Editorial Review

For its first new set of music since 2000's Read more

Features

• Enhanced
• Explicit Lyrics

Reviews (2040)

One Of The Greatest Cd's Of Our Time
Epic and anthemic, and yet every track can be listened to without the others.It tells a great story and has a great set of characters.Jesus of Suburbia and Homecoming particularly stick out in my mind.If you don't have it already, get it.

You tell 'em
OK, fair enough, Green Day were the first band with the guts to actually call the Bush administration out for what it is (or what they think it is, anyways).I'm puzzled how people can say the lyrics don't even make sense - I have no problem figuring out what the songs are about!That's the lyrical review - 5 stars.I'm not a fan of punk rock so I can't fairly review this CD in musical terms, so I gave it the 3 stars of middle ground.The average # stars is therefore 4 stars.(I wonder if the people who can't figure out the meaning of the lyrics, will be able to follow that.)
Brainless, mindless trash...if you like Greenday...you must be a retard.
Green Day is a completely talentless pop rock band.Ths type of music takes no talent what so ever.Its three chords played on a guitar...and nothing more.Then they put those three chords through a bunch of distortion and fuzz boxes to mask the lack of talent.Well Greenday, you little bas.ards didn't fool me with your noisy guitar pop.I know a lack of talent when I hear it, and Green Day are absolutely talentless at playing their instruments.And what are these lyrics anyway?Half the time you can't even understand what these punks are saying because the music is such a noisy guitar pop racket.And whenever the lyrics are audible, they sound stu.pid and don't make any sense."The New Media"?"The Redneck Agenda"?Lyrics like that are such a bunch of pseudo intellectual nonsense that its almost laughable.Green Day are a bunch of juvenile delinquents who probably aren't even old enough to vote, let alone know anything about politics.And the harder they try to be intelligent, the more idiotic they sound.SO Green Day, please stop writing those pseudo intellectual "social commentary" tunes that take no talent.You don't sound smart.You don't sound intelligent.Every word you sing on your pseudo intellectual "rock operas" just shows your ignorance abou t the topic you're writing about.ANd Green Day fans...how can you actually enjoy this noisy, three chord, guitar pop racket? How can you like listening to a bunch of bratty juveniledelinquents from the suburbs shooting their mouths off about politics when their knowledge is limited to riding skateboards, smoking joints, and playing 3 chords on a guitar?I'm begining to think that in order to be a Greenday fan, one must not have a brain cell.After all, that's the only way one could listen to this brainless, mindless cr.ap.Come on Green Day fans, this CD isn't a five star unless you're reta.rded. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Pop    4. Punk Revival    5. Punk-Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. United States of America   

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (17)

Exceptional best-of set
Of course you know all these songs, and of course there are many more great cuts deeper on the original albums, but for a single-disc review of a band with over 10 years' worth of releases, this 18-track set is hard to beat.The group went through several striking stylistic changes over its lifetime, but that variation actually helps this disc hold together as an album as well as a set of songs.
A nice compilation of The Talking Heads
I've always liked The Talking Heads, they always had catchy songs that were fun to listen to. I must admit, my favorite of theirs has always been "Burning Down The House", but there are so many good songs on here, as well. The Talking Heads were one of the best bands of the 80's, that's when they had their best work. The 70's were ok, too, but their 80's work really shined. I'm quite happy with this.

Articulate Collection
Oddly, a compilation by Talking Heads should come out uneven and disjointed, but this collection is marvelously done.The songs meld well together and provide a sampler that wouldn't prevent anyone from buying their excellent original albums.('Talking Heads '77,' 'Remain in Light,' and 'Speaking in Tongues' are their crowning achievements artistically, but 'Fear of Music,' 'More Songs About Buildings and Food,' and 'True Stories' demonstrate that they had a great repertoire. (Unlike, 'Sand in the Vaseline,' which is also excellent, but perhaps takes too many gems and doesn't align them as well.)
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Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. American Punk    4. College Rock    5. New Wave    6. New York Punk    7. Pop    8. Pop/Rock    9. Post-Punk    10. Rock    11. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Take one part Ramones, one part Buzzcocks, and one part Husker Du, and you've got the basic foundation of Green Day, a punky, witty, melodic San Francisco Bay area trio who became overnight stars in 1994 when this album, their third overall release and major label debut, catapulted them to the top of the pop charts. Led by guitarist/vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong and their secret weapon, powerhouse drummer Tre Cool, Green Day put '70s and '80s punk in a compact '90s package with songs like "Longview," "Basket Case," "Pulling Teeth," and the hit semi-ballad, "When I Come Around." One the few modern alternative rock bands with a bona fide sense of humor. Read more

Reviews (567)

AWESOME!!!
Green Day rocks! I love the old Green Day. My opinion is you aren't a true Green Day fan unless you've at least heard their old stuff. It's so true. THIS IS A VERY GOOD CD. GET IT.

Biased by Influence
Let's get some things straight before we start, yes?First off, I was in high school when the record released.I bought it, ostensibly to give as a birthday present to somebody else I knew, but for complicated reasons ended up keeping it.Over the course of the next few years, it was one of the few records I actually owned (hard to get those buggers when you don't have, you know, an income), so it got played a lot.Quite a lot.
"Dookie..." an apt title
Let me put it like this: there is not ONE good song on this album. Not only that, but it's a collection of fifteen crappy songs, especially Longview, Welcome to Paradise, Basket Case and When I Come Around, all of which I have heard a million too many times on the radio. This isn't a punk album, the Clash and the Sex Pistols are punk. It sucks. That's the short and long of it. Get the Velvet Underground's third, self-titled album if you want an example of an amazing album. Get something by the Stooges if you want good punk. Or the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Cream, Who, AC/DC, Crosby Stills & Nash, Neil Young, Bob Dylan... all are much better. But if you MUST have some alternative rock, either the Chili Peppers, R.E.M., U2 or Nirvana will do. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Pop    3. Post-Grunge    4. Punk Revival    5. Punk-Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop   

Reviews (44)

Amazing.
Blondie is one of the greatest and most important bands in the history of pop/rock to have ever existed.While Grace Slick might have predated one-time Playboy bunny/vocalist Deborah Harry, Ms. Harry still set all of the standards as far as any future women in rock.She showed that it was possible for an extremely attractive female to front an all male backing band and do it with style, sex appeal and genuine raw talent while not coming across as a tramp.
The best Blondie compilation out there
With a few options available for you to get your hands on Blondie's greatest hits, and pretty much little new to say about the guys that blended punk and new wave to perfection in their time, the one thing that can be claimed about this compilation is that it's the best one available. It covers pretty much everything you'd want to have by the band and the quality of the recordings is also the best one around.

Iconic Memory Of Blondie Still Extent!
The works of Blondie are paragons of the new-wave punk genre on their own without any help of compilation or amassing, but the main priority needed to be mentioned is how one can adequately mix these supreme works of sound and emotion into such a phenomenal and superior mix, as an impressive result; "Blondie's Greatest Hits". From the disco upbeat of "Heart Of Glass" to the romanticly provocative single "Denis", from the tropical flare of "The Tide Is High" to the industrial beats and vocals of "The Hardest Part", this album mix, in the entirety of my life of being a Blondie aficionado and music collector, is one that surpasses any limit of Blondie's quality and proficiency, portraying to the world of their appeal, greatness and utter legacy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Punk    2. Club/Dance    3. Disco    4. New Wave    5. New York Punk    6. Pop    7. Pop/Rock    8. Punk    9. Rock    10. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Green Day takes the title Read more

Reviews (227)

All Their Hits!
It's what I expected.All their hits, plus a couple more.The additions were a little off the wall of my normal Green Day likes, but all-in-all it's a good CD!

A good album...and stop whining for the love of god!!!
okay,for one,enough with you greenday haters. I really like greenday,their my favorite band,but please,if you hate their guts,stop posting.people are on here to read reveiws from people who actaully have listened to the Cd's,not to listen to you whine and tattle about how metallica is way better.that's you opinion,and here's mine.
A must have.Green Day rocks!
This album is a must have.It's all of green Day's all time hits, 20 of them.I bought this album and put like 12 of the songs onto my mp3 player.It's awesome.They got some good ones like Hitchin' a Ride, Waiting, Good Riddance, etc.Aww, it's great.Another must have by Green Day ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Pop    3. Punk Revival    4. Punk-Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

If you're wondering how Green Day managed to become the biggest punk band in the world, take a look at Read more

Features

• Explicit Lyrics
• Live

Reviews (142)

Green Day Comes Back With More!
Green Day managed to produce another great heart pounding punk-rock gem. You get:
Green Day Rocks in Concert!
After seeing Bullet in a Bible on FUSE, I knew that I needed to get this CD/DVD. Some may disagree with Samuel Bayer's choice in camera changes during the movie but I personally didn't find any problem with it. It sort of captures the spirit of the band itself, coming at you from many directions and you never know what's going to happen next. Green Day is AWESOME in concert and this DVD is evidence of it. From Billie Joe's crazy antics in St. Jimmy to his heroic and heartfelt performance of Wake Me Up When September Ends, Green Day shows it's versatility as a band and their highly polished skills as musicians/entertainers.
Green DayBullet In A Bible(Live Album)
This is a great album 14 songs 65:36. All of the songs are live for one thing. Green Day makes realy good LIVE albums. I realy like the part where they introduces a band named Green Day at the end of Brain Stew or Basket Case. But otherwise it is realy great, especilly if you are a true Green Day fan. Whats great about it is you get alot of the new songs but you also get some of the songs from older albums like Nimrod, Warning, Shanegins, and Isonomic.
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Subjects:  1. Music Video    2. Performance    3. Pop    4. Punk Revival    5. Punk-Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Call them the Nine Inch Nails of punk. Like NIN, the Offspring preserve the essential ingredients of their chosen genre--guitars grinding out three chords, shouted vocals, and plenty of vitriol--and layer them over a melodic base that packs considerable popular appeal. The singles from Read more

Reviews (350)

The Offsprings' Best Release To Date
The Offspring has always been a fairly unique band. Even today they still are able to produce good sounding punk style music even with all of the mainstream radio and emo punk taking over the airwaves. Back then, in 1994, Instead of going up against bands like Nickelback or Fall Out Boy they were up against Alice n' Chains and Nirvana and still managed to sell a great deal of albums. Smash is probably the best album they have ever put out. The overall sound of everything on the album is just great. It's its own masterpiece. Just one big energetic, angsty, skate punk attitude album. I love the whole thing. Although, my favorite tracks would have to be "Gotta Get Away", "Come Out and Play", "Self Esteem", and "Smash". Pretty much everythings amazing though. Here's what I think of each track...
Will always be a smash!
Ive been listening to this album for what feels like forever. and i still analyse the songs and relate. For those who know the offspring and what there newer albums have to offer please for the love of god check this out and it will be a life changing experience.. then thank me! After all who else writes legendary lines like "if you look away, you'll be doing what they say, and if you look alive you will be singled out and tried" i mean who? Also(going off the album) you get a cance to see them live, the atmosphere created is one of a kind.

THE OFFSPRING'S BEST!
this has got to be the offspring's best album ever! with the classics "come out and play", and "self esteem" this IS a classic! "gotta get away", "bad habit", and "nitro (youth energy)" are a couple more of the great songs on this CD. so if you're thinking about listening to any of the offspring's albums - this should definetly be your first choice! the songs in the beginning are better than the ways later on the album.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Hard Rock    3. Pop    4. Post-Grunge    5. Punk    6. Punk Revival    7. Punk-Pop    8. Rock   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (450)

Nimrod- Possibly a classic with more editing
It's amazing how Green Day never release a dud album. Sure, everything between Dookie and American Idiot was largely unpopular. But if you ignore the critisism and actually listen to some of these albums, you may well be suprised if you have your doubts.
Pretty good
Nimrod is a very good album by Green day. It has alot of good songs.My favorite and what i think is one of their greatest songs "time of your life" and it is the best one on the cd. It is overall a decent Green day album.

NIMROD
GOOD GREEN DAY ALBUM THAT HAS GOOD SONGS LIKE REDUNDANT AND TIME OF YOUR LIFE. GET THIS WITH AMERICAN IDIOT, WARNING, AND DOOKIE.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Bass (Electric)    3. Drums    4. Guitar (Electric)    5. Pop    6. Post-Grunge    7. Punk Revival    8. Punk-Pop    9. Rock    10. Rock/Pop    11. United States of America    12. Vocals    13. Vocals (Background)   

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (3)

Not as good as the Buddah releases but....
I bought this new version because of the great job Buddah Records did a few years back with Rock and Roll Heart and The Bells in remastering. I was hoping for more of the same from RCA/Legacy but it's not quite as good.
Amazing job -- get this!
Great sound, and the 6 bonus tracks are really quite terrific -- 3 of them were available on his box set or as a b-side or on comps, and those are tremendous. Then there are 3 others that were never before available and they're unbelievable, too!
huge sound improvement
you will be floored, the sound improvement over the original release is unreal....this is one of his best...this and "blue mask" ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. New York Punk    3. Pop    4. Pop/Rock    5. Proto-Punk    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. Singer/Songwriter   

Editorial Review

Fugazi fans already know that this is the original gospel according to Ian MacKaye. This Washington, D.C., quartet hit harder, faster, and franker than just about anybody--and were willing to see through their own bull as quickly as anyone else's. MacKaye manages to be charismatic and confrontational at the same time: tossing brilliant, genuinely funny asides into his serious-as-a- heart-attack lyrics. Meanwhile, the band, led by Lyle Preslar's staggering guitar attack, pushes MacKaye on with the tightest, most razor-sharp sound in all of hardcore. Nothing in the punk pantheon can come close to "In My Eyes," "Out of Step," or "Salad Days." Absolutely essential. Read more

Reviews (198)

Still not ready for Radio
These guys were so far ahead of their time.Get the comp that contains every song.It'll be the best money you've spent in a while.If you were into punk or hardcore in the 80's you definitely owned Minor Threat records.Put downt he Fugazi and get back to the roots...

GREAT CD!!!!
This CD defines hardcore.AWESOME songs.Not ONE is bad.Now, I have a question for all you punks who were around in the 70's, and to the punks of today: What makes you a punk?My friends call me a poser because I don't slit my wrists or any of that cr*p.I cna barely skat, and, while not being rich, my family is financially ok.I play in a band, though.But, can I be a punk?I mean, it's about the music, isn't it?Oh, I have a STRONG hatred of authority, but I've never been arrested.Please write a review that includes an answer.
One of the Touchstones of The D.C. Hardcore Scene.....
I'll be the first to admit in this review, that I've never Grown-up listening to U.S. Hardcore / Punk bands such as: Minor Threat, Black Flag, Bad Brains, Husker Du, Minutemen, Dead Kennedys, etc..But, what I did have was a healthy interest in Skateboard Videos in my Late-teens/Early Twenties (in fact I Still watch them).And Via those videos, what initially started with me thinking "Why, do they always have to put aggressive skate-punk music, in 90% of these Skate Vids??".But over the years of watching them, I gradually began to(A) get used to it, and then (B) Actually have a few Tracks that I begun to really like.Fast forward a few more years, and an appreciation of virtually all genres of music, and U.S. Hardcore / Punk is as important to me, as any other genre of music that I Love.And although they werent the first, Minor Threat were amongst the most important Bands from the early 80s Hardcore scene, and a scene that was throwing up all kinds of musical possibilities.Resolutely a fiercely intelligent band, that mixed incisive commentary, with Political and Social observations or damnations.With a keen eye for summarising the disaffected youths/adults, frustrations with intelligent lyrics, delivered at full pelt, they were a band not to be taken lightly. And rather strangely for the band, they went against the common staples of the scene, and were resolutely "Straight-edged", in that they shunned Drinks and Drugs, for a lifestyle considered 'clean living', and it was this train of thought that was proudly worn like a badge of honour by Vocalist "Ian Mackaye", and his band members.
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Subjects:  1. American Punk    2. American Underground    3. Hardcore Punk    4. Pop    5. Punk    6. Rock    7. Straight-Edge   

Editorial Review

Just as Green Day aped the Ramones, their contemporaries in this Southern California punk quartet aspired to be the Clash. But also like Green Day, Rancid's fresh approach and excellent songs (including the ska-punk MTV hit "Time Bomb" and the anthemic "Roots Radicals") rose far above tribute-band level. And poet Jim Carroll (Read more

Reviews (263)

might as well enjoy it...
Like them or loathe them, Rancid is passionate about music. This album is 4 friends playing music they love and it ends up sounding like it.
this really isn't a review just a thought
I started reading some of these reviews and the whole "rip-off"/"wannabe" clash thing came up a lot. Yes this record in particular does have a lot of clash influence. but than again were SLF heavily influenced by the clash as well? and weren't the clash influenced by the ramones? then again who wasn't?

Not for the "punk was dead in 1986" types.
First off, to all the jaded and grumpy punk elitists, I feel for you.I really do.Punk is probably the most afflicted of any music genre.But if your sole purpose of writing a review is to "school" the ignorant and tell Rancid fans to listen to Op Ivy and The Descendants and The Ramones and Bad Religion etc, you're wasting your time.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative/Indie-Rock    3. Pop    4. Punk    5. Punk Revival    6. Punk-Pop    7. Rock    8. Ska-Punk    9. Third Wave Ska Revival   

Editorial Review

Like most true originals, the Ramones embodied a dizzying array of contradictions. As punk godfathers, they became the archetype for a rebellious musical ethos that could often confuse the baby for the bath water, yet at heart they were 1960s pop- and bubblegum-worshipping reactionaries. The seeming unity symbolized by their street-hood uniform (ripped jeans, deck shoes, and black leather jackets) and name (nicked from an early Read more

Reviews (93)

Ramones Anthology
If you're looking at this, and you're not a Ramones fan already, I know what you're probably thinking -- "I have to listen to 22 songs just to get to 'I Wanna Be Sedated'??"But I implore you to resist the temptation: Do not get "Loud Fast," do not get "Ramones Mania."Get the Ramones Anthology.
prontuario...
MUY RECOMENDABLE recopilacion de una banda que demostro que la sencillez, la ingenuidad, la ignorancia y el resentimiento pueden llegar a ser ingredientes y justificativo de la explosiva e incoherente actitud de toda una generacion............

NYC Punk Legends/ Geniouses!!!

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Subjects:  1. American Punk    2. College Rock    3. New York Punk    4. Pop    5. Punk    6. Rock   

Features

• Live

Reviews (62)

A Most Disappointing Album
I like Talking Heads.I have liked them since 1983, when Speaking in Tongues rocked my world.I have all of their records. I routinely defend David Byrne against the hipsters who despise his very existence.I have known and loved "The Name of This Band is Talking Heads" since I was in graduate school and played it on the tape loop in my volkswagen.
Their best live set
When this was released on double LP twenty years ago, it offered an incredible overview of the Talkinh Heads live. Indeed it covers the early years up to the Remain in Light-era big band. Musically it is much more interesting that the Stop Making Sense soundtrack. The sound recording is maybe not as nice and Byrne's singing is not as polished. The playing is however much more strong. However the set represented is overall much stronger and it is also quite evident that the Remain In Light band was the best line-up simply. Songs such as The Great Curve are simly great and these versions are actually the definitive ones in my opinion. Rhino has again done a superb job by adding may songs to this beautiful CD.

Intro to Talking Heads: 101
Long time Talking Heads fan here. I had this on tape years ago and finally bought the CD - without question the best Talking Heads recording available. If you're new to the Talking Heads, this CD should be your "Intro to Talking Heads: 101". Having seen them numerous times in the '70's when in college in Providence, this CD truly captures the live energy and emotion they were known for. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. American Punk    3. College Rock    4. New Wave    5. New York Punk    6. Pop    7. Pop/Rock    8. Post-Punk    9. Rock    10. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

The Ramones' April 1976 debut, recorded for little more than $6,000, long ago passed into legend. Its exalted status as the inspiration for thousands of punk bands worldwide, though, hasn't overshadowed its monolithic roar, the knowing hilarity of its lyrics ("Judy Is a Punk" crams the SLA, the Ice Capades, and a salute to Herman's Hermits into a 90-second frame), and the impulse to blast it for everyone within earshot: Hey, listen to Read more

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (125)

It's Not My Favorite Ramones Album, But It's Still A Punk Rock Classic! (4.5 Stars)
The Ramones are one of my favorite bands. I just love them to death. Joey Ramone has got to be one of my favorite singers of all time. Johnny Ramone can turn 3 or 4 power chords into a masterpeice. For a while, I only had Ramones Mania to my disposal, so I knew I had to get more. So I started my Ramones album collection with The Ramones S/T.
The Ramones
The Ramones what can i say? Greatest band ever? Maybe not but pretty darn close.For all those to stuck up to like the ramones because the poor production and lack of fast guitar solos are really missing. The Ramones were born on 50's bubblegum and the new york dolls the stones and beatles. If you are new to The ramones i recommend not starting with this album because you might be turned off cause lack of audio quality. Try A greatest hits or Rocket to russia, road to ruin, End Of the Century, Brain drain, or pleasant dreams. The Ramones debut is a great great album really what rock n roll should be about not 30 minute drum solos.

Johnny Ramone does NOt play electric heavy metal guitar!!
Frist of all this isan okay album don't get me wrong, but I bought it because Johnny Ramone is supposed to be a great guitarist but he really isn't. Plus it kinda sounds like it was recorded with the band playing in a bathroom, with two tin cans on a string: one in the bathroom withthe band and the other running out to the hallway with a radio shack microphone sitting in front of it. Catchy tunes but if i had it to buy over again I'd probably just d/l essential tracks like I Can't Be and I Don't Wanna Be Learned/I Don't Wanna Be Tamed and spend my hard hustled scratch on a better produced Ramones album like End Of The Century or Pleasant Dreams. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Punk    2. New York Punk    3. Pop    4. Punk    5. Rock    6. United States of America   

Features

• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (53)

Goin' against the grain, the way it should be...
I don't know how Dr. Gonzo can even compare the solo in "Marquee Moon" to such great solos by Jimmy Page (Stairway to Heaven) and David Gilmour (Comfortably Numb).I know it's easy to downplay such solos just because they also happen to be popular, overplayed, and overhyped over time.But it's not the song's nor the artist's fault.And comparing it to a solo like this doesn't even warrant an argument.I also think Gilmour's solo is great but not the best, but still it ranks much higher than this one, namely for its melody.Also, on the contrary, Page does not rely on fuzz pedals to carry/make his solos...leave that to today's guitarists.He's the man, especially in the studio, and should not be trivialized along with other arena rockers that couldn't make 1/10 of quality songs or riffs as him.They made it, played it, and paved the way for the inferiors to copy them; thus, Zeppelin and Page should stand apart from the punk cliche/ideology that Zeppelin sucked (though I'm not implying that is what Dr. Gonzo is saying).The Verlaine solo was okay, but nothing more than similar solos done countless times, namely in the 60's.The Peanut Butter Conspiracy's lead guitarist Bill Wolff comes to mind when I hear the solo.
I am the Marquee Moon
Television's "Marquee Moon" is in my opinion the greatest guitar rock album of all time. It took what punk would turn out to be and made into a shot of new wave, rock and jazz. Tom Verlaine composing the songs with a serious attitude, Richard Lloyd jamming at light speed, Fred Smith jazzing up his bass structure and Billy Ficca pounding at the drums as if he was running for his life. Marquee Moon is simply put, the must own album for "guitar god" lovers. It transcends you into a world of innocence, pain, beauty and love. And that is why Marquee Moon should be on everyone's list of favorite albums.

looking for something great?
looking for a great punk album? looking for a great rock album? looking for a great album from the '70's? looking for an album with epic tracks and lyrics that match? looking for an influential album that the critics raved about yet is sadly underrated at the same time? looking for something that doesn't sound commercial, but isn't a bunch of noise? wanna hear great guitar work? tired of hearing opera singers?
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Subjects:  1. American Punk    2. Bass    3. Drums    4. Guitar    5. New York Punk    6. Pop    7. Proto-Punk    8. Punk    9. Rock    10. Rock/Pop    11. United States of America    12. Vocals   

Editorial Review

On her 1975 debut, Smith was full of piss and vinegar, seriously interested in bringing together high art and low three-chord rock & roll.As a result, her free-form poetry meshes with covers of "Gloria" and "Land of a Thousand Dances," and the album centers on two long, highfalutin' pieces, including the three-part suite (warning! warning! art!) "Land." (The CD version appends a messy live take on The Who's "My Generation.") Led by Richard Sohl's piano, the arrangements don't exactly rock, and some of Smith's songwriting gets buried in its stylistic affectations (there's a great song under "Redondo Beach"'s fake reggae). But the point of Read more

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (52)

Horses
When it opens with a line like, "Jesus died for someone's sins but not for mine", you know you're in for something good. Sure enough, that one line launches you into a forty-five minute album filled with graphic descriptions of sex and violence. (Listen to my personal favorite, Land, if you want proof). She sings her dark verses with so much intensity, so much feeling that it makes Jim Morrison look like a raving drunk. Yes, it's that intense, people. And she somehow manages to turn a brutal tale of murder into the R&B nugget Land of a Thousand Dances, not to mention an even rawer version of Gloria, the album's signature song.
The Grandmother Of Alternative Female Rock
This is one of the greatest debuts of all time, Patti Smith is a true legend, despite no RIAA certified albums and one charting single. She has shaped much of the female music we hear today, everyone from Alanis Morissette to PJ Harvey have obvious influences from her music and prescence in the industry.
one of the original alternatives
In the 1970's I owned two of Patti Smith's vinyl releases, 'Wave', and this disc, her debut LP, released in 1975.Though artist's such as Smith were part-punk, part-post psychedelia, the heir's apparent to hippie-inspired rock and roll, they still maintained a direct connection to the Baby Boom Generation, as evidenced by the non-Patti Smith compositions chosen for this disc, Van Morrison's 'Gloria', Chris Kenner's 'Land of a Thousand Dances' (previously recorded by Wilson Pickett), and on the remastered CD, Pete Townshend's 'My Generation'.Of course Patti Smith's versions, though possessing all the intensity and passion of the original versions (and then some), also lack the relative innocence of those renditions.In part, Smith's interpretations serve notice that that crown of rock's royalty has been passed to a new genre, if not a new generation.That new generation, perhaps more of an addendum to the Baby Boom Generation, included a greater openness to alternative lifestyles, as Smith sings love songs to 'Gloria' and 'Kimberly' in her uncompromising manner.