Last time we all gathered for Saturday Spins it was on Sunday and we, the creatures that inhabit this corner of the internet, however dark and dank it is, honored our fathers by discussing music that reminded us of our fathers. This week, I plan to cover an album that I have been flirting with covering for several weeks now. It is a solo record by an lesser-known member of the so-called “27 Club.” Awhile back, I covered Big Star–but I covered their second album, which does not feature this week’s artist. The influence is there, though.
Chris Bell
I Am the Cosmos
1992
The 1992 date is kinda ehhh. Songs on this album were completed in 1974-1975, sadly, Bell died in a car accident in 1978, before the full album could be released. The songs were put together and released by Rykodisc in 1992, and only being released on vinyl in 2017. The latter is what we are working with here. Somewhere in that time period, Rhino put out a deluxe version on CD which can be had on iTunes without the fantastic liner notes.
I was able to snag this one on translucent blue vinyl, which looks pretty sharp. The cover photo was taken by Bell’s brother, David, in Switzerland with a portion of Diablerets in the background. After he left Big Star, Bell battled severe depression, but continued to write and record music up until his untimely death.
It is pretty clear from this record that a lot of Big Star’s sound was mainly Bell’s brainchild. Much of the Big Star songwriting credits go to the combination of (Alex)Chilton/Bell. Chilton sang background vocals on the notable “You and Your Sister” and played guitar on some other tracks. Big Star Drummer Jody Stephens held down backbeat throughout the whole LP.
The whole record is really great and makes one wonder what could have been if Bell did not die so young. He did struggle mightily with depression, drugs, and alcohol–so there’s a decent chance he would have been buried under the weight of depression and vices. Who knows.
Track by Track
1. I Am the Cosmos
It is said that after his departure from Big Star, Bell became immersed in Christianity. Couple that with the mind-altering substances and its pretty clear where the lyrical content was derived from. This title track is well-known and has been covered by Beck and Scarlett Johannson with Pete Yorn.
2. Better Save Yourself
This one really pours on the bible thumping. Upon closer examination, it would appear to be a letter to himself about depression, drug use, and laziness. It’s not often an artist makes his or her struggles crystal clear; sometimes they are hidden in cryptic lyrics or lyrics that are meant to be understood by a select few people. In the case of this song, it is the former.
3. Speed of Sound
A truly beautiful song, but also very dark in that it is about love lost. However, it showcases Bell’s masterful songwriting and simple, but elegant, acoustic guitar work.
4. Get Away
Since this LP is mostly a large collection of unfinished or rough tracks, “Get Away” is similar both musically and lyrically to another song on the album, “I Don’t Know”, which happens to be my favorite song. “Get Away” definitely sounds like a rough sketch in almost every way.
5. Make a Scene
As some critics say, one can tell that Big Star was definitely all Chris Bell, and you can definitely hear that on this song. I absolutely love the guitar solo on this one. A straight groover, Bell croons over some distorted guitar and driving drums about a lover or a friend that hurt him recently. I wonder if it might be connected to the falling out he had with the other members of Big Star?
6. Look Up
Aaannnnd were back with the religiosity. Probably the most straightforward praise song on an otherwise rock n roll album. I think Bell’s flirtations with religion had more to do with substances and depression than an epiphany, but that is merely my opinion.
7. I Got Kinda Lost
Other than anything by Big Star, if you wanted to introduce someone to power pop or jangle pop music, this song would be perfect. There is some Beatles influence there, but it is also undeniably a Chris Bell rockin’ track.
8. There Was a Light
This one I would classify as a rockin’ dirge. It impressively fuses power pop with a southern rock sound. At first listen, one may mistake it for another religious song, but I think it has more to do with his battles with depression.
9. Fight at the Table
It is unfortunate that this song sounds relatively unfinished. It is more a funk/soul track than a power pop song. Bell’s vocals sound distant, but the bass is very pronounced as well as the guitar. It has a neat little piano diddy in the background too. I gotta say, this album has a little bit of everything.
10. I Don’t Know
As I mentioned before, this is my favorite track on the album. It sounds, at least to me, the most polished. Even more than “You and Your Sister.” It is Chris Bell at his best, like some of the other tacks on here, it could be put on any Big Star album and be virtually indistinguishable from the other songs.
11. Though I know She Lies
The penultimate song is a pretty good love song. It is slower in tempo and a bit quieter, but the vocals are well-showcased. One of the best parts is the short slide electric guitar solo over the acoustic background.
12. You and Your Sister
One of the only officially released singles from Bell’s solo project–before the 1992 full release. It is a beautiful song and features Alex Chilton on guitar and background vocals. It is is probably the most well-known song from this solo project other than “I Am the Cosmos.
