Reviews (page 4 of 7)
To me this sounds like a pretty run of the mill 70s rock album. I’m going to have to take Wikipedia’s word for it that this was a “seminal” work of power pop. In that case, many bands sounded alot like them afterwards.
entertaining and fun just like a 70s rock album should be. nothing too catchy but familiar enough to keep my spirits up 4 stars
Big 3 stars je definitivno najviše što može za ovaj album a i to sam možda malo precijenila
I wasn't expecting a folk band to be almost directly responsible for Weezer's existence but I'm sure as hell not very happy about any band allowing Weezer to happen. The music itself is fine, but there isn't really a lot to it, especially with the much folksier second half. Thirteen and Try Again are nice songs, I guess. The whole thing was really in one ear and out the other for me.
Good 70s rock. Very influential to a lot of bands I like, so this is listening to yr idol’s idols. Have a good grasp on melodies, so it’s strange they didn’t have much commercial success. In the end, it’s still 70s rock and I’d rather listen to my idols
not that crazy
Good rock album
beetje zoals de beatles maar dan amerikaans. wel prima achtergrond muziek.
Thirteen is great, el goodo is good, I could take or leave the rest
Cool to hear the inspiration for the That 70's Show theme from "In The Street".
The definition of a 3. Good album, easy 70's glam rock/country rock. I'm not a fan of his high pitched singing voice, but the instrumentation is good.
I gave it a shot. Got two tracks in, and quit. A day passed. I got to thinking, "That's not a fair shake." One of the goals of this project is to challenge me, to introduce me to things that I wouldn't have otherwise been exposed to. To be fair to the philosophy, I have added some new favorites from some genres that I never really consider in my day-to-day choices. And maybe I was just having a bad day where nothing landed right. This happens. Definitely not out of the realm of possibility. So here I am. Well-rested, took my meds, I have a coffee... Nonononononono. I have powered my way through this. Thank god it was short. I think I "get it". Maybe. But there is an ineffable aspect to music appreciation that is totally subjective based on preference and taste. I worked the late late shift at a Subway sandwich shop in the mid nineties for a couple of *years*. The radio had to be on, and the only choices of music by management decree were the local classic rock stations. Hours of classic rock. Never did one of these songs come up. If that feels like a post hoc rationalization for why I don't like this album, that's because it is. I *get* the album. I just don't like it.
Siempre pendiente de darle una oportunidad a un grupo sin suerte que es famoso sin ser famoso. Referencia no comercial. Me guardo «Thirteen» (preciosa) y «Give Me Another Chance», «Try Again» y «Watch the Sunrise». Tres estrellas tirando a cuatro ****.
Has the theme to That’s 70’s show!
Sounds fresh... Good rock album, not too hard. Not super memorable but all nice tracks.
It was alright
============================================== ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== --------------------BIG STAR------------------ ---------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- -------------------#1 RECORD------------------ ---------------------------------------------- ---------------------(1972)------------------- ============================================== ============================================== ------------------CALIFICACIÓN---------------- ----------------------★★★⯨☆------------------ --------------------(3,2916)------------------ ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== 1. Feel (★★★★★) -Fav 2. The Ballad Of El Goodo (★★★☆☆) 3. In The Street (★★★⯨☆) 4. Thirteen (★★★☆☆) 5. Don't Lie To Me (★★★☆☆) 6. The India Song (★★★☆☆) 7. When My Baby's Beside Me (★★★⯨☆) 8. My Life Is Right (★★★★☆) 9. Give Me Another Chance (★★★☆☆) 10. Try Again (★★★☆☆) 11. Watch The Sunrise (★★★☆☆) 12. ST 100/6 (★★⯨☆☆) ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== PUNTAJE TOTAL 5+3+3,5+3+3+3+3,5+4+3+3+3+2,5 = 39,5 ============================================== ============================================== PUNTAJE PROMEDIO 39,5 / 12 = 3,2916 ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== CALIFICACIÓN FINAL ★★★⯨☆ (3,2916) ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== COMENTARIO -Un disco de rock decente, sorprendemente fácil de escuchar en la actualidad —algo que dice mucho de por qué está acá— y que no me arrepiento de haberlo hecho. ============================================== ============================================== ==============================================
I'd never heard of this band before, but this wasn't terrible.
3.5. Really cool listen!
that 70's show song...
beeeg
I tried really harr but found this very generic. 70's pop rock without anything to hook on to. Seemed well played and i couldn't find anything wrong, but also nothing to excite me.
Pretty cool, sounds like they had fun making it. Didn't expect to find the 'That 70's show' theme in there. Not bad!
Today was probably mmy 2d or 3d time listening to this album in the last 4 or 5 years. Unfortunately at least for me its not any better than the other times. I.fiest became aware of this album after reading about it years ago in Rolling Stone. I think it was reviewed as part of a rerelease. This album was not well distributed when it came out but lots of te leading lights of alternative music in the 80s and 90s believed it was a perfect power pop album. To me its all kind.of one note and nothing musically, lyrically, or singing wise make it stand out. The best track is the song chosen to be the theme for "That 70's Show" and that song like this album was better done by Cheap Trick. Again this isnt horrible it just doesn't live up to the high praise it receives from some.
het klinkt een beetje als kiss maar dan pop? niet echt mijn rock stijl maar er zitten wel oké liedjes tussen
5/10 On reading up about Big Star, they are referred to as being hugely influential on a number of bands that would follow, including R.E.M., The Replacements and, oddly enough, KISS. That range of endorsements is usually a pretty good indicator that something will be a decent listen. What I wasn’t really expecting, was an album that sounded like a real melting pot of sounds from 60s bands, such as the Kinks, the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, but with relatively little in the way of further development of those sounds. That isn’t to say this wasn’t good, it just felt fairly derivative and unoriginal, and to my ears rarely conjured up any moments that particularly made it memorable in any way. I kept hearing moments that reminded me of various other bands, and they even every now and again arrived on a decent hook or vocal harmony stack, but at no point did I ever feel that I would prefer to come back to this album over albums by the bands that inspired them. That sounds very dismissive, but it’s not really meant that way, because the band put in good performances throughout, the production was well put together and sonically coherent, but there just wasn’t anything particularly exciting about it. They did lean towards some almost glam or hard rock sounds here and there, which did add a touch of spice to the mix, but those moments were rather fleeting. So this one falls very much down the middle for me. Good enough to enjoy my time with it and not be turned off at any point, but not good enough to make me want to bother listening to it again in future. Perhaps this is one of those situations where a band’s influence actually comes from their more developed work on later albums and this is an interesting look back at the start of their career as a band, but there’s nothing in here that really captivated or enthralled. Feel - This is almost half way between Led Zeppelin and glam rock, but with much simpler songwriting and a more limited sound palette. It’s got a decent groove and vibe to it, but there’s nothing particularly standout here that’s making me do any more than enjoy it in passing and there’s nothing that memorable about it either. The Ballad Of El Goodo - Now this sounds more reminiscent of bands like the Kinks and the Beatles. There’s some nice harmonic moments and some of the melodies are pretty decent too, but it generally feels a little bit derivative of that British invasion sound without actually adding anything particularly fresh or exciting. It’s a pleasant listen, to be fair, but I’d rather listen to those aforementioned bands ahead of this. In The Street - This has got a bit more personality to it. It’s still a bit glam, but it blends it well with that British invasion sound. It’s got good rhythms with a bit of endearing swing, the playing is good and there are some good melodic choices in there too. It’s not necessarily the most exciting of tracks, but it’s a pretty decent pop-rock song. Thirteen - Quite a pretty little song now that almost leans a little bit more towards folk/country rock. It’s well written and the vocal harmonies, despite having a slightly weird effect on them, add a nice depth to the sparse arrangement. Again, I’m not massively invested in this just yet, but it’s a pleasant enough listen. Don't Lie To Me - And now we’re getting a more blues-rock number. The production is pretty cool here and there are some cool, if not vastly original, guitar lines going on. It’s a tad messy in places, but that’s actually quite endearing, and the chorus is a pretty decent hook. Not a bad one. The India Song - Again, this feels quite derivative of popular 60s music, more like Simon and Garfunkel, with a touch of Beach Boys thrown in. It’s nice, but it’s a bit too repetitive and doesn’t really develop the main themes into anything beyond a nice and easy to listen to song. Not that you can expect much development in 2 minutes 20, but it just feels a touch throwaway. When My Baby's Beside Me - More 60s throwback stuff, with a slightly more 70s groove to it. This one’s pretty good and the guitar and vocal rhythm is a bit more interesting and engaging. Despite its throwback core, this feels like they’ve actually started to take this more into a fresher direction. There are good hooks, a nice swagger to the performances and it’s got good forward momentum too. Not bad. My Life Is Right - This album really is a melting pot of 60s influences. It’s really well put together and sounds great, but as with much of the record there’s not anything vastly standout or memorable about it that wouldn’t make me just turn to the bands that influenced them over this record. The chorus is pretty good, to be fair. Give Me Another Chance - Quite pretty, quite bland, and feels quite long despite being only three and a half minutes long. Tonally, this is nice, but there’s nothing particularly standout or memorable about it and the synth strings sound pretty bad too. Try Again - The strumming pattern here is relentless. The vocal harmonies are pretty nice, but melodically it’s a bit rambling. It’s a pleasant enough listen, but as with much of the record up to this point, hardly memorable or standout. Watch The Sunrise - There’s a bit more zip to the playing on this one and the main guitar line is really nice. This builds well, and there’s a good vibe to it by the time the band comes in just after half way. The overall sound is good and it’s got some nice melodic moments too with a twist of folksy rock feel. Altogether very pleasant. ST 100/6 - This is a pretty pleasant closer. The vibe is cool and the harmonies are really nice. Good guitar playing too. And it’s all done in under a minute.
pretty good, i liked this one
It was okay. I don't understand why there are two albums by this band on the list. Its better than the other album, but the review on this site comparing it to the ingredients of cake, while not being cake is spot on
Sale
Interesting. Feels like high quality country tinged rock. Perhaps cleaner production feel than the eagles in places even. Not the silky harmonies and hooks of the eagles but otherwise kind of remind me of them. Probably more depth there than I can get at in a day.
Not bad but not super stellar. Might relisten? But probably not.
It’s ok.
#3 imho
It sounds like the 70s
A run-of-the-mill 70s rock album with many ballads and emotional guitar work. I fail to see what makes this a must-listen.
The first half was pretty good, the second half was a bit bland. Nothing too exciting, nothing too bad.
Happy to hear the original That 70s Show intro song =) and the whole album was all alright
This is one of those albums I don't love to rate. It is both good and really novel, and it is also kind of sort of what I expected, but with a bit more cleverness. I love some of the lyrical bits, found it confusing between whether it is pseudo-country or more rock oriented, and felt it was mildly, but not horribly (!) era specific. It is novel enough to almost be experimental but not quite. The best part was the lyrics and some of the songs will stick with me pretty directly. Otherwise the genre is not a big front room choice of mine, although like some people wondered, I don't know why they were not better known within their genre and era?
Es klingt wie ein leuchtendes Versprechen, das nie ganz eingelöst wird: wunderschöne Melodien, glasklare Harmonien, ein Hauch jugendlicher Sehnsucht. „Thirteen“ ist pure, fragile Nostalgie, „The Ballad of El Goodo“ ein stiller Triumph, und „When My Baby’s Beside Me“ zeigt, wie catchy Big Star sein konnten.
It was just fine
ChatGPT-generated 70s soft rock
Χαλαρό αλμπουμάκι. Γενικώς έδεινε μια αίσθηση beatles που εκτίμησα αλλά δεν θα άκουγα συχνά Don't Lie to Me
Safadinho esse título. Cansado desses álbuns que não tem o que falar, nada se destaca, mais uma banda que seria uma atração das 4 da tarde do Rock in Rio, que iria curtir, mas não ia fazer adicionar algo no Spotify.
I didn't realize this was the group that did the song used as the theme for that 70s show - how appropriate! Mellow, classic 70s rock.
Enjoyed this more than their last offering although it does fail to really get going.
Never heard of these guys. Feel it should be absolutely in my wheelhouse but it just didn't inspire me. Read some of the 5 star reviews and I just don't see it. Listened to 13 again just to see if I can see what I'm missing. Power rock? Maybe at the time but I just don't get any emotional connection to the music at all. Pass for me.
Well we're going one year back from my last album. This is definitely very obviously rock and I can get behind this one. Though I do not belive I've even heard of Big Star. Well maybe I have hear of Thirteen it's their most listened to track on Spotify with 57.5 million plays. Today is April 21 and this album was released on April 24th That's kinda cool. Diggin the harmonizing on this album. I kinda like getting GPTs summary on these albums. Nope I had never heard Thirteen, but boy is it a good song.
That was cute. Reading an essay on the trivialisation of culture while listening to this was definitely something.
Cute but nothing special
Hmmmm. Had high hopes when I saw "power-pop" and yes, I kinda get that. *IF* this was the singularity for (especially) REM, They Might be Giants, Fountains of Wayne etc then I shall award 3 points, despite not loving it all that much.
#1 Record by Big Star was slightly above average—around a 3.2 out of 5. I enjoyed the energy it brings throughout. It was also strange and unexpected to hear In The Street, which I know as the theme song from That ’70s Show. Hearing the original version instead of the Cheap Trick remake was a fun surprise.
This was a solid '70s rock album, but like some of the other reviews it just didn't quite hit. It was a nice surprise to hear the original that '70s show theme song.
I've been listening to Big Star's first album, and while it's a good record and totally sounds like the 70s, it feels a bit samey. It's like they're trying to be America or any combination of Crosby, Stills & Nash, but also a little Steely Dan or Jefferson Airplane, you know? The harmonies are awesome, super clean, but even though the songs and production are good, it doesn't really stick in my head. It's chill background music, but it's missing that "it" factor to make it something special. It sounds a lot like their influences, especially the guitars and tunes that were all over the radio back then. The second half gets a bit slow with all the ballads, they all sound kinda similar. It's not bad, songs like "Thirteen" and "The Ballad of El Goodo" are serviceable, but it feels like it's copying other stuff. It's solid, but it needs that extra something to be amazing.
This was kind of an interesting record, almost an early alt-rock record but that still has a toe dipped in the big stadium rock sound of the 70s. Still, not many super memorable songs.
Considerably better than their other album on here, much more engaging, at least until the last few songs. It did feel a bit like a poor man's Beatles at a few points, and the guy's vocals still aren't anything great.
Decent American rock, with a few pop twists.
3.2 2x cool to see the original source of that 70s show theme song 9covered by Cheap Trick for the show)
No, it's nowhere even close to as such, in any way, shape, or form.
The vocals are a bit grating, and the songs do end up blending together a bit, but mostly just good rock music.
Pretty fun!
3.6/5
Solid 3. Nothing special, not especially bad. 3/5
Sometimes I feel bad when I know a lot of the songs on an album but have never heard of the band. Certified radio hit machine.
No private session used for Spotify. Never sat down a listened to a Big Star album before. Heard some good rock and some songs that have been covered.
3.5
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!
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
Pretty standard early 70s rock nothing special 5/10
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.
This was fine. Some songs were catchy but I wouldn’t scramble to go back to it right away. Strong neutral.
Cool to find out who did That 70s Show intro song. Easy listening.
Fine slice of 70s rock. But not much more than that.
Meh
Pretty cool. I learned that the Cheap Trick covered and recorded the theme for that 70s show.
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
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.
Easy listening american rock
That 70s Show theme
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
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.
Really good, concise, consistent
Better than I expected esp after first track.
It felt a little too generic for my tastes.
I enjoyed this album. A bit rock, a bit slow.
Kinda unfair that I got this directly after Bowie. They are of a similar vein but just cant compete.
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.
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.
this is an album from the 70s. that's all you can say about it
Some Beatles inspired 70s radio tunes. Notable for thats 70s show theme. All songs 3.ins long and fine
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.
One hit wonder but the rest is not so really cool stuff...like T Rex better
I have no strong feelings either way. A ‘meh’ 3/5 from me. Forgettable but not bad.
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.
It’s the That 70s Show song
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.
7.5 / 10
That 70s show theme song was good
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.
Better than I expected.
Certainly not a #1 Record
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.
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.
3/5 Wasn’t sure at first but did end up enjoying!
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.
Inoffensive but largely forgettable
It’s almost there, but it’s missing that extra something to lift it above being extremely average.
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
...
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
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
Not my go-to genre, but sounded like a typical rock album.
After the first song I thought it would be like Black Sabbath and I was excited, but then it turned into generic 70s rock.
Wasn’t ready for that 70s show theme song. Songs were all good but never really hooked me. Thought it finished stronger than started
New to the band, but also, this didn't move me?
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!
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
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
i enjoyed this one. i never heard of Big Star so i was presently surprised. a very solid 70s pop rock album
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.
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
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...
Pretty cool. Standout track: In The Street
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
Ehhh… the acoustic songs were better, but still nothing special. Favorite Track: The India Song
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Not bad
Pretty decent
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.
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.
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.
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
Gets better when it gives up any pretense of rocking.
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.
Oh hey it’s the song from That 70s Show!
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.
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.
DECENT, not returning
Great harmonies, seems to be an influence on Boston, foreigner and the like.
nothing really special, tho ‘Give me another chance’ was great 3.5
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.
Je sais que c'est bon mais j'aime pas ca.
C'est ben correct. Mais je sais que je récouterai jamais.
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.
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.
Plenty enjoyable, just a little samey for me. Unfortunately, when you listen back to a lot of these 70s rock albums, they sort of just sound like each other. Definitely a couple great jams though. Best Track: Thirteen
Not a bad album, although felt quite repetitive/disinteresting. Thirteen and watch the sunrise highlights of the album for me. Overall easy to listen to but not lighting my world on fire.
This one started off really strong and kind of tapered out by the end. By no means are the ballads on this album bad they just don’t hold my attention like the wilder first half. Starting off strong with “Feel,” the next five songs are great. After that it’s a bit hit or miss for me. Still a solid record. 7/10 Favorite tracks- “Feel” “In The Street” “ Thirteen”
Paul Westerberg told me to come here.. a 3 because some of the tunes lack depth or whatever.
Pleasant enough.
Glad to learn about this band and their story of under distribution. They sound as good as any of the other early 70’s pop band but never quite made it.
Generic 70s rock
'Thirteen' made it to a playlist
Good albeit average 70's rock stuff. Fun to hear that 70's show song.
Fine. I don’t really have anything to say. It’s fine and decent music, nice tunes, but ultimately nothing memorable. I’d rather just listen to the Stones or something of a similar ilk.
3,5/5I really enjoyed thirteen and didn't see the jump coming from the next song, which was also nice, but that was such a mood switch. It had some great parts and some decent parts but I sometimes missed something.
A long-time under appreciated power pop (or maybe just pop/rock?) album that is now quite appreciated. Lots of good tracks on the album.
There are plenty of good albums that don't deserve the title "album you must hear before you die." I have my own personal list of 100 favorite albums, and while most of it is filled with classics, modern classics, and revolutionary albums, there is a good 1/5 or so that are just great albums I happen to love. Occasionally on this list, I come across an album that feels like the creators of the list just really like it and wanted to include it. This album feels like one of those. The only thing noteworthy I can think about this one is that it features the theme song for That 70s Show. That being said, I mostly enjoyed listening to this. It's a pretty average 70s rock album. And even though it might not be critically acclaimed, or winning an awards, or going platinum, or getting them into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, it's a good record that I'm happy I listened to. My only real complain is that the second half got a little sappy and a lot the songs sounded the same. This ultimately kept it out of 4-star territory for me.
I have spoken to people who are head over heals for these guys and I'm not quite sure I get it. Their sound and style grew on me as I listened but never once did I think "wow... This is incredible". Linda felt like the music that might be playing walking into a random dive bar somewhere in the middle of the country.
better than I thought it would be, and somewhat timeless.
New to me band, but I like it. Good, solid, classic 70s American rock. Band definitely had potential that was wasted.
This was just aggressively OK. I won't remember a single song after hearing this the one and only time I'll ever listen to it.
I had never heard of this band, but apparently they are a beloved cult classic rock/power pop act. You should know the third song on the album (In The Street) as the theme song for ‘That 70s Show.’ I would describe their sound like a combination of Tom Petty & Bad Company. A solid listen, and at only 37 minutes, they didn’t overstay their welcome. Nothing very memorable though. A just slightly above average 3/5 for me.
Despite never having listened to them before, every track feels safe and familiar. It's all very.. pleasant.
Was ok
Feels like the unknowing collision between glam and country, wrapped up in some clever rock
agreed with the people saying something’s missing. it’s fine, just not memorable
it was fine Will I listen to again: 3%
Fully had never heard of Big Star before, not too bad. Pretty generic american rock..
I don't get the hype. Lots of other reviews saying this is a 5/5 album. It's kinda basic. Like, it's still decent. I can see it's influence, and it sounds like it belongs in the Cheap Trick power pop era despite being released at the beginning of the decade in 1972. It's just kinda an average classic rock album. The latter half of the record kinda peters off. That being said, the melodies are catchy, the production is good, and some of the ballads are nice.
You know, I’m usually a sucker for this kind of song, and the theme from that 70s show was a surprise, but this got boring the longer it went on
This was kind of a fun little gem! New to me, though I was familiar with a few of the songs. Dig.
Calling their album #1 record is wild when it’s mid AF. 2.5 out of 5
This one had its moments. I had no idea that the theme from “That 70’s show” came from here. I enjoyed it for the most part, dragged a little on the back half. 3.5/5
This is the most 70s rock band that ever 70s rock banded. I started unintentionally singing In the Street (think everyone my age prob knows that) and the cowbell was <chefs kiss>. At times it did sound like a less good Boston but maybe that’s completely unfair. Lyrics on The India Song also felt like a bit of a give up. Regardless, overall enjoyable.
Wait.. Big Star is actually good? I first listened to Big Star when going through the Rolling Stones Top 500 Albums back in 2023. That list had three Big Star albums and at the time I really didn't care for them. But that was a while ago and I haven't listened to any Big Star since. To my surprise, they're not bad. Nothing crazy, but definitely better than I remember. Makes me curious to relisten to the other two Big Star albums that were on that list. Favorite track: The Ballad Of El Goodo
Started out like some Deep Purple, kinda just turned into a band toward the end. Nothing special here.
Feel sounds similar for some reason but I can't put my finger on it. Jam of a song though. I know it'll piss off all the old heads but super weird hearing the "That 70's Show" theme song on here in this format. I may actually prefer it to the show theme. Also recognize Thirteen from That 70's Show lol the creators must have been fans. Really beautiful song though. This album was good, but something was just missing from it. Enjoyable enough though for a high 3.
good
Nice. I'd never heard of them and they seem the kind of thing I would have been listening to at the time. It almost feels like reminiscing, but without the associations of a song you know.
Pretty laid back 70s album. Effortlessly cool
I love thirteen as a song and have for a long time, but it really is so different from the rest of the album
Fine, I guess. I can see how this album created a blueprint for 70s pop rock and in turn, became an influence for what came after, but in *that*, it's Tom Petty meets The Byrds, stepping in some Beatles' tracks, here and there. Not really sure what the big deal is.
That 70’s show!
Plätschert so vor sich hin. Paar gute Riffs
Не мой кап оф ти, хотя могу понять почему он может кому-либо понравится. Приятный блюзик, который к сожалению под конец становится хиппи балладой. К удивлению есть песни которые мне понравились. 6/10 Highlights: When My Baby's Beside Me
65/100.
Like one reviewer said, this album has the right components, but it needs to be put together. The first half contains average glam-rock. What about the second half? It's just plain acoustic tracks. I prefer this album over the salsa record I reviewed yesterday. 3 stars for "#1 Record".
3 08.19.2025
HANGING OUT!
Generic light rock album.
This was a bit of a surprise. I'd honestly never heard of it before this listen. It sounded kind of familiar, but it wasn't. Not a concept album, it feels more like those compilation albums that everyone bought in the 70's because we couldn't afford all the '45's we wanted. Has a Byrds like instrumentation. Lyrically you would say there was a definite design to make all these tracks tight and radio friendly, the 3 and a half minute rule was seldom if ever broken. If it was a compilation, you'd swear you were listening Mott the Hoople, The Byrds, Tom Petty, James Taylor, Slade and even some whimsical Beatles. But seeing this was before many of those you'd have to ask who was influencing who? It's like a radio Sampler, and I liked it.
Ah Big Star, one of the most fucked over bands ever. How can such an acclaimed album have less than 10,000 copies? Absolute failure from the record label. This album pretty much showcases all of what power pop was going to sound like throughout the 70s. As for the music itself, personally? Eh it's alright. Couple great tracks. Fine music But do I think that because I've heard everyone copy them 100 times?
Strong start, got samey towards the end. I liked Feel and Don't Lie to Me
Well-written, but inconsistent
Ups and downs, strikes and gutters
Early 70s southern rock with a tinge of Simon and Garfunkel elements mixed in. It's not bad at all, and many of the tracks are fairly rocking. It's bound to satisfy nostalgic rock fans for sure. There aren't any really bad tracks, though a lot of it doesn't move me much. Might just be due to first listen. Probably worth another listen in the future. 3/5
need to listen to again
While this did hit it didn’t hit as hard as I excepted, I think a future listen may bring it to a 4 it’s not there for me yet
70’s Heavy Rock. Ok but no reall bangers
Melodic 70s rock, harmonies are on point. Not necessarily a top 1001.
6/10 Favorite: My Life Is Right
Decent 70s rock. No more, no less
Pretty good classic rock, some of the tracks stood out as good jams but the rest were just ok. Standouts: Thirteen, Don't Lie To Me Rating: 3.4/5
I’d never heard of this band till I got a free CD with a music magazine. I can’t say that I was blown away by it and not sure they were worth the praise heaped upon them by the article! It’s well played reasonable good MOR rock with a slight sound of Robert Plant in places.
It's fine. Just another band in an ocean of bands.
Some gorgeous melodies here, like the somewhat disquieting “Thirteen.” I wasn’t quite as taken by this as our last couple from the same era, but I can see the innovation and influence of Big Star.
i didnt care for it the first time i listened to it but i guess i kinda calmed down now and think it's nice and sweet
A very 1970s album. Very easy to listen to with some strong guitar work
ganz nettes rock album. 3.5.
Really good!
Good album. Very 70s sound which was cool Standout songs: Feel Dont lie to me Give me another chance
Not bad but missing something tk make it great
Helt greit, men veldig intetsigende
No está mal, pero me ha parecido demasiado lento y monotono para mi gusto
It was a fun listen while me and the boys had a board game day. 7/10
I know the name, I know they get love from critics and have a cult following but I've never given them a listen. Big horns on the opener, "Feel", it feels like the birth of alt rock in 1972. The guy can certainly sing and gives off a rockstar vibe. I knew "The Ballad Of El Gordo" from the 90's Evan Dando cover but others have covered it over the years as well. It's a catchy song. This is an album I'm surprised no one ever turned me on to. It's good rock and roll and you can feel the influence and roots it had on future alt rock (Matthew Sweet, I'm looking at you!) artists. "Don't Lie To Me" has early KISS vibes. They have a ton of listens with "Thirteen" clocking in with 54M plays. Nice but average song. A handful of other tracks range from 2M to 10M listens, very respectable. Half of it sounds like it's 1972, but half sounds like 1992, it's held up pretty well as compared to their colleagues at the time. Good pull, this is the kinda stuff I was hoping to hear and learn from this T1001 list, not the weird experimental crap, with 4 thousand listens over 35 years, that I've had earlier this week. While I don't consider this a must listen album, nor would I include it in my Top 1001, it was a good listen. 3 stars.
Feel 4 The Ballad of El Goodo 3.4 In the Street 3.4 Thirteen 3 Don't Lie to Me 3.6 The India Song 3 When My Baby's Beside Me 3.2 My Life is Right 3 Give Me Another Chance 3.1 Try Again 3 Watch the Sunrise 3 ST 100/6 3 Score: 3.225
Not a bad listen, never heard of them & was pleasantly surprised.
had high hopes for this one (not to judge an album by its covet but i did). meh at best, not a lot of substance. not displeasing to my ears but not the best ever. 3/5.
Dieses Album entstand im Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, einem damals modernen Studio, das zu den ersten gehörte, die eine 16-Spur-Tonaufnahme ermöglichten. Die Band Big Star, bestehend aus den US-Amerikanern Alex Chilton (Gesang, Gitarre), Chris Bell (Gesang, Gitarre), Andy Hummel (Bass, Piano) und Jody Stephens (Schlagzeug), kombinierte britisch beeinflussten 60er‑Pop mit warmen Harmonien zu ihrem charakteristischen Power‑Pop-Sound. Besonders prägend sind Songs wie „Thirteen“, eine zarte Ballade über jugendliche Sehnsucht, das energische „The Ballad of El Goodo“ mit seinen kraftvollen Gitarren, sowie der eingängige Ohrwurm „In the Street“. Diese Stücke zeigen die Bandbreite von introspektiven Acoustic-Tracks bis hin zu melodischen Rocknummern. Musikalisch ordnet sich das Album klar dem Power Pop mit Folk‑Rock‑Einschlägen zu. Es trägt Merkmale klassischer Songstrukturen, vielstimmiger Gesangspassagen und einer Mischung aus Reflexion und Energie. Persönlich beeindruckt mich, wie trotz technisch sauberer Produktion und melodischer Klarheit ein leicht melancholischer Unterton bleibt, der das Album emotional auflädt. Die Gitarrenarbeit und Stimmen harmonieren präzise, ohne sich künstlich anzufühlen. Die abschließende Bewertung: Ein gut ausbalanciertes, stilprägendes Debüt, das klare Strukturen mit emotionaler Tiefe verbindet – überzeugend umgesetzt, nachhaltig einflussreich und heute nachvollziehbar relevant.
liked it, probably need to revisit because i could see my rating increasing with some familiarity outside of the "That 70s Show" theme song. I'm intrigued by the beatles influence that is referenced.
Didn’t do much for me, I liked thirteen and the ballad of el goodo. But overall kind meh
Decent powerpop som åbenbart ikke var mega comercially populært, men det var critically acclaimed. Det var lidt cult omkring folk som kendte det men der er mange store kunstnere som har udtalt sig om at være inspireret af dette album.
pleasant enough
I thought it was solid, but was really hoping they'd take that extra step at some point. Not fantastic - they have the elements - but hardly bad. 7/10
An interesting fusion of power pop with folky elements. I like power pop, but I prefer it to be more "aggressive," like the heavy Weezer-esque power chord spam. This is not exactly that. And although this album is generally more fun and energetic than most pop rock and folk rock albums, it's still a bit too folky for my taste. 7/10
Not bad, not great. You can hear some influence for 90's rock, but apart from that it's just another solid rock album.
Cool!
Good sound, quite Beatles esque, specifically George. Liked the first few tracks, tailed off towards the end.
Many rate this as an underrated band. I think they're properly rated. They're okay but there's something missing. I wish they rocked out more instead of focusing on acoustic ballads. Overall fine but it never gets out of neutral.
My initial reaction to this album was that it sounded fine, albeit nothing special, although I *was* struck by how this didn't seem like something from as long ago as 1972. After reading about this album and Big Star more generally, I can see better why it was included in this collection, and I'm glad to have heard "#1 record" before I die. (Not so sure whether they warranted a second album in the collection, but I'll guess I'll find out eventually.) I'll admit their sound isn't really all that interesting to me (but no less so with their descendants like REM or The Replacements), and I do wish that it had been mixed better, with clearer vocals and not quite so tinny guitars, but it's still a very solid rock album. My favorites were probably their more (Southern fried) rocking number "In the street", their hit ballad "Thirteen" (although it felt a bit more creepy than sentimental at times), and the truly sad "Try again"; the only real dud was "The India song". Either way, though, it's sad that the record label was incapable of marketing Big Star pretty much at all, as they probably could have thrived with more attention.
Never heard of this, surprisingly good.
I can definitely see how this was influential to groups like REM, but honestly I think about half of these songs would have fit well on George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass. Solid collection of songs. Favorites were The Ballad Of El Goodo, Thirteen, Try Again, and Watch The Sunrise.
Not bad! Sounds very of its time but it was fun and didn’t take itself too seriously (despite the album name).
Kind of boring, but strong otherwise
3.5
One of these, where you ask yourself "why is it on the list". It is not bad. It is quite typical of its time. It's also ok to listen to. But what make it such a special album, that it needs to be on this list. It's a big big question.
More rock, but not really my kind of thing.
It was pretty good. Nothing special and not something I’ll come back to but I enjoyed it whilst it was on. 3/5
Cool album, but kind of one-song affair.
Big Star was like 95% of the way to being a solid band. I don't know why, but I just can't maintain focus on their music. It's just lacking something. They were so close, but just needed a little extra. It just feels like they are going through the paces. There is no passion injected into the music they were making... Favorite songs: Don't Lie To Me, When My Baby's Beside Me, In the Street Least favorite songs: Try Again 3/5
Yeah, fun album!
Thirteen is the Big Star of this album. 3.5 Stars.
The album feels like the soundtrack from one of those Cameron Crowe films in which nothing really happens, but it gets by on vibes. Feels like summer and I like it.
3.5
I really like the songs on this album and it sounds great, but I can't overlook the low-key religious lyrics that pop up at times. Almost went 4, but dropping to 3 as it's just off putting to me.