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CHRIS
BELL
I Am The Cosmos (Rykodisc)
It should have been the debut
album to launch the accolades that singer songwriter Chris
Bell yearned for. The fact it is merely a compilation of unreleased
work from a life tragically cut short only serves to add an
even more solemn edge to a record that already revels in melancholy.
For further stark proof listen to the poignancy of the songs
he wrote and the excellent and touching sleevenotes written
by his brother David that lovingly tells the story behind
the album's posthumous making.
Chris Bell's recording career
was not a vast one. He spent precious little time with Big
Star before falling out with Alex Chilton. What remains of
his Big Star contributions are featured on the debut album
No1 Record. His solo output was even more sporadic.
'I am the Cosmos' released on
Rykodisc is a flawed but beautiful, sensitive masterpiece
panned out to 15 tracks by the inclusion of alternate takes.
The album kicks off with his crowning glory, the passionate
and powerful 'I am the Cosmos'. Both dark and uplifting
at the same time. The great cover picture of the singer head
bowed and lost high above the snowy mountains animates the
powerful imagery this song evokes. Alex Chilton included the
song in his reformed Big Star set and Ken Stringfellow of
the Posies sung lead. His striking rendition of this song
is captured on the Big Star live album, Columbia. Well worth
a listen.
'Better save yourself' is
very Lennonesque in the bittersweet delivery. 'Speed of
Sound' is a haunting ballad full of jealousy and hatred.
Ken Woodley's organ paints a moving and solemn picture. 'Get
Away' is a rockier, gritty affair and the soul pours out
of Chris dirty southern drawl. 'You and Your Sister'
is another finely tuned ballad. Sung with the same naked,
raw emotion that Gram Parsons achieved in his music, the sound
of a voice about to crack at any given moment. Soothing, wrecked
and hopelessly romantic at the same time. Not many people
can show such emotion without it sounding false and tacky.
Alex Chilton sings backing vocals and the song is in a similar
vein to Chilton's 'Thirteen'. 'Make a Scene'
is another stormer of a song. Chris Bell tears into the song
with a vengeance and the song has classic power pop stamped
all over it. 'Look Up' has all the gentle, warm lullaby
elements that makes it dream pop par excellence. 'I got
kinda lost' is a loose carefree boogie where Big Star
clash perfectly with the Beatles in their prime. 'There
was a light' recalls the calm of Hey Jude. All plonking
piano keys and optimistic lyrics or even a cry for help? 'Fight
at the table' is a jaunty, jubilant riot. The legendary
producer Jim Dickinson plays merrily away on piano. 'I
don't know' is mean and moody; big hearty power pop as
guitars clatter and chime all over the place. 'Though I
know she lies' is another emotive cry sung deep from within
the soul.
Chris Bell died instantly when
his car plunged into a telephone pole on December 27th, 1978
at a time when things were initially beginning to look up
after years of commercial failure and personal troubles. Thanks
to an ever-increasing fanbase, his music will live forever.
So rarely have sentiments come across with so much intensity
and integrity intact from such a broken sounding man. A legend
no less.
If you would like to send
your comments, ratings on any the above albums please email
me soulboy_69@yahoo.com.
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