Chain (Pylon album)

1990 studio album by Pylon

Chain

Studio album by

Pylon

Released| 1990
Recorded| Tracks 1–3 and 5–13 recorded July 1990; "Sugarpop" recorded February 1990
Studio| Reflection Sound Studios, John Keane Studios
Genre| Dance-punk,[1] jangle rock[1]
Label| Sky Records[2] 7-2020-1
Producer| Gary Smith, Scott Litt
Pylon chronology
| Chomp
(1983)  | Chain
(1990)  | Pylon Live
(2016)

|
|

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]

## Critical reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [7]
Robert Christgau| A−[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

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

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

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Jenkins, Mark (September 28, 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 July 28, 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 (October 5, 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 (October 5, 1990). "A Comeback". Part II. Newsday. p. 22.

* v
* t
* e

Pylon

* Randall Bewley
* Curtis Crowe
* Vanessa Briscoe Hay
* Michael Lachowski

Albums|

* Gyrate (1980)
* Chomp (1983)
* Chain (1990)
* Pylon Box (2020)

Related articles|

* Athens, GA: Inside Out (1987)
* Pylon Reenactment Society
* Magnet Factory

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