If a picture is worth a thousand words, how many words is a moving picture worth? An interesting question considering the title of the great new Mission Of Burma DVD This Is Not A Photograph. And while it certainly isn't a photograph, it is a snapshot of the Burma reunion coming together that is filled with tons of old footage and plenty of live material both old and new. Additionally, the DVD does a pretty good job of telling the story of the old Burma days in Boston in the late seventies and early eighties.
By now, just about everyone knows the Mission Of Burma story. The band formed in Boston in the late 70's and released a few singles, an EP, and a full-length record on a small indie label before the guitar player's hearing problems forced the band to call it quits. They had a small and devoted following but broke up before gaining any true national attention. During the 20 years that the band ceased to be a band, however, their legacy grew and grew.
There is no denying the power of Mission Of Burma's music and the impact it has had on so many people. I mean, its not everyday that band just rises from its ashes after 20 years of dormancy, records and releases two albums that have the same spirit and ferocity as their original recorded material. It is even rarer for a punk band. Burma's rare combination of dissonant prog rock, melody, and noisy punk sounds as vital today as it ever has. Just listen to The Obliterati for proof.
Mission Of Burma's first tour of duty came at a time before the Internet. Before "alternative" music magazines, and before MTV's video culture. By calling it quits at (what was then) or before their musical peak, Burma's reputation was shrouded in mystery. It is now great to have documentation of that time in the This Is Not A Photograph DVD. The DVD is informative, well done, and presents the band as many have never seen them before. Oh yeah, it's also kinda fun to see 3 middle-aged guys making the noise these guys do.
MP3 | Mission Of Burma - Trem Two Vs.
MP3 | Mission Of Burma - Is This Where? The Obliterati
2 Comments ↓
Steallar band really. But my god do they look old!
I didn't know this was out on DVD. It's now on my Netflix queue. Thank you sir!
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