Vs. [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED]

Mission Of Burma

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 1997)
• Original Release Date: 1982
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: Rykodisc
• ASIN: B0000009Q5
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #29,392 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Indie Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk

Track Listings

1. Secrets

2. Train

3. Trem Two

4. New Nails

5. Dead Pool

6. Learn How

7. Mica

8. Weatherbox

9. Ballad of Johnny Burma

10. Einstein's Day

11. Fun World

12. That's How I Escaped My Certain Fate

13. Laugh the World Away [*]

14. Forget [*]

15. Progress [*]

16. OK/No Way [*]

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This is one of the greatest statements of the early days of American punk rock. Boston-based Mission of Burma created an intense, somewhat claustrophobic sound that was based neither on speed nor brevity. They bash and flail on their instruments, and the music is dense (including early tape manipulations), but the songs are intelligent and captivating. "Secrets" unfolds into directed chaos with an anthemic feel; "Trem Two" also has a great sense of dynamics. Several band members contribute songs, which also keeps the album engaging. Released in 1982 but still fresh. --Robert Gordon

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Album of the Eighties. Period., April 11, 2002

By	Peter F. Stubbs (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

While sounding like neither, this album captures the epic struggle between the band's two yin and yang main influences, Pere Ubu and the Stooges. Tearing through outright punk rockers like "That's how I escaped my certain Fate" with authority, they still manage to sculpt delicate beauties like "Trem Two" and "Einstein's Day". A thinking band that rocked, Burma was unmatched on these shores and equaled only by the best worldwide (Gang Of Four's "Entertainment"). And even their equals couldn't cover the breadth of material these guys seemingly effortlessly spun on a regular basis. This album dwarfed all that came before & altered all that would follow, leading the way for bands like Husker Du & The Minutemen to release masterworks of their own a year later. That Burma never recorded another album supplies post-punk with a tragedy on a scale (musically speaking) with Buddy Holly's death.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is an essential for any music collection, July 3, 2004

By	Alex Fencl (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Mission of Burma is without a doubt one of the most exciting, intense, cerebral, inticing, and genius groups to ever live. This disc is proof of that. Songs like "Trem Two" and "Weatherbox" show off the groups' more avant-garde leanings, whereas gems like "Mica" and "That's How I Escaped my Certain Fate" are pure, unpretentious art punk. The range of musical diversity in this one album is absolutely mind-blowing. "Vs." was originally released in 1982 and it sounds as if it could have been recorded today. A truly remarkable feat in independent music by 1982's or 2004's standards. My advice: buy this album and study it. Listen to it many, many, many times for not only the songs, but the song structures, as they are the most exciting part of any Burma song. I truly believe that no one has been able to top Burma yet, and no one ever will be able to for that matter. And it is an absolute miracle that they reunited and are playing live once again. It almost makes me believe that there is a god if such a talented band could join forces again after a 22-year hiatus. So listen, learn, and rock out as hard as you possibly can because life is too short to listen to watered-down "punk rock" like Blink 182 or NOFX. If you want the real deal, the real gritty in-your-face intelligent kind of stuff, then you have come to the right place.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Punk rock doesn't get any better than this, March 8, 2001

By	Frank Grimes (LaPalma, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Mission of Burma is probably the best kept secret in old school punk rock. Next to the Clash, they are probably my favorite punk band of all time. And Vs. is the undeniable masterpiece.

I call Mission of Burma a punk band, but if it was released today, it would problably just be labeled as indie rock. You are not going to mistake this album for the Dead Kennedys or even the Sex Pistols for that matter. But Vs. is often just as intense and visceral as any album by those punk bands. One of the biggest differences is the instrumentation. Most of their songs are mid tempo, and have dense layers of jangly guitar lines. Infact, some of their songs don't sound all too different from REM's instrumentation. However, what makes this album so gripping is it's ability to invoke feelings of nervousness, paranoia, and great urgency. I think the only band that I can compare Mission of Burma to is Gang of Four. There are 16 tracks on this album, and every song is performed with incredible conviction. My personal faves are "Secrets", "New Nails", "Weatherbox" and "Fun World".

Long story short, if you like indie rock or punk rock, it doesn't get much better than Vs. Also, I strongly recommend checking out the Signals Calls, and Marches EP. (It contains the fantastic "academy fight song" as well as "That's when I reach for my revolver.")