For some reason, Television got classified as punk. This is because it was 1977, they were playing a residency at CBGBs and they looked a bit like punks, so it was probably easier for record shops to stick them in alongside the Ramones and New York Dolls. However, listening to the album shows that they were something else entirely. Sure, lead singer Tom Verlaine has a flat and slightly quirky delivery (reminiscent of fellow CGBG alumnus David Byrne), but it doesn’t take long before you notice that these songs have a lot going on.
For starters, there are counter melodies, extended solos and then you get to the title track which is a ten minute epic full of unexpected touches and sounding more like King Crimson than a typical two minute punk song. Were they post-punk before punk had even kicked off? Is this math rock or art rock? Perhaps this should be filed in its own category under prog-punk?
Regardless of what you call it, this is a great album and you can hear the influences on bands that were to follow a couple of years later in the 80s.
Telly-tastic!
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