Simone Appolloni's Album Reviews
While Television gained critical acclaim and are remembered as one of the pivotal rock acts of all time, there were ex-members of the band who… got a one-hit wonder and largely retired from the public eye. Case in point, vocalist Richard Lester Meyers, who helped form Television, but left over a dispute on creative control. He then helped from the Heartbreakers with ex-New York Dolls guitarist Johnny Thunders, and then… quit again, forming a solo project named Richard Hell and the Voidoids. As a band, they however recorded just a studio album before disbanding, reformed and disbanded twice, and then held some concerts in 1990 and 2000. As of now, Meyers rarely tours anymore, fading into obscurity even among punk circles.
Right from Blank Generation’s cover artwork, the bravado of Hell & company is perceptible. Still, as a punk album, this one is actually definitely more technical than contemporary stuff by Ramones and Sex Pistols, featuring jangling, synchronized dual guitar playing with augmented triads (“Love Comes in Spurts”), Rockabilly swing (“Liars Beware”), lengthy, nervous attempts at Funk (“Another World”) and “romantic” slow balladry akin to Mink DeVille (“Betrayal Takes Two”). Vocals are spoken-word and barking dog-like, while the choruses and vocal harmonies are more reminiscent of 60’s “beat”, especially early The Kinks. Lyrics are supposed to be “poetic”, but are either too abstract/abstruse or rhyme-based to make much of an impression.
Blank Generation has definitely shown its age, and sounded old-time music even at the time of its release, especially due to the guitar’s vintage, honky sound and the a-melodic, “look-i-am-a-jerk” vocals. Considerable a punk classic for historical reasons, not so much for its qualities or outdated sonic prowess.
Highlights: “Love Comes in Spurts”, “Betrayal Takes Two”.
Right from Blank Generation’s cover artwork, the bravado of Hell & company is perceptible. Still, as a punk album, this one is actually definitely more technical than contemporary stuff by Ramones and Sex Pistols, featuring jangling, synchronized dual guitar playing with augmented triads (“Love Comes in Spurts”), Rockabilly swing (“Liars Beware”), lengthy, nervous attempts at Funk (“Another World”) and “romantic” slow balladry akin to Mink DeVille (“Betrayal Takes Two”). Vocals are spoken-word and barking dog-like, while the choruses and vocal harmonies are more reminiscent of 60’s “beat”, especially early The Kinks. Lyrics are supposed to be “poetic”, but are either too abstract/abstruse or rhyme-based to make much of an impression.
Blank Generation has definitely shown its age, and sounded old-time music even at the time of its release, especially due to the guitar’s vintage, honky sound and the a-melodic, “look-i-am-a-jerk” vocals. Considerable a punk classic for historical reasons, not so much for its qualities or outdated sonic prowess.
Highlights: “Love Comes in Spurts”, “Betrayal Takes Two”.
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