Current Music Fixation: The Modern Lovers

"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6...Roadrunner, Roadrunner!"
As soon as these words enter your ear canal and pierce your eardrums you know you are in for something special. Lately I have been listening to the first (and only) full length studio album by 70's “proto-punk band” The Modern Lovers, which is simply named well…"The Modern Lovers."

Formed by Massachusetts natives Jonathan Richman and childhood friend John Felice, the band took form in 1970 after Richman moved to New York City to live and be in the presence of highly influential band the Velvet Underground. This in turn spawned the idea for Richman to return home and create The Modern Lovers.

This album plays out like many of the “proto-punk” era releases and has visible signs of creating a unique sound without a musical compass of days past to draw upon (with the exception of the Velvets.) Through the course of the album you can hear undertones of the Velvets and clearly see remnants of Richmans love for Lou and his band of urban outcasts. This is probably equal parts influence and equal parts John Cale production (he produced a handful of tracks on the album.)

Although the album was not released until 1976 (two years after they split up) the self titled album still sounds relevant decades later and the impact it had on Punk, New Wave, and Indie music is clearly identifiable and unmistakable. Case in point are tracks like “Astral Plane” which starts with a guitar riff that could be mistaken for Bay Area surfer punk or something on a Dead Kennedy’s album, or “I’m Straight” could be seen as idealism of Straight Edge living before Washington D.C hardcore punk band Minor Threat’s Ian MacKaye made drug free living an option for doped up teens.

All and all, from start to finish The Modern Lovers is an outstanding album. It runs the gambit of human emotion and covers everything from depression, love, anger, hope and hopelessness. Not to mention a few shout outs to Rock and Roll, Parents, the 1950’s, the State of Massachusetts, and AM Radio.

Has there ever been another band of this caliber to originate in the suburbs of Boston?
I am thinking the Pixies are forever in debt for paving the way out of the state of Massachusetts and into our ears.

Go grab it….I need some more “I told you so” in my life to do my best Murphy impersonation.

****Edit - Murph just pointed out Galaxie 500 as another band to make waves out of the Boston area. Slight oversight by me, slight moment of elite prickism by Murph....I kid cuz I love.