Customer Reviews

Marquee Moon (Dig)

5 star:		(130)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Like alot of folks, I'm wary of the reissue game. Tempting as bonus tracks are, I often find they ruin the integrity of the original release. That being said, this sounds a 1000x's better than the previous cd incarnation. And it' s nice to hear their long out of print 1st single, "Little Johnny Jewel" in it's entirety.

Though long associated with the CBGB Punk scene, they were far more ambitious than The Ramones ever were. I mean what is this stuff? Psychedelic Jazz Punk? Whatever it is, it's original. Verlaine croons like he's choking on a 25-cent hot dog at Gray's Papaya off 8th Avenue. And though his poetical leanings can often be obtuse, they're offset by a no nonsense, tough as nails rhythm section.

In terms of guitar playing, this band is armed with 2 guys who don't quite see eye to eye. Richard Lloyd's playing is as precise & solid as Verlaine is moody & improvisational. In other words, they are perfect foils. There's nothing quite like the epic title track. The lyrics seem ripped out of some lost notebook by Rimbaud. Musically, it's a dark, surreal sprial staircase---leading you back to from whence you came. The sonic equivalent of Carol Reed's the 3rd MAN.

In terms of barbed wit & killer hooks, how can you top the likes of "See No Evil", "Friction", "Elevation, & my personal favorite, "Proof It"? All of which makes the balladry of "Guiding Light" seem all the more delicate & fragile.

By far the darkest track is the closer,"Torn Curtain". In anyone else's hands it would come off as pure pretention. But they pull it off. Guess it even proved to be oddly prophetic. After this album, the band pretty much fell apart despite the flawed farewell of their follow up, ADVENTURE.

In terms of today's bands, Television's influence is undeniable. Radiohead. The Strokes. Artic Monkeys. Tape-n-Tapes. As competent as they are, after hearing this, they won't hold a candle. MARQUEE MOON is up ther with VU's "banana album" as one of the greatest albums a NYC based band has ever produced.

This is the sound of a station that's not on your regular dial. Music before the days of remote control & MTV banality. It's the TV you always wanted to see, only you have to close your eyes first. Shut them tight & tune in.

'Marquee Moon' is one of those albums that not many people have heard of, but everybody with a credible music collection should own. (I also stated in my review of the original cd pressing that it should be an Amazon Essential Recording, but I guess they don't agree). Out of their CBGB contemporaries, Television stuck out like a sore thumb, even compared to the Talking Heads. While other groups were busy playing short, to-the-point punk rock, Television was mixing the immediacy of punk with the technical skills of progressive and jazz groups. The title track, 'Marquee Moon' is a ten and a half minute ascension to musical nirvana. Only the opening track 'See No Evil' has the jump-start effect of punk rock. Television were more about experimentation than punk rock. 'Marquee Moon' is one of the finest releases of the late 1970s, and among the top albums of the "New York scene."

The reissue, on the other hand, has some good parts, some great parts, and some really terrible parts. It's good to have the lyrics now, now I can understand what Tom Verlaine is singing. It's great to have the story in the booklet about the recording, and the pictures inside are great too. The remastering is eye-opening compared to the original 1990 cd pressing, as well. Very clear, well-mixed and separated. Unlike the reviewer who was against the bonus tracks, I think that having 'Little Johnny Jewel' is definitely a plus. There's no reason to complain about having tracks that have been deleted for 25 years and never released ever on cd. The alternate takes aren't all that different from the originals except for a few things, some substantial (the guitar solo in 'Marquee Moon' is very different, also the vocals during the chorus of the song are given a huge boost), and some subtle (the ending of 'See No Evil' is extended, which is pretty cool). The packaging itself looks pretty cool, and seems to be designed to replicate a vinyl sleeve, but it's very flimsy and easy to scratch up. The cardboard sleeve that holds the cd also scratched the hell out of the surface of the disc, but luckily it still plays fine. I've had this for a couple of weeks and it already looks like it's ten years old.

Rhino did an excellent job with the handling of this reissue, from the remastering, to the liner notes and addition of lyrics and pictures, and the addition of rare bonus tracks. The packaging on the other hand seems cheap, flimsy, and can possibly be damaging to the disc itself. I keep the disc in a hard plastic jewel case to avoid anymore damage. My advice would be to put the disc in a separate case after opening it, or to burn a copy of the disc to listen to after you buy it to avoid any damage to the disc that packaging may cause.

Marquee Moon is simply one of the 10 best hipster
records ever made. Mike, the owner of Subterranean
records in NYC, puts it squarely at #1. Every single song
on this record is stellar. It is Passionate, explorative,
and firmly on its own unique course. It is rich in
flavor, and defys deconstruction. Due to its quirky
uniqueness, this album is an acquired taste. Like a
sushi orgasm, or LSD. Several people that I have turned
on to this record, were unimpressed at first, only to
fall in love with it later. If you like the same old common,
derivative, unimaginative, over-produced, superstar crap,
then this record is not for you. The cadence of the guitar
lines in Venus De Milo are so beautiful, they will give you
chills. In the crescendo of the title track, Verlaine makes
his guitar sound like sea gulls. Elevation is taught, edgy,
and dripping with as much mood as a song can possibly be made
to hold. Some people do not respond to the herky-jerkiness
of Verlaines vocals, but they are well suited to the material.
The album has a bit of european flavor. Actually, one has to
describe this album in broad strokes, because there is no
artist that make sense to compare them to. Television blaze
their own trail. Marquee Moon is honestly and truly a classic
masterpiece, Television's jewel. The albums Adventure (2nd
release), Television (3rd release), and several Verlaine solo
albums, all have their moments, with an occasional great song,
but they all seriously pale to Marquee Moon. It deserves a place
in any desert island list. The true test, is that this record
is as relevant and effecting today, as it was in 77. One of
my fondest memories is having seen Television and Talking Heads
on the same bill at CBGB'S, a storm of epic proportions. Helpful
note: On first listen, do not play this record as background
music. Open your mind, relax, square off with your stereo, and
enjoy the swirls of passion, subtlety, vivid color, and

otherwise, ENJOY THE RIDE!
All Good Things,
Greg

Marquee Moon is one of the great albums of the 70's from the overlooked band Television. Born out of the mid 70's New York rock scene that produced the Ramones, Talking Heads, Blondie and others, the band was led by guitarists Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd. The band's sound was different from the others thanks in part to superb guitar interplay between Mr. Verlaine & Mr. Lloyd, but also they didn't pump out quick 3 minute songs, but had a jazzy edge. The title cut and "Torn Curtain" are both lengthy numbers (close to 10 minutes each) and show off the band's sharp musicianship. Mr. Verlaine is a sharp lyricist and his songs has a wry sense of humor. "Venus" is probably the best track on the album and contains a classic line "fell into the arms of Venus DeMilo". Television never gained the mass appeal of Blondie or the Heads or icon status of the Ramones, but Marquee Moon is better than any album to come out from that music scene and deserves to be heard by a wider audience.

I don't give out stars lightly. To rate a record 5 stars means to me that its one of the greatest records ever, of which there are perhaps 100. Marquee Moon is one of them.

Television came out of the mid 70's NYC punk scene and may have had a punk attitude and fashion sense, but their music was the antithesis of the 3 chord, 90 second songs of Blondie and The Ramones. The first thing I remember thinking when I initially played Marquee Moon was that I've never heard anything quite like this before. The awesome guitar play, the sharp lyrics and Verlaine's high pitched, quavering voice gave them a unique sound.

In later years I noticed some similarities between Television's guitar work and that of Neil Young's, particularly in Young's Cowgirl in the Sand and Down By the River. I have a feeling you will find some Young in Verlaine's and Lloyd's record collections.

The hardest thing about Television is describing their sound to someone. They just didn't sound like anyone else. Though they were never a commercial success, their influences have been heard later in bands like the Strokes, Violent Femmes, Radiohead, Sonic Youth, The Killers and many more.

Marquee Moon is Television's finest album, though I think the follow-up, Adventure, is vastly underrated. What "Freebird" is to southern rock and "Stairway to Heaven" is to progressive rock, that is what the title track, "Marquee Moon" is to alt/punk rock. It's nearly 10 minutes of one of Rock's greatest moments of guitar interplay.

Every song on this album is phenomenal. From the opening riffs of "See No Evil" to Verlaine's plaintive wail on the closer, "Torn Curtain" the record is solid.

Marquee Moon is now over 30 years old. The amazing thing is that the music is still as fresh today as it was when it when released.

When this came out in 1977, if you looked back 30 years you saw artists like Guy Lombardo, Bing Crosby, Mills Bros. etc..., all fine artists in their own right, but that was grandma's and grandpa's music and had little relevance in 1977. The fact that Televison is as relevant, if not more so, in 2007 as they were in 1977 is a testament to their greatness.

Marquee Moon often appears on many respectable top 50 CD lists, yet very few people have had the opprotunity to get lost within its grace. Two guitars playing totally different styles clash with the hi-hats of Billy Ficca and the bass of Fred Smith (Blondie). Tom Verlaine (Miller) delivers the crooning guitar solos while Richard Lloyd brings about the scalar runs and techinicality of the group.

Each song is a journey through heaven, hell, and everywhere in between. The dual guitars flow perfectly in each song. "See No Evil" opens the album up with an immediate array of talent. The solo blows me away each time. The way the guitars blend is just amazing. They make everything sound busy while keeping the music clean and easy to listen to. "Venus" has a killer chorus which is really just the guitar. The tone is so beautiful I feel like crying knowing I can't replicate it. "Friction" shows you the childlike humor this band has. Just like "Hard On Love" and "Love Comes In Spurts" which Television used to play when Richard Hell was the bassist, this song has a sexy type humor. After being knocked off your feet by the first three songs, you'll get kicked in the stomach by "Marquee Moon." Verlaine's voice has such a wild ache in it, I'm constantly wondering how this band didn't make it big. "Marquee Moon" shows just how different Verlaine and Lloyd play. The first solo is a conventional rock solo, descending down scales. That would be Lloyd. The second one is a slow build up into a massive climax; Verlaine's masterpiece. The guitar longs for something that is unknown, just like his singing. If you were already knocked out cold by the album, the ending of the song revives you so you can bless your ears with the rest of the CD. "Elevation" would be the first dark song on the album. For lack of a better term, it's a rainy day song. Richard Lloyd's solo is flawless. "Guiding Light" is the exact inverse of "Elevation." It's a ballad and is really a great contribution to the album. After hearing two songs which showed how diversified Television is, "Prove It" throws you back to the rock of "Friction." It's a cult favorite and once you hear it, you'll know why. "Torn Curtain" is another downer. It's and extremly dark song. After this comes the extra tracks.

The extra tracks are pretty much a novelty sans "Little Johnny Jewel." For some reason, Television never released this on an album. Anyway, when Johnny loses his senses, you better watch out. The epitome of Alternative music? I think so.

This album is, well, lanky. I'm sorry, but that word is just such a perfect word to describe the album. It's one of those things you have to hear. Do yourself and favor and drop the coporate stuff being shoved down your throat and listen to Television. One of the greatest punk bands, correction, one of the greatest bands of all time can not go without everyone hearing them at least once. If you like guitars, if you like Alt music, if you like to rock to something different yet familiar, Marquee Moon is just what you need.

"Marquee Moon" is, well, amazing. Like many other great albums it takes a little getting used to, but that's because it's unlike anything you've ever heard before. There are some blues-based rockers here ("See No Evil," "Friction"), but I think the real killers are the ones where the band ventures into stranger waters. On "Venus" and "Elevation," the guitars don't wail or cry, they bleep like computers and chime like bells. This is the sound that almost all great indie-rock is built on. The guitar-playing is mind-bogglingly good and, what is even more mind-boggling, it doesn't sound silly or self-indulgent. Tom Verlaine is a great songwriter (my vote for "Best Underground Pop Song of All Time" goes to "Venus"), and the band is good enough that on the title track they can turn a 5-minute guitar solo (just the words "5-minute guitar solo" are usually enough to make me cringe) into possibly the most effective build-up in rock history, the orchestra-and-alarm-clock build-up in "A Day in the Life" not excepted. Tom Verlaine's vocal style may be off-putting to those who don't listen to punk or indie music, but it can be really really effective, "Venus" being the prime example. So, in conclusion, if you don't have this album, I would suggest that you buy it. If you don't like it at first, listen to it again and again and again until you do. Some day you'll thank me.

Marque Moon stands as a seminal album in the new music movement of the late 70's. While not as polished as the band's second underrated album Adventure, Marque Moon does have all the right elements in place: Tom Verlaine's strangled vocals (imagine David Bryne with the hiccups and you've got an idea as to Verlaine's early vocal style); Richard Lloyd's structured unusual guitar solos (in marked contrast to Verlaine's more direct, off the cuff solos)and the solid rhythm section of Fred Smith (bass) and Billy Ficca (drums)all combine to create a unique, new sound.

Television has been lumped in with all sorts of genres (from new wave to punk)but its unique sound and Verlaine's unusual melodies simply defy convention. It's not fair to pen them in with Talking Heads, Xtc or other bands from the same era; each of these bands had a unique sound but the one thing that they had in common was combining the best of the old (adventurous songwriting and performing)with the best of the new (the energy and in-your-face brio of punk).

While Marque Moon is a seminal, important album it doesn't stand up quite as well as the band's best work the sophmore effort Adventure. Songs like Friction and See No Evil certainly deliver but there's a lack of focus here that would be evident on the band's second album (and Verlaine's many solo albums). One reviewer commented on how they couldn't see why they didn't break through to the big time. It's actually quite simple; the band's sound even when tamed was still unconventional enough to prevent them from gaining the radio exposure of the much more radio and image conscious Talking Heads or Blondie. Expecting Television to break through on the stength of this album would be akin to expecting XTC's second album to pull through simply on the extraordinary talent of the band. People were still in thrall to disco and bands that borrowed from disco, conventional rock music and the like were much more likely to break through because there was something familiar that audiences could relate to. Television borrowed from punk, new wave, rock, art rock and managed to mix it up enough to make it original and unforgettable. Unfortunately, those very qualities worked against them when it came to airplay in the United States.

Ironically enough, the UK became the true home of Television; both their first and second albums became strong sellers in the UK with adventure threatening to crack the top twenty (it only made it to the best of my recollection to a healthy # thirty). They never received the recognition in the US (beyond a strong cult following and critical opinion)they deserved until over a decade later when they reunited to make their third self titled disc.

Remastered editions with bonus tracks have become the norm now so I'm delighted to report that while the rarities are slim (it's actually a surprise to me that they were able to find as much as they did given the band's thin discography), they are important enough to be included and heard. Also, the digipak sleeve includes information on the recording of the album and a booklet with comments from the band.

This is the quintesential modern rock record from the greatest American art-rock band ever. Tom Verlaine and Television's approach is clever, with tons or interlocking guitar parts, rythmic basslines and tasteful drumming. Verlaine's lyrics are dark, imaginative and dreamy, and his vocal delevery fits the writing and guitar sound perfectly. His pinched, strung out whine expresses emotion and tells stories, even when the actual meaning is unclear. This album contains styles ranging from riffy rockers ("See No Evil") to soulful retro rock ("Guiding Light") to eerie ballads with cryptic lyrics ("Venus"). "Friction" and "Prove It" are incredibly strong songs, in Television's upbeat style. The longer songs, however are Television's strong suit. "Marquee Moon" stands as the album's centerpiece, a testament to what they can do as a band. Few moments on record have the same feeling one might get from listening to all the highly rythmic parts come together with the drums on the opening of that track. "Elevation" comes next, and allows the energy to stay high. The final track, "Torn Curtain" is different in some ways. Less guitar oriented, but moody and introspective, and basking in darkness, bringing the album to a supurb close. This album is brilliant. They took the genere of Velvet Underground influenced art-rock, and did even more for it than even VU did. Better than anything else, this album is ultra-essential!

'Marquee Moon' is Television's masterpiece: although only eight songs the album spans from intense punk rock ('Friction' and 'See No Evil') to some of the most beautiful songs ever heard (this goes for 'Venus', 'Guiding Light', 'Marquee Moon' and Elevation').

Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd are both fantastic guitars, especially Verlaine. He puts down some of the best guitar work ever in the epic 'Marquee Moon'. As goes for his somewhat extended vocal ability, well...it's true that he's more of a guitarist than a vocalist, but it's a bit overdone. On the glimmering 'Venus' it actually sounds fantastic. Not to be forgotten is Billy Ficca, a very talented drummer. Fred Smith is a good bass guitarist, he fills up the bottom line...I can't say that he's up there with Mani (Stone Roses/Primal Scream) for an example...

There is one thing I've considered: obviously many songs didn't make it to the complete record, 'Oh Mi Amore' for an example. I would like Elektra to rerelease 'Marquee Moon' and 'Adventure', with a few of the songs that never made it. Not that the albums needs help: 'Marquee Moon' is a fantastic album on it's own, a very dark and electric album. It pretty much sounds like the city streets at night. Listen to 'Elevation' or 'Guiding Light' and you know what I mean.