Baker's Dozen

Artists discuss the 13 records that shaped their lives

2. Marquee Moon

Marquee Moon is hands down my favourite album. It’s hard to land on exactly why. I’ve been listening to it for close to 40 years – let’s say 35 – and that it still sounds fresh, that points to something.

As a teenager I expected to hear something punk-er/weirder because I got it around the same time as Cramps’ Gravest Hits and Wire – Pink Flag and Pere Ubu and Dead Boys. Instead I heard something beautiful that expressed the same anger and confusion, but also curiousness and wonder. It’s emotionally complex.

I guess all of those records are emotionally complex. X – Los Angeles, too. Beautiful. As evidenced by their immeasurable influence, Television had something happening purely on a musical level, too. I was too young to understand this, but [there were] enough guitar ideas to sustain the next three generations of guitar players. 

Selected in other Baker’s Dozens: Gaz Coombes
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