Released last month, Free Again: The 1970 Sessions highlights a fertile, if transient, period in Alex Chilton’s life and career. As the decade began the twenty year old Chilton found himself at a crossroads. Having already achieved preternatural pop success as a teen with the blue-eyed soul of the Box Tops (and a year away [...]

(Sevens, a recurring feature on Aquarium Drunkard, pays tribute to the art of the individual song.) There is an understood snarl to much of Alex Chilton’s latter work beginning with Big Star’s Third/Sister Lovers. While it was certainly detectable on the group’s first two LPs, it was in no way so pronounced…so visceral. “My Rival,” [...]

One of indie-rock’s most important pioneers and songwriters died today. Alex Chilton, founding member of Big Star, died at the age of 59. It is especially sad given that Big Star was only two days away from a major performance at the South by Southwest music festival, but would be sorrowful regardless. It’s kind of [...]