Another blank spot in my musical knowledge. Television is considered to be one of the forerunners of punk rock, but critics describe this album as so much more thanks to the creative arrangement and artful lyrics. (I got all my 70’s music knowledge as a kid from my parents, who weren’t highly punk-y, so I guess it makes sense I missed this one.)

As Steven Thomas Erlewine wrote in his review:

“Marquee Moon is comprised entirely of tense garage rockers that spiral into heady intellectual territory… That alone made Marquee Moon trailblazing album -- it's impossible to imagine post-punk soundscapes without it.”

Sold.

This album sounds like big-brain punk to me. I mean that in the best way. It’s like the A students figured out the system sucks and decided to drop out and start a band instead. Like they’re walking around the streets of New York City making keen observations and innuendo-y puns left and right, hanging out under flickering streetlights, maybe guitar solo-ing out their feelings when words fail. I loved it start to finish.

New Jams

“See No Evil”
“Guiding Light”
“Torn Curtain”

Originally part of How To Appreciate Music From Our Past.