well its pretty much 70s pop rock slop. I had thier 3rd record before and that wasn't nearly this bad. It has the soulless gentle soft rock vibes that just piss me off. The classic 70s vocal harmonies are here too. Those are the worst of it. They all sounds the same for some reason. No matter who is singing. And another this thos record doesnt feel like it knows what it even wants to do. I get some songs that have a more rock swing to them but its like kiss who im also not a huge fan of. There are also more folky country type songs that also aren't it. They should have just picked a lane and sat in it rather than jumping around to multiple bad types of music. Its just not great. Though they do have a worse version of the that 70s show theme. Not sure if its thier song or not but this version of it stinks too. Thay was the extent of enjoyment i got here, listening to a bad version of a song that starts a TV show I kinda like a little. That doesnt get it alot of points. On the bad side. And I know they did better.
Some Beatles inspired 70s radio tunes. Notable for thats 70s show theme. All songs 3.ins long and fine
It's 70s and it just works, it felt cohesive and catchy and I'm annoyed I've only just discovered this
It's great musically! But lyrically there isn't much going on, which is the only thing stopping me from giving it a 5.
Killer, but loses a bit of steam towards the end...
Surprised how good this is. The album has flashes of glam and folk reminiscent of Bolan before T Rex, and of course The Beatles with Simon/Garfunkel melodies. For me it went on a bit long but as a debut it ticked alot of boxes. Shame they didn't stay together really.
Honestly such a well paced record, has such a cool sound, mixing glam tracks with folk pop, so many great hooks and vocal melodies. Big 4*
I loved it, such a fun album
Sometimes this tends towards the overly theatrical 80’s vocals but in general I like it, I was really only familiar with them through Elliott Smith’s covers
Decent. Very much of its era. Hard to believe they didn't get more airplay. I was surprised to learn that "In the Street," the theme song for "That 70s Show," was a Cheap Trick cover of their song.
Gar nicht mein Sound. Stimmlich teilweise im Hardrock, was mich meist rauskegelt. Aber schon gut gemacht.
One hit wonder but the rest is not so really cool stuff...like T Rex better
It got worse as time went on
and I'll shake you
I have no strong feelings either way. A ‘meh’ 3/5 from me. Forgettable but not bad.
As usual for those old albums that I didn't know about, it was nice but I felt I had already heard them. Probably influenced bands I know. Nonetheless I was not impressed.
This album is 1 in 1 billion. No really, I feel like I've heard this same album 1 billion times. Vaguely Beatles sounding, but came out after they'd already broken up. This is Rock music that was already dated when it came out. I've never heard of Big Star, as unsurprisingly they weren't big in the USA, but instead were very popular in the UK. I promise I won't rail the album this entire review. It was fine. I liked more than I disliked, but man was this by the books. The only song I would consistently skip was "The India Song", which I found a tad obnoxious. I can compliment the lead singers voice, but I can't say it was unique or impressive. The guitar playing was fine, but only just fine. Nothing stood out here. That's what this album is missing. It wasn't unique in any way, and everything it attempts has already been done 1000000x before it. My favorite song, AKA the one with a bit of a cool solo in it, was "Don't Lie To Me". I've heard more Rock than any other genre, so I'm a bit of a stickler for it when it's just this aggressively average. It makes it really hard to write a review for it that's not just "Yeah, it was fine I guess. There sure were guitars, drums and a singer". But that's about the extent of what I got with this one. Again, didn't hate it. I didn't even dislike it, in fact, but I'm going to forget I even heard it in approximately 1 day when I hopefully roll something more memorable. Whether that be good or bad, we'll see. I've still got 1 more album left to go by Big Star, and it's got a pretty low rating on the site. Oh boy, more of this. Goodie. I'm sure it will be even more memorable than this one was. Sarcasm over. Album was fine, I guess. Next.
To me, these guys are similar to XTC from England: Many progressive elements, great songwriting, a variety of styles that they walk through without any problems - but no recognition of that talent. They are pioneers and yet relatively invisible. The opener "Feel" gives a bit of a wrong impression in regards to what comes on that album which is a lot more than just a bit of pop.
It’s the That 70s Show song
Arka plan müziği olarak sevdim
It feels like all the ingredients are there, but it’s missing the sauce. Was cool to hear where the “That’s 70s Show” theme came from though
Day 184 Not a band I was familiar with at all, really liked a few tracks but found others a bit of a slog to get through Highlights Don’t lie to me When my baby’s beside me
You'd think a ship would sail as it's named, and an album with that name from a band with that name would be familiar to many. Had you heard anything about it before? Personally, I hadn't. But it turned out to be a positive rock record, clearly inspired by The Beatles and the entire British wave of the sixties. Indeed, had it been released five years earlier, it would have been received with a bang. It would have been equally well received had it been released ten years later, when R.E.M. and U2 were gaining momentum — it would have fit right in with them, too. In the early seventies, however, no one really wanted that kind of music, and the album's release went virtually unnoticed. It's a pleasant release, well-preserved to this day, well-recorded (I especially liked the acoustic parts). All the songs on it are good, but that's about it — none of them offer anything particularly groundbreaking.
I had forgotten that this album was a banger. Underrated riffs, great vocal delivery, joyful tunes, crunchy production. Bravo!
7.5 / 10
This is definitely not the cosmos. 2/5
Eleven songs I have mixed feelings about and one that is one of my favorite songs of all time. of course, I'm talking about "The India Song" oh my god lmao could you imagine.
That 70s show theme song was good
Pop rock perfection.
That was nice. Big Star's 1972 debut #1 Record is another one of those albums that I've seen praise for online but haven't checked out at all until now. I had fairly high expectations for this one, and I'd say the album delivered. The album's pretty good. It's a little hard to define exactly what type of rock we're dealing with here. All I know is that it's definitely rock and it's definitely good. Of course, it helps that the songs are varied enough to make the album engaging throughout its runtime. You have your more energetic songs like the opener "Feel" and "In the Street" balanced out by more melodic songs like "The Ballad of El Goodo" and "Thirteen." I definitely have a preference for the latter style, with those two specific songs being the best that the album has to offer. I actually really like the more country-adjacent style of "Thirteen," which is surprising since I don't usually gravitate towards things that could be called country-adjacent. Another source of divide on the album is between the band's two lead vocalists, Chris Bell and Alex Chilton. I do have a major preference for Chilton's voice, but Bell does fine enough on the songs he sings for. The lyrical themes are fairly simple, dealing with things like young love and such, but the songs are written in a way that just feels... cozy? I don't know. It feels very natural and the topic doesn't feel shallow on the album. Perhaps the most notable thing about the album is its influence. Turns out, Big Star and #1 Record were pretty influential for some of the best alt-rock bands of the 80s like R.E.M. and the Replacements, both of whom would go on to be incredibly influential in their own right, so that's pretty cool! It's things like this that make #1 Record an easy pick for a list like this. That combined with the album's quality make it an album that I would recommend to just about anyone. It's great. High 4/5.
Yah I feel very similarly about this album that I did about the previous Big Star album I had to review (the third one) which is that they are an immensely talented band that makes really intriguing music, for their time especially, but it doesn’t do a lot for me as a whole. Like there’s a few songs here and there that I saved like “feel” and “watch the sunrise”. And I popped alittle when “in the street” came on because I grew up loving That 70s show, so I immediately recognized it and loved it. Which also made me google to see who recorded it first cause I knew the cheap trick version so well obviously. But regardless I found the majority of the album to be boring and forgettable. I will say I liked this album more than the last one though.
Nytt for meg. Stort sett soft 70-tallsrock, men tidvis drar det mer i retning av hard rock/power pop. Her er det de roligere, melodiske låtene som vekker mest engasjement i meg. Mye nydelig å velge mellom. Albumet har to skips, i Don’t Lie To Me og The India Song, ellers er alle sangene rike av kvalitet. Dette er nok det jeg vil kalle en tre-og-en-halv-stjerner, men utgivelsesåret tatt i betraktning, runder jeg opp til fire. Top 3: Thirteen, The Ballad Of El Goodo, Give Me Another Chance
Better than I expected.
Certainly not a #1 Record
Review - This album has grown on me over time. At first I liked it more for it's influence on later, greater bands I liked. But every time I revisit it (including now) I find I like it more and get more out of it. While the beginning of the first track can sound a bit generic 70s rock, it gets so much better and is such a fun listen. I can see why it maybe didn't catch on so much when it came out, but has grown in influence over time. Rating - 7.5/10 Need to listen? YES
#1 Record is a wonderful album and very much my kind of record. It’s packed with jangly, melodic guitars, Beatles-esque vocal harmonies, and songwriting that feels raw, emotional, and often quietly melancholic. It’s easy to understand why this album was commercially overlooked at the time, but it’s just as easy to see why it has since become so revered. Its influence is everywhere, and the quality of the songs more than justifies the love it gets from so many artists and fans today. Favourite tracks: Thirteen, Watch the Sunrise and Try Again are all fantastic, though there are honestly so many highlights to choose from. Least favourite tracks: None – everything here earns its place and is well worth your time. Album artwork: A classic album cover – simple, iconic, and perfectly fitting.
me ha gustado más que otros
Before this, I wasn’t familiar with Big Star at all. #1 Record feels like a genuinely good album, and it definitely sits within the range of music I usually enjoy. Still, despite that, most of the songs didn’t really stay with me — although “When My Baby’s Beside Me” stood out.
It's a fun rock album. I'd never even heard of these guys prior to That 70s Show LOL
Nearly great but can't quite get over the line
This record was ok. It was fine. It was decent even. I don't 't want to listen again even though it was...ok. A blancmange of an album
Somewhat interesting, but not my thing. Oh well, but I can see why someone might like it.
Rather dull, generic 70s soft rock. Nothing really stood out to me personally. Listenable, but wouldn't listen again through choice.
Ahhh Big Star….never heard of them until this list came along. It’s a very good mid 70s rock album. Kind of wild that it flew completely under the radar. They definitely deserved to be a lot bigger. It’s very much rooted in the 70s, but I love it. Feels so cool listening to something so old and yet so fresh to me….like a kind of Time Machine. Well worth a listen (as is the follow up). 4
album won me over in the first moments. feels like i'm in almost famous. transports me to an era I love . the that 70s show theme song??
This album was released 20 years too early. This would have been a very successful album in the early 90s. I enjoyed it very much.
Ya dar hey dar guy dar hey dar!! 4.725
Reminds me of T-Rex and That 70s Show.
Was only familiar with Thirteen before listening to this one. Really enjoyed the whole album. Can definitely see how this influenced so many other pop/rock artists.
3/5 Wasn’t sure at first but did end up enjoying!
I can see why this is on the list. Isn't something I'd regularly throw on, but I'm glad to know it's out there!
Feels like hometown Rock n Roll. Simple but effective. Favorite Song: Thirteen.
nothing offensive, nothing exciting. Not bad, kinda lost interest. So many bands do this sort of style much better.
Nice and soft folk rock
Never heard of these guys - intriguing, and love the album cover. First track tells me this is probably an artist I needed in my life before now. Definitely some good tracks in there, and particularly loved the more sensitive but glam rock on a couple of them (e.g., Give Me Another Chance). The album as a whole, however, faded into the background at times with just a little something missing.
good enough tbh, better than i expected
Solid 70s rock. Squarely in the pocket of the era. Some fun dive bar vibes. 3.5 stars. Not much else to say.
A good rock album. Punto. A good rock album. Period.
Maso
Completely forgettable, if not bad.
What's this? A classic rock-sounding album that I actually love? What's happening? I didn't hold out much hope from the opening riff, but damn, these are excellent songs and the whole record is great - at under 38 minutes it doesn't outstay its welcome either. Favourite tracks: Feel, The Ballad Of El Goodo, Thirteen, The India Song, Give Me Another Chance, ST 100/6.
This was actually a very good record. Maybe I'll come back to this someday, but not disappointed I got to listen to this.
Inoffensive but largely forgettable
Middle of the road rock - bland
A whole lot of nothing
2.5
Very good but I think it runs out of steam a bit as the album goes along. Still excellent, but close to true greatness.
Great
Songs are fine. I can see the inspiration that they gave to other popular artists and even some modern ones like the Lemon Twigs. Nothing really stuck out to me as something I’d come back to.
It’s almost there, but it’s missing that extra something to lift it above being extremely average.
I've listened to this before, its a great American rock record. Mixes the heartland with folk and even presages alternative rock.
So today I learnt that Elliott Smith didn’t write Thirteen
2,9/5
Mmm ja ok så jeg likte ja var litt 70talls hard rock men en del sånn aukustiske ballader men jeg likte spesiellt de da fordi vel syns det var der stemmen til vokalisten skinte og overall rimelig bra album ikke revolusjonerende men en god 3,5 så da blir det 3/5 på skalaen
What a gem! Impressively timeless, great production. Thirteen was a joy to listen to for the first time, the the rest of the album was strong as well. It’s beyond me how these guys didn’t make it big
...
Nice enough soft classic rock with Crosby/stills/Nash harmonies every now and again. Passed by quickly, caught my attention every now and again. Acceptable
I wanted to like it, but it left no impression on me whatsoever. Such a let-down. Everything was boring or bland, no interesting lyrics. "Not for me", but in a way that upset me. So middling.
This is all decent enough and I don't have too many complaints, but it all just feels a bit generic 70s rock. Overall pretty decent, but will I remember it in a few weeks time, probably not.
In agreement with other reviews. All the ingredients are there and yet there's no soul.
Bom, mas tem músicas tristes
I sort of enjoyed this, it was really easy to tune out though. It sounded good, but it needed something else to make it greater. High 3 almost a 4 but not quite
The only real number 1 record is the 18 disc ultimate compilation, ‘The Best Of Houmous & Chutney’ 3.1 5/12 Don’t Lie To Me
You know what’s funny? I could have sworn I already reviewed this here. In fact I thought I found this album through this site. But I guess not! Anyway, good solid rock and roll!
Not my go-to genre, but sounded like a typical rock album.
4.5/5 Good, fun classic Rock. "We're all alright."
This is #day517 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here's to some early '70s power pop/rock that I haven't heard before and most likely would never have but for this challenge. The band name and record title are so pretentious that, together, they come off as a joke. This is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day518.
Sounded like the beatles at some points. Really dig their sound and they had good harmonies.
After the first song I thought it would be like Black Sabbath and I was excited, but then it turned into generic 70s rock.
A little generic 80s rock, nothing groundbreaking
Wasn’t ready for that 70s show theme song. Songs were all good but never really hooked me. Thought it finished stronger than started
For pre-teen girls of the early seventies. And absolutely no-one else.
The most overrated album that actually deserves the praise lavished on it. It languished in obscurity when it came out and withers in the spotlight now. Alex Chilton reigned in against his self-sabotage instincts + Chris Bell before the full breakdown is one of the greatest partnerships in music. Because I am insufferable, I've wondered: what if the Eagles were as good a songwriters as Big Star/Big Star had Eagles money behind them, but I think the desperation of recording this in off hours on leftover tape stock, Chilton having seen how the sausage is made with the Box Tops and Bell seeing Jesus in the VU meters is what stirred up the magic in this record. It's good.
These are lovely songs — especially the astonishing "Thirteen" and "The India Song" — that remind me of so many beloved bands that would come later. That this came out in 1972 amid the waning hippie scene, acid rock, prog, funk and so forth, only underscores its importance in the history of rock and roll. This deserved to be huge.
New to the band, but also, this didn't move me?
Overhyped but maybe deserves it?
A big mix of stuff, but generally does sound quite ahead of its time, at least like something released in the punk era. A lot of more blues elements, but I think what sets it the most apart is that there's catchy choruses, with loads of layered vocals, which was a huge think which more pop influenced rock bands did in the 70s and 80s and since. I feel like one of the singers sounds like Ozzy Osbourne in some places. I like also how the heavier songs are contrasted with acoustic songs. Sounds like there's some mellotron on the India song (maybe more as well). Overall its very poppy, but not in a Queen way or in a Yes 'The Yes album' way, which I think are both worse than this (less so Queen). Favourite songs: feel, the ballad of El Goodo, in the street, thirteen, don't lie to me, the India song, my life is right try again, in the street. Overall around 7/10
Awesome opening song! It kind of sets up a vibe of a long road trip set before the 2000s, if whoever is listening is into rock music. I just looked them up, and the band is from Memphis :D woahhh so if thats the case can white people go back to making good music again???? Listening to the second song while writing this song, and the vocals and instruments in this album are like out of this world! It gives very old school rock n roll but with a soulful southern twist to it, if that makes sense. After listening to the entire album, I can say wholeheartedly that I truly enjoyed the album. I think only a few songs I will go back and listen to, like Feel and in the street, but later on in the album, I became a little bored. Overall, like I said before a pretty easy going listen with a great sound. I would also like to add that the vocals in the album are super solid!
Solid - The back half lags like shit
This was incredibly average. There are some pretty catchy songs here, but they don't really sink in for me as anything more than that. Not a bad album, some decent songs. I get early jam band vibes a little.
New to me. Very good, not great. Almost lo-fi. Kinda poppy. Totally 70's.
The album isn't bad, but it's kinda everywhere. The last few songs were good, but didn't sound like most of the album so it kinda threw me off. However, Thirteen is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard in my life, so I'll give them credit for that
Favorite songs: The Ballad of El Goodo, In the Street, Thirteen, Don’t Lie to Me, Give Me Another Chance
The rock songs have an awful guitar tone, and whatever he does with his voice in those songs is just not it. Besides that this is really a by the numbers classic rock album, very forgettable but not bad. Low 3.
Borrrrinnnngg 2.5/5
At some of its best moments (like “Feel,” “Don’t Lie to Me,” “When My Baby’s Beside Me”), it sounds like the inspiration for Boston’s “More than a Feeling” - squealing guitar and vocals. That’s a huge compliment from me. Some ballads are great too (“Thirteen” was a familiar classic). Some of the tracks are a bit outdated in sound to me, or simple. But really good for something so outside my genre.
i enjoyed this one. i never heard of Big Star so i was presently surprised. a very solid 70s pop rock album
Wow wow wow!! I have had multiple people over the year tell me to listen to this band. I see them in every list if underrated bands. I don't know why I never listened to them. This was great!! Each song was different. Each one kept my attention. They had cool stuff going on like keyboards, harmonicas, horns, synths, you never know what they will throw into a song. Well crafted pop rock songs that would even make Cheap Trick proud. But yet have softer acoustic songs as well. I loved the voices.
A pleasant surprise and a great way to start 2026
So far it's been a streak of 'okay' albums, and this is no different.
The origin of the intro tune to the that 70's show if you take away nothing else. I was worried for a moment this list did not include a lot of fun 70's music but luckily we got this.
A solid record. It starts off a bit stronger in my opinion, but is pleasant enough while it's on. 2.9/5 -> 3/5
one of my favorite albums ever... play ballad of el goodo at my funeral, its a perfect pop song. If you've heard this album you know. If you haven't, what the hell are you doing with your life? Stop reading this and listen to it
I totally get how influential Big Star are because I really like loads of the bands that cite them as a key influence. I've never clicked with them myself though. I quite enjoyed listening to this - it sounded quite Bowie in places, which I wasn't expecting, but there's something about that almost glam-style vocal sound that rattles me a bit. I'm glad they existed as we might not have Teenage Fanclub without them, and I really like Teenage Fanclub.
I know Big Star are revered and as a fan of the Replacements and Teenage Fan Club I can appreciate their influence but somehow the "original" just doesn't live up to the expectation for me. Good stuff just not the great I always expect...
An incredible rock album, whose quieter songs connect with me most. So many great tracks. 4.5 stars.
Pretty cool. Standout track: In The Street
Decent start... they should have ended the album after about 5 songs.
Liked this. Got a great 70's sound!!
Who knew the original That 70s Show theme song was on this album? Otherwise this was fairly forgettable. Some serviceable rock and roll but overall fairly meh.
ok
Groovy! This was also “fresh” in an inexplicable way.
The whole album kept swapping between loud rock and softer acoustic. The rock was pretty bad, and the acoustic was okay, but nothing great. I’d give it a 2 for below average, but not horrible enough to deserve a 1
Ehhh… the acoustic songs were better, but still nothing special. Favorite Track: The India Song
This is a fantastic album that seems like you could put it in any era & it would succeed but it didn't. I know Cheap Tricks cover of In the Streets from That 70s Show. Big Star's version sounds like REM covered it & that's a compliment. Try Again sounds like The Beatles trying out a country song. Beautiful & melodic but they can go hard if they want to. 4
Seemed like generic early 1970s rock to me. Maybe there's more to it.
3.0
This feels like classic boy band mixed with rock. Like the beetles, the who, beach boys, kind of thing. I like it.
This one grew on me a lot. Released at a time when rock was moving increasingly into new styles and experiments, Big Star just wanted to keep making straight forward rock n roll from the mid-60s. At first glance, it feels a bit dated but the simple approach with the recording gear of the era was a major step forward for the power pop subgenre. A hidden gem of an album to me.
Thirteen is just such a fantastic song, and I'm really seeing Teenage Fanclub vibing all over this record. Watch the Sunrise also fantastic. But again, Thirteen, what a beatiful song.
bello nella terza traccia sembrano letteralmente i beatles vabbè li ricordano anche in generale comunque è anche più di 3 ma forse non 4 pieno non so
- Some superb rock music without overcomplicating things too much. Great vocal harmonies. - Really easy to listen through from start to finish, with a number of strong highlights, with plenty of variety: In The Street for beat pop, very Beatles-inflected Don't Lie To Me for southern bluesy rock, in the CCR and Free mould Watch The Sunrise is a sweet, jangly folky number with a Byrds, CSNY-type flavour - I didn't really know anything about Big Star beforehand but I've found both of their albums in the list have really grown on me with repeated listens and I'd definitely pick up copies if I find them.
J'aime Big Star, Alex Chilton, Chris Bell.
Il y a des tounes un peu folksy qui me font penser un peu à The Byrds (India Song), et d'autres un peu plus hard rocky, qui ont quelque chose d'un led zep, d'ailleurs le chanteur a un timbre de voix assez à la Robert Plant!
Petite pensée pour mon viel ami JP Bourgeois (qui à participé ici quelques semaines) et qui est un mega fan de toutes choses Alex Chilton. Et je peux comprendre. Quel album exceptionnel qui sonne en avant de son temps. À l’aveugle je n’aurais jamais dit 1972. De l’excellent pop rock, power pop. Et que dire de Thirteen, magnifique balade dont je ne connaissais que le cover (de Waxahatchee, Hurray for the riff raff et Bedouine) sans savoir que c’était cover. Envoutant!
2.8, it was fine but it didnt really stand out too much.
Of course I have this album, a wonderful debut.
A decent classic rock release that I'd never heard of. Some pretty good songs but overall somewhat forgettable. Your mileage with this one will vary based on how into the style you are. Pleasant listen overall.
I enjoyed this album. It had some variety to it and solid guitar play.
Was this #1 on the list? No, but it was decent
This was fine. They sounded fine. "Don't Lie to Me" was a great song. I don't really see why it's so special but what do I know. I'm just a kid who hates Radiohead.
maybe it is because they are following a very long string of mid Brit pop, overly synth albums.....but this was better than expected. can see how they influenced 80's power ballads. nice variety of tempos too.
Clásico absoluto. influyente en los grupos de los 90´s. Power pop de muchos quilates. Un disco que en el 72 no sé cómo sonaría, pero en los 90 relucía tanto como hoy. Maravilloso.
Completely fine. Very unremarkable but I liked Feel, at least
I'm afraid I simply don't really get the Big Star hype. It's a decent lil slice of 70s guitar pop, a solid 6/10 for me, but I don't quite understand how they're one of the most acclaimed power pop bands ever. Oh well
Decent I guess. Has all the makings of something I probably should like but it just didn’t hold my interest at all.
Well it doesn't suck enough for the one star, but everything down to the title is forgettable. Standouts: Feel • Standout
I'm going to be a little mean to this one. Perhaps meaner than it deserves. However, I have never been able to figure out why every list like this feels we need all three Big Star albums. I don't hate Big Star, either. There are many songs on Third/Sister Lovers that I like. This is the worst of the three for sure. Every song on here sounds the same and it feels much longer than 36 minutes.
Not bad
If a plain bagel was an album
Big 4.5
Pretty decent
This is actually a pretty solid record. Before I got Sister Lovers a few weeks ago I only knew of them from the intro to That 70s Show. I'm surprised more songs from this album don't pop up here and there given their apparent cult following.
Very '70s. Naive (vacuous?), simple, boring. Not my taste at all. 2 points, closer to 1.5.
6/10
This is really pretty good unknown 70s rock. But I'm just not ever going to be in the mood to listen to much of that. It's definitely way better than it was given credit for at the time, but I'm not sure it's as good as it's given credit for now.
Neki nepoznanega! Všeč mi je naslovnica in pa optimizem naslova albuma. (Spoiler: it didn't quite work out.) Ok, 70s rock. Fak, suddenly theme song od That 70's Show (oziroma varianta le tega) - ha, očitno je original ("In The Street") od tega banda, who knew. "Thirteen" je lep, chill, akustičen komad. Po pa " Don't Lie To Me" k gre pa čist v drugo, bl hard smer. "Try Again" mi je všeč, naslednji tud ("Watch The Sunrise"). Potem je pa albuma konc z enominutnim komadom, še preden ti je jasno, da je konc. Bom še poslušala, se mi zdi, da si zasluž.
A Rock I could not remember after the day time.
There's something about big star that's just a touch too wanky for me at all times. Still a decent album but I lack the DNA that makes me fully embrace this.
Short & solid. Enjoyed jamming out on repeat.
Fun for what it is
This album is like if you turned on the "Top 10,000 Classic Rock Hits of All Time" playlist and got to like 2,300-2,310 on the list. None of these songs are bad, but they're all a bit short of the hits. This is a perfectly cromulent album.
this reminds me of albums my mom would play when I was little. for a sec I thought I was listening to the radio and I was really into what the dj was playing. this is nice
One of my all time favorite records!
Not very self aware with the album title..
Üks hea lugu oli
There are a lot of mid-tempo songs that are very similar to each other. The uptempo tracks sound upbeat.
This was good in places but when it reached highs, it largely didn’t sustain them which meant that the album often sounded good but failed to really excite me. It’s the sort of album I’d quite happily listen to and it’s possible it would grow on me, but at the same time, I’m not sure when I’d return.
It wasn't bad...but not great. "Hangin out, down the street, the same ole thing...we did last week"....I swear that's a song from a sitcom.
Pretty good folk-pop record. There were plenty of upbeat and enjoyable tracks here. Favourite Track(s): Feel, Thirteen Least Favourite Track(s): The India Song
#778. Wasn't expecting much, but i got a lot more than I expected. 4/5: pretty good
I didn't know this album, much less, this banda. But, my opinion is, big star band is amazing. Very good musics and sound of them
Gets better when it gives up any pretense of rocking.
Great album
I enjoyed this one so much more than their 3rd record that we had to listen to. The front side of this is loaded with great songs. It slows down quite a bit on the B-sides, but still really enjoyable.
#1 Record by Big Star hit me out of nowhere. The songwriting feels effortless, and the engineering is of the highest caliber (I haven't listened to the remastered version yet). Guitars and vocals shine with a clarity that sticks right in the chest. The wind section on 'The Feel' adds a vibe I didn't see coming. Even the drums have attitude, with the snare positioned on the right stereo side, as if it owns the place, which is an unusual placement. It is a tight, complete album with real personality. Hard to believe it slipped past me for so long, but I am glad it finally found me.
Everything I love about the Beatles, the Who and the Byrds in one album
Just a guy with a hair metal voice and an acoustic guitar. 5/10
I ran out of time and was only able to listen to about half of the album, but I liked it better than expected. Nothing that I would need to hear again, though. It’s another 3 star album for me.
OK
In 1966 15 year old school chums Chris Bell and Alex Chilton went to see the Beatles when they visited Memphis on a whistle stop tour of the states. After playing in other bands for a while, they teamed up in 1972 to form a song writing partnership that they credited as Bell/Chilton on their album - no prizes for guessing where they got that idea from! The result is an engaging debut, with some glam tinged rock numbers and quieter moments with some sweet vocal harmonies taking obvious cues from the Beatles and the Byrds, but good enough to stand on their own. Unfortunately the album didn’t do particularly well, leading to tensions in the band with Bell quitting after their follow up. He died not long after at the tragically young age of 27 in a car accident. So, it’s an obscure relic of an LP, and mostly pretty good, but it’s tempting to imagine how things might have turned out if they’d broken through at the time and had the success they deserved.
LOVE THIS!!!
An exceptional album of perfect songs sometimes hauntings, sometimes as comforting as graham crackers and orange slices as a mid-day snack when you were little and the world made some kind of sense, sometimes disarmingly sad... WAIT... I'm not going to write anything (nor is anyone else for that matter) that will do #1 Record justice. How does one even begin to put into words (mere words!) what art that so deeply touched your heart and soul means to you much less the world circa 2025? I love rock criticism- been reading it since I had to ask my dad what half the words meant- just like film criticism it can be an art form in itself but sometimes words don't cut it. At all. Nada. Works like #1 Record imo are essential parts of the human experience or should be. They humble me as tears run down my face. Everyone should encounter works that you feel to your very core. Works that help you understand how the world can be so very ugly yet so very much worth the effort to carry on and see another day. Big Star's music fucks me up. It always has and it always will. When I saw that #1 Record was today's album, I thought to myself ' Big Star! I wonder why I haven't heard this one in so long?' within a few songs I knew the answer- by God, it just fucks me up in ways that will take me a lifetime to comprehend to any measurable degree, and I very much look forward to every second of this crazy beautiful fuck up we call life. Hey Chris Bell, I'm the cosmos, too.
El Goodo is my fav
Loved it
Oh hey it’s the song from That 70s Show!
Childhood vibes
Lacks lyrical content and songs sound repetitive
I know people really love Big Star and see them as very influential but I think they have passed me by a bit. It's a very listenable album but I can't say I am in love with it.
This made me nostalgic for the days living as a free-spirit, lead eating, glue huffing teen in the 70s (I wasn't even alive back then, but damn does this record convince you otherwise).
Yeah I agree with the lot of you. Its good classic rock, different than what gets served to us boys at a young age. But, its not good enough to be memorable. Dumb fucking song from that insufferable That 70s show. Negative points.
Played in the background while working, nothing really stood out.
Very good music, it's got a few standouts, but it doesn't feel too remarkable to me. Although I'd give it a listen every so often.
2 Stars. Eh. Boring.
DECENT, not returning
Great harmonies, seems to be an influence on Boston, foreigner and the like.
This sounds like some forgotten 1970s indie dad rock. Why is it so highly rated? I listened to this years ago as part of some other "you need to hear these records" list, and I was similarly unimpressed. I don't get it. Baffling.
nothing really special, tho ‘Give me another chance’ was great 3.5
One of the all time greats. Not to be missed
This was an incredibly mid album. I’m not sure what makes this so special as it seems quite generic and like it’s got some great ideas but they weren’t really used well here. It was quite catchy in some songs, the playing from the members was fine but it, again, felt like generic American rock with a more pop-orientated sound and jangling guitars. Kind of like a soft rock version of ZZ top or something. I guess it could be seen as influential and there were a couple songs I quite liked but overall it was a bit repetitive and formulaic. Favourites: Ballad of el goodo and in the street. Overall, 5/10.
Nah
I... I don't get it. I feel like this is a me problem, but, idk, I just don't understand this one. Several times during this album I had to stop and go "this is a joke, right? this is a parody?"
I liked this! It's not perfect (the opening track is one of the weakest) but I dig the harmonies, I dig the bluegrass country influence, and there is something surprisingly modern in the arrangements. I wasn't familiar with this band other than reputation before, and this made me want to listen to more of their work! The cover is slick, nice and simple but attractive, it's a 4/5 too.
Je sais que c'est bon mais j'aime pas ca.
C'est ben correct. Mais je sais que je récouterai jamais.
Niet mijn ding
Album No. 0058 on my list. Never heard of either the band or the record before. Not sure why though, because I think this deserves a bit more recognition. Sound and production were a bit ahead of its time I think, this album sounds pretty good for a 1972 record! I don’t like all songs on this record (e.g. due to their respective lyrics and the singer’s voice), but “The Ballad of El Goodo”, “Thirteen”, and “When My Baby’s Beside Me” are cool pop-rock tracks that I’ll definitely listen to again. 3/5 stars.
Feel - 4/5 The Ballad of El Goodo - 5/5 In the Street - 5/5 (hey it's the That's 70s show theme) Thirteen - 3/5 Don't Lie to Me - 3/5 The India Song - 4/5 When My Baby's Beside Me - 4/5 My Life Is Right - 4/5 Give Me Another Chance - 5/5 Try Again - 3/5 Watch the Sunrise - 4/5 ST100/6 - no rating Average score: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’ve always enjoyed my touch points with Big Star, the so-called “forgotten band” of the early 70s. They are a friendly voice, the kind of band prophesied by George Harrison when he sang “Here Comes the Sun.” It’s the sound of respite after the tumult.
If you can get beyond the over-the-top bold pretension of the band and album names, you'll be rewarded with a tightly constructed precursor to alternative rock. Released in 1972, it feels like it is even older. At the same time, it provides enough character and production value to be ahead of its time. This turns out to be yet another reason 1972 remains a banner year for music releases.
I reviewed Big Star’s Third/Sister Lovers about 350 albums ago, and I thought it was okay. I had really high hopes for that album, and I was a bit let down by it. I had even higher hopes for this album before listening to Third/Sister Lovers, but now those expectations have been tempered a bit. I’m not sure how I’m going to feel about #1 Record, but I’m hoping this experience is better than Third/Sister Lovers was. Just like their other album on this list, Big Star’s #1 Record was fine, but I enjoyed this one a little bit more. Like Third, the slower and more melodic songs on this album were better than the other songs. Also just like Third, I really expected catchier hooks and riffs on an album that most people classify as power pop. While this album didn’t have that catchiness, the slower songs did have some beautiful guitar work, and I thought the album was pretty well produced. It was interesting to hear The Byrds’ influence on Big Star as well, and even though that influence was obvious, their sound never felt like it was trying to copy The Byrds. Alex Chilton’s vocals were pretty solid throughout the album, but to my ears, there’s not really anything unique about his voice, which is a bummer. I thought that “Thirteen,” “Give Me Another Chance,” “Try Again,” and “Watch the Sunrise” were the best songs on the album. None of them really blew me away, but they all sounded good, and they had some good emotional weight to the lyrics and singing. The rest of the album wasn’t bad, but it was just kind of bland to me. I guess Big Star isn’t for me, but I can see how others would find their work appealing.
Big Star took a different musical path in the 1970s, and you have to respect that. I’ve never really taken to the vocals—I wish they were a little bit edgier or more idiosyncratic!—but “Thirteen” is really nice.
I’m not sure this deserves five stars because there was a pretty big fall off after four songs. But those first four songs were just incredible and it felt like falling in love