This came out in 2003 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
THE YEAR: 1977.
THE STORY: it’s no exaggeration to say Television helped give birth to the New York punk movement of the ’70s — they were one of the first underground bands to play CBGB, the bar that became Ground Zero of the movement. Ironically, this foursome fronted by visionary singer-guitarist Tom Verlaine were far more creative and innovative than any punk band, crafting seductively artful epics out of jittery angular grooves, darkly literate lyrics and the spiralling, twin-guitar virtuousity of Verlaine and Richard Lloyd. Their debut album Marquee Moon, one of just two studio albums they issued, stands as one of the most original and essential documents of its era.
THE GOODIES: Any record collection is incomplete without songs like See No Evil, Friction and the title track.
THE EXTRAS: Along with the usual liner notes and photos in this sleek digipack, you get five bonus cuts: Three alternate versions of songs from the album, an untitled instrumental, and — for the first time on CD — their epic-length single Little Johnny Jewel.
