Cheap Blow Up (Music) (Television) Price

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Customer Reviews of Blow Up

This album strays at every opportunity. It's loud and indulgent. The playing is sometimes ridiculously sloppy, but when the band gets it right, as with the 15 minutes of "Little Johnny Jewel," it's as breathtaking as anything on "Marquee Moon."

I still prefer the studio versions of every song on this album to the live ones, but this is the perfect companion to "Marquee Moon." Even though the album was recorded after "Marquee Moon" was released, it works well as a backdrop for that album. Compared to the insane experimentation here, the solo on the studio version of "Marquee Moon" sounds tame and structured. The full-blown feakout of "Friction" is compressed into a tight single in the studio.

Which isn't to say the album doesn't stand on its own. As a double live album with low quality sound, it doesn't have much going for it in principle, but the guitars are fantastic. Very raw, very loud, and a lot of fun. Any fan of rock music owes it to themselves to buy "Marquee Moon" first (THAT'S the essential album), but this works well for those of us who can't get enough of a good thing.

Little Johnny Jewel, he's so cool
The whole show must have sounded great live, but on this cd it reaches greatness only in parts. However,it is worth owning just for those transcendental moments alone. If you've already heard Television's two studio albums, and love the sound of an electric guitar, the 14+ minute version of Little Johnny Jewel will astound you. I didn't think it was humanly possible to do what I've heard here with a mere guitar or two. Since the original studio version of LJJ is very hard to find, and this is the best live version of the song available, well, need I say more? The other amazing moment on this 2-cd set is Television's version of Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." This is the most exciting cover of that song I've ever heard, partly because Television make it sound as their own composition. The other songs are good to hear if you're a real fan, but most of them are marred by a poor recording quality. Coincedently, the two songs mentioned above, besides being superior performances, are also clearer in recording quality also, and are alone worth getting the 2-cd set. (Hint: try E-bay)

Wish I Was There!
This is simply one of the greatest recorded live performances I've ever heard and I spend a good deal of my life listening to live music in person and on CD.

The downer is that the sound quality is pretty poor in spots, but does get better on some tracks. Consequently, listening to this on headphones definitely beats listening to it in your car. In short, the sound quality will annoy you at times, but if you listen carefully, I believe you'll find it well worth it.

On "The Blow-Up" you hear a band that is literally fearless. It's a bit like watching four incredibly gifted artists sprint back and forth on a tightrope. Not only is the collective performance incredible, but Verlaine's material ranks with the finest in rock history. Yes, the guitars are awesome, but the rhythm section of Fred Smith and Billy Ficca is equally incredible.

Buy Marquee Moon first (everyone should own a copy of that), but get this too to hear what Television were capable of live.

If you can find a copy, I'd also highly recommend Television - Live At The Old Waldorf: San Francisco, 6/29/78. This disc is a much shorter show, but it was professionally recorded and the sound quality is top notch. The performance is excellent, but perhaps not quite as incendiary as on "The Blow-Up."

Sadly, Rhino Handmade only issued 5,000 copies of "Live At the Old Waldorf," so you'll have to do some hunting on Ebay, etc. However, if you love great rock and roll, it's worth the trouble and expense.