The Modern Lovers - The Modern Lovers
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Music CD Cover Artist: The Modern Lovers Edition: Music CD CD Release Date: 2007-08-28 Music Label: Castle Us Soundtracks:
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Free Music Notes for The Modern Lovers Album
Free Music Review: The Original "Straight-Edge" Rocker
Hit: 5 Stars
On these earliest recordings of Jonathan Richman, he celebrates 3 things in particular - girls, his appreciation of the old ways of the "Old World", and his beloved city of Boston and state of Massachusetts.
For an ad hoc assemblage, it's remarkable how well it all coheres. Recorded in '71 and '72, this collection of demos was cobbled together into an album that was finally released in 1976. By then the band had already been dissolved for 2 years, and Richman had begun his on-going solo career. John Cale of the Velvet Underground produced 6 of the original 9 tracks that comprised the vinyl edition back then, and that lead-off this CD compilation.
This record is often cited as the bridge between the Velvet Underground and the Ramones - and that's entirely accurate. It frequently sounds like a minimalist garage-band version of the former, but anticipated the humor and faster pace of the latter. "Astral Plane" and "Hospital" kind of sound like the Doors, while "Someone I Care About" slightly resembles the early Stooges song "1969" (which was on yet another historic debut album produced by Cale).
Jonathan may have admired the music of these acts, but it's clear he disliked their hedonistic, excessive lifestyles. In some ways he was the first "straight-edge" rocker. He was and is clean-living. In "She Cracked", he chides a girlfriend who eats poorly, while he "eats health food at home". In other songs he lets us know he loves his parents, and he doesn't want one-night encounters - he wants a girl he can care about. Needless to say, these weren't the prevailing views of many young people during this rebellious era. Richman should be commended for not being afraid to sound un-cool. I suppose he gets the last laugh - his musical heroes are either dead or look like they're 80, and he still looks the same.
Since their breakup, the Modern Lovers have become an all-star band. Keyboardist Jerry Harrison became famous when he joined the Talking Heads. He's released a few solo albums, and produced records for Violent Femmes, Von Bondies, and many others. Drummer David Robinson enjoyed big success as a member of the Cars. Bassist Ernie Brooks has played on almost every Elliott Murphy record of the past 30 years, beginning with Murphy's third album "Night Lights" (1976).
And, of course, Jonathan Richman continues to soldier on in his own inimitable way. His appearance as the wandering troubadour who gets shot at the end of the movie "There's Something About Mary" introduced him to a whole new audience. As an adult solo artist he's often favored songs of a "child-like", more simplistic nature - as opposed to the songs found here, which were precociously written when he was in his late teens/early twenties. To paraphrase Dylan: he was so much older then, he's younger than that now.
Richman's released some good albums since this ("Back In Your Life", "I, Jonathan") - but this is still my favorite. It's truly one of the all-time best and most fun records by anybody, finally available now in America with terrific bonus tracks, liner notes and photos. You may want to consider buying it for "Roadrunner" alone - one of the catchiest songs ever written about driving. Sounds great in your car!