RIP Alex Chilton

Kinda funny, this morning I was uncharacteristically checking my Facebook, when one of my friend's posted on their wall, "Alex Chilton." I commented with "I'm in love, what's that song?"---a lyric from The Replacements song 'Alex Chilton.'

About an hour later, listening to NPR, buttoning a shirt, they began playing the beginning of Big Star's "Ballad of El Goodo."

I thought, "this song + Alex Chilton reference on facebook = fuck!"

Alex Chilton died.

#1 Record was a big part of my early 20's. I love it. I love the way Replacements frontman Paul Westerberg loved them (I love the Replacements).

It's sad. 

Big Star is one of the underrated bands of the 70's. Maybe the most critically acclaimed (non-punk) band of the  70's.

This record is definitely a coming-of-age record.  I hope to introduce it to my kid one day.

RIP Alex Chilton.

BTW:

In case you're wondering how fucking awesome and respected Alex was, look at this duet with Yo La Tengo, covering Velvet Underground's Femme Fatale in 2007. (Can that last sentence be more awesome?)