PT: Alex Chilton Remembered

I don't have much time, about fifteen minutes, so sorry that I can't get too much into explanation here.  On Wednesday, the music world lost a key figure in Alex Chilton.  Whether you know it or not, Chilton has been an influence on basically anything, mainly with his band Big Star.  Big Star have a huge cult following like Velvet Underground, only Lou Reed was loud and knew he was fucking cool.  Alex Chilton was the kid sitting in the corner just being a boss and not making everyone see.  However, his body of work is exemplary and should be viewed by all.  To honor him and Big Star, I'm going to post ten Big Star songs everyone should know.  Not all were written by Chilton, but he had a major effect on all, either melodically or musically.

1) Thirteen - The first Big Star song I knew because of Elliott Smith.  An absolute classic.  One of the sweetest and most innocent songs you will ever hear.

2) Kangaroo - Taylor and I once listened to this on a night drive back to his house, and spaced out for the entirety of the song, lost in it's brilliance.

3) I'm In Love With A Girl - A short, but meaningful song.  He says everything so simply, but with a voice like his, it sounds so complex.

4) Holocaust - The epitome of sad song.  Chilton was falling apart during Big Star's third album Sister Lovers, and this song is completely emblematic of it.

5) Stroke It Noel - Power pop with fantastic strings always gets the best of me.

6) Ballad of El Goodo

7) September Gurls

8) In the Street

9) Nighttime

10) Blue Moon

R.I.P. Alex Chilton.