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Miss Emily Bomb Persia Breakin’ In My Heart Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain A Future in Noise Clear It Away Soul Freedom 2000 Dissolve/Reveal True Story Swim

Always Days On The Mountain Penetration Souvenir From A Dream Words From The Front Kingdom Come Psychotic Reaction Marquee Moon

Covering two decades of live performances, this two-disc comp, put together a few years back by a superfan, captures Tom Verlaine at his best (away from Television, that is). I don’t think I’d call any of his solo records complete masterpieces (though a handful come close), but the guy always brought his A-game to the stage. If you’re only familiar with his Television work, Pull Down The Future is an excellent place to start further explorations – it’s basically guitar heaven. Tom’s unmistakeable tone shines and shimmers, even on some of the more lo-fi recordings here. The band backing him on the 1980s tracks ain’t half bad either – Fred Smith from Television, Jay Dee Dougherty from the Patti Smith Group and Jimmy Rip (guitarist on too many things to name). For variety’s sake, there are a few departures from the electric-guitar-centric vibe – a solo acoustic rendition of “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain” and the weird, 13-minute synth drone of “Days On The Mountain.” There’s also a really remarkable version of “Swim” that showcases just how great a vocalist Verlaine can be – not something he’s called out for all that much. I think I once read someone referring to him as “the Christopher Walken of rock” and that makes sense in a weird way. But mainly you’ll be vibing to such six-string workouts as “Miss Emily,” “Breaking In My Heart,” “Persia” and plenty others. Almost all of the songs come from Tom’s solo records, with one big exception – the 22-minute “Marquee Moon” blowout that appropriately closes the whole thing out.

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