I Am the Cosmos [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED]

Chris Bell

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 21, 1992)
• Original Release Date: February 21, 1992
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: Rykodisc
• ASIN: B0000009OD
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #14,342 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Rock > Power Pop

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The very first lines of Chris Bell's one and only album say it all: "Every night I tell myself I am the cosmos / I am the wind / That don't bring you back again." Recorded between his departure from the notoriously misbegotten power-pop group Big Star in 1972 and his 1978 death following an auto accident, Cosmos is the work of a man struggling to assuage his depression with spiritual succor. Musically, this collection (which was unheard by the general public prior to 1992) is reminiscent of John Lennon's '70s work. With the exception of Plastic Ono Band, however, Lennon never put out a solo album on a par with this one. The tragedy is that Bell never had a chance to try to match it. --Steven Stolder

Product Description

Big Star guitarist Chris Bell was one of the unsung heroes of American pop music; despite a life marked by tragedy and a career crippled by commercial indifference, the singer/songwriter's slim body of recorded work proved massively influential on the generations of indie rockers who emerged in his wake. Lyrically poignant and melodically stunning, this lone solo album is proof of his underappreciated pop mastery. 180 gram vinyl. Original artwork. --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars still a "lost" record-please find it! (4 stars+), June 19, 2002

By	llllloyd (minnesota,usa) - See all my reviews

I'll start off by saying i'm glad that at least 14 other people own this record. Music this good does not deserve to be so obscure but alas... The other thing I must say is that I want more. I want more original Big Star stuff, more Chris Bell stuff but that's only a wish. This album of mostly unreleased material is all that's left of Chris Bell music-wise and it's a shame. Recorded in pieces between his departure from Big Star and his death in 1978, this album is full of hook laden power pop and emotional accoustic and mid tempo songs. To me,the album's best track is "I Got Kinda Lost". If life was fair this would have been a hit-it's one of my favorite songs recorded during the 70's. It's an urgent song that nearly jumps out at you and it all comes together in such an amazing way. Another great "rocker" is "I don't know why". Stick with me on this but it's a song Aerosmith COULD have recorded somewhere around this time (it even has a cowbell). Of course, being inferior in every way, they never found a way to create a song this interesting or flat out good. The heavier songs are a nice fit against the reflective,slower songs. "Though I Know She Lies" is just stone beautiful. It's like a number of the songs on this album and in the Big Star catalog (both with and without Bell), they have a sadness built into them. The tittle track, "There Was A Light", "You And Your Sister" and "Better Save Yourself" all share it. They are all great songs but also bittersweet. "Better Save Yourself" in particular is so sad that it would have been perfect for Big Star's Third/Sister Lovers. The slower songs are peppered with insightful lyrics and good music plus Bell's passionate (if high pitched) vocals. The album has a few weak tracks but as they say, the weakest moments here are are better than most others best stuff. That said,I think this album is better than any Alex Chilton solo album(not including Third)-it's more focused and inspired. I don't care about which one was the better artist really, I'm just glad I became fans of both. Chris Bell IS the best singer/songwriter you've new heard of. As others have said-the liner notes by his brother David are about the best around. Read with dismay about how a man this talented ended up managing his father's restarant shortly before he died. Discover I Am The Cosmos. (p.s I'm sorry I mentioned Aerosmith)

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great piece of history for Big Star and power pop fans, September 17, 2003

By	Perry M. Koons "theeighthbeatle" (Crownsville, MD United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Chris Bell was always the underappreciated half of Big Star - while critics and fans raved over Alex Chilton's intense, brooding pop songs (deservedly so), Chris Bell was somewhat lost in the shuffle. His songs are often chilling and desperate in the same mold as Chilton, but his voice is not quite as powerful or accessible as Chilton's - which never detracts from the songs. This CD is a worthy companion to the essential Big Star albums, and fortunately is widely available. Nothing here approaches the anthemic status of "In The Street" - Bell's one contribution to mainstream culture, from That 70's Show - but the more low key songs make this work well as a cohesive record.

Best Tracks:
"I Am The Cosmos" - Soul-searching, lonesome, and an all time power pop classic. Would have sounded just as good on Third/Sister Lovers.
"Speed Of Sound" - Runs a little long, but this emotionally fragile tune is one of the best on the CD.
"You And Your Sister" - Chilton's backing vocals and the sweeping arrangement make this one of the greatest love songs nobody has ever heard. Truly a keeper, in any of the 3 versions that appear here (they aren't TOO different, but all worthy).
"There Was A Light" - I'd describe this as George Harrison and Mitch Easter jamming on a soul-pop theme.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Majestic Sound of Big Star - Almost, May 28, 2003

By	dev1 (Baltimore) - See all my reviews

For fans of Big Star, Chris Bell's `I Am the Cosmos' is a must have. Bell writes sugar-sweet love songs (Speed of Sound, You and Your Sister, Thought I Knew Her) with infatuating melodies that stand well against the best of Paul McCartney. Love lost is seldom heard with such despair. Of particular interest, `I Am the Cosmos' overwrites a beautiful melody with some ripping guitar chords emphasizing the composition's aura of futility.

The rockers (Get Away, Make a Scene, I Don't Know) remind me not so much of Big Star, but of John Lennon's rebellious Plastic Ono Band period: fiery but chaotic.

Those familiar with Big Star songs such as `The Ballad of El Goodo,' My Life Is Right,' Try Again' and `Give Me Another Chance' shouldn't be surprised with Bell's spiritual affirmations. `Better Save Yourself,' Look Up,' and `There Was a Light' clearly seek the heavens for inspiration.

I wouldn't rate `I Am the Cosmos' on par with Big Star's first two albums, but Chris Bell's influence on the band's majestic sound is profound.