Unreleased for over 15 years, I Am the Cosmos is nevertheless an enduring testament to the brilliance of Chris Bell; lyrically poignant and melodically stunning, this lone solo album is proof positive of his underappreciated pop mastery. While cuts like "Get Away," "I Got Kinda Lost," and "Fight at the Table" recall the glowing, energetic power pop of Bell's earlier work, the majority of the songs on I Am the Cosmos are more reflective and deeply personal; the title track is a harrowingly schizophrenic tale of romantic despair, while other cuts like the lurching "Better Save Yourself" and the lovely "Look Up" are infused with a spiritual power largely missing from his Big Star material. The album's highlight, "You and Your Sister" — which features backing vocals from none other than Bell's Big Star mate Alex Chilton — is simply one of the great unknown love songs in the pop canon, a luminous and fragile ballad almost otherworldly in its beauty. -AMG
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3 comments:
Another one of my favorites. It's rare to find power pop that is good for a "down" mood, but this definitely fits the bill. "Look Up" and "There Was a Light" are my favorites, such moving tracks.
Oh, and I see you're in the area. You should check out this record show in Hillside this Sunday (if you don't already know about it):
http://www.chicagorecordcollectors.com/
This album is a monster. "You and Your Sister" still kills me.
Thanks.
Thanks a lot Ray
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