If I like Television (the band) but don't like Joy Division,

[Alex W]

No, I certainly didn’t mean to imply that, because having listened to exactly one album from each band they were clearly different (honestly I was disappointed with NO); it’s just that I was bumping into them in the context of 70s punkish things (a decidedly broad “genre”).

OK I see. Yeah the genre of 70s punkish stuff is definitely broad. Television were more like prog rock + jazz talent and musical knowledge played with a stripped-down, garage band aesthetic. Or something.

 

[middy]

I'm kinda with you, I was never a fan of joy division and I like Television more but I am not a huge fan. Thinking back on tie music from that era, for me I really love Johnny Marr and if I can muster enough mental energy to not get hung up on the lyrics, it's still great music for me. I recently started playing around with the guitar parts from a lot of bands from that time (Duran Duran, Talking Heads, Talk Talk, etc) and a lot of it is really great and super interesting. It seems to me like a lot of the players started fresh at that time, so you hear a little funk, but the right hand is not really great, and a lot of small chord fragments played in non conventional ways. You almost never hear a pentatonic and some of it is totally original (I think that's the case for even the guitar gods - to me - of the era like Peter buck). It is under-appreciate, I think.

There's a band called the XX and they are for me a great example of what I'm trying to describe (probably poorly). There fist self title album has guitar like this and it's great. Almost like the player learned to play fresh for the band. I love it.

I love those kind of naive new wave guitar parts. I have a whole playlist of just the first albums of all my favorite new wave bands between 77-83. The first album is when you hear them fresh and hungry. Plus, they can’t afford too many drugs yet.

 

[Vibro Chimp]

There was an 80’s indie band called Slovenly that was sort of an evolution of the Television sound: intertwined guitar lines, non-pentatonic scales, clean Fender tones…although ironically they had a singer who sounded vaguely like the Joy Division dude.

 

[ahiddentableau]

Some of the more recent stuff from Wilco borrows a good bit from Television IMO. Wilco guitarist Nels Cline is big fan.

Not that long ago I read that Jeff Tweedy's wife's birthday present to him was a day-long guitar lesson with Richard Lloyd. Apparently they flew him out to Chicago for the day.

Obviously his wife is a very cool lady.

 

[ahiddentableau]

I also think it's a pretty great tribute to Television that when you ask for similar bands you get a list like this one. As my grandmother would have said, a dog from every town. Very diverse list.

A bit surprised nobody has mentioned the Strokes or Interpol. The guitars in both bands are very much influenced by Television, especially the material on Is This It. The lyrics not so much, but the guitars for sure.

 

[ping-ping-clicka]

I forgot did anybody mention Wire? or Pere Ubu? These guys are kinna like TV knna, sorta well maybe augh?

 

[ping-ping-clicka]

I like Interpol ,
" your the only person ,
that knows for certain,
that there's nothing here to get into"
or something cheery like that

 

[aging_rocker]

 

[Alex W]

Some of the Cars' songs exhibit some appreciation for Television. "Candy O" comes to mind. Television's influence seems even more obvious in this demo (?) version IMO:



Another cool Cars demo:

 

[ahiddentableau]

Some of the Cars' songs exhibit some appreciation for Television. "Candy O" comes to mind. Television's influence seems even more obvious in this demo (?) version IMO:



Another cool Cars demo:

Apparently the band agreed with you. Richard Lloyd once said in an interview that when Tom Verlaine first heard The Cars debut he was convinced that they had taken the essential elements of Television and made them radio friendly.

 

[omahaaudio]

who else might I like?

I think that they both suck so best of luck to you in your quest.

 

[Strat Jacket]

I think that they both suck so best of luck to you in your quest.

Be nice...

 

[Jupiter]

I think that they both suck so best of luck to you in your quest.

Thanks! It’s going okay so far.

 

[redhouse_ca]

I love those kind of naive new wave guitar parts. I have a whole playlist of just the first albums of all my favorite new wave bands between 77-83. The first album is when you hear them fresh and hungry. Plus, they can’t afford too many drugs yet.

Yeah making enough money to cover those costs is probably a big % of the work ethic for a lot of those guys.

 

[redhouse_ca]

Perhaps you're thinking too hard and not using your vision?
(I'll show myself out)

Use your tele instead. Sorry, couldn't resist it.

 

[Manual Slim]

Use your tele instead. Sorry, couldn't resist it.

Always give in to the Tele!

 

[spupilup]

Television were more like prog rock + jazz talent and musical knowledge played with a stripped-down, garage band aesthetic.

It’s good to hear you say that. I was only 16/17 years old when I heard Marquee Moon but it was revelator. I had been listening primarily to prog but was getting pretty tired of it. Marquee Moon piqued my interest and within a year I was heavily into punk and new wave. There was some great music produced in the wake of pioneers like Tom Verlaine. I’ll never tire of listening to his music.

 

[68tele]

I think of Verlaine as more of a classical composer than anything else. None of the bands mentioned in this thread are TV-ish in that regard. Maybe listen to some Erik Satie and take it from there.

 

[daveIT]

Check out Tom Verlaine's solo albums.