Alex Chilton, one of the pioneers of pop/rock music and power pop, has died at the age of 59. He passed away yesterday from suspected heart problems in a New Orleans hospital. With his untimely passing, the world just got a lot less joyful. I keep hitting 'refresh' with the hopes that there will be a retraction, but it's appearing less and less likely that is going to happen. It's going to be a difficult couple of days.

Chilton was born in Memphis, Tennessee in December of 1950. He rose to fame when a local band that later would be known as the Box Tops recruited him to be their lead singer. Their breakthrough song, "The Letter", became a #1 hit in 1967 when Chilton was only 16 (and recorded when he was only 15, which proves that life isn't fair). The group recorded a few more hits before disbanding and pursuing individual solo careers in early 1970.

It was at this point that Chilton and fellow Memphis musician Chris Bell together formed the influential power-pop group Big Star. Their first album, #1 Record is 37 minutes and 3 seconds of musical perfection. Every single song, note, and beat contained on the record is pure unadulterated musical brilliance. Some of the high points include "In The Street", which would later be covered by Cheap Trick and used as the theme song to That '70s Show. "The Ballad of El Goodo" is another song that is a perfect synchronization of melody and lyrics, with backing harmonies reminiscent of Brian Wilson. "Thirteen" is described by Rolling Stone (even a broken clock is right twice a day) as "one of rock's most beautiful celebrations of adolescence", and to me perfectly represents the expression of young love and music. Numerous musicians, including Garbage, Wilco, and Elliott Smith have covered it. "When My Baby's Beside Me" is another song that I can't go on enough about. Despite the many positive reviews, the album failed to gain widespread commercial success, mostly due to the incompetent marketing and management of Stax Records. Chris Bell left the group after the first album due to the limited commercial success, but also partly due to power dynamic in the band.

Big Star followed up their debut record in 1974 with Radio City, an effort that garnered the same amount of critical praise, but also had the same amount of commercial failure, due to the incompetence of their new label, Ardent Records. Chris Bell temporary rejoined the group and contributed to the songs "O My Soul" and "Back of a Car".

However, it was a little song that came in at just 2:47 called "September Gurls" that would alter my life forever. The timbre and tone of the guitar combined with the enigmatic lyrics caused a resonation deep inside my psyche that I still get chills/tears over. I've spent days and nights listening to the song on repeat. I've spent days and nights strumming the same chord progression endlessly. Some people might snicker at the thought of putting so much thought and trust and emotion in a single song, but those people are plebes. Sometimes a song is all you've got, and all you'll have, you know? As John Borack writes in Shake Some Action: The Ultimate Power Pop Guide:

"'September Gurls' was and is the sine qua non of power pop, a glorious, glittering jewel with every facet cut and shined to absolute perfection. While The Raspberries' 'Go All The Way' provides a definitive encapsulation of what power pop is, 'September Gurls' goes even further, not so much as the embodiment of a genre, but as a peerless, aching distillation of love and longing. 'September Gurls' may not actually be the greatest song ever recorded, but for the duration of its 2:47 running time, you can be forgiven for believing it is."

The band never recovered from the second album; Alex Chilton recorded a third album under the Big Star name called Third/Sister Lovers, but it contained a different sound, and was not deemed to be commercially viable. It would take three more years until the album would even see release. Chris Bell died in a car accident in 1978. He had dealt with depression stemming from repressed homosexuality that he tried to cope with through Christianity. Alex Chilton recorded several solo albums and had some minor hits, but nothing that rivaled that of the critical success of Big Star. A modified Big Star lineup has performed sporadically since 1993, mostly motivated by interest generated by bands that list Big Star as an influence, including Cheap Trick, R.E.M., The Replacements (they recorded a song simply called "Alex Chilton" in honor of him), the Posies, Velvet Crush, and Tinted Windows – and basically any band that dares to call themselves power-pop.

This sucks. I feel empty, numb, and wanting to vomit since reading this morning that Alex Chilton died – it's like your best friend dying. It's only a feeling that other people who love music more than existence can understand. I mean, how do you talk about someone who basically saved your life? I never had the chance to see Big Star (the modified version), but even if I did get the chance to meet Alex Chilton, I wouldn't know how to summarize how much his music meant to me – some things are beyond time and words. I've been looking up YouTube videos of all of Big Star's songs, and I've been reading all the comments directed at Alex Chilton, and trying not to cry. It's not working. As corny and cliché as it sounds, having people praise your music on an Internet site isn't a bad legacy to leave. We could all do a lot worse. Goodbye Alex.

Oh, and for those wondering, the web service that managed my comments went bust, so there'll be no comments until I code my own comment system. I saved them all, so they are not lost, and they will be back. You'll have to keep your snark to yourself in the meantime.

September gurls do so much
I was your butch and you were touched
I loved you, well, never mind
I've been crying all the time

December boys got it bad

September gurls, I don't know why
How can I deny what's inside
Even though I'll keep away
Maybe we'll love all our days

When I get to bed, late at night
That's the time she makes things right
Ooh when she makes love to me

-Big Star, "September Gurls" 

Ron Asheton, the guitarist whose sound and playing style defined successive punk bands, was found dead in his home on Tuesday. He was found by police officers after a friend of Asheton, who had not heard from him in several days, called them. Therefore, he must have died last week sometime, which is unfortunate for everyone involved.

The Stooges were one of those bands that never received much airplay, and had very limited commercial success, but numerous bands that followed them have replicated the sound they defined. Their best album, in my opinion, would be 1973's Raw Power. The album is loud, raw, simple, and wonderful. It's one of my favorite albums of all time. The first two songs comprise one of the best introductions to an album ever. Give them a listen, won't you?

The Stooges - Search And Destroy

The Stooges - Gimme Danger

Ron Asheton, dead at age 60. 

Guns N' Roses released Chinese Democracy on Sunday, November 23rd as a Best Buy exclusive – perhaps one of the least rocking places that exists. In any event, I've given the album several spins as the kids say, and here are my thoughts:

It would be easy for me to say that the new Guns N' Roses album is terrible. After all, the band is a mere husk of what it used to be. When one talks about anything related to GNR, there is a lot of baggage that goes along with said discussion regarding the tumultuous history of the band. You just have the separate the two eras of GNR and assume they are two different entities, which they really are. You've got to separate the stuff from the stuff. However, since the album does have a Guns N' Roses title on it, comparisons will certainly be made in terms of the influence of the songs, but that shouldn't weigh on the new tracks as to their quality. Who would have thought that reviewing a new album would be so hard?

Appetite For Destruction is quite possibly one of the best albums ever, and the Use Your Illusion albums are equally great. If you look at the songwriting credits of the tracks you know from the aforementioned albums, you'll see that Izzy Stradlin is often credited, either in regards to the lyrics, music, or both. In my opinion, that is the single biggest thing lacking from Chinese Democracy: Izzy Stradlin. The new album doesn't have any of the blues-based riffs that the other GNR albums had. This isn't to say that the new album is terrible though – there are some moments of genius. The first five songs are really good. I really like Better, and This I Love is a beautiful song, both lyrically and melodically, and is probably my favorite of the album. The rest of it is just kind of meh. It isn't really bad – it's just okay. It didn't really leave a big impression on me. However, this is probably the closest thing I'll ever see to a real Guns N' Roses release, which is sad in and on itself. I don't really have a ratings system, but if forced, I'd give it a shrug of the shoulders, or possibly three sombreros. 

Mitch Mitchell, drummer for the Jimi Hendrix Experience, and who played with many other famous acts, was found dead in Portland at the Benson Hotel in Room 1233. He was on the last day of his four-day Portland vacation when he was discovered dead by an employee at the hotel. He was also the first semi-famous celebrity to die in Portland since Whitey from Leave It To Beaver snuffed it in 2003. We rule!

The news story claims that Mitchell was the last surviving member of the legendary group, but I don't think that is technically true – he was indeed the last surviving original member, but I do believe that bassist Billy Cox was officially a member. In any event, Mitch Mitchell was the last surviving member of the group that mattered. He is also notable for having quite possibly one of the best white man Afros I have ever seen. On top of all this, he is also one of three people whom I know of that had his first name as the first part of his last name (Mitch wasn't his real first name, but play along), along with Lars Larson and Aaron A. Aaronson. He never really got much credit for being in the Jimi Hendrix Experience. After all, it was called the Jimi Hendrix Experience, not the Mitch Mitchell Experience. Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding were really the Professor and Mary Ann to Hendrix's Gilligan. If you don't understand what I mean by that, then you should really watch the first season of Gilligan's Island.

Mitch Mitchell, dead at age 61.

Today is a very special day in that it is the birthday of one Joey Ramone, who was born on May 19th, 1951. There are few who have had the impact that Joey Ramone has had on my life, and it still depresses me that he is no longer with us. I still remember seeing National Lampoon's Vacation when I was six years old and watching the scene where the Griswold family was driving through St. Louis and the kids in the backseat put on Blitzkrieg Bop, and how I was blown away by the sound. It was one of those wow moments for me. Well, rather than dwell on the sadness, I'd rather remember the happier times – these are my personal favorite Joey Ramone ballads and love songs. Keep in mind that these are the songs that Joey Ramone wrote without the assistance of the Ramones. You can download them all by clicking here. (To the executor of the Ramones estate: please don't sue me)

I Remember You (From Leave Home)
Oh Oh I Love Her So (From Leave Home)
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow (From Rocket To Russia)
She's The One (From Road To Ruin)
I'm Affected (From End Of The Century)
Danny Says (From End Of The Century)
Don't Go (From Pleasant Dreams)
She's A Sensation (From Pleasant Dreams)
7-11 (From Pleasant Dreams)
My-My Kind Of Girl (From Subterranean Jungle)
Daytime Dilemma (Dangers Of Love) (From Too Tough To Die)
A Real Cool Time (From Halfway To Sanity)
Bye Bye Baby (From Halfway To Sanity)
All Screwed Up (From Brain Drain)
Can't Get You Outta My Mind (From Brain Drain)
Come Back, Baby (From Brain Drain)
Heidi Is A Headcase (From Mondo Bizzaro)
She Talks To Rainbows (From ¡Adios Amigos!)

Happy Birthday Joey Ramone.

It's also Malcolm X's birthday today, and I also love Malcolm X. We both agree that the white devil is responsible for all the bad things that happen in life. However, unlike Joey Ramone, Malcolm X didn't write Rock 'N' Roll High School, unless he did and the white devil stole it, which I would believe. In any event, it bears mentioning.

Just a reminder: the liveblogging event is tomorrow at around I'd say 7pm P.S.T. I'll be covering the Oregon and Kentucky primaries, so break out the moonshine, your remaining teeth, and your whitest Klan outfit, because hilarity will ensue.

So, according to Mother Jones, the United States government has apparently been using pop songs to torture prisoners in Guantanamo Bay. They even give a playlist of the various songs they allegedly use as torture mechanisms. In my mind, this is all almost too good to be true. I mean, music snobs have been talking about this as if it's a joke for years, and now it's actually HAPPENING, 4REAL, in our very own torture chambers!!!!1!

[dialogue between hipster music snobs]

STORME: Oh my god, is this "Girlfriend" by Avril Lavigne?

TRILLIUM: Yeah, I think it is.

STORME: Oh my god, this song is SO BAD.

TRILLIUM: YEAH.

STORME: Oh my god, they should use this to TORTURE people!!!!

TRILLIUM and STORME: HAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHA!

Now. If I was going to torture anyone with music, here are the songs I would choose, personally:

1. Creed - "With Arms Wide Open" (yes, I considered "Higher," but the way Scott Stapp says "Oh-puhhhn" is enough to cause your brain to spontaneously combust if you hear it enough times)

2. Evanescence - "My Immortal" (die, die, die)

3. Baha Men - "Who Let The Dogs Out" (is this too obvious? At what point in time did anyone in the world ever actually like this song?)

4. Nickelback - "Rockstar" (does Nickelback know that they actually ARE rockstars? So lyrics like "Hey, I wanna be a rockstar" are totally irrelevant, and really come off more like a snub in the face than a yeah-I-can-relate shout-out)

5. Celine Dion

If there were one phrase that could sum up my life, it would easily be disproportion rage. Disproportion rage also happens to be how I feel about The Grammys. Nothing fills me with more contempt and rage than The Grammy awards ceremony. Just a bunch of old and out of touch people wanking each other off. Now, unlike most things, one usually can look back and say "I remember when [blank] use to be good." However, with The Grammys, that never was the case. They have always been out of touch and terrible. Now don't get me wrong, when it comes to music, there isn't a bigger fan than myself (not to mention better taste). So come along with me as I discuss why I feel a seething ball of black hate toward The Grammys.

• Remember that time when Radiohead's OK Computer lost "Best Album of the Year?" I know what you are thinking: The album that did win must have been pretty amazing. I agree, everyone remembers when that new Steely Dan album dropped.
• How about the time when Metallica was out-rocked for Best Metal Performance? Everyone was in complete awe over how much rock Jethro Tull brought with their flute solo.
• What about when Public Enemy lost the best rap performance duo award to one of the greatest rap groups that are name-checked all the time? Fresh Prince. Because that is what you think of when you think of monumental music – Goddamn Fresh Prince.
• Everyone knows Elvis Costello. Perhaps one of the greatest composers to have ever graced recorded media. I know it's hard, but try not to let annoying hipsters ruin his image. It's not his fault he attracts some douchebag fans. You have to separate the music from his fans. However, no one can deny his mark on popular music. That's why he was only the second best new artist to arrive on the scene in 1979 because obviously the best was A Taste Of Honey, because disco really holds up well.
• Remember all those Grammy awards that Bob Dylan got in the 1960s? All of those groundbreaking albums he recorded: The Times They Are a-Changin', Bringing It All Back Home, Highway 61 Revisted, and Blonde on Blonde among his best. So when did Bob Dylan finally win his first? For the album Slow Train Coming, among his worst works.
• Finally, and probably the most enraging: remember in 1966 when The Beatles and The Beach Boys were producing number one hits. Remember when Eleanor Rigby and Good Vibrations were new? Remember when Pet Sounds and Rubber Soul had just dropped? Remember how Winchester Cathedral won best Rock & Roll Recording? I don't even know who Winchester Cathedral is. I'm sure they made the right decision. I don't think many people have heard of these 'The Beatles' or those 'The Beach Boy' either. 

Even right now I can feel my blood boil. To make matters worse, just think of all those artists who have never won a Grammy (not counting those stupid 'Lifetime Achievement Awards', which is Grammy-Speak for 'our bad'). Led Zeppelin, The Beach Boys, The Who, Cheap Trick, The Ramones, and Queen. Thank God that Mariah Carey, Celion Dion, and The Red Hot Chili Peppers have Grammys, because That would be a crime if they didn't win, what with all their talent and all.

It was announced a while ago that The Spice Girls are reuniting on a world tour. I fully celebrate this announcement with much rejoicing. I have finally become comfortable with my music taste that I can fully admit that I love The Spice Girls. They wrote perhaps some of the best pure pop songs of the 1990s. Their songs get stuck in your head, and make you tap your foot to the rhythm, and their lyrics can't help but be sung while driving in a car. The first two Spice Girls albums were terrific, and you can get the hell out of my country if you don't agree. They also made a terrific movie, 'Spiceworld', which after late-night cruises, I realize that I know an amazing amount of information about. It's dumb, and fun, and everything a movie should be; and perhaps Hugh Laurie's finest role/best cameo ever, and it has Meatloaf as a bus driver. You can't beat that. You can't beat the Mea… nevermind.

Perhaps the best thing about The Spice Girls was that they were hot. When The Spice Girls were hitting their apex of popularity, and when I was a mere slip of a youth, entering the fragrant garden of beautiful flowers, I thought they were the hottest chicks ever. Ginger Spice was clearly the hottest, or maybe Baby Spice. Now, looking at the press photo released from their announcement, it seems kind of sad. Now it seems that Sporty Spice is clearly the hottest (bangs are sexay). Baby Spice just looks strange. Having Eddie Murphy's baby and getting secretly married in Vegas to a movie producer clearly did not do Scary Spice any good. Ginger Spice now looks like your spinster aunt, and Posh Spice is still a freaky stick-woman, who looks as if that alien from 'Men In Black' is going to escape from her mouth and start eating everyone. Plus, and I'm no woman, but it seems like that outfit she is wearing would hurt quite a bit. I'm just sayin'.

In conclusion, The Spice Girls are cool, even though some might pass this off as kitsch. Also, I'm awesome.

Until I can find someone who miraculously got their hands on a Wii (and, subsequently, the Wii version of Mario Party, which I hear is AWESOME), I'm going to bide my time listening to Kraftwerk on this incredible subwoofer that was crafted to look like one of those question-mark brick blocks in the old Super Mario games. Seriously: check it out. Unfortunately, you can't actually buy these specially-made subwoofers, because they aren't for sale. But I'm totally prepared to pilfer one, because I'd rather go to jail than live one more moment without a stereo system that makes me feel like I live in the Cloud World.

If I could be any Mario character, I would surely be Yoshi. I think Yoshi probably gets a lot of tail. Oh, sure, he looks cute and innocent, but at the end of the day you know that Mario's going home with Luigi, Princess Peach is still in Bowser's trenches, Toad is crying and masturbating to pictures of Toadette, and Yoshi's picking up mad honeys.

On a related note, here's a link to a Collegehumor video that uses the Super Mario mushrooms to teach a valuable and tough lesson in existentialism. You live; you die; such is the plight of the mushrooms. And of us all...