Television- Marquee Moon (1977)

It's odd what a disconnect there is between the popular impression of this album and the reality. I mean, don't get me wrong- it has a solid reputation for being extraordinary. But it tends to get lumped in with a narrative that goes "punk started with (insert theory, possibly involving pub rock), but gets solidified with New York, CBGB's and all that, and the Ramones, Patti Smith, Talking Heads. Blondie and Television (oh, and Richard Hell) were all part of a scene, then the Sex Pistols happened".

Trouble is, this narrative is utter pants. None of those "CBGB's" bands sound at all alike or, indeed, seem to have much in common beyond being from New York. And this, the only Television album that most people own (including me), doesn't sound remotely "punk", however loosely we define it. Oh, the songwriting is tight, unpretentious and in no way flabby, but that guitar sound doesn't sound like anything "punk" although it does, oddly enough, remind me of the second Album from the Strokes, another New York band but a generation later.

And I suppose that's the point. This album doesn't sound remotely of its time, but more like an indie band from the 2000's. There's no denying, though, that it's an outstanding and addictive collection of songs that burrow themselves into your brain.