Customer Reviews

Distortion of Glory

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

the actual title of this CD is something like Distortion of Glory, and it's the first Game Theory album Blaze of Glory (tracks 1-12 here) plus most if not all of two subsequent EP's, Pointed Accounts of People You Know and Distortion. all the critics back in the 80's used to say that later game theory was the best, especially lolita nation, but this is by far my favorite cd by them, particularly the 'pointed accounts...' tracks included (metal & glass exact, life in july, penny things won't). a high point of the early 80's college radio scene.

Love this album. Penny, Things Won't is my favorite song. Great album. Wished they'd re-release it.

When I saw this on Amazon I was pretty excited to get my hands on it, after all, I had greatly enjoyed the first two Game Theory albums that received large scale (well, sort of large scale) releases - Real Nighttime and Big Shot Chronicles. I didn't know what to expect from this album, which consists of every track from Blaze of Glory, the EP Pointed Accounts of People You Know, and the EP Distortion (except for two tracks written by early group member Fred Juhos - one of which was the college radio fave "I Wanna Get Hit By A Car"). Sadly, it avoids inclusion of any tracks by Scott Miller's previous band Alternate Learning, though maybe we will see a compilation of their work someday. Anyway, there are quite a few gems to be found on this record, though you have to sift through a few duds and the production on the Blaze of Glory tracks leaves a bit to be desired (I read somewhere you can hear his mom's vacuum on one track, but I haven't heard it yet). From sunny pop songs like "Date with An Angel" to depressing Big Star/new wave hybrids like "Bad Year At UCLA", Blaze of Glory is a promising start, but you'll find yourself jumping ahead to the great tracks from the EP's like "Penny, Things Won't", "The Red Baron", and "Shark Pretty". Worth the usually large price tag you'll find here if you're a Game Theory or Loud Family fan.

Best Tracks:
"Date With An Angel" - A nice little love song with a straightforward riff that you wouldn't expect from Miller - but it's quite effective and catchy.
"Bad Year at UCLA" - Fantastic lyrics - I wish I could be this smart at 22.
"It Gives Me Chills" - Ethereal and quietly enticing, this song adds snapping fingers and a swinging bass to a Big Star 3rd-styled song to make it unique. Good chorus vocals too.
"Penny, Things Won't" - This jangly gem is one of Miller's all time best tunes. Great hook, sad lyrics, and nice drum intro. This could have been a hit in a perfect world.

"Metal And Glass Exact" - Don't know what Miller is singing about here - weird obtuse lyrics and a jerky beat keep this rocker firmly in the college-rock realm.
"Shark Pretty" - Ah, a much more straightforward rocker with a swinging riff. This was co-written with Michael Quercio of the Three O'Clock.
"The Red Baron" - Miller does depression better than anyone else. Features his self-described "miserable whine" of a voice on prominent display, but it sounds angelic to these ears.