Track Listing

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

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #50050 in Music
• Released on: 1990-10-25
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Album Description
Japanese only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD - playable on all CD players) pressing. Warner.

Amazon.com
A classic bit of punk rock from 1977, that classic year of punk. Whereas most of this New York City group's peers turned up the distortion, revved up the tempo, and stripped their songs down to tight three-chord anthems, Television did something startlingly different. Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd allowed themselves the space to develop clean, powerful, unexpected guitar leads. To top it off, Verlaine's songs were thought-provoking, memorable, danceable, and unlike anything else going. "Prove It" was the hit in England, but independent radio stations wore the grooves down on the title cut, "See No Evil," and the stunningly brilliant "Friction." --Percy Keegan

Customer Reviews

Full Moon
Marquee Moon is one of the great albums of the 70's from the overlooked band Television. Born out of the mid 70's New York rock scene that produced the Ramones, Talking Heads, Blondie and others, the band was led by guitarists Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd. The band's sound was different from the others thanks in part to superb guitar interplay between Mr. Verlaine & Mr. Lloyd, but also they didn't pump out quick 3 minute songs, but had a jazzy edge. The title cut and "Torn Curtain" are both lengthy numbers (close to 10 minutes each) and show off the band's sharp musicianship. Mr. Verlaine is a sharp lyricist and his songs has a wry sense of humor. "Venus" is probably the best track on the album and contains a classic line "fell into the arms of Venus DeMilo". Television never gained the mass appeal of Blondie or the Heads or icon status of the Ramones, but Marquee Moon is better than any album to come out from that music scene and deserves to be heard by a wider audience.

another glowing review for an astounding album
"Marquee Moon" is, well, amazing. Like many other great albums it takes a little getting used to, but that's because it's unlike anything you've ever heard before. There are some blues-based rockers here ("See No Evil," "Friction"), but I think the real killers are the ones where the band ventures into stranger waters. On "Venus" and "Elevation," the guitars don't wail or cry, they bleep like computers and chime like bells. This is the sound that almost all great indie-rock is built on. The guitar-playing is mind-bogglingly good and, what is even more mind-boggling, it doesn't sound silly or self-indulgent. Tom Verlaine is a great songwriter (my vote for "Best Underground Pop Song of All Time" goes to "Venus"), and the band is good enough that on the title track they can turn a 5-minute guitar solo (just the words "5-minute guitar solo" are usually enough to make me cringe) into possibly the most effective build-up in rock history, the orchestra-and-alarm-clock build-up in "A Day in the Life" not excepted. Tom Verlaine's vocal style may be off-putting to those who don't listen to punk or indie music, but it can be really really effective, "Venus" being the prime example. So, in conclusion, if you don't have this album, I would suggest that you buy it. If you don't like it at first, listen to it again and again and again until you do. Some day you'll thank me.

Television's Marquee Moon, five stars? Try six or eight!
This is the quintesential modern rock record from the greatest American art-rock band ever. Tom Verlaine and Television's approach is clever, with tons or interlocking guitar parts, rythmic basslines and tasteful drumming. Verlaine's lyrics are dark, imaginative and dreamy, and his vocal delevery fits the writing and guitar sound perfectly. His pinched, strung out whine expresses emotion and tells stories, even when the actual meaning is unclear. This album contains styles ranging from riffy rockers ("See No Evil") to soulful retro rock ("Guiding Light") to eerie ballads with cryptic lyrics ("Venus"). "Friction" and "Prove It" are incredibly strong songs, in Television's upbeat style. The longer songs, however are Television's strong suit. "Marquee Moon" stands as the album's centerpiece, a testament to what they can do as a band. Few moments on record have the same feeling one might get from listening to all the highly rythmic parts come together with the drums on the opening of that track. "Elevation" comes next, and allows the energy to stay high. The final track, "Torn Curtain" is different in some ways. Less guitar oriented, but moody and introspective, and basking in darkness, bringing the album to a supurb close. This album is brilliant. They took the genere of Velvet Underground influenced art-rock, and did even more for it than even VU did. Better than anything else, this album is ultra-essential!