Onoffon [Enhanced]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Lots can happen in 22 years. Babies grow up, graduate college, start families. The onset of maturity is typically harder on rock bands. In 1972, the Stones released Exile on Main Street; by 1994, they were slumming in Voodoo Lounge. So it comes as a terrific surprise that Boston punk experimentalists Mission of Burma, who split shortly after 1982's Vs., sound as cutting edge as ever on this reunion disc. Opener "The Setup" features a midsection that sounds more like a jar of buzzing bees than any conventional solo, thanks to tape manipulator Bob Weston (borrowed from Shellac) putting guitarist Roger Miller through a barrage of effects. On a quieter note, the seductive "Falling" features backing vocals by Tonya Donnelly, while somber strings underscore "Prepared." Through it all, Burma still boast unerring melodic sensibilities; "The Enthusiast" and "Wounded World" are rife with sharp hooks. ONoffON was a long time coming, but well worth the wait. --Kurt B. Reighley --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Album Description
The first new recordings in 22 years from avant-rock titans Mission Of Burma. A work of staggering complexity, brimming with all the raw power of their 80's releases, while revealing tones, textures, and lyrical themes unimaginable the first time around. One of the most forward-thinking American bands, Burma have been covered by REM, Moby, Blur, and others, and helped shape the sounds of hardcore, indie rock, and emo. They're part of the Velvet Underground, MC5, Television, and Joy Division pantheon. Available in CD, hybrid SACD, and true all-analog 180-gram double vinyl. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Tracks:

Setup, The
Hunt Again
Enthusiast, The
Falling
What We Really Were
Max Ernst's Dream
Fake Blood
Prepared
Wounded World
Dirt
Into The Fire
Fever Moon
Nicotine Bomb
Playland
Absent Mind
Untitled

Amazon.com

Lots can happen in 22 years. Babies grow up, graduate college, start families. The onset of maturity is typically harder on rock bands. In 1972, the Stones released Exile on Main Street; by 1994, they were slumming in Voodoo Lounge. So it comes as a terrific surprise that Boston punk experimentalists Mission of Burma, who split shortly after 1982's Vs., sound as cutting edge as ever on this reunion disc. Opener "The Setup" features a midsection that sounds more like a jar of buzzing bees than any conventional solo, thanks to tape manipulator Bob Weston (borrowed from Shellac) putting guitarist Roger Miller through a barrage of effects. On a quieter note, the seductive "Falling" features backing vocals by Tonya Donnelly, while somber strings underscore "Prepared." Through it all, Burma still boast unerring melodic sensibilities; "The Enthusiast" and "Wounded World" are rife with sharp hooks. ONoffON was a long time coming, but well worth the wait. --Kurt B. Reighley

Album Description

The first new recordings in 22 years from avant-rock titans Mission Of Burma. A work of staggering complexity, brimming with all the raw power of their 80's releases, while revealing tones, textures, and lyrical themes unimaginable the first time around. One of the most forward-thinking American bands, Burma have been covered by REM, Moby, Blur, and others, and helped shape the sounds of hardcore, indie rock, and emo. They're part of the Velvet Underground, MC5, Television, and Joy Division pantheon. Available in CD, hybrid SACD, and true all-analog 180-gram double vinyl.

Customer Reviews:

Burma's best record?.......2005-09-14

I don't know how many times it can be said: on "Onoffon," Mission of Burma sounds as vital and intense as they did in 1983, an amazing feat for a band who hasn't recorded together in 22 years (and lost a founding member along the way). Another review noted that the returing Burma doesn't attempt the wide-ranging experimentation of "Vs." For my money, that's not a bad thing, and here's why. "Onoffon" retains all the stomping ferocity of the 1983 model, and adds a focus and maturity gained through the intervening 20 years. In retrospect, it probably shouldn't be too surprising that a Burma reunion sounds this good. Miller stayed active in projects like the semi-successful Birdsongs of the Mesozoic; I think that gave him a clear idea, from the standpoint of musical experimentation, of what works and what doesn't. Prescott, meanwhile, blossomed as a leader and songwriter in his own right with the Volcano Suns and Kustomized. The only wild card here is Clint Conley - from what I know, the guy got out of the music business entirely after producing the first Yo La Tengo album (according to the Trouser Press, he was a TV producer in New Jersey); but then, we're talking about the guy who wrote "Academy Fight Song" after all.

Anyway, in summary, "Onoffon" sounds like the logical follow-up to "Vs." It's a testament to their previous work that Mission of Burma needed 20+ years of experience to find the confidence and vision needed to build on the strengths of those records while de-emphasizing their weaker moments.

Same raw intensity and musical ambition they had in 1983..........2005-02-04

How could a band get back together after 22 years and still sound relevant...like they never left? They're playing today with the same raw intensity and musical ambition that they had in 1983. No more Martin Swope manipulating their sound but their producer, Bobby Weston does create some pretty interesting effects. My favorite three tracks are the hard-rocking "The Set Up" which is loaded with great riffs and noises, "The Enthusiast" sounding like the Gang of Four jamming with The Clash, and "Fake Blood" with King Crimson like guitar and bass lines. I hope we don't have to wait 22 years for their next album.

Mission Accomplished .......2005-01-20

An old Boston friend wrote me an email in late 2001 to tell me that Mission of Burma was reuniting after a 2 decade hiatus. The news ruined my day. Why would Mission of Burma want to reunite with its three founding members well into middle age? Had Roger, Peter and Clint succumbed to the impulse to finally cash in while the Mission of Burma name was still bankable? The Sacred Legend of Burma would certainly go up in flames, as the reunited members would certainly be a mid-life crisis parody of the band's former glory. An artistically viable reunion of a middle-aged Mission of Burma seemed akin to something like mission impossible.

For three short years (1980-1983) Mission of Burma was the band that was our life. In the fashionably right wing climate of the early Reagan/Thatcher years, our boys fought the power and laughed in the face of conventional success as rock stars. It wasn't all about fame and fortune for Mission of Burma. Burma's music was about the outsider, the quiet loner who finally makes a political statement by reaching for his revolver and blowing it all away. Burma's left-leaning politics were aligned to the anti-authoritarian stance that inspired post-punk bands like the Gang of Four, the Mekons, Au-Pairs and even the Clash in the late Seventies.

The 2004 release of "Onoffon" on the venerable indie label Caroline, Mission of Burma gives faith to the jaded skeptics who believe that lightening cannot strike twice. From the opening chords of "The Setup" the trio plays with the same intensity, inspiration, clarity and creativity as their farewell gig in the Bradford Ballroom in 1983.

If anything the refinements in digital technology has enhanced the chugging leviathan rhythms of Peter Prescott and Clint Conley's signature drum and bass sound. Roger Miller's knotty riff driven guitar that inevitably resolved the dramatic tension with squalls of feedback remains intact. This is not a watered down, chilled out, lounge lizard version of Burma. Mission of Burma 2004 remains unafraid to enter the eye of the hurricane.

Burma rages against the New McCarthyism of the current George W. Bush era with the same vehemence as they did in opposition to the New World Order of the Reagan/Bush years of the early Eighties. The egalitarian experimental spirit of the early Eighties when Mission of Burma played seedy Boston punk rock circuit in clubs like the Underground, the Rat and Cantones has risen from the ashes. The resurrected Burma can still deliver deadly blows against the empire and inspire shock and awe.

Defies All Logic.......2004-12-19

Bands that reunite after 20 plus years aren't supposed to sound like this. On OnOffOn, Mission Of Burma sound like they've unleashed a lost record from 1983. All of the passion, energy, and chops are still here; this is by far the most incredible reunion record I've ever heard. It's just as good as all of their previous output, and although it won't replace Vs. or Signals, it's beyond worth owning. I mean, really, how many bands sound like this after remaining stagnant forever? Come on, even Gang Of Four and Television put out crappy reunion albums, both incredible bands. Even if the Pixies gave a new album a go, could they write anything on par with "The Setup," "Falling," or "Wounded World"? Mission Of Burma's 2004 opus is proof that sometimes getting the band back together won't inspire groans. This'll bring a tear to your eye.

Mission of Burma: even better - and always ON!.......2004-09-23

First: how about a little history on Mission of Burma. Perhaps one of the most heralded and influential groups in the history of rock music, Mission of Burma was the epitome of what underground punk was supposed to be in the eighties. MOB's 'time in the sun' however, was more like 'time in the shade.' During the best years of their brief career during the early to mid-eighties, it seemed that only fellow musicians such as Sonic Youth, Yo La Tengo, Big Black, The Minutemen and a small sporadic fan base were appreciating Burma's extremely unique brand of punk rock. It was MOB's outside the box thinking that garnered them the attention of like-minded people and the underground media. Mission of Burma was a power trio with an added twist; and that was one of things that separated them from most of the other punk bands at the time. Unlike many of the fast, angry and undecipherable punk bands in the early eighties; Mission of Burma was still very much an amplified/distortion and feedback group. It was just evident in their sound, as it is especially now - that their music just seems to have a much more thoughtful center to it. With Peter Prescott on drums, Clint Conley on bass and Roger Miller taking up guitar duties, Mission of Burma was a complete and functioning entity that spewed-forth pure, rocking creativeness. However, it's extremely undeniable that the brilliant nuances of tape manipulator Martin Swope was an extremely important factor as to why Mission of Burma is, and will be one of the most important bands in the history of American music. Having only released a couple of seven-inch singles, one EP "Signals, Calls and Marches", one LP "Vs." and their final recording, "The Horrible Truth About Burma" which was a compilation of live recordings from their final tour in 1985; Mission of Burma called it quits and went their separate ways on good terms. All of the members have stayed in their native area of Boston, MA - except for the enigmatic Swope. Having recently regrouped in the past couple of years; what was supposed to be a couple of one-off reunion shows has since turned into a full-blown documentary, subsequent album and tour. "ONoffON" is Burma at their best! It's like these guys walked through a time warp direct from 1983 and haven't skipped a beat. Absent from the line-up this time around is the ever elusive tape manipulator Martin Swope. Having retired from music, he now lives on an island in the Pacific Ocean and is probably enjoying the hell out of life. Taking up duties as tape manipulator and recording engineer for "ONoffON" is none other than producer/engineer/musician extraordinaire (*and active member of Shellac) Bobby Weston. With sixteen amazing new tracks from the innovators of what has now become "indie rock," Mission of Burma's highly anticipated album "ONoffON" has definitely been worth the 22-year wait. Mission of Burma: even better - and always ON! Keep it real kids*

Average customer rating:

Onoffon
Mission of Burma
Manufacturer: Matador Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

American Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Post-Punk | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0001XAQU0
Release Date: 2004-05-04

Tracks:

Setup, The
Hunt Again
Enthusiast, The
Falling
What We Really Were
Max Ernst's Dream
Fake Blood
Prepared
untitled - (hidden track)
Wounded World
Dirt
Into The Fire
Fever Moon
Nicotine Bomb
Playland
Absent Mind

Album Description

Average customer rating:

One of the best New Music Discoveries I made.

Surrender Now
Onoffon
Manufacturer: Onoffon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Rock | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Contemporary Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00000G37A
Release Date: 1997-05-25

Tracks:

Surrender Now
Rock Garden
Your Reality
Weekend in Montreal
I Don't Give No...
Inside My Soul
Please Baby Please
The Gift Must Always Move
Letter Received
If A Thief Were I
Remember Only...

Album Description

Diverse progressive jazz rock

Customer Reviews:

One of the best New Music Discoveries I made........1999-04-20

I'm always on the look out for new music and this sure is it. Surrender Now offers something for everyone: catchy bass lines, strong drums and some lovely harmonica's.

It can be heard that this is an album made with love. Only the best recording technology of this century is used. That, together with great musicians gives you a new pearl in your collection.

Surrender Now is a great album. The music is great for all reasons involved. Oh, and when they perform in your neighbourhood visit them for sure. When the performance is half as good as the album it could be the night of your life.

Tracks:

Your Mind
Shadowglass
Alley Want
Mardi Gras
Ocean's Cry
Bebe's Song
For Hell Sake's
Opus
You Know I Can't
Wet Legs
Credits

Album Description

More of what should be best described as "Stir Fry". Totally unique alternative jazz rock from Los Angeles.

Customer Reviews:

One of the greatest albums of all time..........1999-10-21

ONOFFON, the progressive jazz-rock trio from California, has once again achieved perfection with their second release, Your Mind. This one is a bit jazzier as a whole, but there are plenty of musical styles here, from hard rock to swing, odd (yet very well done) experimentation to solid jazz instrumentals.

The album opens with the title track, a powerful, primal groove with some of Dave Goode's finest drumming yet. There are also great backing vocals, funky bass and rhythm guitar, and wild flanging effects thrown in to keep things interesting. After the explosive ending of "Your Mind" comes the album's first of three instrumentals, a wonderful, mellow song called "Shadowglass". This one features some melodic flute playing by additional musician Glen Garrett, which gives way to a great guitar solo by Don Lake, the band's virtuoso guitarist, vocalist, and harmonica player, among other things. Von Babasin's bass, as well as some piano and synths, give the song a brilliant, distinctive sound. Next up is one of my all-time favorites from ONOFFON: the six-and-a-half minute "Alley Want". Don's harmonica solo at the beginning is soulful, and the chorus is catchy, with great harmony in the background. Glen Garrett comes back on soprano sax on "Mardi Gras", the second instrumental, which sounds fresh and new with each listen. The ever-changing "Ocean's Cry", a track I didn't like at first but grew on me, pushes Von's funkified, innovative bass playing in the spotlight, along with a great vocal by Don. "Bebe's Song" is a swingin' little tune with Von on lead vocal. Changing rhythm patterns and great production (the dynamics soar in an unexpected buildup in the second verse) are in store for the next track, "For Hell Sake's". This one has funny, real-life lyrics, presented in a jazzy kind of way. The third instrumental, "Opus" comes next, my favorite song on the album. With Don's acoustic and electric guitars in full swing, you can't help being immersed in the broad soundscape. Von and Dave provide a strong rhythmic background for "You Know I Can't", a song with loud/soft/loud again dynamics and a sincere message. Next is "Wet Legs", a rocker with Don's jamming guitar, Von's powerful bass, Dave's extraordinary percussion, and edgy lyrics. The album ends with "Credits", a dizzying reading of the huge list of thank-yous of this self-produced venture that ends with the words "photography, ecstasy, beans" (you'll have to listen to understand it). Your Mind is one of the greatest albums of all time by any artist. I sincerely recommend it to anyone.

Bridge to Presage
Average customer rating:
Bridge to Presage

Manufacturer: ONOFFON
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAD6AO
Release Date: 2005-06-21

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