Television

Rhino's 2003 expanded edition of Television's seminal debut, Marquee Moon, doesn't add much on the surface -- in addition to the de rigueur liner notes and loving packaging, all standard fare on serious reissues here in the early days of the 21st century, there are a mere five bonus tracks. Some might complain, but dealing with scarcity is part of being a Television fan; few great bands have left such a slim body of work, with only two studio albums from the golden age, weighing in at a total of 16 songs. So, any addition of new recordings, even alternate takes, to the canon is welcome indeed, and the five bonus tracks are all necessary, none more so than the first official CD release of Television's first single, "Little Johnny Jewel." Here, the two parts -- part one issued as the A-side, part two as the B -- are presented as one track (it does fade out and in at midway point), and it's a fascinating roughhewn blueprint for Marquee Moon. It's a legendary single, and it's a blessing that it's finally readily available, but hardcore Television fans will likely be more taken with the alternate takes of "See No Evil," "Friction," and "Marquee Moon." While "See No Evil" is the only tune that's radically different in this incarnation -- it's the same structure, only with another, very busy, guitar line surging throughout the verse -- the band, particularly Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd, always played the songs differently, so "Friction" and "Marquee Moon" make for fascinating listening anyway; that's also the reason why the untitled instrumental, which doesn't really go anywhere, is still good listening -- it's just a pleasure to hear this most musical of punk bands play. That, combined with good liner notes and remastering of a timeless album, make this an essential reissue. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide