Customer Reviews

Modern Lovers

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This re-release on Sanctuary Records (UK) represents a near-complete collection of the 'original' Modern Lovers studio recording efforts. Its a shame that this band did not get an album completed in 1971/72 and get the fame that they deserved when they were still together. If you already have an earlier release of this record and are wondering whether to buy this one as well, here are some details to help with your decision. The first 9 tracks were released on vinyl in 1976, and were mostly from the 1971-72 recording sessions produced by John Cale. Tracks 10-12 were included on the Rhino CD release of the record in the 1980s, and are from the 73-74 session with Kim Foley producing. Tracks 13-14 were previously released on the "Original Modern Lovers" CD, and represent the best of the rest of the Foley sessions. Of the final tracks - and the only ones not previously released - on this re-issue, Someone I Care About and Roadruner are from the band's earliest demos, from early 1971 (Hospital, track 5 on the original record, also came from this session). These demos are a little rough, and lack some of the fire of the later recording sessions with Mr. Cale, but this earliest and longest Roadrunner still sounds great. Modern World is an early version from the 1972 John Cale sessions. Its interesting and edgy, but the '73 version clearly shows improvement. If the three previously unreleased tracks aren't enough to convince you to buy this disc, the liner notes alone may suffice. They are by far the most thorough description I've seen of the early Modern Lovers history, including details of the various recording sessions that make up this release.

If you are looking for the missing link inbetween the Velvet Underground and the Ramones, buy this CD. There were a few essential bands from this time period - the NY Dolls, the Dictators and the Modern Lovers. Here, on their groundbreaking 1st artifact, the Modern Lovers rock with the stripped down essentials of serpentine organ, sparse guitar strumming, and basic drum beats. Jonathan Richman's wry lyrics propel them into rock history. The lyrics of "Pablo Picasso" are as funny as anything written by the Ramones. "Hospital" inspires the same "Is he kidding?" response. Surreal lyrics sung absolutely sincerely. Not for nothing did the Sex Pistols cover "Roadrunner." Quote Johnny Rotten, "How does this song start?" The reply, "1-2-3-4-5-6!" Classic! Hasn't dated one bit.

30 years after these tracks were recorded, popular music has still not caught up. This recording is the missing link between black and white music. Jonathan Richman was a direct descendent of the Velvet Underground while Jerry Harrison went on to turn the Talking Heds into Parliament/Funkadelic. This is the best packaging of the recordings available. It includes a half dozen previously unreleased versions. The finest gem is an absolute rave version of "I want to sleep in your arms." This disc is absolutely essential to any fan or historian of popular music.

One of the greatest LP's ever recorded. If you don't get it you're already dead. If so, go listen to Journey and do us all a favor and kill yourself. It's mind-boggling to think it's out of print in the US. The Castle CD version is worth it just for the liner notes alone.

Jonathon Richman's dream was to leave Boston and sleep on Lou Reed's couch. Essentially, that is exactly what he did...musically anyways! Richman created music that at the same time was extremely derivative of the Velvet Underground yet distinctly original. "Roadrunner" is an excellent example of this blend of the Velvet Underground's repetive two-chord guitars, bobbing and weaving organs, and a Reed-esque affinity for magnificent "pop" melodies in an "anti-pop" song structure.

Fantastic. If you are a fan of Proto-Punk, Punk, New Wave, and the like, then this is a must-have for your collection. Criminally, this is not available in America, but only as an import.

Buy this and give it to your little brother who is "rocking" to Blink-187, Korn, or any of those other monstrous commercial vehicles that MTV pushes down the throats of our youth. I can promise you they will immediately put all their "Top 40" CD's up on e-bay.

There will be some people put off by Richman's off-key, at best, style of singing. There will be some put off by the naive material. There will be a few who will run to the local cd shop.

There are numerous classic songs: the punk She Cracked and Roadrunner (covered by the Sex Pistols), the guitar pop of Modern World, the intimate Hospital, and the ridiculous Girlfriend and Pablo Picasso. I taped this album off the radio and could still remember the entire album five years after I lost the tape. The consistent factor is Richman's ardour, simplicity, and off-beat musical style.

This is one of those gems that will make a few people in the world want to play it to every person they know, only to discover that others simply do not understand the music. A very special album for a special few.

I'm a man of many words, yet this album leaves me speechless. I discovered it over 17 years ago, when I learned that both the Sex Pistols' Road Runner and the Burning Sensation's Pablo Picasso were written by the same person: Mr. Jonathan Richman. I wasn't prepared for the emotional honesty from The Modern Lovers, it was unlike anything I had ever heard before. Jonathan Richman sang about the things he loved: old buildings, art, neon signs, girls, and of course, driving down the highway with the radio on. It changed my life, hearing that record. I no longer saw rebellion as a reaction to norms, but as positive steps toward an independent future. To sum up this album by it's intellectual and spiritual impact sell it short. This album is a raw, ragged album, that sounds way ahead of it's time. "I'm Straight" is so upfront and naked, it makes Morrisey and his ilk seem like guarded, cranky souls. There aren't many albums that can have as much an impact as this one. If you don't own it, you're missing out on one of the true unheralded classics of rock and roll. Listen; and fly into the mystery.
PS
Thirteen years ago I wrote a fan letter to Jonathan Richman's record company, and two months later he sent me a hand-written postcard. And about four years ago, when I saw him in Memphis Tennessee, I drunkenly blubbered to him after a show, that I admired him. He grabbed my hand, asked me my name, and said, "Tim, I care about how you feel." I know...I know...Sounds gay, but the guy was so cool and earnest that I was left speechless. I left almost immediately after some pleasantries because I didn't want to spoil the moment. Just a terrific artist and human being.

This is basically a combination of "The Modern Lovers" cd you probably have already & most of "The Original Modern Lovers" cd you might already have. The 2 songs that are not taken from those cds are the alternate "Modern World", & the last song: "Roadrunner". Neither one is familiar to me from any of the other dozen or so compilations that are out there. "Modern World" has a strange echoey sound, almost like they were trying to prepare it as a hit single but never really finished it. The music on "Roadrunner" isn't as hard, but Jonathan puts more oomph into his vocals. The artwork is kinda cool, with an essay & lots of pictures (& apparantly the 1976 release only had 9 songs on it, with the "lips" logo as the cover, which looks strange if you're used to the Rhino cd from later). The music makes me still give it 5 stars, but I was disappointed they didn't make it a "complete anthology", maybe with other rarities like "Song of Remembrance" & "I'm Dropping My Friends (One By One)" that you can only get on a bootleg. Regardless, whether you're a collector who still gets excited by any unreleased songs coming out, or someone who's just beginning to appreciate Jonathan's jenius (misspelled in his honor), this should make you happy.

My friend gave me this album and I love it. I thought it was funny, kind of silly at first, but the more I listen to it, the deeper the lyrics seem to get. Its a really complete album, mixing some punk elements with some rockabilly, and then theres the jams like "hospital" and "girlfriend" which are amazingly beatiful. The vocals are in a class of their own because they're so unique. Its a must have for any classic rock fan.

Modern Lovers recipe: take 1 part Velvet Underground + 1 part Violent Femmes. Blend. It really is a shame that Jonathan Richman and the the Modern Lovers never got the wide audience or even the same cult following thier predecessors (the VU) or their followers achieved (their influence on the Violent Femmes, TMBG, and Weezer is evident immediately). Their debut album catches this unique band at their loudest & rawest. The bonus tracks on this new printing are great songs, too. Disc standouts: Roadrunner, Old World, She Cracked, Hospital, Government Center, I'm Straight.