Ghost of Electricity Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 what thread is this anyway? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Alan Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 what thread is this anyway?having trouble following along? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Remain In Light is their best piece of work. And Speaking in Tongues an Little Creatures hold up with their previous albums. I would probably agree with the first sentence, but not the second. Remain in Light came out in 1980. I think they went downhill after that one, and never again put out an entire album of great tunes. Their first three albums is a better collection of music than Big Star's output, in my opinion. If you include Remain in Light, it's not even close. So when are Big Star coming back to Atlanta? I'd love to see them again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 I considered them. Marquee Moon is probably my favorite album of the '70s. If they had put out two more albums that were as good, it'd be no contest. XTC and Devo might be worthy contenders. XTC did their best work in the 80's.Devo: I'm not sure of the release dates of their albums. Although, what about The Ramones? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MattZ Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 1977 My Aim Is True1978 This Year's Model1979 Armed Forces Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Although, what about The Ramones? Not enough variety. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hardwood floor Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 1977 My Aim Is True1978 This Year's Model1979 Armed Forces holy shit Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MattZ Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 holy shit care to elaborate a bit? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 1977 My Aim Is True1978 This Year's Model1979 Armed Forces I considered him, but it was a borderline violation of my self-imposed rules regarding band vs. frontman w/ backing band. I'd probably put that body of work ahead of Big Star. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MattZ Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 I considered him, but it was a borderline violation of my self-imposed rules regarding band vs. frontman w/ backing band. I'd probably put that body of work ahead of Big Star. gotcha. fair point.It's also a bit weird for the "best of the 70s" to be weighted so heavily towards the "end of the 70s." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 If nothing else, this thread shows two things: 1. Virtually all of the best bands of the '70s (meaning, bands that originated in the '70s), came along during the last three or four years of the decade. '77-'80 was clearly one of the all time high points for rock/pop music. 2. They all released albums at a pace that is much, much more impressive than the current norm. And the ratio of filler to top shelf music hasn't changed much. Oh, and I'll throw another one up for consideration: PERE UBU Date ALBUMS / Singles 1975 December 30 Seconds Over Tokyo (single)1976 March Final Solution (single)1976 November Street Waves (single)1977 August Untitled (single)1978 January THE MODERN DANCE (LP)1978 April DATAPANIK IN THE YEAR ZERO (EP) 1978 November DUB HOUSING (LP)1979 September NEW PICNIC TIME (LP)1979 October The Fabulous Sequel (Have Shoes Will Walk) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MattZ Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 If nothing else, this thread shows two things: It shows a third thing, too. Big Star was not the best band of the 70s. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 NPR has the entire first disc of the box set streaming at their site. At least until the set's released on the 15th. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Alan Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 It shows a third thing, too. Big Star was not the best band of the 70s. That's like, your opinion. Man. Elvis was great, but I don't think he was as consistent. His albums have always been very lopsided for me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MattZ Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 That's like, your opinion. Man. Elvis was great, but I don't think he was as consistent. His albums have always been very lopsided for me. Yes, Alan. I didn't mean to suggest that I had settled this issue. Just that a lot of people in this thread have listed lots of bands that are (IMO) better than Big Star. Also, we are focused on the 70s. I can understand if you think Elvis's albums can be lopsided, but his first three albums (i.e., the ones from the 70s)? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Moss Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 It's funny, I never would have thought of Elvis as a 70's act for some reason but you can't argue with those first 3 albums. As good as it gets. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ghost of Electricity Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Sticky Fingers 1971Exile on Main Street 1972Goat's Head Soup 1973It's Only Rock and Roll 1974Black and Blue 1976Some Girls 1978 or Workingman's Dead 1970American Beauty 1970Mars Hotel 1974Blues For Allah 1975Terrapin Station 1977Shakedown Street 1978. ok, so they seem to belong to 60s, and the output is varied. But crap, you can't say that all the good music came from the late 70s because the best of the stuff listed above is the early stuff Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted September 13, 2009 Share Posted September 13, 2009 Bought that new 45 today. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Alan Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 Bought that new 45 today. Which new 45? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Heartbreak Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 I must say, I love Goat's Head Soup: Dancing With Mr. D, Heartbreaker, Angie, Silver Train, Star Star ... great album. Speaking of others who owned the 70s (with very little notable output in the 60s), how about this guy: 1970 Elton John1970 Tumbleweed Connection1971 Madman Across the Water1972 Honky Château1973 Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player1973 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road1974 Caribou1975 Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy1975 Rock of the Westies1976 Blue Moves Even if you discounted the first album as inferior to what was to come, and stopped at 1974, that's still a stellar run of 6 classic albums in 4 years. Oh, yeah, Big Star is pretty good. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 Which new 45?Feel (alternate mix) b/w Mod Lang (unissued single mix) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
brownie Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 Big Star box set arrived today!!!! *bounces up and down* Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Golden Smoghead Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 To my taste, yes, Big Star was the best 70s band. I'm ready for the hate mail, but my number two would be Skynyrd. And, I'd add that this is all b/c of playing by the rules. Definitely that early 70s Stones exceeds Big Star. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 To my taste, yes, Big Star was the best 70s band. I'm ready for the hate mail, but my number two would be Skynyrd. And, I'd add that this is all b/c of playing by the rules. Definitely that early 70s Stones exceeds Big Star. I don't know if they would be number 2, but Thin LIzzy would (should) certainly qualify for Top-10, at the bare minimum. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Moss Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 There is a great article on Big Star in the November MOJO magazine. Some great quotes from Alex like: "People say Big Star made some of the best rock'n'roll albums ever. And I say they're wrong" and "I still see myself as a poor songwriter. A few songs are good but many are real clunkers" and about Thirteen "That's one of my almost-good songs. I don't know where it came from but I made up this wild bit of guitar in 15 minutes. you don't hear many 20-year-olds doing that" I would kill to have written anything on those first 3 big star albums! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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