Big Star might well be "overrated," especially considering its relatively 
small output. But there's something about the artistic push-pull within the 
band in its heyday, and the resulting trio of albums, each very different 
from the last, that gives it a lasting power and resonance all too rare in 
pop music. I think as well the southern roots and Anglophilia in combination 
made for an unusual bedrock in Big Star's development, and it's that sound 
that many bands attempt to emulate, or which causes them to quickly mention 
Big Star as an influence when the question is posed. 

First time I heard 'em I was blown away, and my enjoyment of each album 
hasn't diminished a bit over the years. That must count for something.