This is, of course because leader Graeme Downes, if anyone, has academicized Rock 'n' Roll. Now, I am not sure if I can agree with that, and while I have not taken his program at the University of Otago (him being one of the few to remain in Dunedin today), I can only assume this kind of thing ends up harming the art much in the way of film school, which I have attended.
However, the Verlaines to rock, and while at times it can be a bit pretensious, it's still clever and sincere, and even better that other successful academia-rockers like Mission of Burma. MoB is a good comparison for the sound as well, and then of course the Wipers would be as well, along with the overall kiwi-pop sound. However, the Verlaines really do rock harder than most of the others, and not in a punky way like the Clean and Toy Love. These energetic songs are catchy, clever, and powerful, and Downes' arrangements often touch on brilliance. In fact, "C.D., Jimmy Jazz, & Me," re-definined perfection in the musical sense with it's flawless integration of strings and horns into epic rock. This along with their definitive "Death and the Maiden" and the acoustic punk of "Pyromaniac" are not only some of the group's best, but some of the movement's. While this is a compilation, it truly is the best place to start, and is the best source for their music even when you have their complete LPs. Notably, part of this is for including "Heavy 33," originially found exclusively on budget used section classic comp No Alternative (also featuring Soul Asylum and the Goo Goo Dolls when they were all about ripping off Soul Asylum). Unfortunately, though, it does not contain anything from the Dunedin Double EP, which was one of Flying Nun's first releases and also contained sides from The CHiLLs, The Stones, and Sneaky Feelings.
The Verlaines - You're Just Too Obscure For Me...
1 comment:
Thank you!
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