If a band releases a pair of the most brilliant slabs of Revolver-cum-Fifth Dimension power pop in successive years, and no one is around to hear them, do they make a sound? If the answer were yes, perhaps this record--marketed as Big Star’s "first studio album in 30 years"--would be receiving more fanfare. Unfortunately, both #1 Record (1972) and Radio City (1973)--subsequently reissued together on one disc--went virtually undetectable, save for the hundreds of bands who cite them as influences and the thousands of fans who discovered them long after the Memphis band had disintegrated. Starring two of the four original members (including the unpredictable Alex Chilton) with two members of the Posies in tow, In Space is far from a Big Star record, though it does feature some of Chilton’s most catchy work in 15 years: "February’s Quiet" mimics Matthew Sweet, "Mine Exclusively" comes straight out of Stax, and "Best Chance We’ve Ever Had" is as close to the original band as we’re going to get. If you’ve been waiting patiently for this one, it will fit in your collection. But if you’re starting from scratch, go back three decades and catch up. --Scott Holter