essential record of the day: Galaxie 500--On Fire (1989)

there was a point in time when Galaxie 500 could have been just like any other indie/alternative band that was coming out in the late 80s and early 90s. they had come together like many bands of their day and weren't really technically proficient to differentiate themselves from any other band at the time. but they were smart, and sent a demo to Kramer, the owner of the Shimmy-Disc record label and at the time, little known producer. it was Kramer who suggested that Galaxie 500 add reverb to Dean Wareham's voice and this, more than anything else, allowed Galaxie 500 to make their presence felt on 1988's Today. the problem with Today is that it largely feels like a band and a producer feeling each other out. there are gems of course (the single "Tugboat" really stands out), but on the whole it is like watching an awkward first date between people who are really attracted to each other, but don't know how far they want it to go.

then came On Fire.

this is Galaxie 500's masterpiece. gone are the tenuous moments of Today. lacking are the tensions of This is Our Music (tensions that would eventually rip the band apart.) What Wareham, Yang, Krukowski and Kramer created with On Fire is a lush, but simple, soundscape featuring matured lyrics and themes. All of the tracks on On Fire are stand out, but "Blue Thunder," "Strange," "Decomposing Trees," and the marvelous cover of George Harrison's "Isn't It a Pity" are true indie rock classics.

the members of Galaxie 500 have not been able to duplicate what they accomplished with On Fire since they released it in 1989, either together or separately (although they have come close.) On Fire is one of the great, essential records of rock and roll as a whole, along side such records as the Pixies Doolittle, Sonic Youth's Daydream Nation, and the Beatles Revolver. Grade: A+