What first drew me to Mission of Burma 20 years ago – and ultimately, what has kept me interested in their sphere of influence is their seemingly limitless capacity to convey urgency. The music emanating from the Boston quartet was, from its nexus in the early 1980s, driven, crucial, and even a generation of imitators hasn’t diminished what has been a hallmark.
Anything that could be said about Mission of Burma, and their place in rockology here, discussing Vs. has already been said about the previous two records:.
A perfect meld of punk ethos and college-rock angst. A cascade of brilliant songs, and brilliant songwriting. A display of one band’s vast ability. Mature.
It’s worth nothing that Signals is the single happy record, while Vs. is the higher of the two in risk/reward factor. There is no “Revolver” on it, or “Academy” but what “Einstein’s Day” and “The Ballad of Johnny Burma” reveal (as do other song diodes when viewed academically) is just how smart a tough song can be – something that bands like Husker Du and the Replacements and Fugazi would forge longer careers out of.
Personal favorites “Train” and “Dead Pool” are like nothing else in the band’s catalog, and nothing else that ever came after.
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