Big Star Tribute

Rate It! Avg: 3.5 (45 ratings)
Big Star Tribute album cover
Album Information

Total Tracks: 11   Total Length: 39:07

eMusic Review 0

Avatar Image
Will Hermes

eMusic Contributor

04.22.11
A musical galaxy full of "Little Star"s
Label: KOCH Records / Entertainment One Distribution

This charming tribute compilation to the revered and revived '70s power-pop band has been in the works for about a decade; why it's taken this long to come out is anyone's guess. But any excuse to revisit the songbook of main writer Alex Chilton — one of rock's best — is always welcome. Many of the recordings have been floating around for a while now — for instance, Wilco's gorgeous cover of "Thirteen," a missive from a schoolkid (or a pederast?) in love, turned up on an import version of their "Outta Site (Outta Mind)" single back in 1996, as well as the more recent Wilco bootleg compilation Outta Print, Outta Site Volume 1. And stirring versions of "Nighttime" (remade here as a darkly soaring rock anthem by the Afghan Whigs) and "Give Me Another Chance" (sweetly harmonized by Whiskeytown) are relics of now-defunct bands. If this labor of love by Big Star drummer Jody Stephens is flawed, it's only due to some artists (Gin Blossoms, Idle Wilds) being overly faithful to the originals, and that the 11-song set is too short. But with a little diligence, you can search out enough additional material (Elliott Smith's version of… read more »

Write a Review 2 Member Reviews

Please register before you review a release. Register

user avatar

True Tribute Disc

EMUSIC-006073D4

One of the rare "tribute" albums where you can believe that the artists on it really do love the band they are covering --- not just gloming on for some free promotion. I'll give the songs by Wilco, Teenage Fanclub, The Afghan Whigs and Matthew Sweet the biggest praise, but they are all worthwhile contributions.

user avatar

What's Goin Ahn?

Dvoodoo

The All Music/eMusic official reviewer complains that these cuts seem a lil' dated and have been around for awhile. Well, that's because this compilation was assembled in the late 1990's ...not the 2006 digital release date listed. I had a few of them around since then from a promo CD issued by the defunct Ignition label, and am happy to be able to get the rest. Dig the now basically retired Kelly Willis, or Mike Mills from R.E.M guesting with Matthew Sweet on El Goodo...

Recommended Albums