Tuesday, July 29, 2008

big star 3rd


the author prefaces this pieces by letting you, the humble reader, know he is not in his right mind.

3rd. sister lovers. beale st. green. whatever.
thank you friends.
i'm pretty sure i'm the only one of us (and we're friends, i can say this) who is intimately familiar with this album. i'm AWARE of it. the hint of cowbell in 'thank you, friends'. did you hear it? did i? i'm not really sure. it's never too late to stop. sheeezz....
when was the last time you were really fucked up? i mean, reeeeaaaallllyyyyyyyy.....? can you imagine banging out an album that night? that's kinda what 3rd sounds like. if you were a genius. in that way.
oh, and 'big black car' is the next morning. drivings a gas. it ain't gonna last.
'it ain't gonna last'. i think that would be nice on my tombstone. someone take note.
but the album staggers, it lurches. it falls, gets up, rolls it's eyes, downs a shot, belches a symphony, and falls asleep on your floor. you hate him this morning. but he was sooooooooo beautiful last night.
(the author gets serious) the piano at the end of 'big black car' is a reason to live. seriously. if a human can create something so beautiful, i have to stick around to see what else they are capable of.
jesus christ. i saw big star perform this song on dec.23, 2000. it was the best show i've ever seen. you can tell cuz i remember the date. alex chilton in a suit, barely moving, ultra cool, with that smirk. we're gonna get born!
drums that echo, guitars that chime. and they do. i think of shiny, shiny metal when i hear chilton play. sparks. the coolest fire ever lit.
and how the mood shifts. from despair to euphoria to bemusement to anger to gratitude and back to despair.
cuz the album is a downer.holocaust. all piano seat creak and dead mother and dead eyes and dusty cello and you're a mess.
and then kangaroo. rescued from the ashes by a melotron. a dare made art.
but it's saved by strike it noel! do you wanna dance? is there a more romantic question? answered by those gorgeous violins! asked to a girl who looks so beautiful in that dress. that dress.
listen to it. and picture whomever you fancy. it works. like a fucking charm. easy now.
and we fill the time.
and then it's nightime. and you're alone and the walls close in. or you're outside and the air closes in. the crowds stare and laugh, i suppose. and your mind drifts to something it shouldn't. get me out of here. i hate it here.
and you look up at the blue moon. and memories blur your vision like clouds. for a moment, tlll the buzz of a standup bass and the wind from a clarinet blow them away. if demons come while you're under, i'll be blue moon in the sky. let me say that again. if demons come while you're under, i'll be blue moon in the sky. isn't that beautiful? isn't that what anyone needs? or whatever.
take care.

1 comment:

MO'SH said...

And on a minor note, simply one of the best album covers ever. Look at it!