History Music / MarqueeMoon

Although sales have never caught up to its reputation, ''Marquee Moon'' remains an acknowledged classic and a major influence on AlternativeRock guitar, cited by figures like [[Music/{{U2}} The Edge]], [[Music/RedHotChiliPeppers John Frusciante]] and [[Music/{{REM}} Michael Stipe]].

''Marquee Moon'' was a massive critical favorite, finishing in third in the Village Voice's 1977 Pazz & Jop poll behind ''Music/NeverMindTheBollocksHeresTheSexPistols'' and Music/ElvisCostello's ''Music/MyAimIsTrue''. Strong reviews and a successful tour alongside Music/{{Blondie}} made a hit of the album across the pond, but stateside things went differently as a tour alongside ProgressiveRock stalwart Music/PeterGabriel had the band well out of its element, gathering very little steam before Creator/ElektraRecords pulled support.

''Marquee Moon'' is the 1977 debut album from UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity-based [[NewWaveMusic new wave]]/[[PunkRock punk]] band Music/{{Television}}. Though guitarist/vocalist Tom Verlaine claims to have written the songs intending to make a pop album - "a bunch of cool singles" - ''Marquee Moon'' gives Verlaine and Richard Lloyd plenty of space for extended solos and riffing, ending up as a PostPunk take on a [[Music/TheGratefulDead Grateful Dead]] jam-fest.

* UnbuiltTrope: A punk album with [[EpicRocking long songs]] and guitar solos? If the album had been released a few years earlier or had more keyboards it might have been classified as a ProgressiveRock album.

* ComingOfAge: An interpretation of "Venus". The narrator describes how infatuated he was with his relationship, even though it was empty (how would one "fall into the arms of Venus de Milo"?). Afterward, once Richie suggests dressing up, he declines, having been changed by the experience.

* WordSaladLyrics: The lyrics are very difficult to decipher sometimes. "Marquee Moon" is essentially PhraseSalad--more like Verse Salad.

** "Torn Curtain", a reference to ''Film/TornCurtain''. The drum roll in the intro is also similar to Music/TheStooges' "Dirt" from the ''Music/FunHouse'' album.

* ContemptibleCover: Averted. You might expect something audacious from a cover photo by Creator/RobertMapplethorpe, but it's just a photo of the band.

Although sales have never caught up to its reputation, ''Marquee Moon'' remains an acknowledged classic and a major influence on AlternativeRock guitar, cited by figures like [[Music/{{U2}} The Edge]], [[Music/RedHotChiliPeppers John Frusciante]] and [[Music/{{REM}} Michael Stipe]], who named it his "second favorite album of all time," after ''Music/{{Horses}}'' by Music/PattiSmith. The album was listed at nr. #130 in Magazine/RollingStone's [[Music/RollingStone500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time]].

* UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity: There are several lyrical references to lower Manhattan.

!! I remember how the trope list doubled:

''Marquee Moon'' is the 1977 debut album from UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity-based [[NewWaveMusic new wave]]/[[PunkRock punk]] band Music/{{Television}}. Though guitarist/vocalist Tom Verlaine claims to have written the songs intending to make a pop album - "a bunch of cool singles" - ''Marquee Moon'' gives Verlaine and Richard Lloyd plenty of space for extended solos and riffing, ending up as a PostPunk take on a [[Music/TheGratefulDead Grateful Dead]] jamfest.

''Marquee Moon'' was a massive critical favorite, finishing in third in the Village Voice's 1977 Pazz & Jop poll behind ''Music/NeverMindTheBollocksHeresTheSexPistols'' and Music/ElvisCostello's ''Music/MyAimIsTrue''. Strong reviews and a successful tour alongside Music/{{Blondie}} made a UK hit of the album, but stateside things went differently as a tour alongside ProgressiveRock stalwart Music/PeterGabriel had the band well out of its element, gathering very little steam before Creator/ElektraRecords pulled support.

Although sales have never caught up to its reputation, ''Marquee Moon'' remains an acknowledged classic and a major influence on AlternativeRock guitar, cited by figures like [[Music/{{U2}} The Edge]], [[Music/RedHotChiliPeppers John Frusciante]] and [[Music/{{REM}} Michael Stipe]], who named it his "second favorite album of all time, after ''Music/{{Horses}}'' by Music/PattiSmith. The album was listed at nr. #130 in Magazine/RollingStone's [[Music/RollingStone500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time]]

!! Marquee Tropes:

* AddedAlliterativeAppeal:
--> ''Now the rose it slows you in such '''c'''olorless '''c'''lothes''.

* FloatingLimbs: "Venus". How can anyone "fall into the arms of Venus de Milo"?

--> ''It's too "too too" to put a finger on''
** "Torn Curtain"
--> ''Years flowing by like tears/ tears holding back the years''

--> ''[[AvertedTrope But something, something, it said "you better not!"]]''

* OneWordTitle: "Venus", "Friction" and "Elevation".
* PerishingAltRockVoice: Tom Verlaine's performance on the album is one of the most famous examples.

* WordSaladLyrics: The lyrics are very difficult to decipher sometimes.

Although sales have never caught up to its reputation, ''Marquee Moon'' remains an acknowledged classic and a major influence on AlternativeRock guitar, cited by figures like [[Music/{{U2}} The Edge]], [[Music/RedHotChiliPeppers John Frusciante]] and [[Music/{{REM}} Michael Stipe]], who named it his "second favorite album of all time, after ''Music/{{Horses}}'' by Music/PattiSmith". The album was listed at nr. #130 in Magazine/RollingStone's [[Music/RollingStone500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time]]

'''Marquee Moon''' is the 1977 debut album from UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity-based [[NewWaveMusic new wave]]/[[PunkRock punk]] band Music/{{Television}}. Though guitarist/vocalist Tom Verlaine claims to have written the songs intending to make a pop album - "a bunch of cool singles" - ''Marquee Moon'' gives Verlaine and Richard Lloyd plenty of space for extended solos and riffing, ending up as a PostPunk take on a [[Music/TheGratefulDead Grateful Dead]] jamfest.

* UnbuiltTrope: A punk album with [[EpicRocking long songs]] and guitar solos? If the album had been released a few years earlier or had had keyboards it might have been classified as a ProgressiveRock album.

# "Marquee Moon" (9:58)[[note]]10:47 on CD releases; it was trimmed on vinyl editions due to limitations of the format]]

# "Untitled Instrumental" (3:22)
''''

''Marquee Moon'' was a massive critical favorite, finishing in third in the Village Voice's 1977 Pazz & Jop poll behind ''Music/NeverMindTheBollocksHeresTheSexPistols'' and Music/ElvisCostello's ''Music/MyAimIsTrue''. Strong reviews and a successful tour alongside Music/{{Blondie}} made a UK hit of the album, but stateside things went differently as a tour alongside ProgressiveRock stalwart Music/PeterGabriel had the band well out of its element, gathering very little steam before Elektra Records pulled support.

* RaymanianLimbs: "Venus". How can anyone "fall into the arms of Venus de Milo"?

--> ''And for Heaven's sake, don't you be so sad!''

--> ''[[AvertedTrope But something, something, it said "you better not!"]]

# "Marquee Moon" (9:58)

* UnbuiltTrope: A punk album with long songs and guitar solos?

** "Torn Curtain", a reference to ''Film/TornCurtain''.