One could argue that
Mission of Burma
's first 12" release,
Signals, Calls and Marches
, was the point where "indie rock" as a separate and distinct musical subgenre well and truly began.
's music had the brawn and the volume of hardcore punk, but with a lyrical intelligence and obvious musical sophistication that set them apart from the Southern California faster-and-louder brigade. Between
Martin Swope
's tape loops and
Roger Miller
's often tricky guitar lines,
may have seemed "arty" on the surface, but the bruising impact of
"Outlaw"
and
"This Is Not a Photograph"
made clear this band was not part of the skinny-tie "new wave" scene. And
were one of the first bands that gained a large enough following to attract the attention of major labels, but opted to remain on a small label of their own volition -- a move that would raise the "integrity" stakes for many acts in the years to come.
features
's best known song, the still-powerful
"That's When I Reach for My Revolver,"
but it hasn't stood the test of time quite as well as the full-length album that would follow,
Vs.
; there are brief moments where the band still seems to be working out their obvious British influences, and
sounds stiffer than it needs to be. But
Clint Conley
were already songwriters to be reckoned with, the band sounds passionate and powerful, and if
were not yet at the peak of their form, most bands blazing as many trails as this one did lost their footing a lot more often that
Burma
did on these six songs;
was as accomplished and impressive a debut as any American band would release in the 1980s. [Some reissues add the band's fine first single,
"Academy Fight Song"
b/w
"Max Ernst,"
as a bonus.] ~ Mark Deming