Chain is the third studio album by the American rock band Pylon, released in 1990.[3][4] It was released after a seven-year hiatus.[5] R.E.M. had lobbied the band to record again, suggesting that Pylon could use R.E.M.'s practice space.[6]

Chain
Studio album by
Released1990
RecordedTracks 1–3 and 5–13 recorded July 1990; "Sugarpop" recorded February 1990
StudioReflection Sound Studios, John Keane Studios
GenreDance-punk,[1] jangle rock[1]
LabelSky Records[2] 7-2020-1
ProducerGary Smith, Scott Litt
Pylon chronology
Chomp
(1983)
Chain
(1990)
Pylon Live
(2016)

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [7]
Robert ChristgauA−[8]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [9]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide     [10]

Robert Christgau thought that Pylon's "low registers, deliberate silences, and inexorably unmechanical beat all feed a muscular musical solidity with no real parallels—10 years after, the only band that sounds remotely similar is the Gang of Four."[8] Trouser Press wrote: "While retaining the band's traditional bite, Chain gets more melody and texture from [Vanessa] Briscoe-Hay's singing and Randy Bewley's sharp guitar jabs."[3] Newsday noted the "monomaniacal infatuation with thick bass notes and a steady, pneumatic beat."[11] The Washington Post determined that "there's still plenty of bounce in the band's sleek, steel-springed sound."[1]

Track listing

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  • All songs written and arranged by Pylon.
  1. "Look Alive" – 4:19
  2. "Catch" – 3:37
  3. "B-Complex" – 2:25
  4. "Sugarpop" – 3:25
  5. "There It Is" – 3:32
  6. "Springtime" – 3:38
  7. "This / That" – 3:02
  8. "Go" – 3:57
  9. "Crunch" – 3:39
  10. "Very Right" – 3:49
  11. "Metal" – 2:50
  12. "Outside" – 2:47
  13. "Sloganistic" – 2:36

Personnel

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  • Vanessa Ellison – vocals
  • Randy Bewley – guitars
  • Michael Lachowski – bass
  • Curtis Crowe – drums

References

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  1. ^ a b c Jenkins, Mark (28 Sep 1990). "'Chain' Links Pylon to Jangle of Athens". The Washington Post. p. N14.
  2. ^ Gettelman, Parry. "Pylon". OrlandoSentinel.com.
  3. ^ a b "Pylon". Trouser Press. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  4. ^ Kot, Greg. "DANCING OVATION FOR PYLON". Chicago Tribune.
  5. ^ "Pop Reviews : Pylon: Purity but With Too Little Purpose". Los Angeles Times. October 27, 1990.
  6. ^ Dafoe, Chris (5 Oct 1990). "Pylon rises from Athens' ashes". Toronto Star. p. D16.
  7. ^ "Chain - Pylon | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  8. ^ a b "Robert Christgau: Album: Pylon: Chain". www.robertchristgau.com.
  9. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 700.
  10. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 568–569.
  11. ^ Robins, Wayne (5 Oct 1990). "A Comeback". Part II. Newsday. p. 22.