Tom Verlaine and Jimmy Rip | Music for Experimental Film DVD
True West | Hollywood Holiday Revisited
Various Artists | Boston Underground 1979–1982
ROLL BACK | Review by Peter Aaron
In 1983, Verlaine went into local and legendary Bearsville Studios to produce some demo tracks by California quintet True West. Much like that of the other groups of the so–called paisley underground scene then brewing on the West Coast (Green on Red, Dream Syndicate, Rain Parade, et al), True West’s sound is that of punks discovering and assimilating ’60s psychedelia—indeed, the A–side of the band’s first single is a cover of Pink Floyd’s “Lucifer Sam”—and, in light of the Television–esque interplay of guitarists Russ Tolman and Richard McGrath, Verlaine was a natural choice as a producer. Hollywood Holiday Revisited collects the three previously unreleased Verlaine demos, the group’s essential ’83 debut Hollywood Holiday, and the ’84 follow–up Drifters. Fans of alternately chiming and stinging guitars and melodic post–punk should seek this one out. Continue... |
