Here’s a list of classic/favorite records I initially disliked, but that I later purchased (or re-purchased) and cherished.
- Big Star’s #1 Record/Radio City. The last CD I remember buying that came in one of the tall cardboard boxes. Purchased in early 1994 while I was at Baylor in Waco. Early in 2000 I scored an MP3 copy from Sharks and Sailors bassist, Melissa Lonchambon. This time I was transfixed. One of my top ten all time favorite records. I can’t even remember why I disliked it in the first place.
- Pavement’s Slanted & Enchanted. Perused at a Wherehouse Music listening station and thought it was awful and unlistenable. Had never heard music so intentionally bad. Later, I got an advance cassette of Wowee Zowee from a friend (also named Marshall) whose mom did A & R stuff for Matador. I wore out that cassette in the spring of ‘95, so my ears were plenty more receptive when I finally went back to their debut LP.
- Pixies’ Trompe Le Monde. First Pixies record I ever owned. Got it from BMG record club. Traded it for The Doors – Live at Hollywood Bowl, in what was probably my all time worst trade. Ended up buying it again from Columbia House.
- Radiohead’s The Bends. Another decision made at the Wherehouse Music listening station. At the time, “Planet Telex” was a disappointing leadoff track for someone who had really enjoyed Pablo Honey. A ridiculous string of great singles and memorable videos would change my mind about this record. The Bends is still my favorite Radiohead record.
- Television’s Marquee Moon. Another record club purchase. I bought this record because Justin recommended it back in the day. But I hated it immediately. Indeed, it was the only record on this list that I intensely disliked. Fast-forward to 2003-2005, when I found myself regularly frequenting hipster dancefloors (thankfully this era of my life is over). While Franz Ferdinand and Interpol were dominating, and other, lesser bands were also channeling Television, it was the nostalgic TV remixes that hooked me in. Now, I hear these iconic hooks and can’t believe the initial animosity/boredom the record inspired in me.
1. My problem with Big Star – so British. There’s a whole bunch of pop fans who think the only way to write a “perfect” pop song is to employ every anglo-musical bit of witticism they can think of.
2. Have tried so many times to get into this album, just cannot do it.
3. Reminds me of the new Jason & the Scorchers album, first song chorus And he yells and he roars / likes the Stones, hates the Doors / thinks the Beatles sing for girls / he’s a moonshine guy in a six pack world.
4. Love the Bends. My favorite RH record too.
5. Love Marquee Moon, loved it immediately -and no brit pop whatsoever.
1. British? Really? I mean, aside from “India Song,” which I think we’d all like to forget, it doesn’t sound that British to me. And the lyrics to “Thirteen” are totally Norman Rockwell Americana.
4. It’s funny to me that you can say Big Star is too British and then say you love The Bends. You contain multitudes, my friend.
5. I loved Marquee Moon immediately too.
Big Star sounds totally influenced by British invasion stuff. But maybe we need a podcast to refresh my memory. As for the Bends, since that actually is British it gets a different rating system. Still, it’s not like I have listened to it in years, so maybe “love” is too strong a word.
Big Star is influenced by British Invasion stuff, but it’s pretty heavily translated and mixed with blues + soul. Plus whatever flotsam they picked up from the Beach Boys and The Band. Plus some Led Zeppelin. Like nearly any good rock band, they just put it all together. I actually think the looseness of their sound and pre-punk naivete subverts any obvious connection with the Beatles / Stones.
To put it another way, I can’t think of a single British band that sounds like Big Star. But I can think of lots of American bands that do. And that’s really the test for whether something sounds British. Show me a British band that sounds like they care about Big Star. I’m having a hard time coming up with one.
You paint a much more interesting picture. alright, I’m downloading a couple of albums. will get back to you. I’ve been heavily (pun intended) in to Zeppelin influences lately (adding to my multitudes, Justin) so you had me there. I’ll let you know if post mortem apologies to Mr. Chilton are in order.
I should clarify that I agree the British Invasion influences are significant, and that the Led Zep parallels are present, but by no means dominant. And for me, there’s a lot of George Harrison’s solo influence in Big Star, which I don’t hear as being part of the Brit Invasion or particularly Beatle-esque.
Really, both the Harrison and the Zeppelin comparisons are just ways to describe Big Star’s guitar- and riff- centric approach, which was certainly Anglo-influenced, but sounds totally American, when you consider all the bands that came in their wake.
Certainly, contra the Stones, Zeppelin, and Them, Big Star expanded the focus from blues to include some Motown / R & B. What I mean is, there’s some Sam and Dave in there somewhere, too.
I’m listening now. It’s like a double flash back. Reminds me of the brief resurgence of power pop at turn of the century (see Young Heart Attacks) which in turn reminded me of my youth and my Cheap Trick records. So yeah, not quite as British as I remember it. It’s more like Jim Croce on steroids. It’s fun stuff and considering my band-related turn of events lately might prove influential. Glad I revisited.
Well, they were on Stax, so the soul influence wouldn’t be a big shock. There is a track o Radio City that is blatant Beatles-ish to me.
I very much like 1 and 4, sort of like some of 3 and 5 and basically can’t stand 2. yet, when you list them together as a group, and without actually sitting down and listening to them, just from the sounds that they bring to my mind, suddenly they all seem so incredibly similar one to the other. I can’t put my finger on what it is though, beyond a certain style of guitar and drums and maybe a certain gravity without being “heavy”. not sure though what it is cause if i start thinking in detail about any two songs they suddenly seem different.
Funny about Big Star. I had a similar delayed appreciation. In high school I had a freind – Luis – who always raved about them and made me listen to #1 record and Radio City but it just never stuck. It wasn’t until maybe 5 years ago that I heard “Oh My Soul” from Radio City that Big Star suddenly worked for me. After that it all totally clicked and I could see why Luis kept shoving those first two records down my throat.
I haven’t been able to get into Big Star, though I have tried really only once with the Third album, and honestly I only REALLY like two songs on Slanted and Enchanted, though much of the rest of it is alright by me. Not as crazy about that last Pixies album as I am the middle two (Doolittle and Bossanova) or even the first one, but it’s still alright. The Bends is also my favorite Radiohead, but more accurately it’s the only Radiohead I own. Marquee Moon is one of my favorite albums though. I just love it. The guitar interplay is just incredible, every time.