Music Banter - View Single Post - Music Banter Hall Of Fame: Nominations Thread

NSW · 04-21-2010, 05:12 PM

Sorry Conan...yours is next week. Don't despair!

Nominated by lucifer_sam

Mission of Burma

Carving out a landscape of blistering post-punk, Mission of Burma was a four-piece band from Boston who dissolved long before they could break headwind as anything other than some small-time indie act with a thirst to prove their worth. The reality of the matter is they barely were a band; only four short years represented their initial formation (Roger Miller, Peter Prescott, Clint Conley & Martin Swope) from their dissolution due to Miller’s onset of debilitating tinnitus. It would seem that any band would have difficulty establishing themselves in that period of time, especially for a canvas that had largely been already covered with the likes of the Damned, Wire, and Public Image Ltd. among others.

While it might otherwise be improper to categorize them among such seminal acts, Mission of Burma did far more in those years than many of those bands did in their entire existence. Releasing just two records (one being the 27-minute EP Signals, Calls and Marches) in that time, they assailed post-punk dogma with a newfound breed of blazing ferocity and vibrant intellectualism. In 1982 they released what would undoubtedly become a staple of modern punk known simply as Vs. The catchy riffs, gyrating basslines and fierce drumming combine to produce an energetic album for which punk rock simply had no answer to in years to come. And sadly, neither did Mission of Burma.

After nearly two decades of relative anonymity, the band resurfaced in 2002 to play a few gigs and has been touring since, producing a few noteworthy albums. But in effect, the energy has dissipated over the lives of much older Miller, Prescott and Conley (Martin Swope’s tape manipulation duties now being carried out by Shellac’s Bob Weston) and there is some realization that they’ll never eclipse their shining moment as the emblematic punk beacons they once were. But regardless, they deserve to be heard by all.

04-21-2010, 05:12 PM	#2523 (permalink)
NSW Bigger and Better Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas girl living in the UK Posts: 2,596	Sorry Conan...yours is next week. Don't despair! Nominated by lucifer_sam Mission of Burma Carving out a landscape of blistering post-punk, Mission of Burma was a four-piece band from Boston who dissolved long before they could break headwind as anything other than some small-time indie act with a thirst to prove their worth. The reality of the matter is they barely were a band; only four short years represented their initial formation (Roger Miller, Peter Prescott, Clint Conley & Martin Swope) from their dissolution due to Miller’s onset of debilitating tinnitus. It would seem that any band would have difficulty establishing themselves in that period of time, especially for a canvas that had largely been already covered with the likes of the Damned, Wire, and Public Image Ltd. among others. While it might otherwise be improper to categorize them among such seminal acts, Mission of Burma did far more in those years than many of those bands did in their entire existence. Releasing just two records (one being the 27-minute EP Signals, Calls and Marches) in that time, they assailed post-punk dogma with a newfound breed of blazing ferocity and vibrant intellectualism. In 1982 they released what would undoubtedly become a staple of modern punk known simply as Vs. The catchy riffs, gyrating basslines and fierce drumming combine to produce an energetic album for which punk rock simply had no answer to in years to come. And sadly, neither did Mission of Burma. After nearly two decades of relative anonymity, the band resurfaced in 2002 to play a few gigs and has been touring since, producing a few noteworthy albums. But in effect, the energy has dissipated over the lives of much older Miller, Prescott and Conley (Martin Swope’s tape manipulation duties now being carried out by Shellac’s Bob Weston) and there is some realization that they’ll never eclipse their shining moment as the emblematic punk beacons they once were. But regardless, they deserve to be heard by all. __________________ Hi.