Television Marquee Moon		Television Adventure
Released: September 23, 2003 Origination Year: 1977 Time: 77:27 Tracks: 13 Produced by: Andy Johns & Tom Verlaine Style: Studio / Reissue Format: CD Enhancement: Expanded and Remastered Label: Rhino / Elektra Records		Released: September 23, 2003 Origination Year: 1978 Time: 60:22 Tracks: 12 Produced by: John Jansen & Tom Verlaine Style: Studio / Reissue Format: CD Enhancement: Expanded and Remastered Label: Rhino / Elektra Records

I had forgotten just how great these guys were. Although they only made two albums, not including the third issue waaaay after the fact of the first two, they still resonate with many who have come into contact with their brand of melodic post punk. The post punk era of the 70s generated a flash flood of excellent bands of which Television were a prominent player. They were not as visible as Talking Heads became but were well deserving of the attention they did received from press like Robbin's essential Trouser Press, and other magazines that covered the CBGB scene.

Made up of Tom Verlaine, whose guitar complemented that of his own voice - frenetic, passionate - overall, a great combination for the style of music that they played. Born of the melodies that splashed throughout their sets, Television combined the extended length of their songs with storytelling lyrics. But that wasn't all that prevaded their music. The feeling for merge of humanity without the intense anger that drove the punk movement into near oblivion in the late 70s, was the grace that uplifted Verlaine & the guys to historical status.

Rhino's impressive and forward marching into the catalog of relatively obscure bands of our past show just how the progressive this label is. They take gems, clean them up, dig for treasures no matter how small, and produce a package that would warm the heart of any serious collector. The work on Television's complete Elektra output, sadly only two albums, is stunning. Stunning for many reasons. The collection of bonus tracks compliment each album with single version, early versions, alternates and a legendary track never included on the originals.

The quality of the remastering isn't as great as I would have liked for Marquee Moon but is significantly better on Adventure. But I'm sure that's not the fault of Rhino. The sounds that Verlaine desired was at odds with Andy Johns, brother of noted producer, Glyn Johns. In time, they came together to finish what was started. But what came from the sessions was beyond that of sound. As corny as it may sound, history and magic was borne in those sessions. Regardless, some songs fare well from remastering while others are passable. "Prove It" from Marquee Moon is very clear with the mix being very good to every note which isn't so with the mix for "Elevation". But we talk about a useless issue here in reality. We're here for the definitive collection these releases brings to fans.

Marquee Moon, the band's debut, is possessed of no less than 8 classic songs. Verlaine's vocal delivery and guitar playing was so in tune with that of Richard Lloyd, whose own style shone through and made his playing as distinctive as that of Verlaine. Backed by the drumming of Billy Ficca and Fred Smith's basic bass which helped to hone the stripped down feel of Television leaving the complexities to Verlaine to distinquish the output.

There is no tune here that is elevated over the other; it is an impossibility to choose one. But personal favourites are not hard to choose. For me, the essence of the band lies in the lengthy "Guiding Light" with it's simplistic instruments the building blocks of this ballad that walks then runs to a stop only to explode in a memorable guitar lead. Add the introspective feel of the lyrics with questions of who is the real friend, the one who guides. "Tell me who sends these infamous gifts. To make such a promise and make such a slip." That's real disappointment in humanity. One that Verlaine, as lyricist, contributed to the overall beauty of this album.

Marquee Moon also contains the live favourite, the jazzy "Little Johnny Jewel (Parts 1 & 2)" which was never included on their 2 studio albums for Elektra. In addition, an alternate version of "See No Evil" that is a muddy mix and spills lead guitar liberally throughout the tune; an alternate of "Friction"and an alternate of "Marquee Moon", both of which are great additions that shows that Television was always on track with their vision for how they wanted their songs to sound. Finally, an "Untitled Instrumental" that combines parts surf style with NYC hipness; a NY jam piece. A nice inclusion to an already beefy package.

Round this album out with it's great panel packaging that includes original artwork, original label stamp on the CD, a in-depth booklet, lyrics and credits. This 6 panel cardboard casing isn't a fan favourite due to its easily damaged ends and corners but it does provide the set a charm. The booklet fits into the first panel while the disc slips into the second panel.

Adventure is an excellent album. Where it suffers is from its insistence on being musically more experienced than Marquee Moon was. Verlaine blew our socks off with the debut but merely 'grew' instrumentally with this release. But it doesn't detract from the strength that this album showcases. Adventure takes advantage of the freedom that was essential to the growth of this musical era while trying to be a step above Marquee Moon. Television grew in their musicality and this may be where they lost thrust for Adventure. Instrumentally, Adventure shows their ability to incorporate their learned knowledge gained during the year since the release of Marquee Moon. But because the songs never rise above those of their predecessors, at times sounding like a pop song from the radio as in the chorus for "Foxhole", the entire album reveals the strain. This was the very thing that Coldplay feared in their announcement that they would do only two albums and call it a day. Incidentally, Coldplay will be getting one of these treatments some decades down the road.

Adventure became what it's title implied. It became an exploration into style away from the sense of Marquee Moon to the point that it may have become unrecognizeable to Television's early supporters. Adventure was not without it's grand moments however. Tunes like the softly brilliant "Carried Away" that lyrically explores the effects of escape into a nostalgic past of unrequited freedom instilled into us as children. It alone brings the greatness of Marquee Moon back to our memories. "The Fire" helps to restore the effect of the first album while, in contrast, "Ain't That Nothin'" attempts a stab as a single but loses consciousness during the chorus, held aloft only by Verlaine's singing and guitar.

This expanded edition of Adventure is blessed by the same packaging that belongs to Marquee Moon. The musical bonus extras are early versions of "Adventure" and "Glory" and a single version of "Ain't That Nothin'" (see, I told ya).

Television helped define the formative years of the CBGBs years of it's excellent new music stage; the stage that reshaped our musical heritage and helped birth the passage into the 80s. Television also elevated themselves into a legacy. Do I recommend these albums? You bet. For the original fan, acquisition gives us the ability to move toward our twilight years knowing what great music was all about but knowing that this also set the stage for what we now have. For the unitiated, to hear your present musical styles' influential beginnings is like hearing God voice the world into being.