Old Skool: The Modern Lovers

The Modern Lovers were Jonathan Richman's band. Heard of either the band or the name? Remember the movie Something About Mary, and the acoustic guitar/snare drum duo that sing the songs that serve as scene breaks throughout the film? The guitar player/singer, that's Jonathan Richman. Go ahead, dig the DVD out. Remember that scene where he accidently gets shot at the end by the old guy aiming at Ben Stiller ? :)

Well, back in 1972, Jonathan Richman wrote and recorded the nine songs that make up the debut album of the group, entitled The Modern Lovers. The album wasn't released until 1976, and by that time Richman had gone acoustic with a different lineup, reducing the noise behind him so that his quirky, heartfelt pop songwriting could really take the forefront.

So the album remains as a single gem, unique in its' raw power coupled with its' tender heart. It's a Rock'n'Roll album for driving fast down the highway, a slow burner for backround tunes after a long night, a balm for all those scathing breakups and women who could have been, and, finally, above all, a crank it up, press play and don't touch, isn't-it-wonderful-to-listen-to-music? album, which is the checkmark for any great record.

It's just fun. Check the first song off the record:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDJShMk-r88

With Jerry Harrison(who would later play guitar/keyboards for the Talking Heads) on organs. Six of the original nine tracks were produced by John Cale(organist/bass player for the Velvet Undergound). Richman took his influence very directly from the Velvets, literally following them around New York and pestering them to let him into rehearsals so that he could watch and learn. But this is not a Velvet Underground/New York-cool ripoff, unless you consider the sheer joy of playing songs the ways the Velvets did on Loaded!(1970), ripping off. Richman writes songs completely his own. It's a very New England album, a Boston gem, with songs so real, so fun, so un-cool they're cool.

For more info, and to see where I stole my information/write up, link on:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Modern_Lovers

You should be able to find this at most quality record stores in the city, and certainly on Amazon.

Check it out, and enjoy:)

And thanks for letting me join the party.