I'm not a big fan of television, but I do like Television, one of the bands which comprised the mid-to-late 70's NYC music scene. Unlike some of the bands which anchored the scene (cough, Ramones*, cough), Television had a sophisticated musical style, centered on sonic tapestry woven by the interplay of the two guitarists. While the band released two critically lauded albums in the 70s, Marquee Moon and Adventure, they didn't crack open the American record charts (hey, they blasted out the disco on the radio those days). Television's influence does seem apparent in some of the more melodic alternative rock that hits the college radio airwaves, though. Here's a 1985 performance of Marquee Moon's title track by Television co-founder Tom Verlaine:
While the critics loved the band, the feeling was not universal, as this funny number from The Damned amply displays.
*I've noted before that the Ramones, while musically unsophisticated, were conceptually sophisticated- there was an ironclad discipline behind their look and sound, which only seemed primitive, or as the Ramones would put it, D-U-M-B.
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Although many would consider it a quibble, It should also be noted that Richard Lloyd in sweet counterpoint work with Lloyd Cole and Robert Quine, provided stellar guitar work on Matthew Sweet's Girlfriend.
(confessional. I never saw Television)
The local radio station played something off of Matthew Sweet's album, which is what inspired this post.
Very perceptive, old chum!
Television fan reports Television pan of critics.
~
Got to see the group (minus Lloyd) just recently here in the ATL. Couldn't believe they were touring. Never got to see them in the old days. TV's still a guitar god. Brief review here:
http://wisdomofthewest.blogspot.com/2014/04/i-want-my-little-winghead.html
Best line: "It's hard to describe Television's musical performance. Are they the 'jam band' of the punk set? Are they jazz musicians self-limited to a rock idiom?"
Catch 'em if you can.
Yeah, but I must say that I found that a musical act called 'Television' tended to produce some deeply confusing radio (io-io) monologues...
I never got to see them but I bought their records. I did see lots of bands in those days (the late 70s), like the Sex Pistol's last show (at Winterland), and the B52s opening for Talking Heads (at UCDavis). That last may have been the best show that I ever saw, due to my age, the time, the place, the passion of the musicians... I have seen many great shows since, of course, and currently love watching my partner's band (Baby Seal Club) take songs from inspiration to exhilarating live performance. You can find them on the U-tube. Look for "Zeroes and Ones". They had the honor of opening for the B52s when they last played the local Odeon. Live music is what's up.
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