Big Star Live

by Jason Ankeny Recorded in the wake of the release of Radio City, Big Star Live documents a freewheeling radio date originally broadcast in 1974. Spotlighting the strongest material from the group's first two LPs, the mood is both lighthearted and world-weary, the attitude of bandmembers fully cognizant of the fact that the music they're creating is exceptional, yet dumbfounded by their almost complete lack of commercial success. A cover of Loudon Wainwright's "Motel Blues" is wholly indicative of Alex Chilton's mindset at this point in the game; already a battle-scarred veteran of the music industry, his frustration is palpable, lending even greater urgency to remarkable songs like "September Gurls," "The Ballad of El Goodo," "O My Soul," and "Thirteen." While certainly not the best starting point for new fans, Big Star Live is essential stuff for the converted.