music --- news --- culture --- debate

Showing posts with label Ultra Vivid Scene. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ultra Vivid Scene. Show all posts

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Big Star's Big Reach... (And Where Are They Now... Kurt Ralske Edition)


Listening to "September Gurls" by Big Star reminded me of a favorite song from my college years -- "Special One" by Ultra Vivid Scene. UVS was fronted by Kurt Ralske, who was clearly influenced by the Jesus and Mary Chain -- at least stylistically. But the verses in "Special One" (which was the underground band's best-known song and featured Kim Deal of the Pixies) sound a whole lot like "September Gurls" to my ear. Listen for yourself.

After I initially wrote this post, I did a little research and found that others have made the connection, too. Allmusic.com spotted it in their review of UVS's Joy 1967-1990 (saying Alex Chilton could sue for royalties) and there's a whole thread about it on a Teenage Fan Club forum here
Now, onto the Where Are They Now portion of the post. Kurt Ralske is a visual artist working in the medium of digital video and programming. And he's now a professor at the Rhode Island School of Design.