Not being very familiar with Chris Bell or his former band Big Star, I came across one of his songs ("The Speed Of Sound") on a Flaming Lips Late Night Tales compilation from 2005. To me, it was Bell's track which stood out the most out of all 20 tracks; it was haunting. It truly comes as no surprise to me that it was featured on a Flaming Lips compilation as that song sounds very much like an acoustic track the Lips could have written themselves, complete with layered vocals drenched in echo and chorus effects. Sadly, Chris Bell passed away in 1978 though his recordings were collected onto this album in 1992. The updated 2009 edition released and remastered by Rhino Records features a second disc full of b-sides, rarities, alternate takes and mixes. Bell's music is a mix of gentle rock and pop with a little country twang thrown in from time to time. It doesn't get much more relaxing than this album. It contains little flares of upbeat songwriting material which resonate with a Beatles-like quality on tracks like "I Am The Cosmos" which has a very psychedelic Sgt. Pepper album feel to it, or "There Was A Light" featuring more of a Let It Be-era sound to it right down to the piano and distorted guitar solo. The guitar-playing on this album is phenomenal as Chris Bell shows that not only can he rock out with traditional power chords but can finger-pick with the best of guitarists to create very atmospheric music. This is some of the most creative and heartfelt music that I have heard in a long time and I regret not picking up on it much sooner, but as they always say, better late than never. The bonus tracks are a nice touch especially for any completists. Add to that Rhino's remastering process, which is flawless, and as far as I'm concerned, this is the definitive version of I Am The Cosmos as it was meant to be heard.
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