Galaxie 500

Product Details

* Audio CD (April 29, 1997)
* Original Release Date: 1990
* Number of Discs: 1
* Format: Enhanced, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
* Label: Rykodisc
* Catalog Number: 10357
* ASIN: B0000009QN
* Average Customer Review: based on 18 reviews. (Write a review.)
* Amazon.com Sales Rank: #46,320 in Music (See Top Sellers in Music)
Yesterday: #37,643 in Music

Listen to Samples
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1. Blue Thunder Listen
2. Tell Me Listen
3. Snowstorm Listen
4. Strange Listen
5. When Will You Come Home Listen
6. Decomposing Trees
7. Another Day
8. Leave The Planet
9. Plastic Bird
10. Isn't It A Pity
11. Victory Garden
12. Ceremony
13. Cold Night
Editorial Reviews
From the Label
Galaxie 500 began to play beyond the Boston limits and their stock rose, especially in the UK where Today wasreceived enthusiastically. In the summer of 1989, the band re-entered Kramer’s studio to record their second album,On Fire, and its companion EP, the UK-only release Blue Thunder, both for Rough Trade. The critical acclaim for these recordings was deafening. Sounds described the album as "utter magnificence," Melody Maker called it "astunning collection of daydream pop," even Rolling Stone gave it 3½ stars.The world was beating its head on Galaxie’s door; the On Fire/Blue Thunder pairing expanded effortlessly on theband’s exquisite base. The plaintive threads of the Galaxie 500 sound had been pulled tighter by the technicalproficiency that had enveloped these ex-amateurs, and unlike so many others, technique had sharpened their instinctsrather than masked them. Playing with flash is superfluous, when you have the moxie to cover Red Crayola’s "VictoryGarden" and Joy Division’s "Ceremony," making both of them over in your own image. With the release of On Fire/Blue Thunder, Galaxie 500 took their playing to a whole new level.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
Firing on All Cylinders, February 27, 2003
Reviewer: Greg Cleary (Marquette, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
Just one year after a very good debut album ("Today"), Galaxie 500 hit the jackpot with "On Fire." This is one of those albums where a band miraculously gets everything right, with all the elements of their sound falling into place. The Galaxie 500 formula was basically pretty simple, and all three instrumentalists contributed about equally. Damon Krukowski's splashy drumming did as much to set the mood as did Naomi Yang's understated bass and Dean Wareham's blaring guitars.

The overall effect is sort of a musical glow, as suggested by the orange album cover, and there are enough earthly concerns in the lyrics to remind us which planet we inhabit after all. "On Fire" is pervaded by themes of escape, isolation, and longing. Though the music has a soothing effect, there is an angst here, a genuine attempt to connect. This is no mere exercise in style.

The Galaxie 500 sound was heavily influenced by the Velvet Underground, especially VU's droniest material, such as "Venus in Furs." Yet somehow, the Galaxie 500 drone does not borrow so obviously from Indian music. It sounds entirely American, with hints of jazz, blues, folk, and rock and roll. But only hints. Mostly, Galaxie 500 sounded nothing like any band that came before it--at least as far as I know. Their music was ahead of its time.

"Blue Thunder" may be the band's best song ever, with a crescendo leading to the chorus: "I'll drive so far away!" "Snowstorm" is a brilliant take on how we experience snowstorms nowadays, watching the TV and maybe hoping we can get out of work early; the music approaches quietly before rushing in and enveloping us. "Another Day" features a haunting vocal by Naomi Yang, and the remake of George Harrison's "Isn't It A Pity" is perfect, staying true to the spirit of the song while gently recasting it in the Galaxie 500 mold.

"On Fire" is a classic of its genre, and a great combination of sound and songwriting. This is the place to start if you are interested in the music of Galaxie 500.… (meer)