The Modern Lovers were a pinnacle early 70’s punk band formed by Jonathan Richman. Richman’s witty lyrics, which incorporate the simplest humor within the driest situations, are astonishing because although this idea sounds uninteresting Richman proves otherwise and somehow makes the ordinary seem epic. Perhaps it is that we all (or at the very least most) have the tendancy to make everything about us (the individual) as opposed to others. Richman has a way of tackling the idea of internalization. His songs are honest and do not deter from the truth, therefore everything seems profound because few are able to express the way he does.
Songs like “Pablo Picasso”, which was later covered by Iggy Pop, John Cale, and David Bowie, reason, “Well some people try to pick up girls/ And get called assholes/ This never happened to Pablo Picasso.” Hah! “She Cracked,” was an influential track on the straight edge hardcore scene (popularized by the American hardcore punk band Minor Threat): “Well she cracked, I won't/ She did things that I don't/ She'd self destroy, necessary to self-enjoy/ I self develop, necessary to self-help”. Perhaps the most famous song output by The Modern Lovers and surely one of (if not) their best was “Roadrunner”. This number was covered for an early demo and then re-released and overdubbed in 78 by none other than the Sex Pistols; Mr. Johnny Rotten is reported to have said that he “hates all music except for Roadrunner”. So there you have it.
Side One:
1. Roadrunner
2. Astral Plane
3. Old World
4. Pablo Picasso
Side Two:
1. She Cracked
2. Hospital
3. Someone I Care About
4. Girlfriend
5. Modern World
No comments:
Post a Comment