The Modern Lovers - The Modern Lovers (Remastered, with Bonus Tracks) (Castle, 2003)

The Modern Lovers
The Modern Lovers (Remastered, with Bonus Tracks)
Castle
2003

Rating: 10 straight planes out of 10
 
Plain and simple, this first record by The Modern Lovers is one of those greatest rock albums of all time.  This re-release has been remastered and plied with many bonus tracks, but the results are the same no matter which release you hear first – this was one of the most important pre-punk release to come out in the early 1970s, and it sounds just as good today as it did the day it came out.  Along with the New York Dolls, The Stooges and MC5, The Modern Lovers represent one of the most important bands to create the environment in which punk would later develop.  Sounding uncannily like The Velvet Underground with a little extra attitude, The Modern Lover’s first release (which in actuality was a compilation of demos recorded by John Cale in 1973) never saw the light of day until 1976.  By the time it came out they were known as Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers, and then it was just Jonathan Richman.  Members of this band went on to have influential roles in other great acts such as The Talking Heads, The Cars, and Television, all groups that should be equally revered throughout the music world.  Words can’t do justice to just how great and influential this record is, just go buy it and listen for yourself – I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.