No further proof needed of Marquee Moon's mind-altering inventinveness than the fact that a significant number of people seem to think it sounds like the Strokes. Come again?
Meh. I've never been into Television. I don't think that they are bad or unskilled, but it's never grabbed me. If I want to listen to New York style new wave from the late seventies, it's going to look for something like early Blondie.
This album is a world unto itself. I've listened to a lot of music, but there's nothing else quite like this. Such a unique and often bizarre blend of post-punk-infused pop with a hint of psychedelia.
This album is just an inventive, intricate, and idiosyncratic mix of classic-guitar-hero-dad-rock, punk irreverence, and jazz interplay. I knew I was gonna give it this but this Aussie gives it five runs to Bunnings Warehouse out of five.
Absolutely loved this. A revelation for me and if I get 5 albums like this from the 1001 where I know very little and then get educated then it’s worth listening to alll the shit. I hear so many of my fave bands today in this album, the guitar work is special, the tunes are special, I’m only sad it’s taken 45 years to hit my ears ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Marquee Moon is, of course, the cornerstone of the art punk side of post-punk. They gave an energetic boost to the otherwise very dark and dingy sounds of Joy Division, Bauhaus, The Cure, and....oh, huh? Marquee Moon came out before all those bands? Huh. Well, even if they aren't the cornerstone! They put out some quintessential post-punk. Compositionally unique, it sticks with me even after repeated listens. They'll explore cool new bridges or verses and then move on to another, refusing to stick around too long leaving you wanting more. But then you get even more punk-y goodness that you can forgive it.
Title track still bangs but I realized I find the vocalist a bit too shrill for a full album.
I have this on vinyl and is played at least once a month as It's one of my favourite albums. You can hear how it's so influential on many other bands.
A really special record, in my opinion one of the best guitar records ever. Verlaine & Lloyd’s duelling guitars are particularly notable on Friction & Elevation but the epic title track is a thing of wonder. No filler at all here.
Thank you Television for not letting Brian Eno ruin this album!!! They recorded demos of several of the songs and didn’t like Eno’s production. So the band waited for a better suited recording arrangement. I’ve had this album in my library for a long time, and I’ve gone through spurts of repeated listening. I love the guitar work on this album. The twinkling diddle-liddle-liddle-liddle-luh throughout Marquee Moon (song) is a great hook. And the little, repeated licks that go against the grain in several songs, which I found out are called countermelodies, are exquisite. The bass deserves recognition too, like on Elevation and Prove It for instance where it carries the melody at times. Listening to Marquee Moon (song) more closely now, I find it to be an unappreciated master piece. The repeated premature truncation of the chorus on Elevation is unsettling, but in a way I truly appreciate. Have you ever had a conversation with someone about what era you’d want to go back to for the music? Reading more about Television’s history, 1975 at CBGB in Manhattan is now on my list of potential answers. That year, Television shared a residence at the CBGB with Patti Smith when she had just recorded her album Horses. Oh what a time and place to be!
Fun, jazzy, angular, theatrical. Your favorite band's favorite album. Paved the way for a lot of great music. Favorite tracks: "Friction", "Marquee Moon", "Elevation", "See No Evil"
I actually quite like this album overall. Television is an essential part of that initial, American post-punk exploratory period that birthed bands like Violent Femmes and The Replacements. It's nihilistic and nonsensical at times, sure. But that's just true to its post-punk underpinnings. It also hits with some strong, jazz-rooted drums and more than a few prog-rock-leaning instrumental sections. Is it an amazing album? No. But it's pretty damn good. The title track, Marquee Moon, in particular, is great from both a technical and musical perspective.
Weird songwriting, yet impossibly cool. The lyrics are a masterpiece of tonality. Some of the hooks and melodies are to die for. I have to realise that one of the ways I judge an album is if I want to party with the band. I definitely want to party with Television.
That "Marquee Moon," guitar riff is so damn infectious it has kept me coming back to this album over and over. Come for that riff and stay for a group of punks that can actually play guitar. I feel like their guitar work was well beyond what most of their fast and loud contemporaries were doing. It was also just really catchy to me. I think Verlaine is a fantastic songwriter as well. Interesting imagery and delivery. That being said I feel like a few of the songs on the back half of this album were just not as fleshed out lyrically and more of a showcase of how well these guys could play guitar. For that I've got to give this one a 4.
Wow. What a find. Never listened to them before but after Venus I knew this album was going to be a good one. I don't throw 5 stars around willy nilly, and certainly not for an album I've only heard once, so this is a strong 4.
Another absolute classic which must have been a lightning bolt moment back in '77, perfect marriage of punk sensibilities and aesthetic with the artsy contemporaries like Talking Heads and Roxy Music. 10 minute songs?? Guitar virtuosos?? And from the 70s, but no caped keyboard players or fairytale lyrics in sight?! For me the highlights are all in the first half, in particular Venus and Marquee Moon. The album peaks with that transcendent title track, although the soft and stirring Guiding Light is a highlight from Side 2. A stronger closer would have bumped this to 5* for me but can settle with 4.5* and bottomless admiration.
A classic that I came to late, 10 years ago, perhaps. It's a very good album and the guitar interplay between Verlaine and Richard Lloyd is often gorgeous and always engaging. I was tempted to give it an automatic 5 stars for it's reputation and they fact that I mostly think it's brilliant, but...... Tom Verlaine's voice keeps it from reaching the highest score. Now I can usually look past a unflattering vocal performance if the songs transcend the subjectively week vocals and I mostly do, but ultimately I can't quite get to 5. 4 .5 🌟
This is a pretty great record. Television is a complete blindspot for me but seems like they should be in my wheelhouse. The guitar interplay is great. The vocals aren't amazing but they mostly work in the context of the songs. Cool record.
Enjoyable enough but nothing that makes it standout. Suffers from lots of bands coming after that do it slightly more to my taste.
Really, really enjoyed this. Can't believe it came out in 1977, sounded like early Strokes!
I knew it was going to be good, and bad on me for not listening to it for this long, but HOT DAMN.
I love Television. Saw them in concert after their reunion album, which is also incredible. This is a classic, 5 stars.
This feels like the definition of "proto". Sonically it's roots really resonate far and wide, and in its own right it is surprisingly strong. Plus it fits my flavors in some really strong ways.
Narzekalem na punkowatosc punkowatosci na liscie i lista postanowila odpowiedziec czyms epicko punkersko protoplastycznym, bo albumikiem z 77 grupy zwanej television, na ktorej wczesniej nie bylo mi dane sie poznac, ale nadrobilem i urzeklo mnie to co uslyszalem, nie jest jest to wulgarny energiczny punk pelen buntu polaczonego z darciem mordy i napierdalanka po gitarkach, jeden z najbardziej smothowych punko basow jakie chyba kiedykolwiek slyszalem tworza taka linie melodyczna, o jakiej drumujace melodyje nie moga snic, na to jeszcze wpadaja gitarowe solowki na przemian z kounter melodiami, ktorych istnienie dopiero na tej plycie tak odczulem, bo jakos nigdy nie zastanawialem sie nad kounterowymi melodiami i ich zastosowaniu w muzyce popularnej, a ten album robi dobry how to tego wlasnie wykorzystania budowy melodii, tak jak sugeruje okladka banda liczy 4 czlonkow, dosc klasyczne w punkowaniu, ale tym razem wokalista jest takze utalentowanym grajkiem gitarowym i klawiszowym, ktore kreci solowe popisy, czuc takze ze teksty sa pisane ekskluziwnie przez pana Verlaine, chociaz nie jest to konceptowy krazek, to jednak motywy biedaka grajka hamerykanskiego w duzym miescie czuc dosc bardzo, zwlaszcza po retrospekcyjnym charakterze niektorych trakow, no i narkotykach rzecz jasna, co tez oczywiscie nawiazuje do poczatkow szolbiznesu dla czlonkow telewizji, pisalem ze wokalista robi robote podczas solowek, ale glowny gitarowca wcale mu tutaj nie ustepuje i licytuja sie co trak kto bardziej epickiego solowca wystuka, jeden z albumikow sluchany tylko od poczatku do konca, bo tak wciaga, ale na plejaka dodam ponad 10 minutowego epika ktory najlepiej sprzedaje o czym jest ta plyta, czyli tytulowy marquee moon, do tego dochodzi prove it, elevation i venus milowskom, na ktorej dosc ciekawe chorkowanie sie pojawilo, jak teraz pomysle jak influencyjna to musiala byc plyta, mam przed soba tyle wyspiarskich punkerow, ktore podobny konter plej probowaly ogrywac, gadajace glowy i pozostan w swietle, to tez dobry przyklad influencjowania tym wlasnie materialem, mam nadzieje ze reszta dyskografii jest rownie epicka i energia frontowego zawodnika przetrwala
One of the greatest post-punk albums of all time. 9.4/10 Best Tracks: "See No Evil" "Venus"
Классное сочетание 2 гитарных партий. Критики также отмечают интересную лирику, жаль не могу ее оценить.
Que és el disc amb millors guitarres dels 70 és gairebé una obvietat. No només dels 70, em costaria trobar un àlbum amb tants temes on els riffs provoquin tal cascada de sentiments. Però és que a més té les cançons... No n'hi ha cap que sigui simplement bona, totes són radicalment excel.lents
Hadn't heard of this group before, so wasn't sure going in what it would be about. Very much a guitar-first album, and they do an excellent job with that. Very much what the Strokes brought back in the 2000s. Vocalist takes away from it a bit, but added some tunes to the playlist here. Marquee Moon the song is excellent, very catchy jam. Added a few to the playlist off of this one.
The title song is a highlight on one of the best albums ever - what some players manage to express with a guitar is amazing and still sounds as fresh as ever- but the rest of the songs is excellent as well.
A pop-rock album that I absolutely loved every second of. The instrumental sections of this album are very dynamic and the guitar play goes from garage rockers to experimental. The guitarists complement each other so well and their sound is deeply layered; definitely the highlight of the album. I can understand how some might view the singing and songwriting as subpar or stale, but really its secondary to the music as a whole. I can imagine how ahead of its time this album was at its release, not just for punk rock but rock as a whole. The sequencing of this album is flawless and there is not one bad song on the entire album. Favorite tracks: All; Marquee Moon, Torn Curtain if I had to choose.
Fabulous recording, fun guitar. The occasional touch of melancholy. Awesome vocals, and great harmonies. Also the perfect duration - long enough to leave me fulfilled, without dragging on.
The compositional endpoint of the two guitars, bass and drums band playing rock & roll. Every instrument is playing exactly what it needs to, and what they’re playing is all brilliant (especially the drums). This could've just as well have been released 10 or even 20 years later. Hard to believe it would come out of the CBGB's scene
I'd forgotten how amazing this album is. The hypnotic, driving bass with the guitar work pulling it along. If I'm nitpicking, I'm not totally sold on the singing but does convey masses of character and attitude, and the title track is so amazing and titanic that it overshadows the songs coming after it.
The more I listen to this album the more I like it. How crazy that this came out in 1977?! I only knew the title track before this, and I genuinely thought it was a modern song. I'm vibing with this _a lot_. I may be feeling generous this week but I do love this album.
Absolute classic. This and their live ROIR tape The Blow-Up were mind blowing. It was too bad that Little Johnny Jewel was difficult to get ahold of until the reissue.
Amazing album front to back, all killer no filler. Truly one of the best albums ever created, not only based on the quality of songs but also the composition of the album itself. Absolutely exceptional album.
"Friction" is one of the horniest songs I've ever heard. "Marquee Moon" pioneering the brain-fuck off-time guitar part solo intro. Also pioneering self-indulgent guitar wankery at the end of the album
One of my favorite albums. Love every track. So simple yet entrancing and melodic. I think a lot of it comes from its jazz-like structure, despite only using rock instruments. This isn't like anything out there. Explores several themes, none of which overstay their welcome, and never tries to be flashy. Atmosphere is wistful and mysterious, sometimes very dark, which works perfectly with Verlaine's haunting vocals and creepy lyrics. This is best exemplified in "Friction," from the beginning tune to the guitar interludes between every line. It amazes me how each track stands out in these remarkable, memorable ways. It helps that there are only 8 tracks, each deserving full attention. The mixing is as best as it could be, you could hear everyone clearly, as subtle as they may be. A bad production job would have likely dulled the contributions of the drums, which I feel play the major role in carrying the power and tempo in this album compared to most. When the drums change, you know we're moving into new territory. The second side doesn't get enough love. Starting with the garage-style wild opener, it feels like the first few tracks are building up the mood to the titular masterpiece, but we abruptly shift to the post-apocalyptic second half. Again, with each track I can pull out 10 things that I obsess over. And yet there's always a commendation about the vocals, guitar solos, lyrics, and drums... no one's being dragged behind in any of them. "Elevation" carries the themes we saw in "Friction" and "Marquee Moon," but "Guiding Light" really mellows the tone for the rest of the album. When people say Marquee Moon is one of the most influential album to the alternative and indie scene, the song I typically thing of is "Prove It;" there's something so standard about that song that really sets the benchmark of how rock music should sound like, simple yet constantly evolving, with dynamic vocals and solos that naturally come in and out of the song's riffs, closing with an extended satisfying ending. Also, it has the abrupt stops, which is one of my favorite things about punk music. Finally, the album closes with the gothic, eery "Torn Curtain." Absolutely love the yearning chorus and the isolating guitar. Best choice to close the experience.
Another one of those albums that I listen to over and over. It is a perfect soundtrack to a hwad clearing walk when I need to get lost in my thoughts.
Another longtime fav of mine. Lots have be said of this album and it indeed is great. What downt get said as much as how good the guitar playi g is, it's a down right jam album with excellent production.
Tom Verlaine’s lyricism on Marquee Moon, influenced by French and Bohemian poetry, filled to the brim with puns, double entendres, and other clever witticisms, could’ve been enough to establish the record as a classic in itself, but then, the interweaving, lyrical guitar playing of Verlaine and Richard Lloyd could’ve done the same. There are very few records I love as much as this one. It has had an immeasurable impact on the way I think about guitar playing, lyricism, even music itself. High praise, I know, but it’s entirely deserved. Standout Tracks: See No Evil, Venus, Marquee Moon, Prove It, Torn Curtain
Connor: - great riffs / basslines - distinctive vocal style. unusual, but not unpleasant - liked it a lot more on the second listen
Really hear the Velvet Underground influence here. Sounds like 70s early punk for sure. I enjoyed this throughout. The guitars were really cool and I actually really dug his vocals - very 70s.
A really, really fucking cool album that feels way ahead of its time. Venus de Milo was a standout track, as was the title "Marquee Moon" which was an epic jam. Really great stuff
Immediately can place as late 70's. For sure I've heard some of this before and have not heard in a long time. It stays interesting and listenable.
wicked guitar solos, fun ad libs, a few boring moments (sorry prove it) but also some great ones (friction!)
I like their guitar lines a lot. They almost feel like they're inspired by 50's or surf rock sometimes.
Immediate Strokes precursor. Recognize the album from radio plays but otherwise unfamiliar. It’s got a crunchy groove but not much blues.
Really like this album. Lead singer reminds me a little of the lead singer from Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah.
First heard about these guys from the "No Dogs in Space" podcast. Really great album, and you can hear the proto-punk "attitude" really seeping out in every track. This is almost exactly halfway between rock and punk. The standout track is the lovely 10 minute Marquee Moon. I listened to a few different versions, and they're all transcendent.
Quite liked some of the musical ideas, enough that I'll probably go back for another listen. 8
A weird but unique album; gets lumped in with post-punk a lot but in my mind is pretty distinct from that style. Not 'top of all time' territory, but definitely an album I know I've enjoyed listening to over and over again.
4.0 + Amazing guitar work, full of memorable riffs. Love the songs and the New York attitude. “Marquee Moon” in the middle flags the momentum for me.
I enjoyed that. I'd never heard it before, but could definitely see the influence on bands I like. Really enjoyed the title track.
7/10 This is pretty good, a lot of it is just plain fun to listen to, lots of catchy riffs. Another album that definitely sounds ahead of it's time. However, the vocals were rough and i really didn't care for the last few songs
Can see how it has influenced others (and been influenced, hints of VU). Loved guitars but voice grated, probably a 7/10 for now but will give it 4 stars as a classic.
Really good. Whole album is good, certain tracks are excellent. Listened to loads. And would again.
I don't watch television anymore. I refuse to pay for the TV licence. I now only watch animals fucking on the dark Web. The BBC coverage of animals humping is a bit shit now. I like watching two animals just really going at it like the clappers. Proper walloping eachother in their holes. A big horse's dick crushing the pussy of a leopard. Marvellous.
Well it turns out I have greatly underestimated Television. An album caught in a time where you can hear the bands they influenced as much as the bands by which they were influenced themselves. So much going on here and the album doesn’t have any weak moments. Added to library and will explore more.
What an excellent and groundbreaking piece of work. This is the blueprint for post-punk right here. Very close to a 5 for me, but just a few songs I didn’t bop with as hard as others. Maybe it would be a 5 on a different day; it’s certainly almost there.
Decent album. Very Talking Heads-esque. Though after Marquee Moon, I just wanted everyone to be Marquee Moon.
Very good, probably very influential for its time. No songs really jump out but all are good!
Title song is great as well as some other songs on album. Typical 70's rock(in a good way).
Cool 70s album. Lots of great bluesy riffs and can see this album being influential for many albums in that era.
Really great production, really great songs, really great music. Title track will take you out of this world for 10 minutes in the best way.
I absolutely love the guitar work. Remarkable asymmetric playing from both guitars, creates a groove that I haven’t heard before. The vocals were a bit typical for post-punk, preventing a full 5 stars.
See No Evil is an absolute banger and this album (if you can vibe with Tom Verlaine's unusual voice) has a great energy and rawness that is enjoyable from start to finish.
Well! I was not expecting that, and was pleasantly surprised. The guitar playing and arrangements are what make this album stand out. I've never heard Television before (I mean, I've heard a television, but I've never heard Television), and I'm now surprised that they aren't more well-known. They broke up after only 2 albums, and maybe this isn't easy to place in a radio format? But other punk rock and post-punk bands of the late 70s have found their way to me somehow. Definitely wish I had heard Television sooner. The guitars that start "See No Evil" immediately piqued my interest, but then Tom Verlaine's vocals just as quickly gave me cause for concern. In the end, Verlaine's singing grew on me a bit, but his voice is the one thing keeping "Marquee Moon" from *****. Ok, so I wrote most this after the title track, the 10+ minute "Marquee Moon." Even at that length, I was with it the whole way. And so naturally, I wrote my review too soon. Then I finished the album, and then listened again. After “Elevation” it never really gets back to those heights. However, those first five tracks are an easy ****. So is the rest bad enough to drag down the star rating? "Guiding Light" and "Prove It" are ok, but "Torn Curtain" almost did it. The more psychedelic sound was not as good, and for some strange reason the vocals kept reminding me of the scene in "Dumb and Dumber" where they are in the car singing "Mock-ing, bird, yeah." I'm torn... (get it?)...
Boy oh boy what a surprise. I really enjoyed this album. I hear in this band threads of inspiration that pop up in other bands. Marquee Moon’s rhythmic guitar instantly reminded me of Interpol (Obstacle 1 in Turn on the Bright Lights). They are a wonderful mix of their contemporaries and a glimpse into the indie future. It’s really the melodic lines of the guitar that kept me hooked. I’ll definitely be listening to this one more and more.
Meisterwerk. Mutter und Vater solcher Rotzlöffel wie Parquet Courts und Strokes. Alles vorweg genommen was guten Indie später ausmachen sollte: ein spezieller Groove, Tempi-Wechsel, Variation, keine Scheu vor instrumentalen Passagen und über all dem: die Schnodderigkeit der Unangepassten. Titelstück erinnert stark an stärkste Zeiten von Destroyer. Saftige 4.3
Good listening. The singing got less grating but still noticeable even after two listens.
Really liked this and can see it will have influenced a lot of more recent bands. Reminded me of the libertines a bit.
nice album, a bit alternative post punk but it stands out because of the instrumentals
Never heard of Television before but I quite like this one. It's a bit Talking Heads with some excellent bass guitar. I'll give this one a few more listens for sure.
Ma to te pitam, posjedujem vinyl, znači ovo je teška četvorka, odličan ritam na albumu. Vokal, ma ugl znam se vratit ovom albumu dost često. Marquee Moon pjesma mi je malo malo u rotaciji iako traje 10min, nea veze. Odličan post/art punk, također mi je 77' u glazbi jako draga, a ovaj album je u definitivnoj top petici te godine. Ako ne i u top 3 iza Animalsa od Floyda i Low od Bowiea. P. S. Ko ne voli Marquee Moon stvar ima malog pišu i male sise i nije mi prijatelj onda. Ahha. Check mate.
Ovo je stvarno bilo dobro. Svaka pjesma paše savršeno i imaju neki svoj unikatni zvuk.
Another band that had passed me by; another post-punk/rock band - that at times absolutely blew me away (loved the title track) - has a real 1970's authentic hiss & rawness. Not great - certainly not all the way through but a great discovery
An absolutely brilliant album by a band I've never heard of! The first couple of tracks were nothing special, but the album kicks off the moment the Friction guitar riff starts, and never lets off from there.
It's been a while since I had fun with a television. And it's been a while since I heard a great guitar driven rock, let alone a good punk album. A pleasant surprise.
I had never heard of Television, but right from the first track, I liked it. There's a familiarity to it that I can't quite place. They do sound ahead of their time. I hear a new wave sound emerging, which I don't associate so much with the late 70s.
Sounds exactly like what I would expect a 70s rock album to be. It might have been a fresh album back then, but as a younger listener I don't see anything too special about it.
Very cool older album. Haven't listened to before. Will add to the rotation. Reminded me of talking heads
Pretty much a flawless L.P. Billy Ficca doesn't get enough credit for being a great drummer.
This is a pretty good post punk record, but the title song Marquee Moon just elevates this album to iconic status. The guitar interplay between Verlaine and Richard Lloyd is just the stuff of legend. The song sounds like it ends 3-4 times but it just keeps going and building into sonic musical bliss. If there was ever a song that deserves the descriptor Fucking Epic, it’s Marquee Moon.
I’ve always been a fan of the title track, especially the guitar interplay, though I would have preferred a radio edit, since I find the solo longer than it needed to be and not very inspired. So, I was happy that the guitar playing and arrangements were so outstanding on the rest the LP. They're quite intricate and no doubt out of place in 1977. They were like a pre-punk, post-punk band, or just a rock band I guess. Tom Verlaine has a pained and distinct voice that one can listen to for a full 45 minutes. 7 out of 10 for me.
I like the Wiki notes about the debate on what genre this is. Basically, the argument is they can't be punk since they actually know how to sing and play their instruments. Too funny. To that point, the guitar playing - both solos and particularly the rhythm on the title track - is strong. I have a soft spot for punk from the CBGB days and might rate this higher if they didn't play so well. lol
Ahead of its time, there's still nothing quite like this. Favourites: "See No Evil", "Marquee Moon", "Elevation"
Probably my favorite CBGB era band...this album is a classic. Really enjoy hearing the influences they had on so much of the more modern music I enjoy. 4.5/5
A true classic in every sense of the word. A snap shot of the times and timeless all at once.
Just as a mosquito relieve no men, this one circles around looking for an opportunity to bite. I liked it, plenty of good hooks and got some vibes of The Strokes. ‘Elevation’ surely influenced The Cardigans’ ‘Lovefool’
Nog eens een verrassing in de lijst! Leuke rock, toffe riffs. De zang is soms niet zo super, dus een klein minpuntje daarvoor
I was sure I'd listened through this record loads of times, but I have no recollection of Torn Curtain, so maybe I didn't. I've definitely heard the title track and See No Evil countless times. But yeh, great album, influential sound, bit too proggy at times, but I can live with that.
You can either manage his voice and the guitar twang or you can’t. I definitely vibe with this. Title track is killer. Didn’t know that Elevation was the basis of RHCP Californication! Some REALLY great tunes.
Enjoyable listen. Reminds me of the Talking Heads It's crazy how much post-70s rock music rips off sounds that were already explored in the 70s. So much 2000s rock that sounds like this
A long favourite. The twin guitar arrangements on this album are milestones of rock guitar duos. Only gripe is that I've always wished wished WISHED the singer's voice was easier on the ears!
If you're expecting a slick, well produced album from a professional bunch with a classically trained singer and lyricist you'll give this a 1* However this is a raw, gutsy, passionate and quite varied affair. The title track at 10 mins veers around in multiple directions and doesn't tire although it's true some of the other tracks can be a bit samey. This influenced a huge number of better known bands to come which is a shame as they are simply compared to them.
This album came out in 1977, which is just amazing. I wonder how many bands drew their inspiration from this album. 4.5/5
Pretty sick, the title tracks is awesome Is it a strong 4, or did I just listen to it after hearing Pet Sounds? Solid 4
this is pretty cool, shoegazey garagey rock but weirdly upbeat? i don't think the term shoegaze was around in 1977 but hey. weird that i'd never heard of this band before.
fun, not something I'd listen to again (too punky, but they performed better than some of the post-punk, I like)
Marquee Moon: By Television - See No Evil: not a bad song to vibe to, love the beginning. the guitar is e v e r y t h i n g. it gets kinda boring and repetitive... bridge is CRAZY. - Venus: dad vibes. definitely. i would vibe to this while cooking/ baking in the kitchen. - Friction: damn. aggressive ✋🏼😅. its funny hahaha. PLS GUITAR GUITAR WOAAAAAAAH. - Marquee Moon: 10 mins, couldn’t make it to the 3rd minute. no. - Elevation: weird... i feel like it could be part of gossip girls sound track, like when blair and chuck end up in a fight and blair is walking on the streets. same vibe. - Guiding Light: probably my grandparents first dance song. weird in a nice way? gets intense 😳 guitar is so smooooooooooth - Prove it: STARETED OFF REALLLLY WELL, the chorus was disappointing 😢 THE WHISTLE ANKDKSIDISHSJF ADORABLE! RIFF! YUP! YUP! - Torn Curtain: not my vibe. no...
Started strong but got worse as it went on. I can see why there is some appeal, but this isn't something I'll listen to again.
I only sort of listened to it. Feels like a precursor to more fleshed out punk. Can’t really give an honest opinion
Bowie-esque rock that is a little easier for the ears. Really enjoyed the track Elevation that apparently wasn't among the most liked from the Album on Spotify.
not bad. interesting mix of jazz, folk, and psychadelic rock. last song is particularly good
This one was alright to listen to. Honestly, I didn’t find it particularly memorable, but I didn’t find it annoying, either. It was pretty decent.
was never really into them back in the day, though i knew they were around. one track stood out, the rest were interesting enough, but didn't really grab me.
Not something I would listen to usually, but it makes me imagine my father smoking pot in the 70s. Wikipedia Link to album: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marquee_Moon
Found this band after reading comparisons to the strokes back in HS. I don't recall ever connecting with them. On a relisten, these songs are fine, but nothing jumps out to play again.
6/10. I guess not the most generic rock we've heard, but overall the singing is meh, and the instrumentals are good but not good enough to justify the lengths of the instrumental sections. Elevation's similarity to Californication weirded me out.
An album of two halves. The first half is like the Clash, but missing whatever it is that makes the Clash so vital. Side 2 is something different. Gentler, more melodic, not trying to have 'attitude' and much, much better. Side 1 = 2/5, Side 2 = 4/5.
"It was a tight tour night, streets so bright. The world was so thin and between my bones and skin." (Venus) Ah, el disco de las canciones adyacentes a otras canciones que sí conozco.
First Album we've had that I've not aware of at all. Here goes nothing... Initial thoughts were its not awful but not instant either, maybe lacking hooks, singer is strong with a Jaggeresque twang. Things significantly pick up after a couple tracks with Friction which is a proper punk banger. They are little like a grown up Ramones with something more interesting to say. Guitars on this are mostly great although some of the tracks start to get a little prog rock which is upsetting. If you judge this album by today's standards its probably a 3. But in 1977 this would have been mind blowing for people, especially considering the amount of drugs they took back then. I suspect this would have been a massively influential album and inspired a lot of indie rock to come. 3/5 for the album as we find it today (fair bit of filler). But its a high 3 and probably deserves a 4 for influence alone. An Interesting Album and I've already downloaded it as think it will benefit from a few more listens.
This doesn't sound like a 70s album, must have been well ahead of its time when the band were playing CBGBs. Most of it was new to me apart from Marquee Moon, rest were growing on me but not sure I'll be revisiting the album too often.
Can spot the glimpses of influence they gave others but in the main this album felt like one long track. Not enough variation to keep me interested for sustained periods
Sticking a 10 minute song in the middle of the album is bold. Alright, nothing super special and a bit grating. 6
This has been the most frustrating review. Not because of the music, but my tech incompetencies have had me start four solid reviews, but then lose them 😕. So here is my brief fifth effort. Good album! I think better musicianship and writing than a lot of their contemporaries, and I’m wondering why these guys don’t get more respect. There is great guitar work - especially on “Elevation” and “Prove It” and my favorite track was “Friction”. I get the feeling that for part of his life, this album was never that far away from Paul Westerberg’s turntable... 3.5, but I can’t justify a 4.
Fine album, sort of faded into the back groud. Marquee Moon was a good track, but part of that might just be to me recognizing it
It was interesting. A couple of good tracks but overall not something I'd listen to again unless it was on vinyl. I can imagine this would lend itself.
Pleasant surprise here for me. I really liked the way the songs were crafted, in particular the guitar parts. The downfall was the lead singer: regardless of whether it was a stylistic choice or natural talent level (or both), his voice was distracting.
Was decent, didn't love all of it but liked enough of it to enjoy it on the whole. Reminded me of the strokes-era alternate/indie rock vibe from bands around at that time. 3*
Alright. Entertained me whilst washing up but wouldn't be rushing to listen to again. Kept expecting The Cardigans to start singing Lovefool when Elevation came on
Captivating musically but lyrics felt like an afterthought and ended up forgettable. Wonderful guitar, especially on title track but after 10 minutes it felt pretentious
Good, not really my thing but a solid album and I can see how people would really enjoy this.
- jazzy and interesting - fairly generic lyrics - probably ahead of its time and still holds up
It was alright actually, better than i expected. Still not vibing with enough of the songs to add them to my library, though. 2.5/3 stars.
I'd heard of this band but never listened to them. Musically, I find them very impressive -- not the power-chord-based, heavily distorted, oft-dissonant (sometimes seemingly for dissonance's sake) punk sound, even though from what I'm reading they were part of the NYC-CBGBs 70s scene. I must confess that even though the lead singer is a bit David Byrne-like (just a hunch: I wouldn't be surprised to learn that a bunch of CBGBs bands had a lot of similarities; not a knock, that stuff just happens via osmosis), and I love David Byrne, I'm not a fan of his vocals. That being said, a lot of the music on this album is very interesting to me. I sometimes want a bit more sustain underneath the songs, but that's a personal taste thing for me (and I don't need it in every song - I'm just hearing a few of the songs as a little "thin," at least to my ear, and that's probably exactly how the band wanted it). The guitar work is fantastic. The whole band plays great - bass & drums are superb. I bet they were a lot of fun to see play at CBGBs. (Side note: it's also fun to say "CBGBs".)
As a huge Strokes fan, I knew the comparisons that are often made between them and Television. And to be frank, I see why they are often made, after having listened to Marque Moon. However, I most definitely prefer Julian's voice over Tom's, Albert's riffs over Jimmy's, and This Is It's style over Marquee Moon's. This Is It presents a beautifully bittersweet cohesive concept, consisting of a distorted style and droning guitars that fit incredibly well together, while Marquee Moon sounds decidedly more confusing and uninspired. There is not a single bad track on here, but this widely regarded classic piece of Art-Punk leaves me wishing for way more. 3/5.
A great early alternative, guitar-driven album. The back half of the LP does seem to lose steam and resort to repetitive arrangements, but the combined force of the instrumentation and charging title track still make for a decent listen.
Sounds very much Talking Heads inspired. First time I've ever heard this 'classic LP' not an instant winner for me. Might be after a few listens perhaps. Good though.
So the seeds of an alt movement are in there. It almost gives off a proto math rock jazz vibe with a lot of counter melodies in the guitar voices. The vocal texture is okay. It has an early 60s vibe, but maybe a touch more focus. Marquee Moon is a track where it all comes together, the other tracks on the A-side don't feel harmonious(?) like the orchestration isn't paced out.
Above average but easily forgotten creative rock-esque vibes. I swear one of the riffs on the eponymous track was inspired by Trout Mask Replica
Except for the song "Marquee Moon", the whole album looks like any generic post-punk album that was forgotten inside an old box of cassettes in some basement... Reading the Wikipedia article, I got the importance of the album for the movement in that time and the references of New York are nice, but the songs are just normal.
thought it was gross at the beginning but kinda grew on me. not badddd but would not listen again xxxxxx
I’ve tried to get into this several times over the years but it just doesn’t do it for me. Pioneering, maybe, but I prefer the stuff it opened the door for.
I liked this pretty well, the music moreso than the vocals. To me it seemed to jump pretty well over post-punk and even new wave genre wise, pretty far ahead of its times.
Another one of these middle-of-the-pack rock projects unfortunately. Not that it's bad, just that we've had a handful of albums that, when heard together, are pretty nondistinct. I enjoyed a few tracks on here, it's a decent project. But nothing really jumping out at me. Favorite tracks: Marquee Moon, Venus, Guiding Light. Album art: Low res band photo with what seems like distorted text. Whatever. 3/5
First few tracks seemed a bit meh. Then 8 and half minutes into the title track I realised that actually something a bit out of the ordinary was going on, and enjoyed the rest of the album from that point. I can believe that in 1977 this was a bit of a game-changer for guitar music.
At it's best, a decent bit of 70s rock. At it's worst, completely forgettable background music. They didn't do themselves any favours by starting with the two most generic tracks on the album. Definitely picks up after the title track but never really amazing.
Look: I'm a suck for power pop. I ride hard for Big Star, Matthew Sweet, The Raspberries, Cheap Trick, and yes, especially The Knack. And apparently this is "garage rock" more than "power pop". Or "early alternative" or "post punk". Whatever. It sounds power pop to me. And there are a ton of great songs here. I loved a lot of it. It's just become perhaps the most overrated underrated album of all-time. It definitely deserves a spot on this list for the influence it had on future bands who took their blueprint and did it better.
This sounded like a generic punk album to me from it's era. I enjoyed it, but wouldn't listen again.
3/5 I didn’t give it a very critical listen but I did enjoy it. Sounds like music that indie rock bands still try to make today. Not a huge fan of the vocalists sound but I’ve heard worse and more grating.
One of those "never popular but launched a million bands" bands. Which is a definite trigger-warning for me (FU Velvet Underground you were the worst). But these guys are definitely better - way better. I hate to break it down to something so base but Tom Verlaine's voice is a real tough thing to get by. It's a shame because the guitar and melodies are so interesting, especially on songs like "Venus" (which Verlaine is playing lead on) - I keep thinking what if Elvis Costello sang for these guys? I realize his voice is a bit polarizing as well but for me that would have been an amazing marriage... Avoiding the vocals for a bit - the music is really cool here - definitely has that dry 70s "post-punk" vibe but I kind of hate that term; there's also quite a bit of interesting progressions within each of these songs; good and creative use of chord voicings and dynamics. After the album is over I still humming those guitar arpeggios from "Venus" which is a good thing. Upon replay I find I both like and dislike the album more - the instrumental passages for obvious reasons are really good but... I don't need a perfect tonal vocalist like .... Freddie Mercury? to enjoy a band, but Verlaine's attack-style vocals are grating and detract from each song rather than compliment; comparing to some of his contemporaries like Costello or Tom Petty. They worked better with the songs IMO. 6/10 3 stars. Kind of a waste - really needed a different/better singer.
It's fine. I struggle to see why it's on a list like this. Dad rock. Best track: Guiding Light
I'm prefacing this by saying that I haven't in the past listened to that much rock music, I have a bit but not as a main genre for me. I thought that this album was kind of boring. The backing tracks got really repetitive, and the vocals didn't really add that much to the music for me. I can absolutely see how this album influenced a lot of other music, and reading the Wikipedia article I could absolutely see the influences on the other artists that were mentioned. However, If I was picking an album to listen to, it would not be this one. My favorite tracks were probably Friction, Prove It, and Torn Curtain.
Ce groupe faisant partie de la grande famille des equipements electroniques, dans laquelle on retrouve par exemple Radiohead ou encore le groupe français Téléphone, nous propose un album en demi-teinte. En effet, comme l'a très bien souligné mon camarade d'écoute robturistuperds, le chanteur est en grande difficulté sur toute la durée de l'album. Je vous invite d'ailleurs à le soutenir via la cagnotte ouverte par rob. Cette faiblesse au chant est dommageable, car tout l'attirail electronique était en revanche bien au rendez-vous: les cables RVB étaient parfaitement branchés, le téléviseur correctement connecté à l'alimentation centrale, on pouvait même distinguer un cable HDMI prêt à être utilisé. Un album au gout amer, qui recolte donc la note de 3/5.
En guise d'introduction, je voulais rappeler à chacun le fait que la plupart des allemands ont une coupe de cheveux consistant en un dégradé latéral accompagné d'un plaquage de cheveux sur le front. Ceci étant dit, je peux maintenant passer à la critique de l'album Marquee Moon. Le chanteur a un problème assez ennuyeux qui est celui de ne pas savoir chanter. Pour remédier à ce problème, j'ai créé une cagnotte dans laquelle vous êtes libres de donner le montant de votre souhait. L'intégralité de la recette servira à financer les cours de l'intéressé. Je vous écrirai le lien du site internet menant à celle-ci dans ma critique du prochain album d'Eric Clapton.
Not a massive fan of the vocalist. The music was amazing, and a very obvious influence on so many works that came after, but the vocals were almost off-putting
The song Marquee Moon is definitely the highlight of the album - that guitar riff is addicting. The rest of the album seems good, but doesn't compare to Marquee Moon.
Decent rock album. Felt like this band is pretty much not as known and somewhat underrated. They have a stones/the strokes feel to them. Felt like this album was pretty good given they were doing what a lot of other bands were doing. 6.3/10
Pretty good album, I've always had a bit of a problem with the singer's voice, but some solid songs on here.
I got distracted by new Cave halfway through this, and never made it back to finish. It's boring, didn't like it, it did nothing for me. There's nothing particularly wrong with it, it's just not my thing.
Listened to 01.14.21 The title track was the only one that I really liked. It has a Strokes feel. Almost as if the album/sound was a decade or two ahead of it's time. I feel like if it came out in the late 90's or early 00's it would have been a big success.
Not a fan at all. All very one-paced and don't feel it has aged that well (maybe not their fault with others imitating).
was enjoying it (and love the title track) but it just seems to get samey as fuck and a overall seems self indulgent. Franz ferdinand owe them a few pints... 4.5/10
It's not bad, some pretty energetic cool rock and blues. The singer has a good voice, but the overly expressive way he sings is a quite jarring, and sometimes sounds bad but almost on purpose. I do kind of like him singing like that coz it gives this music more of an edge compared to The Doors. Good bits but not especially memorable.
all of the internet algorithms really want me to listen to this album. i see it all the time. so this is the second time i've listened to it, and more than likely the last. the more i get subjected to the 70s in this list the more my prejudices against anything produced in that era are going up. it seems like anything good produced in that decade was made in spite of the 70s not because of them.
Look, I'm sure they spent a lot on guitar lessons and their mums were really proud they had an album. It's 10-odd songs that are in the same tempo, same key, same vibe, same sound, same lack of effects on the instruments. It's just uninspiring, uninteresting. It sounds like something I wrote in subelius when I was in year 10. 1977 album, already showing the limitations of rock and roll. I could go on. 2 stars
Another underwhelming punk album. There were some parts of Marquee Moon that were ok, but overall this was a dud.
Sounds like a poor mans Rolling Stones, one or two ok songs, but otherwise, not great.
Classic rock; weak vocals and repetitive choruses and melodies. Fav song is Torn Curtain.
The guitar riffs are pretty awesome, but the vocals are not my thing, too high-pitched and...not good. I am debating giving it a 3 just for the great guitar. Also: Everyone is calling this punk??!? Do I not know what punk is??
A semi unique voice (like a more punk mick jagger) with basic sound. Not a fan nor do I think this should be on this list. Only cool thing is a “punk” band in the US in 1977
I have literally nothing interesting to say about this album except that it has the usual problem of okay production but shit vocals
Great guitar and bass for sure but i never really found myself super into the music, even after two listens through. Think I just hated the singer’s voice. Best Track: Was going to say Marquee Moon, but after listening through it again i found it kind of grating. Idk
Never heard of these guys before. Wish I had discovered back in late 70s'; definitely feel like leading-edge punk. Maybe ever a bit more refined than some of the Ramone's style music. "Friction" is catchy. Title track "Marquee Moon" did not do much for me until half way through, then it turned the corner and made for quite an enjoyable journey. Favorite song was the last - "Torn Curtain". Still, all in all, not much here.
mmm i don’t know. i really debated between a 2 and 3. his voice just really threw me off it was so whiny and honestly ruined the album. the music was not too bad, but there was some repetition to it that didn’t make up for his voice.
Me ha parecido un peñazo. Mira que tiene fama pero no he entrado. Lo mismo lo intento de nuevo en un futuro, pero de momento 2 estrellas ** y gracias.
I feel like I really should like this more than I do. The guitar interplay and melodies are cool, but I just can’t get into the vocals.
Can definitely draw the line from this to a lot of the early-2000s alt-rock bands which is cool. Very samey sounding though.
Vreselijke stem en de muziek is ook nauwelijks te harden. Paar nummers volgehouden, maar toen hield het ook op.
Marquee Moon by Television (1977) Well, to be kind, this is not good. It’s not as bad as, say, cannibalism, but as a listening experience, it is most unappetizing. Even the band’s name repels. I mean, who wants to ‘listen’ to ‘Television’? It’s like naming a motorcycle bar “The Hubcap Pub” (unless of course hub caps were part of the underdressed entertainment—I’m told there actually was one of these in the 1990s in Wichita Falls, Texas, although I swear I have no memory of it). If you can make it through the ten minute title track “Marquee Moon” you should be congratulated. With drummer Billy Ficca wandering all over the tempo, and lead guitarist Richard Lloyd struggling to compose a solo on the fly, lead vocalist Tom Verlaine is spared some of the negative attention from his embarrassingly bad singing and worse lyrics. The rest of the songs decay in descending order. ‘Melodies’ uniformly seem stuck on one note, which Verlaine almost hits from time to time. A serious listener wonders if he/she is being pestered, punked, or programmed. 1/5
Uuhhhhh meh. Pretty bland album. Some of the instrumental work it’s kind of cool but besides that not much to remember from this. 2/10
I do not feel this music has held up well, a type of music from the 70s that makes me want to forget that decade. Elements of punk, some nice guitar, angry vocals.
Didn’t listen
Prior to this I had only listened to the song marquee moon but after listening to the entire album I realized how much I had been missing out, this is a really good one!
¯\_(ツ)_/¯