Marquee Moon
Television
The debut studio album from the legendary but short-lived rock group Television, Marquee Moon was released on February 8, 1977.
Track listing:
1. See No Evil
2. Venus
3. Friction
4. Marquee Moon
5. Elevation
6. Guiding Light
7. Prove It
8. Torn Curtain
Why I Chose This:
I first heard Marquee Moon when I was 17 years old. It features some of the best guitar playing I've ever heard, and it never gets old. I could go on for a long time about this album, but I'd rather wait until the comments before the discussion starts. But I will say that I once lent this album to someone, and when I found out that they lost it, I went and bought a new copy as soon as I found one, which is saying something in this age of downloading albums. Marquee Moon means a hell of a lot to me, I can only hope more people get turned on to this masterpiece.
- Lee
I remember being on the plane to America last year, and you started this album but turned it off because you couldn't hear the tasty guitar licks over the jet engine. When I heard it I knew exactly what you were talking about.
ReplyDeletehaha i remember that! It just gets better everytime. Right now i'm about to watch a van dam movie, then go outside and listen to it while looking into space.
ReplyDeleteThere's some interesting stuff on Wikipedia about them. I found this little fact pretty sweet about the title track:
ReplyDelete'The song "Marquee Moon" was done in one take; drummer Billy Ficca thought that they were rehearsing.'
I've listened to it twice now. Much more enjoyable the second time. Why the fuck didn't you choose Pete Murray?
Listened for the first time today.
ReplyDeleteIts a cool sound. I liked the track marquee moon alot
Updated. I'm starting to really like the album. At times it sounds punk but still with detailed and just plain awesome guitar work.
ReplyDeleteIt could have been released today and still get praised for its originality and daring sound
They sound like nothing else yet the songs are so catchy. I love how when a song is at it's (would be) peak, it just goes to a new awesome bit
ReplyDeleteI'd have to disagree about the punk, it doesn't sound punk at all to me.
ReplyDeleteI don't find myself ever really dying to listen to this album, but when I put it on I always enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteThere is a bit I want to point out that is particularly delicious - the title track, just after that awesome build at about 8:40 or so... sounds like sparkling star dust. Then you're bought back to earth with that solid beat and: "I remeeeemmmbeerrr how the darrkneesss doubled". Very nice.
Yeh that bit feels like birds chirping, it's really amazing. I love that crazy solo that leads up to that climax. I find that the parts are so intricate that it requires full concentration sometimes but it can also be in the background. You know what rules so friggin hard, venus fuckin demillo!!
ReplyDeleteI fell
ReplyDeleteDid you feel low?
Not at all
huuuuuuh?
I stood up and walked out the aaaaaarrmms of venus de milo
Amazing how I feel about this album after having known it for a month. Because it's now a familiar sound to me I feel more connected to it.
ReplyDeleteI get the feeling that in a few months time I'll have a much deeper appreciation for it. When it was first picked, a week or so into it I was feeling bad because I thought that maybe I'd never like it very much, but I do like it, and I will always like it. I just requires more than 3 weeks. The best albums usually do.
I feel I should write an update. I find myself with random songs from this album just playing freely through my head. And it's not at all in the annoying sense. Definitely my favourite AotW so far
ReplyDeleteBeyond the amazing guitar work that we have mentioned there is an amazing bassist who drives the songs with clever basslines and fills. It allows the guitars to both be free enough to go in areas outside of the traditional rythms.
The lyrics are slowly sinking in. I read that the main lyricist was into poetry and there are some strange lines which keep me constantly intrigued: "If I ever catch that ventriloquist, I'll squeeze his head right into my fist"