Reviews (page 5 of 13)
Favourites: -Marquee Moon -Torn Curtain Pas très fan de la voix
I know Drew has previously discussed his disdain for early punk rock bands, but I disagree. A lot of these proto-punk bands like Television, Talking Heads, and Iggy Pop really hit home for me. I love the sound, especially if I have it playing while I'm working on a project or something. I remember listening to a lot of this style of music in a big storage dock at the hospital while I set up the new Omnicell med cabinets. I had the whole place to myself. Some of the best shifts I've ever worked.
It's always interesting to see albums that are functionally post-punk which came out near the beginning of punk itself. Even though Marquee Moon came out in 1977, it is a daring expansion on punk in a way that is pretty incredible and very exciting. Television makes it to some of the same places as later era Joy Division and Wire. Television has maintained the simplicity of punk on a moment to moment basis. But the broader arcs of their songs are dense and explorative. The aesthetic on this album is kind of stilted and angular, and it combines with the slightly abstract songs to create a really compelling, enveloping, and oftentimes anxious atmosphere. Songs like the title track, Torn Curtain, Venus and Elevation are among the greatest from the post punk scene. They are snakey, tense, and creatively assembled songs. The other 4 are often good, but they don't quite capture the same magic. And it doesn't bring the album down a ton, but it adds up a little. I see a little of what gets this album to be considered nearly perfect by so many people, but I just don't think it fully makes it there. Although, what is here still stands incredibly strong, with some truly unique and astonishing moments.
I remember a television album or two in my home growing up. Good stuff. I recognized alot of the songs, though I don't remember this album as one we owned (based on the cover).
Better than I remember. Tom Verlaine’s voice is still hard, but the rhythm section is super tight.
Now THIS is the typa shit I wanna get recommended!! I tried to listen to this album before, so to know now that I HAVE to, it’s nice. But enough talking about stuff that don’t matter. This album is pretty great. Tom Verlaine is a very interesting frontman, and that’s not all necessarily good interesting, but he really gets the job done, and he also plays some great passages as a musician. See No Evil is a wonderful little song, the title track is absolutely astonishing, and the b-side is just some great old art rock. I’m not necessarily interested in returning to this one, but I would be remiss if I didn’t say it was one of the better albums I’ve ever heard. 8.7/10
I bought this on CD as a college student in the early 90s. It was recommended to me by a music head as a seminal album; the guy at the record store even congratulated me on buying such a great album. I felt cool. I couldn't get into it. It gathered dust. But this time around, I guess I was growed up enough to get it. Really enjoyed this today - listened to the album several times. Such a great song, and can easily see the influence of this album. Really appreciated the Talking Heads adjacency here. Just another reason this project has been so fun.
Really strong 70s rock album. Just enough experimental stuff to make it interesting but not too far and drifting into pretentiousness
Was quite boring
Debut album. New Wave / Rock. Fantastic guitar work throughout the album. The overall sound as a whole is clearly a huge influence on many bands that followed. The title track was my favourite from a very good album.
Лучшая песня: Elevation Худшая: Friction Нормально
Одноимённая альбому 10-минутная песня - легенда на века. Абсолютная классика
понравилось, хоть и не все, marqee moon топ конечно
Зашел написать сюда, что гитары в Marquee Moon очень напоминают Interpol, оказалось это уже написали. Глянул на сайте семплов - оказалось Interpol не семплировали, но я уверен вдохновлялись. Хороший, приятный альбом - буду считать его предвестником post-punk revival.
Nicht mein Geschmack. Aber interessant und abwechslungsreich.
Enjoyed the instrumental's. Marquee Moon was my favorite single
A great album. Love ‘Elevation’
How have I never listened to this. Straight bangers for the first half. Not the biggest fan of their last song.
THIS is NY indie rock
I need more time with this. Violent Femmes+ talking heads. Way before their time.
Cool album
"Austin TV" de manual
Rhythm is quite nice in some songs. Seems alternative to me. Love the melody. Strong vocals, interesting lyrics choice. Gives kinda this hopeless mixed feelings
Had to be very influential on angular indie and feels very ahead of it's time. Think television are still about? Know the name and had a feeling they would be in my wheelhouse. Reminded me of Les savy fav again, have to repeat it's mad this is from the 70s. Could be a bit more varied if you appraise it on its own merits but very good.
I've listened to this before and I know it's very highly regarded. It sounds so familiar to me, yet I can't really compare it to anything. I don't think it sounds like it's from the 70s..... I guess it's because other bands have mimicked this? I'm not fully convinced by this, but it is good. Marque Moon is the best track for me. Great riff. This has got the smell of high scores from Jamie and Graham..... For me 3.5, but closer to 4
This is one of those albums that I’m ALWAYS seeing being talked about. And while I can say now that I get the hype I was mildly let down with what I thought it was gunna be. And maybe that’s my own fault from reading too much into an album I’m constantly seeing but never having had listened to before. For example, I honestly thought this album would be heavy, like maybe not explicitly metal, but I kinda predicted this album to be more grunge. Needless to say, it’s neither of those things. Honestly I could see this being the FIRST true alternative album. But to me, the name alternative doesn’t really do the genre a justice, cause it’s more complicated than just being a contradiction to “regular” music (also on a side note, how crazy and ridiculous is the idea of alternative music is, like your telling me The Offspring and The Butthole Surfers are the same genre? Like come on that can’t possibly make sense to people). But regardless of my personal problems with the term alternative, I do think that this album is excellent. The lead singers vocals are not mind blowing or anything to write home about, the real magic this band has is in their actual songwriting and composition. Like the songs are so creative and fun, I just wasn’t expecting to love this album as much as I do considering it’s not as heavy as I thought it’d be. There’s just so much life in the guitars, it’s just so much fun. The twin guitars just melt my brain it sounds so original despite the fact I’ve heard lots of bands with two guitars. It’s just got something really special about it. The more I’ve looked into this band, it seems like part of their appeal is their history and troubles (similar to Big Star). I did really love this album even if I didn’t think it was like this wildly groundbreaking album. I think the craziest thing about the album is actually its freshness. Like I could easily see a indie rock dropping an album like this today. Not mindblowing, but timeless is also a great name for their rockumentary.
for me, the album was pretty good, but it just wasn't my style. the best song for me is "Guiding Light." it's very different in character from the other songs on the album. "Turn Curtain" and "Friction" are also very good. id rate this album at 7/10
Lowkey tuff🤷♂️
This was an education for me. I knew nothing about Television before this, but guessed I'd be listening to a punk album. It turned out so much more technical than that, and although i was still dubious after the first listen, after a second play I got a sense of how ahead of their time Television were and how their melodic style would influence bands such as The Pixies, indeed Venus sounds like a Stone Roses song. Friction and Guiding Light are other songs that demand attention. I'm not so keen on the opening and closing tracks, and Marquee Moon itself is overlong, but this would have been ground-breaking in the mid 70s and is deserving of the 4 stars I'll give it.
First time listening to it, i guess it will become 5 after some more …
That album was quite something. I went in knowing nothing about it, and what struck me first were the interesting chord progressions and the immaculate guitar work. The two guitars weave interconnected riffs, each doing its own thing yet combining in harmony, supported by a mellow bass that holds everything together. It defines a bold sound and fully commits to it. The song structures aren't conventional, drawing inspiration from different genres to create something that truly stands on its own. I will surely be revisiting it. My only gripe is that the instrumentals outshine the vocal delivery by miles. My favorite tracks are "Marquee Moon", "Elevation" and "Torn Curtain".
Kul att upptäcka nåt nytt!
al principio pensé q iba a estar aburrido pero me sorprendió mucho para bien, la guitarra demasiado chimba, lo único es que hay un tema de fucking DIEZ minutos, real yo pensé que lo había puesto en loop
This was a sick record I had never heard of. Guitar work was outstanding.
Extremely relaxing.
Bellissimo album
This one goes way back for me, used to play Marquee Moon at the CC Club. Love the shaggyness, angular style, sometimes math rock(?)
Arty punk in my opinion. The title track is the one to beat. A few other good ones but Marquee moon kills it
Fun rock album. Very enjoyable. 4 star.
A fascinating and influential guitar album that sounds surprisingly modern. You can immediately hear the blueprint for bands like The Strokes in the interplay between the two guitars. The riff on 'Friction' is simple but timeless, and the 10-minute title track is a genuine journey. The vocals have a unique 'New York' attitude—part Jagger swagger, part Iggy Pop spoken-word tension—which complements the angular, 'anti-blues' guitar work perfectly. It’s definitely a 'musician’s album' that rewards careful listening. I’ve rated it a strong 4, but I suspect a session with headphones might reveal even more depth in the production.
This was an interesting listen. I heard lots of influences of The Talking Heads and Violent Femmes in there, and I like both of those bands, and I also liked this. Four stars.
Fun, very modern sound. A shame the title track is over ten minutes!
I LOVE THIS
ar vusmendi magram kargi iyo
Think this album should have featured at points in the TV show Misfits
the album is good, the guitar is very present and well made, i feel excited when i hear, my rating is 4.3
Great album. Nothing super stood out to me but I enjoyed the entirety of it and added every song to my Liked list.
You can hear the evolutionary link form between punk and alternative rock.
I liked this, could benefit from a re-listen. 3.7/5.
Great guitar play and perfect amount of edge for my taste.
Definitely worth listening to.
I can see how influential this has been and I did like it, it didn’t quite have that X factor to really capture my attention though. I imagine this would be a grower rather than a shower ad there is quite a lot going on. 3.5
An album I'd read about but never heard a single note from. I was wary given its New York and art punk tags - two terms which rarely go well together or on their own - but I thoroughly enjoyed this. Great riffs, good music, but a shame the vocals are an abomination. An album which could have been five stars had the rest of the group took a stand and said 'yeah, but you're recruiting an actual singer'.
Sounded real good, and plays like the first indie rock album, 30 years before indie rock was a thing.
I liked this one quite a bit. Marquee Moon I had heard several times, but the rest of it was good. Just a few soft spots but will definitely put this on rotation.
I definitely didn't think a CB's band would get jammy like this, but sure enough they do (not in the Dead sense, thankfully.) As someone who frequented CBGB in its waning years to see hardcore bands, the early years of the club just never had much cachet with me. Blondie and Patti Smith were firmly outside of my hard and fast sensibilities and the Ramones simply weren't fast enough. Among those acts sat Television and they were easily the most peripheral band of the bunch for me. The playing is fantastic on here. Interpol and The Strokes owe everything to Television.
I was wanted to hear these guys. I thought it would be weirder, but it's great Taking Heads style jangle art rock.
Soooooo ahead of it's time. It took 20+ years for anything even close within the genre. They perfected the Indie rock sound decades before the genre technically existed. And what happened to Art Punk?
The title track remains absolutely godly. Some really cool stuff in here instrumentally, proper jangly goodness but I don’t know if I love the vocal style for an entire 45 min album
Alright, kind boring probably could listen again and like it more 3/5
I enjoyed quite a bit of this album, by some people i haven’t heard of before (but probably should’ve). Thanks to this project for broadening my horizons!
4/5
I had always heard about this album and the influence it had on so many genres of music but had never listened to it until now. I quite enjoyed it. You can hear the bits and pieces certain bands took to craft their sound. I'm glad this album lived up to the hype everyone had been giving it. While I don't think its good enough to get a 5. I have no problem giving it a 4/5.
So good! So influential!
Hahaha eat THIS nerds
Finally!!! A good album!!! I’ve been listening to slop from this project for the past two weeks. It was a cohesive listen, a unique listen and an easy listen for me. I have to run this one back again!
This was a pretty fun adventure. Wasnt blown away or anything, but i can see why some people are crazy about it. Loved the ending too
Seminal 1977 album
marauders era
These guys were innovators. Like the album or not, they set the stage for a lot of the great post-punk music that would follow. As an avid REM fan, I know they were influenced by Television. Not comparing the bands, just saying you can hear the influence. The song Marquee Moon is killer! Those guitar lines riffs are so cool. Tom Verlaine RIP.
Always loved the first 4/5 tracks but the second half of the album is a bit dull in comparison. Those songs I like still sound fresh and modern
These albums are the rare gems that make the 1001 process worth it. At the start I wasn't sure but as the album progressed it really grew on me. The vocal sounds so familiar but I can't put my finger on it. Guitar work is incredible, it really grabs you but I just can't explain why. 4/5.
An album I haven't heard but should have. Proper cbgb's punk. Love it.
8/10
One of the best rock/punk albums of all time imo. The guitar on every song is sick and is definitely an essential album. 9/10
I was impatiently waiting for Marquee Moon during my listen to this album, I realized that those first three tracks never really stuck for me. But the playing on this 10 minute track is just so energetic, creative, and tightly knit. Prove It is probably my second favorite on this album, tons of lovely melodies there, but it's a pretty important listen for its spread across like everything indie and then some.
Good music!
Super groundbreaking work here, I think it sounds a bit like if punk rock never existed but glam rock evolved naturally into post-punk? Can hear the Eno and the other New York CBGB stuff here but it feels like a more natural progression of like New York Dolls or T Rex or whatever. Not every track clicked but it feels special
This is an interesting one; to my ear this album sounds like a midway point between The Velvet Underground and The Strokes. I'll have to give it a few more listens to really find my footing with it, but my initial impression is that I do like it. The interplay of the riffs between various instruments combined with the slightly esoteric lyrics give it a vibe that makes it feel more modern than it actually is. It's a cool album.
8/10
Good
By far my favorite album that I have heard from this process so far. Guitar work is immaculate. The vibe and feeling of the album is stellar. My biggest hold up is the lyrics, I am sure they are all deeply metaphorical, but on a surface level listen it does sometime just sound like word salad. But that can be remedied by a closer listen on my part.
Album #25: Marquee Moon - Television Genre (W): Rock, post-punk, art punk, new wave, punk rock, garage rock Singles: Marquee Moon, Prove It I have not listened to this album before. Thoughts: I heard this one shaped the alternative music scene, so I’m really intrigued. I can hear how one wouldn’t call this punk, honestly, that’s what makes it interesting to me. It reminds me of Talking Heads, except with even more expansion and experimentation. Venus is a beautiful song, I love the lyrics to that one. The music honestly sounds artsy, I love it. I love the more artistic types of music; don’t get me wrong, punk is cool, but this artsy type of stuff is radical. The guitar solo in Friction is on another level! There’s also a ballad! On a punk album! Awesome! Torn Curtain, what a fantastic closer, mainly within the chord progression. It really sounds like it could be a tune heard on a stage. This album is incredible. Favorite songs: Venus, Friction, Marquee Moon, Side Two
Still struggle with TV's voice. Onside with rest of it!
Brilliant
J'embarque jamais ben ben sur les autres tounes que Marquee Moon. 3.5 étoiles
That was ok. Not as good as I thought it was going to be, but a solid 4.
𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘰𝘯 is one of those post-punk records that feels both razor-sharp and strangely weightless. The guitars intertwine with a clarity that borders on hypnotic, giving the songs a sense of openness rather than aggression. Tom Verlaine’s wiry vocals and tense phrasing match the angular instrumentation, and the title track stretches out with a confidence that never turns self-indulgent. It’s a landmark for a reason — inventive, cool, and unmistakably its own thing.
i wasn’t fully listening ngl but their most popular song is fire
It was more my genre, every single song was good, I want to re listen in order to rate it because I think it might be my first 5 star, I don’t know, maybe. I’ll re-listen. It’s a 4
Enjoyable music with the slight caveat of the singing style not being my favourite
It’s hard to rate innovative music post-post-post-innovation. The vibes were fun, I liked the separate, distinguishable sound for each musician.
The title song is excellent. Rest of the album takes repeated listening to appreciate it better.
522/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
Marquee Moon is a massively influential album for a lot of bands I like more than Television.
It took me a while to complete this one - I must have listened to 1-2 songs per day for a week. I found the singers' voice a bit annoying -- a bad version of David Byrne - but the music engaging. I loved the title track which was favorited and been on repeat. My initial inclination was 3 but I am scoring a 4 to encourage a come back listen later on. 4/5
Cool alt rock. British?
loved this. especially the title track and prove it. love late 70s
Really enjoyed this one
I really like the drumming on this album. The 70s production and the vocals hold it back for me.
never heard of this shit even ever. just pretty awesome. its got strands of ancient altrock dna, tangential to the Talking Heads genome but more like proto-Strokesian, either way love it a lot. the title track is something else; big jumbo 10 minute tracks run the risk of being kinda bloated and indulgent but this one is just a ride start to finish. one more rock solid banger could bump up the score but as is just a very strong 4.49/5
Years ahead of their time. Managed to inspire 80s alternative and the garage rock revival. Excellent.
Very good, I love "Elevation", the title track and the closer
The album has punk elements to it, the songs are short with minimal breaks up until the title track where the album takes a rather dramatic turn. The song at over 10 minutes, gives the listener space to breathe, space to listen to the music itself as though Television wanted to play guitars for listeners rather than sing at them all the time. Whether or not this was the start of the alternative genre, the album makes a strong case for consideration as an example of where the exhausting nature of punk took the proverbial breather and let the listener process.
Marquee Moon is an album that thrives on tension and restraint rather than release. It feels sharp, wiry, and perpetually on edge, built from interlocking guitar lines that circle each other without ever collapsing into obvious payoff. There is a cool intelligence to it that can feel distant at first, but once it clicks, the album reveals a quiet intensity that is deeply absorbing. What I enjoy most is how patient it is. The songs take their time, stretching out without becoming indulgent, letting rhythm and repetition do the heavy lifting instead of big gestures. Tom Verlaine’s guitar work feels more conversational than flashy, constantly probing rather than showing off, and the band leaves enough space for those lines to breathe. At the same time, that restraint can sometimes hold it back emotionally, keeping the listener slightly outside rather than fully immersed. It stops short of being a full five for me because it demands the right mood and mindset. When you are there with it, it is brilliant, hypnotic, and endlessly fascinating. When you are not, it can feel cool to the point of detachment. Still, that tension is part of its identity, and few albums sustain it so convincingly.
Really dig it -- reminds me of my favorite era of the Stones
Track 1 - See No Evil Upbeat, love the drums, blind bliss Track 2 - Venus Venus de Milo (Aphrodite), lovestruck, quite poetic, meaning a bit lost on me, high on drugs or life?? Track 3 - Friction Carried by bassline, vocals bit shaky, drags on a bit Track 4 - Marquee Moon Long song, catchy riffs, song about experiencing life whether good or bad, doesn't feel 10+ minutes long, satisfying structure (cyclical) shows reflection, very cool lyric change from 'just waiting' to 'hesitating' to 'I ain't waiting' before leading into instrumental break. (moment I realised this album was special), Verlaine's vocals shine and really fit this style. Track 5 - Elevation Least punk feeling, don't want to be soaked up in city culture, dreams of shores and seas, feels too literal, great guitar solo Track 6 - Guiding Light Floatiest vocals yet, nice chords (keys could be mixed better), loss of a lover, unsure of future without them, optimistic outro Track 7 -Prove It Another great bassline, search for meaning questioning, 'case' is life, meaning of life is confidential, repetitive Track 8 - Torn Curtain Good closing track, catchy quite solemn chorus, time passing, endless cycle of hardship coming with time Overall Television's debut Marquee Moon is a very British feeling post punk record by a NYC band. Explores themes of life, time, love and hardship spurred on by very poetic and abstract lyrics. Verlaine's vocals are very floaty and raw fitting with the style. Undeniable influence in the art rock and post punk genres. Phenomenal instrumentals. Felt some songs were slightly repetitive and overstayed their welcome. Favourite songs: Marquee Moon, See No Evil, Venus, Guiding Light Least favourite songs: Friction 9/10
Guitar!
Punky but melodic. I was interested to read how Television were revered in the UK in the late 70s punk explosion. Personally I'd never heard of them, but then I was only 13 at the time. I can see why we liked them though.
Not really a country guy bit this was really good!
Hard not to draw a parallel between Television and The Strokes. Not complaining. 4/5
also felt nostalgic, really liked it 8/10
Very Patti Smith very Geese
need to finish but so good so far
Overall album rating by me: 6,5/10 Songs added to playlist: ,,See No Evil'', ,,Guiding Light'' Notes: I really liked it but it's more of a background music during a stroll kind of album for me.
Seminal guitar album from '77 that kick started many a post-punk indie band. Deserves its place and is well worth a listen if you haven't heard.
The guitar work on this record really stood out. I love Big Star and their influence on this album was quite clear to me. Also understand where all the bands like the Strokes came from.
I really liked this one, I'm a big fan of 70s easy rock and this was a very good example of that, I'd never heard of Television before so this was a good introduction. All the songs made it onto my general playlist and old rock playlist. Some of the songs were a bit long but I'm sure if they came up in my playlist I'd enjoy it. This would be a good studying album. Favourite: Friction Least favourite: Torn Curtain
Fun album. Never listened to any Television before, but could see adding them into my regular rotation.
I’m genuinely shocked by this album. I thought it would be one of those typical old rock albums that were good at the time but doesn’t age that well. But man the emotion this album brought out of me is something I did not expect.
This was another that i didn't recognize but when i listened though had strong familiarity with. I enjoyed the slightly scuzzy vibe and production as well as the confidence to really take their time with songs giving them an almost jazzy vibe. Shade of Ziggy stardust, iggy pop and some heavier stuff. Strong album.
Groupe inconnu. Rock original, avec un accompagnement très travaillé. Les guitares sont très complémentaires, elles jouent souvent des parties différentes. Les riffs sont accrocheurs, et les chorus plutôt bon. Les lignes de basse sont assez intéressantes et plutôt variées, la batterie aussi, surtout quand le batteur se lâche lors des longues plages instrumentales. Le chant est lui un peu moins bon, mais la qualité de l'accompagnement me l'a fait oublier ! Excellente découverte qui rejoindra ma collection. =>4/5
É aquele tipo de som alternativo/ Punk que soa seco e direto. Muita energia e diversão. Muito influente. GK Kunten.
Parece que este album en algun momento fue un hitazo, porque tienen millones de reproducciones las canciones pero la banda unos 300 mil oyentes mensuales. Todas las canciones en aoty tenian +90 también. Este si que me engancho desde el principio y me parecio buenisimo, tiene una guitarra muy predominante y la voz del marquee moon también muy destacable. Me dice ale que era un clasico que lo tenia guardado, no lo dudo honestly Igual, varias canciones duran unos minutos mas de lo que deberian y se ponen repetitivas. (4,5) Favs: Venus, Friction, Elevator
A touchstone album in the history of rock music. If I have any qualms with this, it's Verlaine's warble, but at the same time I can't imagine like, Freddy Mercury singing on this either. Anyway, very good but not quite five stars.
Not first listen; 4; Great album that really epitomizes the punk/new wave sound. Very tight, punchy songs where the band seems to moving in all different directions but still moving forward together at the same time. Songs are filled with catchy riffs.; One to put on must listen list.
Har hørt dette før, hvor jeg da har likt Venus og Marquee Moon særlig godt. Banebrytende post-punk. Top 3: Venus, Marquee Moon, Elevation
Favourite Songs: Marquee Moon Elevation
Never heard of this band and was pleasantly surprised by this album.
all feels a bit familiar but all feels like the build for another song slightly? idk I just wanted more from it but most was v good
Most of these riffs feel way ahead of their time. Really good album.
Some great hooks and a very forward-thinking UK-ish sound for a New York band. Can't imagine how much this must have slain back in the day. Took a little while to grow on me but there's some really catchy tracks here. fav tracks: Friction, Marquee Moon, Torn Curtain
This is gonna be a tough one. Someone i loved dearly broke my heart and she loved this band. I am, therefore, predisposed to transfering my bitterness onto Tom Verlaine (she liked him in particular) and Television. That said, track 1 is a cracking track. The bass player is the shit for me in this band, but honestly, they are punks that can actually play. Fuck you Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd for writing an album that is actually really good when i need to seeth and sweat out this bitterness instead of enjoying this. They have elements of UK punk that I like (you can hear the clash in there) but elements of US punk that i like (you can hear the stooges in there), they are so very New York(think Lou Reed, NY Dolls or any of Jesse Malin’s bands), but they are not merely a pastiche of those styles, they are something more and wonderfully for ‘punk’, inject some diversity into a genre that many often think is about people who cant play hammering out 3 chords. If i have any criticism of this it is the guitar sound. I find it a bit too plinky plinky in most parts. But the playing and composition, lovely. Listen to The interplay of the guitar and drums and bass. Thoughtful, cohesive, individual, its good writing. There’s texture there, there’s plenty to feast on. Four and a half stars for Tom Verlaine and band. Fuck you to my ex for making me cry whenever I listen to this.
i really enjoyed this. very cool
Awesome!
When I checked this last night I was kinda put off by the cover and stalled on listening to this for nearly the whole day. It just didn't "look" like my vibe. I was pleasantly surprised when I pressed play and found it wasn't half bad. Also, the lead singer is Tom Verlaine, like the guy who was named in the Alvvays song which is cool imo. So, my overall thoughts. I really really love all the uses of guitar, I'm a sucker for that type of stuff. Again, like i said in previous notes, I am a lyric girlie. They don't have to make perfect sense or be the most amazing things on the planet, but i do have to vibe with them. About half of the songs were just okay to me. Like, I'm not gonna complain if someone else puts it on, but it's probably not gonna be my choice. "Venus" is probably my favorite, but I really liked "Torn Curtain" too. "Prove It" and "Guiding Light" were chill. the title track is tricky to me. I really liked the intro and I like the verses, but the chorus didn't hit as hard for me. 10 mins kind of a lot tho and I have a goldfish's brain. As much as i like guitars, I'm not the type of person to just listen to 4 mins of straight guitar. I think, to be fair, I'm going to put this at a 4, pretending it's a 3.5. There's more songs on here i could see coming back to and it was a fun listen overall.
Band and music are mostly new to me, excepting the title track (thanks XPN!). This debut album made a much more positive impression than the previous one (Tom Petty). A fun listen, with great musicianship on display. Tight drumwork, multiple great guitar riffs and solos. Verlaine uses a whining affectation to his vocals which seems to be popular in this era of rock. He doesn't go full Dylan and it suits the punk attitude, so it stayed interesting rather than obnoxious. It's always a treat to hear new-to-me "old" music that still sounds fresh and offers interesting discoveries. Vinyl worthy.
I get it now
A new discovery for me, never heard of this Television. See No Evil is like a cross between The Who and early 90's indie rock like Violent Femmes. Much enjoyed. Venus is a decent follow up. The title.track is great, too. I love the "deedelldeedleedeedleedee" guitar parts. Elevation has nice guitar work too, definitely an influential sound.
This is my 3rd time writing this review, I lost it twice before. This didn't work for me until I got to the title track, Marquee Moon. From there I enjoyed this. Sounds ahead of it's time. My fear is that it may be responsible for some of the things I don't like about 1980s music.
The problem with Marquee Moon is that the title track is 11 minutes long and the other 34 minutes need to be a reasonable equal in style to the greatest song that is longer than Free Bird
kind of like a mix of the Stones, Neil Young, and Iggy. i liked it!!
I finally get this album, and it’s pretty darn good. Not my favorite CBGBs band by far, but this was a solid listen!
Actually quite enjoyed that. 4/5
In
Better than Coldplay
I can't believe I've never heard of this band and I'm honestly shocked that Television didn't become a bigger hit - their sound was very much ahead of its time and in some ways it still sounds fresh and modern today in 2025. The title track was my clear favorite. It's got an infectious hook that repeats several times throughout the song, and I've already added it to my iTunes library. I'm looking forward to giving this entire album another good listen but even on my first quick run through, it's a solid four.
4/5
this album is like a dark night in an alleyway in hell with cats in it
# Album Name: Marquee Moon # Artist: Television # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Pretty good listen this one. Marquee moon is a classic banger. # Top Tunes: See no evil / Venus / Marquee Moon # Would I listen to it again? Yes
Punk Rock mit melancholisch/düsteren Elementen. Die ersten Tracks sind noch etwas einseitig aggressiv. Der Title Track ist wunderbar vielseitig und ab dort nimmt das Album eine stimmungstechnisch angenehme Wendung.
My first impression is Allmen Brothers guitar with Violent Femmes vocals. Wonderful guitar licks mixed with somewhat punk lyrics and vocals. I truly enjoyed this album as something different, yet still familiar.
Very good and up there, just misses the mark on a few tracks
electric guitar and whiny singing. two of my favourite things
I knew the title track before. An excellent listen
Day681 - not familiar with television but this was a good album
Great album, never heard of it before today. Has some brilliant guitar work throughout it. Top Track - Marquee Moon
Very influential, most 2000s indie garage bands sound a bit like this album. Vocalist voice is a bit of an acquired taste though
Another nice discovery!
Nice and a bit too short! Also the guitar solos left a bit to the imagination. But I quite enjoyed it!
Really like this album - sounds more modern than it is
Sneaky gem? Who are these guys? Title track is a masterpiece
Good vibes with the titular track but nothing to super duper grip me. Sounds ahead of its time and I like the use of jazz elements instead of blues. On review, this is actually really good and unique I think its worth a listen.
The the first of the CBGBs big 4 (apologies to the Patti Smith group who was already covering Van Morrison) to actually play the club. As such - are extended guitar solos and 11 minute multi part songs actually punk rock? Maybe it comes down to attitude. I saw television when I was a senior in college. They had regrouped in the wake of the alt rock boom of the early 90s to produce a middling album. But seeing them live was like seeing the Rolling Stones or U2. They just felt bigger than what I was seeing at the time. Only 15 years out from this debut they felt foundational. I have never grown tired of this album. As is often the case - side one is far more effective than side two. But the first 4 tracks have managed to sustain a legacy for almost 50 years.
Love it
This is excellent! Really interesting guitar work, and a very good mid-point between punk and post-punk. Pre-post-punk I guess. You can here the likes of Joy Division in here, but also some of the lightness of someone like Talking Heads. I'll be coming to this one repeatedly.
I love this album. You can hear where this influenced bands from New Wave to present day.
What impresses me about this album is its age. If it had just a little more oomph, it could have been produced anytime in the last twenty years and sound fresh. I think this says a bit about how much current pop rock steals from the past though. (i guess it's technically punk and not pop rock, but it sure does feel like pop.)
Went from unknown to one of my favorites! This band had a good sound for the time. Good balance of traditional rock and the more off kilter stuff of the era. Smiths meet rolling stones, perhaps?
A revolution in vibes-based music
kul grejer, njöt av det
FAAAN va svårt, den började bra men jag tappade typ intresset lite mot slutet? Men vet du vad, jag skyller på att matten suger just nu, det får en fyra dammit, See No Evil är värt det
Pretty good, kinda front heavy. Like a semi better version of Talking Heads 77
Divertido, curioso post punk. Me gustó
This was such a great discovery, and felt pretty ahead of its time.
Had heard of but not heard these guys. Pretty good; not crazy about the lead vocalist's voice. Rounding up from 3.5, partly because so many of the songs have really strong endings that I quite enjoyed.
The musicians really love what they do. Trippy eclectic rock vibes
muy meh la vdd no conecté
This often gets lumped in with 70s punk. However, it sacrifices the anti-establishment energy and raucous anger for artsy inclinations and quality guitar melodies. This is music for the head, whereas most of the punk it gets lumped in with is music for the heart. That's not to say it isn't good, because it is. The songs are melodic and fairly accessible while also being sure to be technical showcases for the players' abilities.
Really good jams. See No Evil, Friction, Marquee Moon and Prove It are surprising bangers. Loved the production a little more than the vocals, but the vocals didn't annoy me either.
Excellent guitar work and a 70's punk aesthetic I really appreciate. I need to listen to this more. 4/5
Great guitar driven sound that blends 70s classic rock with a tunefulness that makes it sound new and progressive, truly ahead of its time. Collectively, these tracks shows off real range and I can hear many other bands drawing influence from the music here: The Talking Heads, The Pixies, Echo and the Bunnymen, R.E.M. So glad I got to hear this … not sure how I had missed it for so long.
A quirky punk masterpiece.
Coming back to this record after a couple of years, and I'm not exactly sure what I missed because they kinda jammed with it. Love the expressive vocals, love the guitars. The title track put me in a trance. Way better than I remember. Still gets somewhat stale after a little while, and isn't quite as experimental as they could be. Still a fun record though.
Definitely catchy, those hooks are pretty good. 4/5
Very interesting. Intersection of rock/punk and new wave. Riff in Venus reminds of Sweet Child of Mine. Some parts even sound post or even pop punk/emo. Marquee Moon has indie/bluesy feel. Album does feel ahead of its time! Jam section on Marquee Moon is incredible. Every song is decent in its own right! Best track - Venus, Marquee Moon 4/5 stars
I remember buying this when it came out. Loved it then and it was one of the anti-pomp rock albums that got called punk. About the same time as talking heads, Blondie and others. It sounds remarkably good on relisten. That indie sound starting and some great songs
Heard of the band, heard of the album, never listened to before. Was missing out, very good.
I listened to this a couple months ago and remember enjoying it, excited to return to it again.
I knew "See No Evil" from the Ghost cover - the original is quite good as well. Overall a solid album. Nice guitar work. Feels a little samey but not a bad listen at all.
Love this album, punk attitude and excellent musicianship. Great songs, fantastic guitar parts. This one definitely earns its place on this list
Love the simple songs, the really simple, catchy and clean guitar. After a few listen-throughs I'm almost starting to acclimatize to Tom Verlaine's over the top whiny vocals.
A post-punk Velvet Underground. This album starts great, then trails off. The first few songs slap and gives this album four stars. Top tracks: "Marquee Moon," "See No Evil," "Friction," "Venus"
4/5
Such an influential album and the guitar playing is epic
Nice
Listened to this one in the car, and I liked it! The title track sounded familiar to me but I couldn't place it. As their first album, this was a strong start for Television.
this was actually solid! 4.5/5 i may listen to it again
Best Track - "Venus"
Pretty solid album. I didn't know they had other songs than Marquee Moon that I would like, so this was a pleasant surprise.
Good album I like these guy
All right. This is a really good band I had never heard before. I will definitely listen to this again.
80
Excited to listen. Many artists I like cite them as an influence. Strengths: This is a guitar album. Two skilled guitarists playing distinctly different lines, satisfyingly panned to the left and right. No wasted notes. Energetic. Tons of hooks. Solid, masterful rhythm section. Clever, poetic lyrics. Weaknesses (minimal): the voice and sparse production may put some folks off at first. I think it's perfect. Favorite songs: "See No Evil" (Sounds like Cars meets Jack White) and "Torn Curtain" (beautiful, garage band prog). Terrific album! Rating: 4/5
A great album, start to finish. Love the intricate melodies throughout, especially in the guitar parts.
More talked about than actually listened to still a good record but so many bands took this sound and ran with it and did so much better with it it's hard to rank this high but usually the original always gets the short end of the stick
Such a great unique album - every song is memorable.
Firstly I did like this. And also it is a must listen. A little filler. But the good songs hit. Might be time to break out the 4.
Of all the punk albums this list has made me listen to (and there are several), this might be my favorite one yet. Interesting sounds. Early versions of Muse.
A legendary album by an influential band. You can hear how they influenced many newer NY bands and others from further afield in their sound. Great guitar interplay, but I've never been a huge fan of Verlaine's vocals.that said, there isn't a duff track. But for some reason, it is not a go-to album at all, so it isn't getting 5 stars.
All time favorite album. The tightness of the band and the grooves lend towards some excellent listening. However, I would not call this a hit machine, just one solid album.
I am really struggling to put in to words what makes this album so good. It's pretty unique, the music evolves from riff to riff, idea to idea, track to track. Hints of punk, prog, rock and roll. Each time I think I've figured it out the album shifts. The guitar work is so incredibly creative and will have inspired thousands of guitarists. I see the vocals divide opinion but personally I dig them. Really like this album.
Prettttty Prettttty good.
Very pleasantly surprised. Top notch riffs and tunes. Going straight into my rotation.
Did not know the band but heard some songs before. Really enjoyed Torn Curtain
A classic. Really interesting and unique style.
This was pretty interesting, I recognized the first track and reading about the band on wikipedia read about their initial bassist, Richard Hell, that I own a CD of. Good 4 star album for me.
This was a surprise. It's like prog-punk/proto-New Wave. There's a lot going on here. 4 stars.
Good album. Haven’t listened to it in years.
Off kilter. Television is different. I like that. Like the love child of the Ramones and the talking heads. But they can riff too, like the stooges. These type of albums push creativity forward. It is so uniquely themselves that anyone who hears it must question their own originality. It’s musically complex and calls for a few listens to hear everything going on. “Marquee Moon” is a new favorite. I was never bored. Loved it.
I never heard of this band, but it sounds like they had a lot of influence on other musicians. The guitars were killer. Sounds like a group I would here at a bar or music festival where they could just keep jamming whatever they feel in the moment. Good stuff, added to my favorites.
I had already listened to this one and thought it was ok, then decided to relisten to it and realised just how catchy this album is. The title track for the album is an incredible listen, easily the standout track on it, but there are plenty of other songs that are almost just as catchy. The song-writing on the album is good too, so overall a solid 9/10.
Amazing album, great guitar and I love their voices. Did not expect this but it ended up being an album I truly enjoyed listening to. Marquee moon shocked me as I did not expect to care for such a long song like I did. Not a perfect album but some project I really enjoyed listening to.
MARQUEE MOON MAY BE TOP 100 SONG ALL TIME
Seminal punk\alternative, so good, so fine.
Such an interesting guitarist — like a prog-rock player doing his best to break free from the band's stylistic limits. A curious album, I might revisit it.
Much better then expected. I knew of the history of television and cbgbs. So o. Was expecting more punk sound.
Television was not a group I had heard before listening to this album. And I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. It’s a punkier Talking Heads. Definitely worth a listen.
Decent, something a bit different for me. Would probably listen to it again
This ranking may be too low
queste chitarre sono un fatto non trascurabile
è un 4-
A clear progenitor to a LOT of modern indie music. While I didn't connect with the record, I appreciate and hear its importance. Title track is clearly the best known for a reason.
Ghost meets Beach Boys meets Dr Frank-N-Furter, plus someone else I can't put my finger on
Pleasantly surprising
Not familiar with this album but really liked it. Planning to revisit.
7/10
A solid post-punk alt-rock vibe. Some delightful guitar moments that sounds like they may have inspired the Strokes.
I'm really surprised I've never heard of these guys before. They kind if remind me of The Stones
Tämähän on aika kiinnostava rokkiklassikko! Nyanssirikasta taas kerran! 4/5
Erinomainen taiderock-levy. Laulajalla mielenkiintoinen ääni ja sovitukset poikkeaa helpoimmasta mahdollisesta, mutta samalla kuitenkin ymmärrettävä. 4/5
This is a post punk essential for sure. I don't love it as much as others do but its growing on me. I feel like every song on here kinda sounds the same but in a good way. Call it consistency I don't know. "See No Evil" is fantastic and so is the title track. Favorite track: See No Evil
I've definitely heard See No Evil before, but otherwise this is a new discovery for me! Will plan to revisit often, what a gem of a rock album.
Never heard of this at all before this. First album on here that I've really liked out of nowhere.
This is a lean, wiry guitary, punkish sound that I can definitely hear echoing into bands I love later — R.E.M. for sure, and even a little Nirvana-ish vibe in Elevation. It’s smart, stripped down, and a little bit strange in a neat way.
Complex, nice, better the more you listen to it. It reminds me to patti Smith. 4 or 5 stars. I Will give 4.
Another band who is more influential than fun to revisit.
This album (especially the title track) takes me back to every dank college house party I went to in the '90s. And while the opening riffs of "Marquee Moon" take me back to making out with floppy haired indie rock boys on dank couches, I don't love this album. But i guess it's important.
Really, really love this album. I’d never heard of them or it before, but I’m glad I have now! Catchy, smart, and very different from what I expected!
You can hear that an album is important from the very atart and Marquee Moon is like that. The influences of this album can be heard in a lot of later music. The instrumentation is great. Simplistic and genius, because it does so much with very little. The songwriting itself is bery good and even the title track at 10 minutes doesn't lose it's appeal. My only problem with this is the singing. It's not that good, but it kinda works. 4/5
OK
Definitely some violent femmes influences. Best songs were marque moon, elevation
one of my faves so far - wish i could give it 4.5
Favorites: Marquee Moon, Prove It, Torn Curtain 46 minutes of some of the best guitar riffs and solos ever recorded. After my first listen, Torn Curtain might be one of my favorite outros to any album ever. Mesmerizing stuff. 9/10
Good album, good band but I can't really understand why they are so critically acclaimed.
An album ahead of its time.
I first discovered Television through NZ band The Verlaines. Why were they called the Verlaines? Oh. Tom Verlaine? Who's that? And so it goes. Television has influenced so many bands: some familiar to you, some unfamiliar. Marquee Moon is a great introduction to the band: it's a lot more angular art school meets prog rock than you might expect from the bands who mined Television's sound. I really liked how it took unexpected turns (much like early Split Enz - actually, Tom Verlaine and Phil Judd really sound similar) and musically it hits interesting places. Listened three times because I could not let this album go. It's been a long while since I last listened to Television, but they'll slide into regular rotation now.
Definitely talented musicians, they do a great job of setting a tone for each song with the intro and the type of instruments they pair together, super funk I mess with it
Nice stuff
1977 뉴욕에서 들었더라면
Listened to this while playing Civolution. I lost pretty spectacularly. This album was much better than I was expecting. I had heard references to it many times over the years...mostly when I was getting into DFA records in the early 2000s. The title track is fantastic. There is one song that sounds like your record is constantly skipping. Almost a 5...but not quite.
I enjoyed this, and especially the title track.
Like the Talking Heads meets The Strokes
Actually enjoyed it quite a lot. Guys voice is annoying sometimes but the instrumentation is very fun.
Literally doesn’t sound like the 70’s at all, very, very clean, sounds like The Strokes, 8/10
I really liked this album a lot. You can definitely tell it's from the 70s. One of the singers' voices remind me of Freddie Mercury! Now that I think about it, they kind of remind me of Queen. The music was really catchy, especially the instrumentals. I think my favorite song was "Friction".
i don't have much to say, I liked it and will definently come back and wouldn't be surpised if it grew on me with time
I liked it!
8/10
Uno de los grandes álbumes de la new Wave.
Loveee the guitar in it!! The leads voice really grew on me i like the grungey punky feel but still like alt rock vibes but from the 70s very cool. Told my dad i was doing this and thought it was cool!
Felt like the Strokes mixed with Elvis Costello. I liked a lot of this. Nothing super duper catchy or memorable but I enjoyed it for a band I've never heard of. I'll come back to this one!
I'd heard of this band over the years, I think cited by other bands as a big influence, but never listened. Really enjoyed this. A bit of Talking Heads vibe, maybe even a bit of Pavement too. Loving the bit jazz influence and lead guitar parts. See No Evil, Venus, Marquee Moon, and Prove It are my favorites.
A fantastic album from a band I've never heard of.
Weirdly was listening to this over the weekend for the first time. I really enjoyed the front half, lost interest a bit after the amazing title track. Clearly hugely influential. Will come back to this.
I guess I like punk, just not the british
Eternally baffled by what counts as “punk.” Especially loved the title track, great 10 minute song that really builds. Will definitely revisit this in its entirety.
Compelling. I enjoyed the flow of this album. not your traditional, which, I enjoyed.
Enjoyed it.
Really great, and eternal classic new wave.
Highlight Song/s: Venus, Marquee Moon and Guiding Light This album has some of most amazing melodies I have ever heard in my life. The guitar solos on this album are phenomenal, especially on 'Marquee Moon' and 'Guiding Light.' The album is pretty diverse, I kind of like how they don't fully bow down to anything specific. Though I have listened to this album 3 times now, I just can't fully get into it. I see this album often labeled 'post-punk' which I would disagree with. It probably isn't straight-forward punk rock like the Ramones, but it definitely isn't post-punk; perhaps something like art punk would fit better. Some things I like about the songs: the punk rock-leaning of 'See No Evil'; the very poppy 'Venus'; 'Marquee Moon' has such a catchy chorus and that extended amazing instrumental part, the song is 6/5 stars all day, every day and finally 'Guiding Light' which is a top-notch ballad.
Vocal delivery reminds me of early Patti Smith. The song Marquee Moon is awesome, what a journey, rising and falling.
4/5 This album is pretty ahead of it's time. You can see how it influenced bands like Joy division and the Cure but took a more uplifting and jazzy approach with the songs. Lots of simple guitar chords layered with melodic guitar lines on top. The song Marquee Moon slaps and is an epic 10 minute journey.
This is a tamer version of Iggy and the Stooges with some hints of early Hanoi Rocks. My opinion of this ebbs and flows. I do think I like it after all. The guitar for the verses in Elevation sound very similar to californiacation by the chili peppers. Weird. Has anyone else noticed that? I need to look. Yep, it looks like the Comparisons have been made. Choice cut: Friction
Another one I've heard about many times, but never listened to until now. Loved it. Verlaine's vocal delivery reminds me of Patti Smith, and that's not a bad thing. The guitars from both Verlaine and Lloyd and fantastic. Not sure what else to say. Faves: "Friction", "See No Evil", "Marquee Moon"
The classic bands of the early CBGBs era. Television was right there with the Ramones and Blondie at the beginning of the OMFUG years. Funny I was just at my local record store shopping new vinyl, and Marquee Moon just got a new reissue, as they had multiple copies. I may have to go back and grab one for my collection.
I liked this one. It was a alt, punk, and upbeat and something you could rock along to.
I liked this a lot! I tasted Violent Femmes flavors and turns out, Television was an influence on the Femmes. Neat!
All bangers, very enjoyable 70s rock
Enjoyed this album quite a lot. They sound sort of like a grungy late 80's or early 90's band which is crazy given the release date. It was a bit samey and didn't have any tracks that lept out and grabbed me, but I ended up listening to it twice and enjoying it nonetheless. Cool band and interesting listen, wouldn't make my top tier but definitely on my B list.
I'm confused about how to categorize this. Punk/post punk/new wave? All 3 at once? The first 3 tracks are more punk, I think, but with better guitar than the punk I've heard so far. I don't particularly like punk based on what I've heard on this list so far, but this is above average. Marquee Moon (the song) sounds more prog to me, although that may just be the length. It's incredible. The second half sounds like art rock mixed with 80s alternative (or rather 80s alternative sounds like this album). Again above average, but not incredible. This album evidently inspired multiple artists I have already rated as a 5. I can hear that, but other than the title track, this is more of a 4 to me.
**** A (re -) Discovery - Like it
fun, wiggly, slightly unserious, rock guitar reminiscent of bob dylan
I’m sorry I didn’t love this as much as you two do!
I really enjoyed this. The title song followed by Elevation are the highlights of this one, but it’s all great. Would have enjoyed being at CBGBs in the late 70s.
Already heard prior.
This was a fun album to listen to. I’ve seen their name as influencers for years, but hadn’t really paid attention to them. The guitar playing is really good and that’s what stood out to me.
First song: “Clearly this band was a major influence on Slester-Kinney” (one of my favorite more contemporary bands, start with “Dig Me Out”). Second song: Plus, the similarities to the first album by Talking Heads which arrived the same year (1977). Man, I love what was going on in this time frame. And from there, a solid album that might be termed “post-Glam.”
The Good: We get television! The Bad: It’s neither cable, nor streaming… The Ugly: My trying to find the remote control for a television from the early ‘70s… Never heard of them before. Bonus. ‘70s is quickly becoming my favorite decade from a musical standpoint. I believe that television and film of the ‘70s, though definitely with some cult classics, in general can be considered shit… So, yeah, NYC punk/rock trendsetters… but then with guitars being used as actual instruments, instead of as percussion or projectiles to keep the angry mob at bay. I listened twice, and though it wasn’t bad, I wasn’t as impressed as it seems I have to be… The main question is: do I want to become a poser and have an obscure band on my playlist that only the cool kids can talk about? In fairness, I could easily give this album 3*, add 1/2* for it being ‘70s, and then round the damn number upwards… So, about those chordal switches on Marquee Moon, and the influence it has had on the Strokes, with the three/quarter/fourth on a C-sharp diminished flat… Good thing I have a second pressing vinyl, the first one lacked the additional bass boost...
This is a fine album. Nothing earth-shattering