SOD: Television -- Friction

Once had a music teacher that said try listening to your favorite track instrument by instrument. First just check out the guitar. Block out vocals, drums, bass, etc. Give it a few listens until you get excited about every small sound, and then move to the next instrument. Eventually you'll be able to listen to the whole song on hi-fi stoned out orgasmatron every single time.

Hey, his words, not mine.

Television's song, Friction, off their brilliant 1977 debut, Marquee Moon, is a perfect trial for this kind of listening experience. It's a guitar rock album, and yeah Richard Lloyd (lead guitar) and Tom Verlaine (vocal, guitar, songwriter) are brilliant guitar players, but it's not simply musical masturbation, they're too aware of the very small in between notes that will keep listeners coming back. And so is the rest of the band, especially on this record.

This track starts off with a ferocious riff, but that's not what keeps me coming back for dozens of listens. The lyrics and phrasings are both Costello sharp and Waits funny, and it's all about those in between instrumentation decisions that make this still relevant and exciting today.

Check out the almost accidental early guitar squawk at 2:14, or the drum fills at 2:35 and again at 3:30 and there are more but damn for real that dude can play. Television isn't always an easy listen, but they're always worth it.