Television
Adventure

THE REVIEW

Before reviewing "Adventure" by Television, it is necessary to make some preliminary remarks, especially useful for those who are not familiar with the record and the band. This album is the follow-up to "Marquee Moon", which enjoys enormous admiration from enthusiasts of the New Wave scene and is a cult favorite of mine (as well as many other DeBaser users, as I have happily noted). It is also necessary to say that it is foolish to continuously seek a forced comparison with this. Can the quality of one album depend on that of another? It might also be helpful to explain that Television are children of the Velvet Underground: how can you not recognize that typical New York sound? And if it's true that in comparison Television loses in innovation, it can also be said that they enjoy far superior technical skills.

The album is played impeccably. The guitars of Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd, sometimes whining and hysterical, sometimes soft and sweet, perfectly communicate with each other and with the drumming by Billy Ficca, all supported by the present bass of Richard Smith. The singing is entrusted to the shrill voice of Tom Verlaine, difficult not to recognize from the first listen. The choruses, however, are the work of Lloyd and Smith. All the tracks are written by Tom, except for Days, written by Verlaine-Lloyd.

The album, with its essential cover featuring the four in a red frame bearing the band's name and the album, opens with Glory, a pop-rock song entirely based on a rather simple but effective riff. It is followed by "Days", which, despite a more elaborate guitar riff, softens the tones even further, almost forming a beautiful lullaby. In stark contrast, after its end, the hard rock riff of "Foxhole" kicks in, the album's second single (the other was "Days"). This song is definitely more violent than the previous ones, with the unleashed guitars expressing all the virtuosity of their owners. The subsequent "Careful" softens the tones again and shows a Verlaine in great form even on keyboards, as well as an excellent Ficca. "Carried Away" closes, with great sweetness, the first side of the vinyl.

A psychedelic arpeggio opens "The Fire", one of the best compositions on the record, where Verlaine's voice wonderfully pampers the listener before gifting us yet another incredible solo. "Ain't That Nothing", with its lighter and more carefree riff, offers us a march that culminates with the lead voice alternating with the chorus, a not new solution by the American band. As usual, the final part is dominated by the intertwining of the two guitars. The last track of the album is "The Dream's Dream", where the music is incredibly cohesive, with melodies summarizing the sweet atmospheres this album has offered us.

All things considered, one could say that "Adventure" is a gem at least as far as its genre is concerned (whether it be pop rock, new wave, or post punk) and regarding its era (1977), in which many of the historic English bands were on the decline.

P.S. In the deluxe version of the album, you'll find the title track of the album (great keyboard in the final part), as well as alternative versions of "Glory" and "Ain't That Nothing", which don't offer substantial differences, except for some more acidic and sharper guitar sounds.

Rating 4 out of 5, to be conservative.