Album Review

When most bands reunite, it feels like an attempt to play with some old friends, make some money, and release an album. In fact, most don’t even make it to that third step. (See: The Pixies, The Jesus Lizard, The Sex Pistols, and, most likely in the near future, Pavement.) When Mission of Burma reunited in 2002, they followed up a series of well-received shows with a brand spanking new full-length, OnOffOn, in 2004. Fans were probably even more surprised when the group dropped the absolutely bone-crushing The Obliterati after their laps in 2006, and now, three years later, yet another new full-length, The Sound, The Speed, The Light arrives seemingly out of nowhere.

What is most amusing is that three albums into their career’s second act, the band’s post-reunion output clearly outnumbers what they managed to produce during their initial run. The band formed in Boston circa 1979 and released their first single, the punk rock classic “Academy Fight Song” b/w “Max Ernst,” in 1981. The same year they released a landmark EP Signals, Calls and Marches which was followed in 1982 by the full-length Vs.

Besides a live album, that was all the material the early ’80s Burma managed to cobble together. By 1983 guitarist Roger Miller’s tinnitus had become so severe that he was wearing rifle range earphones while performing. They disbanded the same year.

And it’s no surprise that Miller’s ears would have taken a hit when you listen to those old albums. Even though they were only a trio on stage, the group has always been augmented by a forth member who works behind the soundboard, manipulating the recordings to incorporate tape loops into the live shows. The result is one loud ass collision where the traditional three piece meets head-on with ear piercing noise and feedback.

Over the years Burma’s sound hasn’t strayed too far from their original formula. In the early ’80s they probably sounded like nothing anyone had ever heard, but today they fit comfortably into the categorization of “post-punk,” a genre they arguably could have created by accident.

The Sound, The Speed, The Light continues the band’s string of excellent releases since their reformation. It probably fails to top 2006’s high-water mark of, The Obliterati, but is sure as hell ain’t a throw-away. The record gets off to a rousing start with the raging “1,2,3 Partyy!” which very much sets the tone for the majority of this outing. It is filled to the brim with big rockers. Other anthems include “Comes Undone,” the pummeling “Blunder,” and the tres punk “So Fuck It.”

Listen to “1,2,3 Partyy!”
Listen to “Blunder”

Similar to The Obliterati, the experimental songs are the ones which really won me over. Most notable is the phenomenal “After the Rain.” It’s a mid-tempo stunner which sounds just a little different than anything I’ve heard this band attempt before. It seems to be the anthem of an underdog: “I’ll fight you hard/I’ll fight you weak/I’ll fight you on the land and sea/ I’ll tear apart the fabric of our world.” It’s a powerful number that perfectly combines the bands knack for writing an ace rock song, and sending it over the top with the subtle noise garnishing.

Listen to “After the Rain”

The only downside to Mission of Burma’s recent run of new records is that seems as if the masses are starting to take the the band for granted. I guess by the third reunion album you are basically just another band that’s been around for seven years. But where I can see groups like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Grizzly Bear, and The Mooney Suzuki as flavors-of-the-month, I really can’t picture Burma in that light. These guys are a classic underground band making some of the best music of their career, and more people should be listening. That means you!

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