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Minstrel · 08-28-2008, 02:28 PM

Television a prog band? A jam band? Sure...as much as Velvet Underground was.

To be clear, I'm not saying Television was as good as Velvet Underground, but the "criticisms" Alex Kapranos applies to Television could be equally applied to Velvet Underground, and I'd say it's pretty irrelevant, really. "Sister Ray" is nothing but a jam, up to twenty minutes, depending on the version.

I'd call both bands art punk or art rock. They both had the aesthetic of doing their own thing, exploring music the way they wanted too. Three-minute time limit rules are silly...punk isn't about rigidly sticking to rules. I think Television (and VU, even if the term "punk" didn't exist when they were active) fit the punk aesthetic perfectly well. Even if they have long songs, even if they are sonically challenging.

I think the Marquee Moon album is great. Definitely one of the great things out of the New York music scene.

08-28-2008, 02:28 PM	#34 (permalink)
Minstrel Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 436	Television a prog band? A jam band? Sure...as much as Velvet Underground was. To be clear, I'm not saying Television was as good as Velvet Underground, but the "criticisms" Alex Kapranos applies to Television could be equally applied to Velvet Underground, and I'd say it's pretty irrelevant, really. "Sister Ray" is nothing but a jam, up to twenty minutes, depending on the version. I'd call both bands art punk or art rock. They both had the aesthetic of doing their own thing, exploring music the way they wanted too. Three-minute time limit rules are silly...punk isn't about rigidly sticking to rules. I think Television (and VU, even if the term "punk" didn't exist when they were active) fit the punk aesthetic perfectly well. Even if they have long songs, even if they are sonically challenging. I think the Marquee Moon album is great. Definitely one of the great things out of the New York music scene. __________________ "Blow your tuneless trumpet, the choice is yours / We don't want the glamour, the pomp and the drums / The Dublin messiah scattering crumbs"