Album of the Week #38: "Marquee Moon" by Television

John

The Strokes have a lot to answer for...

Lunar Junkie

This is quite possibly my overall favourite guitar rock album so it's hard to give an objective assessment of it.. They're often namechecked as part of the NYC punk scene due to the fact that they helped start the CBGBs thing, but their music (once they tightened up after Richard Hell left anyway) was always something more like the start of new wave or even 'art rock'.. Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd are hard to top as a tasteful, inventive duelling guitar tag-team who know when to unleash their abilities and when to rein them in (one of the few rock bands whose guitar solos I actually enjoy listening to).. and then you have Verlaine's noctural urban poetry and odd high-strung voice thrown into the mix, excellent jazz-inflected drumming from Billy Ficca and a solid bass support from Fred Smith. The only shame about Marquee Moon is that they never really seemed to have a proper stab at equalling it and it's overshadowed the other output of the participants as a result.. Verlaine and Lloyd have their own worthy solo efforts (and Television's second album Adventure is an underrated record with its own distinct charm, with their third self-titled one also having its own highpoints) but it's pretty safe to say those guys will primarily always be known for this one album. Better to have produced one legendary milestone LP than none, I suppose.. Richard Lloyd actually decided a couple of months ago to permanently leave the band, so I hope anybody who was interested in seeing the original lineup live got to check them out sometime during their last few years of sporadic touring.

Mr E

I love the title track, but I'm not sure about the rest of the album... must give it another go.

RE*AC*TOR

I see the album of the week is back to crap albums after a brief hiatus*








*personal opinion

loyatemu

RE*AC*TOR wrote:

I see the album of the week is back to crap albums after a brief hiatus*

*personal opinion

you're wrong*

*objective fact


one of my favourite albums - don't normally go in for showy guitar work, but here its not really showy despite being technically superb. The guitar blends into the fabric of the songs and the songs are all excellent. Obviously the title track is the standout but Friction, See No Evil and Elevation are all classics and the rest of the album is very strong too. I've actually never checked out "Adventure" - I heard a little of their comeback album when it was released in 92 but it didn't really grab me.

RE*AC*TOR

"crap" might be harsh, but its certainly overhyped, and its one of those old obscure-ish albums that are now "trendy" to like.

John

Why don't you actually compose a worthwhile post saying why it's a crap album instead of sniping away because I don't pick all the albums that you want to discuss.

John

Oops, I didn't mean to move this thread to Bands & Musicians too. This is the technological equivalent of kicking your ball over the wall into that weird neighbour's garden

Could someone send it back to Alt/Indie please?

DerekD Goldfish

I think its a fantastic album certinaly one of my top 10 favorites. It took me a few listins to get into it as I was expecting a classic "Punk" album but once the intricate beauty of the tracks got under my skin few albums have compared to it As previously sujested its a little disappointing that the album was so good it overshadowed all future releases.If anyone has got Marquee Moon likes it but hasnt got around to getting the other material I urge them to do so. Adventure is also a fantastic album but not quite as good as MM the live album The Blow Up is also well worth getting.

"crap" might be harsh, but its certainly overhyped, and its one of those old obscure-ish albums that are now "trendy" to like.

Or one of those albums put down by people just becasue its finally getting the recognition it deserves. Its a pity a band as average as the strokes have been one of the big impacts on it hightned level of recognition but its not the first time success of one band has given more limelight to a much better band that influenced them.

RE*AC*TOR

Again, its only my personal opinion - I gave the album a chance, a few listens, didn't like it. I don't like the band or particularly the new wave of bands who claim to be influenced by them. Having said that I've certainly gotten mroe pleasure out of listening to the Strokes debut, than Marquee Moon, which I feel is a terribly dated album.

As for "Albums of the Week" as a whole (which is a great idea that I feel has not lived up to its promise), I feel for these threads to get more than the 5-10 replies they normally get, people need "access" to the album in question.

Perhaps a one week vote poll with a selection of 5 or 6 albums. Then people can go away for a week... listen to the album... and then a discussion thread is opened. Similar to the book club that went on in the literature forum for a while.

Also Album of the Week should probably have a new one each week.


And i wasn't sniping. It was a fair comment, clearly marked as personal opinion so as to not offend the delicate ones.


PS this just entered my thoughts... Television... a bit like the Velvet Underground, only not good.

Lunar Junkie

I think you're way off in calling it terribly dated, irrespective of whether or not you dislike the musical style. For a 30-year old album I think it the fact that the production is so clean and simple (minimal reverb, effects etc) makes it sound very fresh even today. Might take a few more listens than The Strokes for it to click but I recommend giving it the effort.

nlgbbbblth

One of the key records of the 1970s and one of the most impressive debuts of all time.

Extremely hard to follow-up. See No Evil my favourite.

The original CD is the one of the best sounding early CDs I've heard.