Marquee Moon

Sounds like the Ramones a touch. Started with some good songs but went downhill from there. A lot of the later songs blended together.

One of the most overrated albums of the 1970s, or any other decade.

1. See No Evil (1,7) 2. Venus (1,5) 3. Friction (1,7) 4. Marquee Moon (1,8) 5. Elevation (1,1) 6. Guiding Light (2,0) 7. Prove It (1,1) 8. Torn Curtain (1,3)

What do you get when you cross iggy and the stooges with the Rolling Stones? Nothing good. The vocals are this weird snotty Mick Jagger ripoff sound that is nothing but aggravating. The guitar playing is pretentious and annoying. Everything else is boring and predictable. I really hope to never hear this band again. 1*

great

One of the best albums of the 70s and probably one of the most influential, especially on the alternative rock that would emerge in the following decade. While Television are associated with the New York punk scene, they were markedly different from many of their punk contemporaries, with more emphasis on technical proficiency and longer, more complex tracks, with the title track being 10 minutes long. The centrepiece remains the aforementioned title track, which brilliantly showcases the interplay between Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd's guitars, one of the key parts of Television's appeal. The best part of the album however might be the one-two punch of 'See No Evil' and 'Venus' two shorter hook-driven and instantly memorable songs that see the album off to a roaring start. From there, it's a showcase of technical brilliance throughout and evocative lyrics closely tied to the neighbourhoods of Manhattan.

One of the greatest 70s guitar albums, but definitely not a typical one! It’s difficult to genre-type; the playing is unusual for a rock album of the period but it clearly massively influenced later alternative/indie rock. Side one kicks off with a trio of relatively short, catchy, hook-driven (and great) songs, before ending with the incredible 10-minute title track, an exceptional extended jam. Side two is just as good; the solo on ‘Elevation’ is fantastic, ‘Guiding Light’ is one of my personal favourites, ‘Prove It’ is great fun, and ‘Torn Curtain’ is a brilliant, dramatic closer. Solidly 5 stars.

That album cover. Months into this project and I have come to realize a few things: 1. I generally hate the 60’s. 2. Despite all its “issues,” excesses, misdirections, I think the 70’s are much more my jam. 3. In the beginning, I was cautious about rating an album, like the above, with which I have a fairly high level of familiarity, too highly. How does Marquee Moon rate against London Calling? Can both be 5? How about Gang of Four’s Entertainment? I have actually known THAT album the longest of them all, and it is beloved by me for what can only be described as personal reasons. Is it even possible to rate it objectively? Now, after many albums, many days, and reading many largely arbitrary reviews by others, I have come to the conclusion that much of my reluctance was silly, self-imposed foolishness. I’M A MUSIC LOVER. That’s why I’m here. Others reasons for being here and their reasonings or lack there of for the ratings they give really aren’t my concern. I love this album. I have loved it a long time. I think their use of dissonance is brilliant and ahead of its time. 5 Boolean: True

Another one of my favorite albums of all time, and I know before I hit "play" for this listen through that its going to be a 5 star. These guys were The Strokes before the Strokes - a punk/rock and roll attitude and New York sneer, but with intricately arranged guitar parts playing off each other and some great melodies. Tom Verlaine even kind of looks like Julian Casablancas in the cover photo. My dad loved this album and the first time he played "Marquee Moon" for me, it was one of those musical 'moments' that stopped me dead. What an epic experience, that song. I can understand how some may not be crazy about Verlaine's voice, its a little like his good friend Patti Smith, but otherwise I think this is just a perfect album. Top 10 for me no doubt.

Bangers front to back. Great listen.

Amazong

I found the vocals initially jarring but once I was used to them, I thought they went well with the music. Really enjoyed the guitar playing on this album. The whole thing just stays so interesting throughout. Very much fits in with my music taste (band where the lead singer has a voice that puts people off). There’s a fun jazziness to it, and once you’re onboard with the singing, the music is just so good. After initially being put off, I think I might give this one five stars. There’s just something about it that I love. Fav song: Marquee Moon Least fav: Friction

Love it

the instrumental is crazy satisfying, love the vibe just PEAK

yayaya

My personal goal is to try and re-appraise anything I already heard without any extrinsic information. I just don't think I can do that here. This album is a part of me now based on my history with it. I wish that I could hear the end of Marquee Moon again with fresh ears untainted by . That and 'Prove It' are my favorite tracks. I'm not going to perform putting this album on a pedestal on the basis of any of the other tracks but I just love the guitars on this album.

The title track is an absolute masterpiece, while the rest doesn't quite hit the same heights I'm going 5 nonetheless.

I know this album well and I haven't listened to it in ages looking forward to how it sounds now. Still sounds as good as any modern Rock Album, still fantastic

The consummate rock guitar album, or at least one of them. The compositions are a lot to dig into, even the shorter, poppier ones. Structurally, the songs don’t even process in my brain as having chord progressions- they feel glued together by different lead guitar parts that almost act like the heads of jazz compositions. Lyrically, it’s denser for me, maybe because it’s hard to focus on the vocals as the centerpiece of the music. After all, sometimes it sounds like the lyrics and guitars are having a conversation: ‘how does a snake get out of its skin?/here’s a depiction’ —> guitar solo that does just that.

This is an essential album for any guitarist to listen to, study deeply and marvel at the fact that these guys were unlike anyone else in 1977. Tom Verlaine, you are missed now and always.

Really enjoyed this a lot!

Still not sure if I’d call this punk (probably more akin to art rock, similar to Talking Heads although they are quite different in a lot of ways), but I do call it bloody good. The centerpiece, Marquee Moon, is a great way to get lost for 10 minutes or so, and the central instrumental section is heaven on tape to me. The remainder is all good, particularly See No Evil, Venus and the closer, Torn Curtain. Torn between 4 and 5 stars but going to err on the side on generosity and go with a big 5.

A real favourite, even before listening to it this time around. It was made moreso upon discovering that each track was recorded live in studio, with very little overdubs or fiddling with filters, resulting in a sound that is raw yet crisp. You can tell how talented these guys are due to their absolute dedication to precision, and the title track alone is an all-timer. Proper CBGB-scene punk, from an era defined by similarly brilliant emerging artists such as Talking Heads and Blondie. Favourite track: Marquee Moon Least favourite track: Prove It

Marquee Moon es una obra de arte atemporal y el plano geométrico sobre el cual se edificó el post-punk y el art-rock contemporáneo. Al escuchar su intrincada estructura, ahora entiendo que Interpol y bandas similares tienen raíces profundas en este álbum, tomándolo como un manual de estilo indispensable que ha envejecido bien. A nivel de ensamble, el disco es una proeza de claridad técnica: los diálogos asimétricos entre las guitarras, el bajo y la batería están muy bien entretejidos, renunciando a la distorsión ruidosa de su época para priorizar una nitidez casi arquitectónica. El pulso del álbum posee un carácter hipnótico y magnético; su enfoque progresivo me gusta y atrapa de principio a fin, alcanzando su cumbre formal en la mítica suite homónima que expande los límites de la canción popular. Conceptual y filosóficamente, el disco habita la dicotomía del humano versus máquina; en esta modernidad parece que no podemos vivir uno sin el otro, balanceando la precisión metronómica e instrumental con una interpretación vocal poética, errática y descarnada. Un clásico conmovedor, crudo y real cuya impecable sensación de paz y fluidez estructural lo vuelve idóneo para múltiples usos dinámicos: el trabajo creativo, el ejercicio, la carretera o la reflexión solitaria.

I’ve owned this album on CD for years, but never really did a deep dive until now. This is an amazing album. Every part of it seems very well crafted and thought out. The guitar parts are so interesting, the vocals are great, the basslines are not only present, but add their own dimension… it’s just really really good. Huge fan of this.

Ich kann über dieses Album nur in Superlativen sprechen. Bestes Album der 70er? Wichtigstes Album seit Velvet Underground and Nico? Schuld an allen schlimmen Post-Punk Alben, die wir hören müssen? Schuld an jeder 2000er und 2010er Indie-Retro Idee? More Vampire Weekend than Vampire Weekend? Ich finde das Album wunderbar und perfekt und genau richtig weird und wenn man könnte hätte das jetzt 6 Punkte. Geht aber nicht, daher

See No Evil - sounds like classic and little bit like psychdelic rock, pretty good Venus - gives me little bit vibes of Shrek songs, like the progression of keys Friction - sounds more like psychdelic rock, like The Doors Marquee Moon - why it sounds familiar, i love both of the guitar riffs, it went to some astronomical type of song, but it got back to it's main form Elevation - Sounds pretty chill, but sad, but it gets back to neutral zone or atleast like that Guiding Light - sounds like Beatels for sure, really chill song i like it Prove It - Pretty groovy song absolutey enjoy it Torn Curtain - Great song for an outro

Kickass record. First side is brilliantly manic, second moody and depressive. Both come together to make what is possibly the best post-punk record of all time.

Maybe my favorite record to come out of the CBGB crowd. Post(ish) Punk Art Rock at its finest.

Amazing!!! Really enjoyed, has a great mix of punk, folk, and classic rock, blending heavier sections (for the time) with beautiful melodic riffs. Best track: Friction

Top 10 album for me

iconic album thats completly underrated

A largely great listen enhanced ten fold by the utterly spellbinding and mesmerising title track. Is that the best song of all time?

I had only heard the title track before - this is an incredible album. The guitar solo on See No Evil is fantastic. Venus is a beautiful track with sensational rythm guitar throughout. The highlight though is the titel track - I love their commitment to the opening refrain throughout the tune, and love the three separate solos which each take the song in a new direction. The vocals can be a bit shrill at points in the album but they fit this track perfectly, and the climax into gentle arpeggios around the 8.45 mark is stunning. Guiding Light is lovely and the opening refrain of Prove It fantastic. 9/10

The opening riff grabs me like a tractor beam and I am completely rapt until the Torn Curtain finally falls. Nothing is quite as enchanting as the shambolic order of a group of talented, unpretentious musicians brave (or crazy or drug-addled) enough to explore their own individual sound within a live collective; together organically drifting in and out of dissonance and chaos, stumbling upon and then responding to one soaring melodic idea after another. Add one or more sultry, preening, narcissistic centerpieces and you have magic: Miles, Mingus, Exile-era Stones, the Faces, the Libertines, and this magnificent gift to mankind.

the Joni Mitchell’s Blue of five-minute guitar solos

Just hook after hook, an album that deserves it's rep as one of the most influential cuts of late 70s rock. Side A in particular is just a perfect run of songs. 9/10.

9/10 Kind of massive in the development of the music I love

One of my personal favorite albums. Love the atypical vocals, intricate guitar chords, and morbid ambience. This is what it’s all about

Exceptional early post punk. It has the stripped down, primal, and rough around the edges aesthetics of other punk of the era, but is also shockingly technical. The experimental aspects of this album sneak up on you. At first, the more intricate elements bubble away in the background with very textural basslines and guitar work buried in the mix, but they eventually burst forwards like fireworks. The compositions grow a lot more complex throughout, with quite structurally basic punk songs giving way to 10 minute long monsters which absolutely earn that run time. Probably the most interesting aspect of this album compared to later post punk records is that the more atmospheric and textural sounds are the result of highly technical guitar work rather than effects, which makes this still quite a unique album even though it is extremely early for its genre.

Heard before, one of the all time best albums. Never noticed how mental the drums are on Prove It until this listen

Obra maestra del punk

This is a masterpiece. Not many artists can carry an eleven-minute title track as effectively as Television. Another album from that seminal year.

In 1977 this must have seemed like music seemed from another planet. Great lyrics. Great tunes. Great composition. 5*

Influential still sounding current. Great album never get bored of playing this. 5

Llevo años leyendo y escuchando lo genial que es el Marquee Moon de los Television, y por alguna razón nunca le di play. Por fin salió en esta lista, acabo de escucharlo y lo dicho era cierto: es una genialidad absoluta de principio a fin. Increíble rock setentero, las guitarras son una locura ,todas las canciones son tremendos hitazos y en general, un disco de 10. Imposible pensar en ponerle menos de 5 estrellas.

Still love this album as much as I did when I first heard it at 14. The guitar solo for "Elevation" is one of the greatest sections of music ever.

The guitar work is amazing, I love it. The whole Album is great, couldn’t ask for more. 5 stars

One of my favorite albums. Ahead of its time and still influencing music today.

great album, venus is one of my favourite songs ever

I may have not known who Tom Verlaine was, but his work on this album is a pretty good first impression of Television for me. May he rest in peace.

Attractive, intriguing, catchy songs, neatly put together; a classic of its time, and influential long after - what's not to like? Okay, the vocals are 'different'. (Remind me of Dave Studdert of Tactics - which started around the same time as Marquee Moon came out.) But that's no problem in lovely songs like 'Venus' or the title track. Overall, it's Quite Wonderful, 9/10.

Twin guitar heaven.

Wow. Unexpected gem. Guitar work on this record is absolutely phenomenal and the sound is so creative. Was between a 4 and 5 but the TASTEFUL guitar swung me.

This album is truly something else. Let's get it of the way first- the guitar parts are to day for. What a thing of beauty. This is a level of artistry that actually inspires you. You can hear it straight from the start, on the first song. Two rather simple rhythm guitar parts that blend perfectly. There's a great solo on this song aswell. Venus was always one of my favorites on here. Great song and great playing. Bass and drums which are very unique and creative, once again the perfect guitars, especially the rolling part on the right ear that continues in the middle on the next excellent, mysterious, and funky Friction. Another incredible song. Yeah, the tracklist is crazy... Well, the next track is Marquee Moon. What can I say about this one. 10 minutes and 45 seconds of perfection. It does everything the last three tracks did, but somehow even better, and longer. But the riffs are so addictive and beautiful, you want them to last forever. The final guitar licks before the drums that brings us back to the riff make me tear up every single time. How do you continue from here? You elevate. Elevation is another masterclass of a song. The movement between the verses and the chorus is massive. Guiding Light is a different one on the album. For me, it would work with all but bangers on this record, but it is a beautiful song. And the keys and bells have something punky about them, I don't know how to explain it. The mellower tone continues with the next track, Prove It. This one has a bit of a reggae vibe to it. I'm especially impressed with the drums here, that are very free in the beat whilethe guitars keep time. The guitar solo is heartwarming aswell. The last track is the weirdest one here. But it turns into a very powerful song when they sing the chorus, and the guitar lines over the dissonant chords. The guitar solos are not the thing about this album, but every time when get one, it's on point. Lovely sad ending to this masterpiece. OK, you can all see where it's going. I love every single song here. They all serve some angle, all written and performed so well. You can't imagine many records where the band sounds so good and fresh, complex and groovy,  catchy and mysterious. I talked about the guitar relations before, but it really is what makes it that strong of a listening experience. As a musician myself, this kind of comradery and cooperation really touches me, in a deep way. I aspire for this musical, and personal relationships. Listen to this one if you haven't already,  and hopefully you'll learn something about life as I did. Yeah, it's a 5.

I love this whole album but the song Marquee Moon is an all time favorite of mine.

I knew of this album but had never listened to it, magnifico-o-o-o.

Really original and well produced. One of the top 100's of all times.

Brilliant!

I came into this expecting to hate the album, but I actually really like it. It sounds modern in a strange way, and it’s very catchy.

Sounds like the toilet bowl cleaners. 5/5

Perfection

nice

Was totally unprepared for this; it was fantastic. And maybe I’m just hopelessly millennial, but if you had told me this was a 2010s record I would have believed you - sounds very ahead of it’s time to me. The guitars are great and the overall sound just coheres so well. Could listen many times in a row easily.

"oh wow! i expected this one to just be filler so there would be 1001, but this one has groove to it. Very mellow, down-to-earth rock. Pretty unique. I like it."

Wait, See No Evil by Joe Jackson is a cover? This band is awesome. Immediately started listening to their other two albums.

Great. Marquee moon was my favorite.

Yupiii

Jeder song ist so krass, jeder song gibt einem ein ganz bestimmtes Gefühl aber lässt Raum für Fragen und Deutungen. Die songtexte fühlen sich an wie Geschichten die man aber nicht so zu 100% mitbekommt, eher so zu 30% und den Rest muss man sich ausmalen. Und die Instrumente unterstreichen das mit Trip artigen Tönen die aber manchmal nervös werden und manchmal aus dem Trip ausbrechen um den Raum mit Gefühlen zu füllen nur um dann wieder zum trip zurück zu kehren. Es scheint um Leben und Tod zu gehen, darum wie man sich verloren fühlen kann bis man irgendwie daraus kommt. Es fühlt sich an wie Lebenszeit, in einer Welt die einem alles mögliche entdgegenwirft und man muss halt klar kommen.

One of my all time favourites. Great to have this come up and have a reason to listen again

Been meaning to listen to this for ages so very glad it came up! Big fan but need to give it a bunch more listens! Highlight: Marquee Moon (always feels like a copout to say the eponymous song)

True classic!

An absolute classic. Feel like it sets the stage for what’s to come from guitar music in the coming decade. Amazing performances all around. 5/5

Muy buen disco, me llevó a la productividad, la voz del cantante es muy similar a la de Mick Jagger y la banda suena increíble

Loved it.

I absolutely loved this. Never heard Television before, only heard their name mentioned. The thing that struck me listening to this was how honest it sounded. I don’t know if that even makes sense, but it just reeks of a band invested in themselves and their sound. Will definitely revisit. One of the best things I’ve found on this list so far.

See No Evil, Friction, Marquee Moon - three of the greatest riffs in any song...all on one album. The quivering voice. Yep that's "you've made an enemy for life giving warm and cool a 6.4. I se you at a gen z slow core show I'm going to pick you up by the shift and slam you against the wall. Better hope security has a metal detector. Direct threat not to be taken as irony. It will be an open and closed case when the prosecution reads this tweet at my trial."

A primeira banda que se apresentou no CBGB. Denota bem a cena da época, misturando sua mobilidade "indie" arcaicamente definida naqueles tempos, com guitarras leves e melodias tranquilas mas instigantes, ao mesmo tempo que caóticas. HIGHLIGHTS: MARQUEE MOON, SEE NO EVIL, Friction, Elevation, Torn Curtain 9.5/10

Tom Verlaine has a goofy voice and Television sound nothing like the rest of the CGBG crowd. Other than that, this is a crazy good record.

Un gran disco para escuchar en la ruta tomando unos mates. Canciones largas que invitan a la reflexión.

LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Friends of mine performed this album the day analog broadcast TV went off the air (2009?). Death to television, long live Television.

Belter

The title track alone makes this a 10/10 for me and all the other songs are just an extra treat along the way

I was gonna say they sound like the Strokes, but I think it's the other way around This was very enjoyable and all the songs work so well together I love discovering new music!! Fav: Elevation

great album. great guitar playing. great interplay. a classic.

My kind of 70s white, male, guitar-led, grandad rock. Supreme talent without indulgence. Immaculate.

Such an amazing album. This has been a recent discovery and I'm so glad I did. A wonderful piece of art. Stand out track is Marquee Moon. This band sounded so Noughties in the late 1970s!

Classic

What a sound , and all hangs of the title track. Can very why see the likes of the Stokes were influenced by this. Well worth multiple listens. Low 5

The title track is incredible, the rest is great and has catchy melodies and hooks, interesting twists and turns and the whole thing sounds fresh, it must have sounded wild in 77

Is it a coincidence that Houmous & Chutney had an album titled Marquee (Keith) Moon? I’ll leave that with you….. 4.5 4/8 Marquee Moon

This album rocked! I could tell it was from the seventies because of the awesome guitar work. I would be fine listening to it in whole again someday. Album 18, March 16, 2026

undisputed classic. blueprint for so so so so so so many bands.

This album's in regular rotation for me yet every time I hear it I feel like I'm embarking on a new adventure. Yes I know Adventure's the name of their second album😀. Everything clicks and while some tracks are stronger than others, they all give me the vibe that I am looking for. I never walk away upset as having spent this last half hour with them in my ears.

This doesn't sound like something from the 70s. I felt more indie dark wave goth vibes than what I typically associate with the 70s (Disco, funk, folk, or jam bangs). I'm going to have to check out more of their stuff.

I'd forgotten how juicy the bass was on this one

This is really really really really good. The last song is a bit mid but literally everything else is great. The title track is amazing.

This album is cemented in my Hall of Fame of albums that made me love this book. In all likelihood, I would have never listened to it without this exercise. But now, it is one of my all-time favorites, and it is informative of so much of what I like in my music taste. This album started my vinyl collection, and there is no better album for me with which to start it.

Me encantó!!

9/10 Favorite: See No Evil

Seminal punk (or is it post punk?) album that is full of great, angular but melodic songs. Wasn't familiar with this one when it came out but its influence is huge. I especially love Richard Lloyd's guitar work and I know him best from his playing on the "Girlfriend" album by Matthew Sweet. I hear echoes of this album in so much of modern alt and indie rock. Favorites are "Friction" and the epic title track. It also reminds me a lot of Magazine, another band of that era. Unlike many punk-era bands, these guys could play and did it majestically.

new york why can't you be cool again

Not a bad song on this album. Love 70s art-punk stuff so this was an easy five for me. Somehow combines both poppy melodies with a sharp edge and cryptic lyrics, and that combination doesn't feel disingenuous in the slightest. Amazing drums on this by the way, what a standout.

I couldn’t help but feel like I was listening to an alternative version of the Rolling Stones here, especially on Side B. Goat’s Head Soup era to be exact. The loose guitar, the soft floaty vocals, etc. I’ve visited this album before, but it’s ironic I revisit this during my post punk/new wave/ art rock bender I’ve been on. There’s a few skips here for me, but I love Side B. It’s like a cluster fuck combination of so many bands I love. “Guiding Light” feels like an early 70s rock song that gives me heavy Stones vibes, whereas songs like “Prove It” feel like everything I grew up on (90s/00s alt) “Prove It” sounds so fucking familiar I can’t put my finger on it. Strokes for sure. “Alright” by Supergrass even. It feels nostalgic to everything I grew up on, but also something that easily could’ve came out today.

THE STROKES INFLUENCES ARE OUT THERE. I hear talking heads too. I love this. Venus is a great great track that was so ahead of its time. I really really love this Dude title track just deconstructed itself over and over this is an easy 9 and I love seeing all the records that influenced my favorite bands Bro prove it is literally a Geese song its insane

Had not heard these guys before but absolutely loved it. Definitely adding this album to my list.

Amazing, seminal album.

Prior to this I only have 2 songs liked by Television - and one of them is the song "Marquee Moon" and I REALLY like that song - especially the long instrumental jam part. So I'm very curious to dive into this album more. As with many bands I am not that familiar with, it seems that most singer's voices really annoy me. I think this must be a ME problem. Although sometimes they grow on me and sometimes they don't. I think this guy is slowly growing on me after a while. But, in general, I do like the music much more than the vocals. For example, I've listened to the song Marquee Moon so many times and I don't think I could tell you what it's about lyrically, because I just focus on the music. It's such a great groove. Listening to this I hear some similarities with predecessors like David Bowie and Velvet Underground, contemporaries of theirs like Talking Heads and somewhat Elvis Costello and successors like the Strokes, U2, Spoon, Matthew Sweet and Modest Mouse. All of whom I love. I realize now that I actually saw Richard Lloyd (Television guitarist) when he toured as part of Matthew Sweet's band - cool connection! What's funny is I grew up in the New York area and on the radio you could hear a lot of the bands coming out of NYC - like Talking Heads, Ramones, Blondie - but I never heard these guys on the radio - even the alternative stations like WLIR. I guess they had mostly ended their brief run before LIR started. The dual guitars on this is great! I like the addition of piano to songs like Torn Curtain. Opening part of Elevation reminds me of something. What is that?? Upon the 3rd listen, as it was going I kept thinking "oh yeah, this song, I like this one" and so I ended up liking all 8 songs :) Liked songs on Spotify: 8/8 (Perfect Album) Rating: 5/5

Шикарный альбом, показавший, насколько креативным и проработанным может быть панк-рок. Удивительно, что он вышел в тот же год, что и единственный альбом Sex Pistols, где басист не умел играть на басу. Здесь же каждый трек отдает качеством, профессионализмом и имеет интересную музыкальную задумку. Альбом сильно повлиял на развитие панк-музыки и формирование пост-панка, не дав жанру зачахнуть в узких рамках DIY-протеста.

На секунду обрадовалась, что выпали Television Personalities. Но просто Television тоже классно. Обожаю, когда 10-ти минутные песни настолько крутые, что слушаются как-будто за 3. Супер лайк.

Просто обожаю этот альбом, каждая песня отвал башки. Входит в мой топ-15 за все время. Один из лучших закрывающих треков эва. Том Верлен - краш.

I've had this in my record collection for twenty years, and it still sounds fresh and timeless. A true classic!

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕

I get why people have been hyping up this album for so long now.

About as complete and thoughtful of an album as you’ll get, at least for its genre and time. You can hear this albums influence reach out as far as The Strokes - just listen to “Venus”. What a song! The title track is an opus, with so many phases and escalations, all to land back at that same little guitar melody. Then “Torn Curtain” is such a stellar closer. So much drama packed into a rock track. If Eno wanted to make this more like the stuff he was doing with Roxy Music, he woulda ruined it. If he wanted to make it more like the electronic stuff his solo work was becoming…I’d hear that out. All hypothetical though. Not a ton to say about this one other than how well put together it is. A full 5/5

ME encanto, me guarde casi todos los temas. amo con las guitarras que empiezan en todos sus temas, la verdad ghasta me lo anote para comprar en vinilo. ni los conocia, muy bueno

I can hear where so many bands that have come after just pulled whole cloth from what Television was doing here. A source code for 80s new wave into 90s Alternative. Wavering between a 4 and a 5 here, but I assume I will like this even more as time goes by.

This album is a masterpiece. It is incredibly innovative and ultimately proved to be hugely influential to music that followed. The list of artists who credit Television as an influence is long and varied. This one has been on somewhat regular rotation for me for several decades now. There really isn’t anything I can say about this album that hasn’t already been said.

5.0

If I were asked to choose one album that sounds utterly timeless, this would be my pick. Released in 1977, Marquee Moon is nearly 50 years old yet sounds like it could have been made yesterday - and you can point to specific bands like The Strokes, or scenes like the garage rock revival of the early 2000s, as moments where its influence is undeniable. For me, that influence is clear not only in the sound and style it helped create for generations of punk, indie, and alt-rockers, but also in its impeccable production. The guitars sound crisp and clean, with Tom Verlaine's vocals coming through clear and strong - you'd never think it was recorded decades ago. The songs are delivered with such swagger and confidence that it's hard to believe this was their debut. The epic title track still amazes, with its intertwining guitars and slow, hypnotic build. See No Evil is one of the all-time great openers while Friction is a particular favourite and a standout example of the incredible guitar interplay between Verlaine and Richard Lloyd - a defining feature of the album throughout. I first heard this album over 20 years ago and it still sounds as modern and vital today as it did then. I have no doubt it will remain just as relevant for decades to come.

Buen albom rock clasico, coros pegadisos y solos eternos

Of course this a 5 from me! Dipped in and out of this over the years and I still don’t really know of anyone who is similar. It’s so much more than punk or post-punk. Like post-punk-art-rock-jazz. That probably covers it. But the drums too are so influential on so many bands I loved growing up, that sort of free style jazz way of playing that sounds so simple and technical at the same time. Adds so much more too it. Marquee Moon track is a great example of it. At times it sounds like multiple instruments doing their own thing, adding their own little layers at the same time, but it all just works. Anyway, I think it’s great. Yeah it does occasionally drift but it’s worth it for when it all comes back together

Wow - theatrical, grandiose, lucid. Venus, Friction, Marquee Moon, and Torn Curtain were the highlights. Super baroque, well-worked songs, complex instrumentation. Tip top that, loved it.

Released before the debuts from The Clash and Sex Pistols, Marquee Moon was so far ahead of its time that it borders on post punk before punk had even broken. While punk at its core, its so far beyond it in complexity and structure. This is full of entrancing intertwined guitars, infectious melodies, and blistering solos. But it never feels too technical - it's loose, fun, and rhythmic. The vocals dance lightly on top, always changing form; the different inflections in the chorus of "Prove It" or the backing "Huh?" on "Venus" are a couple highlights. "Venus" and the title track are examples of the vivid imagery in the lyrics. It would be one thing for this to just be a showcase for Verlaine's guitar, but for it to shine in so many other ways and boast songwriting that spans from the epic title track to the tender "Guiding Light" almost feels unfair.

How rare to produce an album that could have been dropped any year! 1977's Marquee Moon could have been released in the 1980s as peers of Pixies, or in the 90s as peers of Pavement, or the 2000s as peers of the strokes, or the 2010s as peers of Car Seat Headrest, or the 2020s as peers of Geese.

Very cool early (pre) punk sound. Like velvet underground and other alt bands of the time. Listened to this 3 times.

I listened to half of this album before, but it didn’t stick for whatever reason. Probably because ten minute song in the middle of an album is something which usually puts me off. But this time, it definitely stuck. Wow. Those guitars are amazing throughout the whole album. I love this kind of nasally singing. And every song is unique too. The bests: See No Evil Venus Marquee Moon Elevation

It's great. Spiky, yelpy, goes left when you expect it to go right. A rightful classic.

I have listened to this twice, and absolutely love it from front to back. What an absolutely wonderful album, each track just works on its own level. Such a delight to listen to, I've got to give this my first 5* rating. Favourites: See No Evil Venus Marquee Moon Prove It

Oh, yes, this is a delightful album. Such a great, fantastic rock album. The guitar solos are a masterpiece, the songs are marvelous, the sound of the songs is enigmatic, delicate and so catching. I am in love with this record. I truly am. This album is psychedelic, but also very classy. It has something special, because it sounds so good... I am amazed by how good this album is. And that end is glorious. What a great album to discover!

This one's pretty easy for me. Hugely influential to a bunch of my favorite music and still sounds great. tracks 2,3,4 is an incredible run that I can listen to on repeat. 5 stars for me, a real favorite

Somewhere in the middle of my 30s I concluded that post punk was one of the subgenres that has given me the greatest moments and this album is one of the greatest. It just hits me in all the right spots.

good

Damn near perfect. Least annoying ten-plus minute song ever written.

Best album that I've 'discovered' so far.

Epic. Not heard this before!

mid 5 stars

the guitars on here are so so so good. the bass is so effective and clever. vocals work really well as well. honestly such a well-made album i cant fault it. the bassist died?? so devastating bc he really was amazing.

Unsure why I was trying to talk myself out of giving this a 5-star review, but I couldn't do it. I loved this album. I don't know why it took so long to listen to it. I suppose it was my youthful disdain for any music made in the 70's. This laid so much of the foundation for the alternative rock scene that I have enjoyed for so many years. I actually listened to it twice in a row, I was enjoying it that much.

Je suis un grand admirateur de Television. J'aurais voulu qu'ils fassent 5 fois plus d'albums. L'alchimie des guitares de Tom Verlaine et de Richard Lloyd est une inspiration de longue date pour moi. Fred Smith le bassiste est décédé il y a 2 jours.

j'ai adoré Friction. Et en général l'album. J'ai trouvé des bouts (me semble Friction justement) qui m'ont fait penser que Wilco semble avoir pris des choses là, dans leur phase A Ghost is born. Deux guits qui font des choses vraiment cools en gros.

J'avais oublié de le noter. Mais bon quel album parfait. Le p'tit riff de guitare sur Marquee moon ne te sort pas de la tête

"Marquee Moon" is another album that is great, and one that I should listen to more. From the opening track, 'See No Evil', which feels like it belongs in the grainy, black-and-white opening to a 1960s TV detective show, to its closing track, it is a compelling and engaging listen. That last song, 'Torn Curtain', is arguably the most theatrical and cinematic moment on the entire album. Radiohead and many, many others were clearly taking notes. It's a five-star listen. Side one 1 "See No Evil" (5/5) 2 "Venus" (5/5) 3 "Friction" (5/5) 4 "Marquee Moon" (5/5) Side two 1 "Elevation" (5/5) 2 "Guiding Light" (4/5) 3 "Prove It" (4/5) 4 "Torn Curtain" (5/5) Total - 38 Average - 4.75 236/1001 131/236 albums reviewed were new to me.

i don’t actually like it that much but it’s obviously brilliant

I’ve never listened to Television before but I knew enough about them to know I was looking forward to hearing this album, and I liked it so much I listened to the album twice today. It’s very easy to hear the influence they had on, quite frankly, a lot but The Strokes seem like an obvious one. Post punk / art rock was always going to be up my street and this period of time seems to be giving me a lot to like lately. The album gets off to a good start with See No Evil and sets the tone nicely but the title track is undoubtedly the standout, even though it clocks a good 10 mins, it doesn’t feel like it because it’s so engaging. The closer, Torn Curtain, is too - in fact, there’s nothing that goes to waste on this album. I toiled between 4 or 5 stars but I’ll stick my neck out and go for the maximum and an intention to return very soon.

I knew how important they are, and I have heard some of the songs, but I had never heard the album from front to back. That is shame on me and one of the reasons I started this project. I hear all the bands I love(d) as a kid in here but I also hear a great, better than great, album. Will definitely make this part of my long term rotation.

It would be a five-star album for ¨Marquee Moon¨ alone. The perfect song for when you're stoned and want to take a ten minute, 38 second shower. Don't take my word for it. People think punk just sounded like the Ramones and Pistols but it was so much more...

Brilliant. Excellent album. The guitars are superb

Always meant to listen but never did. Next level guitar leads here. Love it.

I really loved this album, and while it was long, Marquee Moon (the song) was awesome and kept me engaged throughout. Would definitely play this again.

Okay, so I have never heard of Television or this album (this 1001 albums project has been a humbling experience for me smh). I happened to see on Reddit that someone got this record having never heard of the band and loved it, and all of the comments were in agreement that it was great. I'm super excited to listen to it. While listening: The first track was good! Not something that I normally would reach for probably, but I still really liked it. The subsequent tracks stuck out to me more and the vocals on Venus made their influence on the punk/emo genre with the specific breed of shouting that they do. Really funky and creative guitar throughout that makes this interesting and fun to listen to. Guiding Light is a banger, I love the guitar solo around the 2:30-3 minute mark and near the end, and I'm surprised that it doesn't have more streams. The vocals are so punky and chef's kiss - they pair great with the Springsteen-adjacent Americana sounding guitar. Prove It is bouncy and catchy. She's gonna be stuck in my head for a hot minute. Torn Curtain, the final track has almost a Spanish sounding intro that's eerie and was an interesting transition from Prove It. I saw someone else on Reddit describe this album and "post-punk before OG punk came around" and man they were so right. This was such a cool and sneakily experimental record. You think that it's just standard rock if it's on in the background but when you listen more closely it is nuanced and you can see how much influence they had. If you had this on during a barbecue with your uncle, it would fit in and everyone would be tapping their toes, but it does have some interesting experimentation, especially for the time. This can go unnoticed if you're not listening for it. They're underrated and I don't think they receive the credit they deserve. Some tracks were more interesting than others but I'm still gonna go ahead and give this 5/5 because Television DESERVES it and they've been robbed of the credit that they should have been getting for years. Good shit

En riktig klassiker – british invasion och amerikankt slammer blir till något som låter som New Wave fast 10 år för tidigt. Gitarrslingorna ... En solklar femma

Amazing shit, deserves the praise

It’s actually sad that this band was only able to release 3 albums because this is fantastic

Favorite Tracks: See No Evil / Friction / Marquee Moon / Prove It Rating: 4.6 Wow - this is brilliant! This makes two 5star discoveries for me thus far on my 1001 albums journey. The dueling guitar work with interesting little riffs and counter melodies is excellent throughout, but I'm also loving the fantastic rock bass lines and energy of the drumming. Great production here too, obviously just a super tight and talented band. I'm going right back for a second listen with more focus on the lyrics.

Hundreds of albums from this era that sound similar. Thank the music gods for that.

Classic. Still sounds amazing and not surprised that it is so highly regarded then and now.

All time classic that makes me want to take up smoking again.

A remarkable album from possibly the best music year, 1977. While the Talking Heads, Blondie, Ramones, etc, may have left bigger legacies of the CBGB bands, Marquee Moon might be the best actual album from the scene. Mesmerizing guitar work, unique vocals, ingenious songwriting. Works on every level and is an absolute classic.

Yeah this is peak

Albums like this make this project easy, it's so obviously an absolutely perfect classic. I listened to it a few times in a row this morning and immersed and rejoiced in every moment.

5⭐️ the guitar was INSANE, particularly in marquee moon - I was thinking 10 mins might be too long of a song for me but the guitar sections kept me engaged! also felt that it was nicely curated when I listened to the album in order (torn curtain is such a great final track) songs I already knew: n/a fave new song(s): see no evil, venus, torn curtain

I SEE ... SEE NO ... EVILLLLL! Instrumentation here felt so natural in a weird way like these chords were meant to come together this way. I wouldn't call this album extremely challenging but the vocals are freeing and the guitar being played is a hair raiser. Torn curtain is a killer closer.

Everything I loved

sexy, catchy album! ive never heard of this band or this album, but they seem like the perfect scrappy punk 70s sound while not sounding annoying. another good album to play for my cool coworker.

I’ve always been a Television fan and have loved this album a long time.

100000000/10

This has to be one of the best debut albums of all time. For the mid 70s this was a very unique and astonishing album with very little studio manipulation. I saw somewhere that they played like a jazz string quartet and that comes through alot with the bass and drums but the 2 lead guitarists are insanely good. The album is a gem.

I bough this on vinyl somewhat not knowing what it was . I knew it was an important album but not why. It blew me away then as it does now - and I still do not really know what this album is. All your favorite rock bands fucking love this album.

Meilleur que Youtube

Quand on pense en termes d'album, Marquee Moon s'inscrit très haut dans la liste des meilleurs. Grosse grosse cote d'amour pour cet album. À cheval entre deux époques: on est dans le punk et le new wave, mais le classic rock et le rock progressif ne sont pas très loin (ça se sent dans plusieurs pièces). C'est un album pivot dans l'histoire de la musique. Et un album important. Les musiciens sont tellement en symbiose: ils jouent tous la même toune.

idk i just liked that. calm and just cool

An Easy 5 stars! Lloyd and Verlaine two guitar all-timers and they were doing it in the same band- wild stuff. Too many great songs to mention, not much you can say that hasn’t already been said about marquee moon (the song)- it’s a masterpiece! One of my favourite albums and always will be

Post-Punk, 70s Rock aus New York und immer wieder kleines fast schon jazz-artige Elemente machen am Ende ein von vorne bis hinten spannendes und sehr gutes Album aus. Zuerst energetische Songs, danach etwas langsamere und "düstere/traurige" Songs, man merkt gerade bei den späteren Songs Einflüsse aus der Poesie. 🥇: Marque Moon 🥈: Venus 🥉: See No Evil HM: Alle anderen Songs Eigenes Rating: 9,4

This was good! Good background music while focusing on work.

favoritas: marquee moon e prove it

Loved this

Has punk music ever been so beautiful? Maybe it wouldn't necessarily be categorized as punk, although their bio refers to them as "emerging from the New York punk scene of the 1970s." Either way, punk or not, its blend of rock, jazz, and maybe even what sounds like proto-new wave really worked for me. The title track was ten minutes of pure enjoyment and the next track "Elevation" really sounded like it could have been an inspiration for "Californication."

Original emo

LOVEEEE

Epic discovery, never heard it before, thoroughly enjoyable. Will 100% listen again. Only my second 5 star on first listen.

I remember a time when I talked about this album with my dad and brother and neither of them had heard of it. I tried to explain how well regarded it is and how important and influential it is, but they just didn’t believe me because they didn’t know it or had heard any of the songs from it. Any way, absolutely great album. A personal favorite

Rating: 10/10 Deserves to be more widely known as one of the great American rock records. So inventive and fun packed with melodic rhythms. The whole album has an improvisational feel and yet it’s clear the whole band is exactly on the same page. Each instrument is so clear and the mix and you can spend listen after listen exploring each element individually. Guitar passages so good it makes you want to learn yourself in the hopes you could one day be even a fraction as good. Most art punk and rock records today can still only aspire to make something as awesome as Marquee Moon is 50 years later.

A truly brilliant album so the review need not go much further than to say that there isn’t a weak track on it and there are enough changes of pace to keep it interesting.

Front to back absolutely incredible. The solos are obviously great, but the supporting drums, guitar, and rhythm guitar give Verlaine the pocket needed to shine in. A shame that, from what I’ve heard of television, none of the rest of their catalogue hits anywhere near the heights of this. There is an extended version of this I’ve heard with alternate takes of both marquee moon and friction on which are equally good as the takes included on the album.

One of the greatest albums ever and one that I've listened to 100’s of times. Some of the funnest guitar to play.

god i love television

rips so hard, one of my favorite albums ever for sure

Nothing to add just a fantastic album

Unique for its time, an angular almost prog-rock take on the punk/post-punk New York scene. Led by two of the finest guitarists for come out of that scene.

10/10 Truly hard to fathom that the influence this had on modern rock music… Started recollected records this year and this was one of my first purchases. A masterclass for art-punk and the nyc guitar scene. Top tracks: Venus Marquee Moon Elevation

I get a lot of joy with albums that feel like a bunch of teenagers in a garage jamming it out the only way they know how, and it's so cool how this was made in 1977, this feels like the rawness and emotion of midwest emo before emo was ever conceived, this is really cool. Punk is awesome man, it's enough to make you smile. Fantastic instrumentation laid out in a way that makes you want to do something, anything. 10/10 (P.S: The album cover is so low quality it makes them look like cryptids, which maybe adds to the flavor...)

10/10

A singular seminal work; a time capsule of certain artistic era in New York City; the artistic peak of "punk” (which actually meant something different then); a once-in-a-lifetime rock and roll achievement. I saw Television open for Peter Gabriel in New York, right after this album came out. The Genesis lovers in their Hobbit beards and peasant blouses booed like hell as soon as the band was introduced. The prog rock fans had heard about this "punk" stuff and wanted nothing to do with it. Television played the first side of this record as their set. The fans booed through "See No Evil," the opening number, because it sounded a little edgy and raw. Then they quieted down a little when Verlaine played the delicate solo on "Venus," because they sounded like something Genesis might tolerate. Then they were booing again for "Friction," which sounded kind of rocking. But then the band started weaving their way through the mysterious asymmetries of Marquee Moon and a hush fell over the section where I was sitting. The guitar journey began and you could feel some people were letting go and coming along. By the crescendo, the people around me were on their feet, stomping and cheering. But Verlaine and the others were already gone from the stage.

CBGB’s was really just pumping out heat in the late 70s

I came pretty late to this, maybe ten years ago, but when I did, it grabbed me immediately. An absolute classic .

The greatest use of two electric guitars by a single band, at least until the advent of Fugazi. A beautiful, dark, mesmerizing, gritty work of downtown art-damaged genius, never to be equaled in this world or any other. Seminal, foundational, iconic, all that and more.

Really nice album. Great punky vibes but keeping it pretty chill. Got a great rhythm. See No Evil and Friction are my top picks.

Lightyears ahead of it's time!

10/10 Favourite: Marquee Moon Least Favourite: None

What a delightful album

I desperately need whatever drugs they were on at CBGB in the 70s

Oh yeah

Fantastic album. Clearly inspirational to so many who came after (see Julian Casablancas' whole schtick). I am always amazed by how modern this sounds, and how clean everything is. Marquee Moon (the song) is amazing!!!

i want there to be .5 scores. maybe we could just split the difference and keep it the way it is now but with a 4.5 rating as well. because this is a 4.5. ill give it the benfit of the doubt though

4.5/5 Stars Top Songs: Friction, Marquee Moon and See No Evil

Such a fire album. It marks a real transition and blending of genres, similar in many ways to what Joy Division were doing in the UK at the time. The title track of the album is an all-time classic, too.

Important and influential, but also brilliant. Those guitar sounds and ways of playing are so good

What an album Marquee Moon is. It's the type of music that hits my sweet spot breathes life into my body thru my ears. The energy is contagious on Marquee Moon, the jangly guitars, Tom Verlaine's sings with a bit of playful snarl that works so well with the rest of the band. There are moments that play like what you'd expect to hear at a haunted beach party. The back to back tracks of Friction and Marquee Moon is epic. Elevation follows that up well with a moodiness that works really well to provide some variety to the album, sounds like a Joy Division song actually. This album drips with cool. This is fantastic. 5 stars

One of the best bands to come out of the CBGBs scene. The punk rock Pink Floyd. If only punk had kept an open mind, we might have more bands like this in the scene instead of a thousand carbon copies of Black Flag and The Casualties. An amazing and important record. Only the real ones know.

Ein fyrsta platan sem ég náði í af Napster sáluga. Mig minnir að ég hafi ratað til þeirra í gegnum CBGB tenginguna og Blondie. Og mikið var ég ánægður með það, geggjað band og plata. Njótið vel

Listening to this album, I imagined being a teen/20 something in the late '70s/early '80s. I would have been permanently attached to my Walkman, listening to Television, David Bowie, The Velvet Underground, Elvis Costello, Paul Weller and The Jam... or maybe I wouldn't have been that cool. But this was a great era for rock music, and Television exemplifies it on this album.

I already liked this one a lot 10/10

030422 10:56 5

Top 3, if not top 1 best album on this list, if not all time

A huge 5 for me. Even though I came to this late it has become a real favourite since.

I don't have many 10/10 albums on my shelves... this is one. Just perfect. Heard before ✅️ Listened this time ❌️ I just need to Revisit ✅️ ★★★★★ (10/10)

So. fucking. cool.

I was very surprised that I didn't know this band yet. So many nice guitar play. A short but very sweet album!

Discazo. 5/5

How was this released in the 70s? Crazy! It’s like it has all the good bits of Brit pop and indie and then you’ll get smashed with a big fat psychedelic guitar solo. Loving this, a great discovery!

Simply one of the best debuts (and albums in general) of all time

Punk, but with beautiful guitar

Goog

This is amazing. Very ahead of its time in its sound and production. Liked every song.

Sometimes this throws up an album you know and love and that's today.

it's a 10.

One of my all-time favorites

This is such a wonderful band. Not quite as degenerate as Richard Hell, catchier than the New York Dolls, and altogether more listenable than the Overrated Fucking Ramones. Moreover, these guys influenced all of my favorite bands. So, yeah, I love this. I think Friction and Marquee Moon are my favorite tracks. Guiding Light is great, too, and I think Tom V's vocals sound a whole lot like Gordon Gano's, which is cool. Anyway, top rating for me.

It’s a great record from a super cool time and place in music that undoubtedly influenced many of my favorite bands. Tom Verlaine’s vocals are polarizing, but I really like them. The song structures are particularly strong so it’s not just kick ass guitar licks. The “hits” are front loaded but there aren’t any bad songs in my view.

5/5 - I've listened to this album many, many times since I first heard it in the early 2000s. There's nothing quite like it. As a long time Built to Spill fan (has Doug ever said Television was an influence??), the guitar work, the hooks, the weird song structure are a perfect mix for my ears.

Album 944 of 1089 Television - Marquee Moon (1977) Rating : 4.5 / 5 What a great listen. This one really caught me - smooth, down-to-earth rock with just enough edge and intricacy to keep you hooked. The title track alone is worth the price of admission, stretching out into something that feels both free and controlled at the same time. It’s the kind of song that takes its time but never wastes a second. The musicianship throughout the album is excellent - clean guitars, tight rhythm, and a sense of space that not many bands pull off this well. It’s easy to hear why this album is so highly regarded. While I can’t speak to exactly where it belongs among the “all-time greats,” I can easily say it deserves a place in my list of greats. Marquee Moon feels timeless - an album that quietly makes its case without ever shouting for attention.

Some of these guitar sounds feel like they came straight from the future, especially for a band from 1977. The lyrics and vocals aren’t particularly unique, but the guitar work alone makes this an album every music lover should hear. The opening drum roll on "Torn Curtain," paired with that eerie, almost haunting guitar, is pure originality. "Marquee Moon" is one of the highest-rated tracks on this site, and it absolutely earns that praise. I’m torn between a 9.5 and a perfect 10, but for now, I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt and call it a 10/10.

Holy shit, this stuff is GREAT... completely new to me—I'd never even heard of the band (shows you how much I know, yeah, but in my defense I was born in the year 2000)—but I'm all over it now. These kinds of discoveries are what we do this project for I guess

Being one of the absolute finest of the seventies, it makes me happy to see that this fantastic album has finally found the recognition it deserves. When I discovered it in the late 90s few people were actually familiar with let alone listening to this.

An amazing album. Some astonishing guitar work by Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd. If you don't know this album, you definitely should. Especially if you're a guitarist!

Stone cold fucking classic. I’d discovered “Little Johnny Jewel” on 7” by way of the dBs. I had picked up Chris Stamey and the dBs 7” “The Summer Sun” on Ork Records, which was Terry Ork’s record label. At the time, punk rock was all 7”. The Ramones were already huge in my world in 1977 and 1978 and Television was already getting hyped by Trouser Press and Punk Magazine. When the record came out I was already ready for the sonic approach which was more art rock and Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers than Ramones and Sex Pistols. And it was good. This was a different beast. Compelling. Completely different than anything else in that scene. Verlaine’s vocals were unusual as were the lyrics. But the guitars - a tone so good you could not help but smile. Little Johnny Jewel was the entree into this unique vision. See No Evil seems like a logical continuation of the 7” and a door opener to an album that must be heard first on vinyl. Why? Because you need to flip the record - that break in the music is necessary to prepare you for side 2 after the nearly 10:00 minute Marquee Moon at the end of side 1. Marquee Moon encapsulates on a single song everything that Television was about. Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd were tremendously talented guitarists who played intertwined passages where they would alternate lead and Rhythm parts with each other in the same song. There are two solos on the song and there is literally no one who can copy them. Everyone who plays guitar learns how to play riffs and learns the solo parts. With Television the guitar parts often do not make sense but they sound amazing wrapped around Verlaine’s straight forward singing voice. Billy Ficca and Fred Smith form a rhythmic counterpoint to the two guitars with Ficca’s jazz skills as a drummer accentuating and enhancing each song. The bass is solid and allows Verlaine and Lloyd space to create. Marquee Moon pulls it altogether in a single track. For a record with only 8 songs, each is composed with a goal for the listener to experience each song as a feeling rather than a mere observer. Sure, I have favorites. They have changed over the years just as I have changed. Originally, Venus was my earliest favorite, followed by See No Evil and Torn Curtain. Now it is Elevation and Guiding Light. I’m sure that you will discover your own path into this record. And that’s what makes this record a classic. Even when you think you know every note and nuance in a record, and I have played this record hundreds of times, when I leave it for a little while and come back to it, I discover something new and intriguing that I didn’t experience before. If this is a new record for you, definitely flip the record to side 2 which I find equally fascinating as Side 1. This side solidifies Television’s genius explored on the first side. The guitar passages and the ringing tones suck you in to the heart of the song. I was lucky enough to see Television when they were touring after the release of Adventure in 1978 and the live show was better than the record. Mesmerizing and hypnotic foreshadowing shoegaze by a decade. And that’s is the genius of this record. It’s a passionate record in the most oblique sense of the word passion. Almost 50 years after the record’s release it is still vital and alive and still a remarkable listen.

Yeah, I gotta give this one props. The way Wikipedia describes it as foregoing the punk power chords of the time for more interplay between instruments. It's a spot-on description of what this album is like. The first side alone is outstanding, though the second side takes a small backseat for me quality. But when I say small, I mean "very small". This album as a whole is very innovative in what it does. One just has to hear the entirety of the title track to get the main idea behind this record. Television turns on and turns up on high volume (9/10, 5/5 on this scale)

It's difficult to distill what the band Television is all about. "Art punk" is certainly a blanket term used to describe them, but that barely scratches the surface. They gained notoriety like any other burgeoning punk band at the time, with a residency at the CBGB club in Manhattan. Yet their musical style reflected a wide array of influences from rock and roll to jazz. They were intriguing enough to land a recording deal with Elektra Records that allowed frontman Tom Verlaine to self-produce, alongside engineer Andy Johns. That first album, Marquee Moon, proved to be a landmark influence on the post-punk and new wave movements to come. One of the first observations I made with this record is how many catchy guitar hooks the band brought to the table. The guitar work of Verlaine and Richard Lloyd made for some extremely earworm-inducing listens as they trade off elegant solos and interplay around the tight rhythm section. Employing progressive song structures that took major influence from avant-garde jazz, and with Verlaine's lyrics that mystify the urban landscape, the band spun gold out of the surrounding decay. Hell, the ten-minute title track alone is something to behold, as several movements are taken to reflect on how best to live in the moment. Marquee Moon was an impressive debut for Television. It's a sprawling, eclectic yet jagged series of performances that would prove to be a cornerstone for decades of music to come.

If you give this less than a 5 your ears just might be broken. This album is so seminal, it has basically become a cliche at this point. I'll never forget the first time I heard Marquee Moon in my buddy's Dodge Caravan in like 2003. I thought they were an acolyte of The Strokes, that's how timeless/current this album sounds. It is 100% your favourite band's favourite album. An unmissable 5/5

I recently read the book called Please Kill Me, which was an oral history of the punk and new wave scene in America and London in the 1970s. While I read it, I listened to the music from that time period, so I’ve heard this album several times. Am I the only one who does that? Listen to music when you read? I swear it helped me study back in college. Though I had a psychology teacher who was blown away that I was able to do so. I really enjoy reading books about music, either a single band or certain period of time, that way I can listen to the music of the band or time period. I read the exhaustive Bill Monroe biography by Tom Ewing, and by the end, I could tell you the name of a Bill Monroe song within the first few seconds of hearing it, but I am digressing way too much. Television is a hard band to nail down. They’re punk, new wave, art rock, but mostly they’re just really fun and interesting. They are great musicians who make the hard sound simple. I loved this album so much, I put it on my 1,001 albums playlist to revisit later and saved several songs to a playlist. And I’m not a big singles guy. I like albums, I’m old. Friction, Marquee Moon, Elevation and Prove It were highlights for me on this album, but there are no bad songs. Plus, I think the songs hold up well today. This album gave birth to the Strokes and Kings of Leon and that whole movement that came out of New York in the 2000s. And I think if it had come out in the 200s it would have been a crusher. IYou can also hear Talking Heads-like music on here, which would be reasonable since they were both active at the same time. Also, oddly, the song Elevation, at least in the beginning, sounds very familiar to Pink Floyd’s Pigs (Three Different Ones), like almost the exact tune. The reason it’s odd is that the albums came out within one month of each other. So, it's not likely either heard the others' music before releasing their albums. Digression.... I highly recommend this album, especially if you’re a fan of the Strokes or the Talking Heads. It’s just good new waveish rock that inspired bands in its day and even into today.

Great alternative classic

Television - Marquee Moon: A Masterpiece That Still Cuts (5/5 Stars) ​For anyone who came up in Generation X, Television's 1977 debut, Marquee Moon, was a revelation. While other bands were doing three-chord punk or endless stadium rock, this album showed you could be raw and smart at the same time. It’s a total masterpiece, fusing the grit of the CBGB scene with complex, almost jazzy guitar work. Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd weren't just soloing; they were weaving intricate lines that became the blueprint for nearly every great alternative band that followed. Honestly, we needed more output from these guys. ​The whole record is tight, but a few tracks define it. “See No Evil” is the perfect, punchy rock opener. “Venus” is pure jangle and chime, offering a bright, melodic hook that cuts through the grit. The true highlight, of course, is the 10-minute title track, “Marquee Moon.” It's an epic built on a looping rhythm that escalates into one of the most hypnotic and intense guitar workouts ever recorded, totally transcending genre. ​The whole vibe is grounded by Tom Verlaine’s unique vocals. He doesn't sing in a slick way; he narrates, barks, and whispers in a distinct, pinched tone that gives the music its neurotic, literary edge—absolutely spot on. It’s a huge bummer we lost Verlaine in 2023. His unique style is why Marquee Moon still sounds fresh and absolutely deserves that 5 out of 5 rating.

Listened after reading dads review - so good! Complete immersion in a different time

Wow this is crazy for the timer period. Wild instrumentals, oaychadelic vibes. 4.5/5

Rating: 4.8/5 Short Review: The thinking person’s punk; beautiful, angular, too clever to sit still. Favorite Track: “Marquee Moon” — ten minutes of musical levitation, equal parts prayer and panic attack.

I feel like a lot bands that I've listened through 2000s and 2010s, have some this album in their DNA. It's fantastic album

Your favorite rock band's favorite band is Television.

This may well be my favorite album. I've listened to it so many times, uncountable. So, I am happy to be able to listen to it again (and again), but I'm afraid I can't do justice to how important this album is to me. Great music, great lyrics, what more could I ask for. For this album, there is a reason there are the unnumbered stars to rank your music. Perfection: it goes to infinity...and beyond. Stars beyond the counting of any being, real or imagined, god/God/gods and certainly humans.

The best thing my ex ever did was introduce me to Marquee Moon. Hard to even capture the influence because this album’s sound just feels so ubiquitous in indie rock. An instant 5.

Game changing

Forward looking post-punk before it was even a thing. Guitar heroics and acrobatics abound - this album is a grower. Best Tracks: See No Evil; Friction; Marquee Moon

It's still the best to come out of the CBGB thing and simply one of the greatest albums of all time. For me, it ranks w/ the great jazz recordings - not only b/c Verlaine was listening to Ayler, Coltrane, and Miles, tho that's a piece of the mystery, but b/c it's high art in a way that few of its kind are. On Marquee Moon, virtuosity merely sets the table - it's never an end in itself. It's the thinking man's punk rock at the same time that it's for anyone heroical enuf to believe in the ecstatic and limitless transport of a bare and effortless night out. The lyrics are abstract but they aren't ever obscure; the guitar playing is complex but never distorted: safely ablaze like a hearth but always inducing you to step and to fall where you hadn't.

Super Dope

Anybody who does this list and talks about it will get asked which albums did you discover and love. Well, this has jumped to the top of the pile for me. I was 7 when it came out so I guess I can be excused for not knowing it when it back then, but I’m amazed I haven’t stumbled across it or been recommended it based on what I’ve grown up to love. The guitar work is just outstanding, and deserve all 5 of my stars on their own. The vocals are decent too, and definitely add to the feel of the record. I’ve listened to it a few times before going back and rating it and it just gets better and better. The fact that there’s not much of a back catalogue for me to go and discover is intriguing but I will give the other stuff a listen. The lead singer seems to have released quite a bit of solo work, so I’ll give that a try. I just hope his musicians can deliver what Television were able to on this masterpiece, else it just won’t compare.

Such a great record, with the chiming weird raw guitar melodies in the guttural edgy songs. Plus it rocks. Marquee Moon, See No Evil, amazing.

Its like so close to being perfect and the title track is a top 10 song ever 4.5/5

One of my favourite albums of all time. Totally unique in the New York punk scene. Tom Verlaine’s and Richard Lloyd’s guitar lines never stop swirling and moving. This album was so hugely influential to so much of the music I love but nobody has ever managed to really replicate its sound.

First sought out this record in the mid-2000s when it was being mentioned as an influence on a bunch of new bands I was digging. Instant classic in my canon. Somehow, this record seems to get better every time I put it on. Read along with the lyrics this time. Some great writing here.

Will I give this album five stars based off of the title track alone? Signs point to yes. I don't think the rest of the album quite lives up to "Marquee Moon," but there are still inventive counter-melodies and clever lyrics enough to carry the album.

Masterpiece of music and playing

the guitar on this goes absolutely insano crazy style holy fuckkk marquee moon and torn curtain are probably my standouts they're real good but the whole album is amazing

Legend

One of the best, most underrated albums of the post-punk revolution. I listen to this every few months, and still, nearly fifty years later, can barely believe just how good it is.

a mio parere la definizione di album punk perfetto. riesce benissimo a restare sulla linea di confine tra dark e melodico, con dei riff bellissimi che non risultano mai stucchevoli (forse un po ripetitivi)e che settano perfettamente il mood freddo, accompagnati da dei testi e da voci molto leggeri. 4.8 Brano preferito See no evil per fare l’alternativo ma Marquee Moon è la migliore

Okay there's some primo shit

Crazy that I waited this long to listen to Marquee Moon. It's great. Can certainly see why it's held up as an era-defining record of the NYC new wave scene.

This could have been released in 1977 or 2007 and it's sending me. It's like a best of Rolling Stones, Libertines, Talking Heads, all in one neat debut record. "This band is your favourite band's favourite band" kinda shit.

Brilliant. Like meeting a close old friend after year apart, and just carrying on from where you left off.

I've liked this album for a number of years at this point but its been a while since ive listened to it straight through. Im not disappointed thats for sure. Im not even sure what to call what this is? Artsy proto punk? All I know is it sounds damn good. There are magical moments in every song on the record. Even if im not in love with the whole track there are genius section everywhere. Just great riffs throughout. The vocals are something I feel like ive heard a thousand punk bands emulate. Now some of the songs are a bit long-winded for my taste but even then they keep it fresh the whole time. Man I was certain I was going to hit it with a 4 but I dont think so now. Its damn good and the score should reflect that. Everyone need to give this a try. Its worth every minute

One of the best post punk albums of all time. An ultimate "record store nerd" record but it actually rocks and holds up to the hype.

Great album, Marque Moon (song) is a jam

If "Guiding Light" doesn’t melt you from the inside, consult a doctor immediately.

Love this album!

The best album of the post punk era and a huge influence on new wave and so much of what followed.

Pretty unstoppable record. A friend of mine started a Television cover band and leaned into the 70s boogie aspect under the famously angular surface of their thing and it made me love it even more.

What stands out to me about Marquee Moon is the riveting guitar interplay between Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd and the songs, which are adventurous and evoke an unmistakable time and place: a grimy, late-70s lower Manhattan crackling with danger but also creative juices. It’s art rock of the highest order. Coupled with contemporaries like the Talking Heads and Patti Smith, this is also a good illustration of the rather expansive definition of punk as it unfolded in New York, as opposed to the U.K.

An album that some how eluded me most of my life. I think I finally heard it on KEXP a decade ago and was 'whoa...what is this?' No idea how I managed to avoid this for the majority of my life (well, growing up in the middle-of-nowhere-midwest-US was a part of it, I'm sure). Glad I finally found it, though. One of the best ever. Entire album is a catchy groove.

What if the Talking Heads had met at prep school, not art school, didn't produce any hits and broke up after two albums? This album was a mid-life discovery for me, even though I had heard of Television. I had not heard Television. But upon hearing the dueling guitars of See No Evil, I was hooked. Then I heard Tom Verlaine's singing and I said, I don't know... But the singing and the album grew on me like a barnacle. Is it perfect? Not for me, but as a first album, for its time, this is a great achievement. And I already know I would rather listen to this album than 80 - 90% of the albums on this list.

This is a fantastic album. All the guitar work kicks ass. The dynamic changes of the title track make you forget it’s 10 minutes long. Your favorite band’s favorite album indeed.

Victory lap album 1084/1089. I’ve left six of my very favourite albums until the end. #1 of 7. One of the great post-punk careers that never was. Television function as a Velvet Underground of the NYC new wave scene. It was the others who sold the records, but it was Television who made in this album post-punk perfection. Firstly, all four band members are fascinating to listen to, from Billy Ficca’s abrupt stop-and-go drums to Tom Verlaine’s extraordinary sneer of a voice to Richard Lloyd’s soaring guitar. The constant interplay and interchange of all four. The stop-and-go of Prove It. The almost reggae start to Marquee Moon. No, really let’s go back to Richard Lloyd’s unique looping, soaring, swooping endlessly melodic guitar. Or at times Verlaine’s unique looping… Adventure is also a very fine album, in which a dreaminess softens the diamond-hard edges on display here. And then, almost before Talking Heads, Blondie et al had conquered the world they were done. Postscript: I saw them in 2014 at a festival in Warwickshire. Uninterested and with a ‘will this do’ vibe it was desperately disappointing. Worst of all: Lloyd-less.

Great album. I wasn’t super familiar with Television, but this inspired a deeper dive. Every song is good. Probably closest to define the album as Punk based on the vocal delivery, riffs and hooks in a lot songs harkening back to 50’s and 60’s rock, but the album is even more than that. My favorite songs from the album are Venus, Marquee Moon, Elevation, and Guiding Light, but again every song is good.

Great album!

Can not believe I have never even heard of a band that sounds this good.

Yeah this is class

I cannot recall how I first heard Marquee Moon. I may have stumbled on a list of albums that I need to hear if I like a different band. Either way, this is such a great album and I am not sure how it took me so many years to get into it. I hear R.E.M. in here, especially on See No Evil, and the band Public Access T.V. essentially takes a lot of their sound from this very album. Heck, even their name sounds like a first cousin to Television. (Public Access T.V. is a really great band and if enjoy Television and the Cars then you should listen to them.) A lot of what we hear in new wave and post-punk was done here first by Television. In fact, there are times it sounds like I am listening to a modern album. The first five songs are classic tunes from this era and the three behind it are not bad themselves. Highly recommend and this album is the purpose of this project.

clássico total né

nunca tinha escutado antes, foi um dos que eu aguardei ESPECIFICAMENTE pra ouvir aqui no site dito isso. ABSURDO!!!!!!!!!! uma das bandas favoritas da sua banda favorita. os mano tava pra FRENTEX ao mesmo tempo que faziam referência a estilos anteriores ROCK DO BOM. parabéns aí. fun fact: eles tocaram em SALVADOR em 2013.

The song "Marquee Moon" is guitar nirvana.

An absolute classic. Totally innovative and massively influential guitar playing and great tunes all the way through.

This has got to be one of the single greatest guitar albums of all time. Nothing else sounds quite like it. Shame they were damn near one and done.

Some albums you say changed your life. Some albums actually change your life. They changed how you approach music, the guitar, a band, songwriting, life. This is one

I heard of these guys from listening to the "No Dogs in Space" podcast. Two listens and I was a massive fan of this record! When I think of "Post-punk" THIS is the type of band I think of. NOT the smiths, Depeche mode, joy division, or any of the other new-wave garbage

This was so ahead of its time, still sounds fresh today.

Some tracks, like Venus and Marquee Moon, easily like it could have come out this year by some indie rock band.

The alternative rock boom of the 1990s would not exist without this album. This album was 20 years too early, but that's okay. We see the the importance of it now, the impact, the power it came from this album. Plus, the songs are good. How can you not give it 5 stars based on all of that?

Aww, man... Tom Verlaine died? In 2023? How did I not know that? Maybe I heard about it and then forgot. Whatta bummer. He was a cool dude. Had a cigarette with him once and found him to be charming and curious. We talked about Cleveland and his many visits here. He asked good questions. Very thoughtful guy. Man, that sucks... Anyway, this album invented Post-Punk while Punk itself was in its infancy. Easy classic.

Listens: 4 Standout tracks: Friction, Marquee Moon, Torn Curtain Added To Library: TRUE Kind of reminds me of the Strokes, the music more so than the singing. I quite liked this, between Friction, the crazy good hook in Marquee Moon, and Torn Curtain, which is a banger track to close the album with. I've added the album to my library.

Arranqué medio que preguntándome por qué era un album tan aclamado pero despues de terminarlo y darle un par de relistens, me gustó mucho. Lo que más banco son los temas largos osea Marquee Moon y TORN CURTAIN (temazo) (re prog onda crimson king). En general los riffs son re tipo pegadizos y whimsical. En cuanto a letra no encuentro que destaque tanto pero en la instrumental y las melodías en general es super interesante. Y tiene unos solos de guitarrraaa que puffffff. REVISITAR PLS