I got into Luna with PENTHOUSE (thanks to Verlaine's cameo); I lost interest
with their "new" material at DAYS OF OUR NIGHTS but continued to see them live
whenever possible, right up to their last 2 shows in 2005. I was at the Bastille
Day show used for part of LIVE. Much more recently, I read Wareham's bio (which
I enjoyed) and it led me to finally discover the pleasures of ROMANTICA, which I
recommend.
I still listen to Luna frequently. I was enough of a diehard to collect many of
their 7" singles, compilation appearances, etc., even if still haven't gotten
around to picking-up RENDEZVOUS or the last two Wareham/Phillips efforts. Lots
of good stuff was hidden away on EPs, b-sides, soundtracks, etc, like their
covers of "Ride into the Sun", "Indian Summer", "In the Flesh", "Neon Lights",
the original "Fuzzy Wuzzy", and originals like "Dear Paulina".
Anyway: I don't think Luna's recorded output is superior to Television's and/or
the Velvet Underground. I think it's good but very inconsistent; I think Wareham
had a more limited set of musical ideas than Verlaine or Reed/Cale and stretched
out over 7 Luna albums it wears thin. While I too wish there were more to
Television's studio catalog, I think there's more musical (and lyrical) ideas
packed into MARQUEE MOON (or TOM VERLAINE, or FLASHLIGHT) than 2-3 Luna albums
combined.
But, even when their albums were so-so, Luna was a great band to see live (at
all stages in their line-up). They definitely share that with Television.
--Phil
________________________________
From: Andrew<andrewmfc@aol.com>
To: tv@obbard.com
Sent: Thu, April 28, 2011 4:55:16 PM
Subject: Re: Quite a Statement / RE: (TV) OT: Luna& Dean Wareham
Well Leo, with list activity being at pretty much a ten-year high I just
thought I'd throw a cat in amongst the pigeons with that statement and see if
we can crash the server... :-)
I'll go further and say that I think that taken as a whole Luna's recorded
output is superior to Television AND the Velvet Underground, by virtue of
there being so much more of it, most of at least an arguably good standard.
There are few bigger fans of Verlaine/Lloyd than I (and I'm wagering they're
all on this list) but for all the heights they reached it's a crying pity that
there's so damn little of it. Whenever I have old friends over for drinks on
a rainy night they all groan "not again" whenever I put on Marquee Moon. It's
the Stairway to Heaven of 70s NYC punk. Great, yes. But played out. But my
friends will all grin and nod like idiots when a Luna album cut like Sideshow
by the Seashore comes on. I truly believe that Wareham and Sean Eden are
criminally underappreciated as guitar players.
Dean seems to be a polarizing figure with many and the haters will all point
to his obvious influences and say he ripped them off (Television, the Velvets,
the Feelies) or used them to lend some sort of legitimacy of illusion of some
sort of NY legacy to his band by having the likes of T.V. and Sterling
Morrison play on Luna records. They may have a point. But I do know that I
have only wept in near ecstasy at one band's concerts and it wasn't
Television.
-----Original Message-----
From: Leo Casey<LeoCasey@comcast.net>
To: tv<tv@obbard.com>
Sent: Thu, Apr 28, 2011 3:11 pm
Subject: Quite a Statement / RE: (TV) OT: Luna& Dean Wareham
imho Wareham is a genius songwriter and he and
Sean Eden in Luna
are every bit the guitar playing equals of Verlaine/Lloyd,
with a discography
that dwarfs theirs.
You've really thrown down the gauntlet there Andrew.
I'm glad it's your humble opinion because I think your nuts :>)
(despite the fact that I'm a big Luna fan).
Leo
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