403 - Big Star - Radio City

This second album by Big Star doesn't use lots of vocal harmonies like their debut, #1 Record, but the songwriting is still great. Despite the low sales of Big Star's albums, it is hard for me to listen to this and not hear Cheap Trick, Lenny Kravitz, Foghat, Kenny Loggins, Thin Lizzy, and countless other rock outfits that enjoy a good pop hook.

I downloaded both #1 Record/Radio City a couple of years ago and tend to forget which songs are on which album. While I tend to like the sound of the first album better, more of my favorite Big Star songs are on Radio City.

Songs I knew I liked: "O My Soul," "You Get What You Deserve," "Back of a Car," "She's a Mover," and "September Gurls"

Songs I didn't know but now like: I was reminded of how I enjoy "What's Going Ahn," "Mod Lang," "Daisy Glaze," and "I'm in Love With a Girl"

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: None in particular

Ruth: Quick Summary

Ruth is a very short book. It is a short story in four chapters. Naomi, her husband, and two sons left Bethlehem during a major famine. While in the foreign country, the husband dies. The widow's two sons marry local women. But the sons died within a few years. This left Naomi with her two widowed daughters in law - Ruth and Orpah. Naomi states that she is going to return to Israel and tells her dils to stay. Orpah at first resists and then states she will stay. Ruth refuses to leave Naomi and swears to follow her back to Bethlehem.

Upon returning to Bethlehem, Ruth goes out in the fields to gather the gleanings left behind for others. She just so happens to stay in the area of the field owned by Boaz. Boaz then redeems Naomi and Ruth by acquiring the land that was the property of Naomi's dead husband and son. Boaz marries Ruth and they have a child (David's grandfather).

There's a lot of in-depth reading and discussion that can go on concerning aspects of redemption, faith, family, and the historical context of landownership.