http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4547&variant=artist-playlists&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rssIf "Roadrunner" were the only song the Modern Lovers ever recorded, they would still go down in history as one of the most important bands of the pre-punk era. Boston-bred loner Jonathan Richman's brainchild was one of the very the first bands (of the many thousands) directly influenced by the Velvet Underground. "Roadrunner" itself is a jubilant, unspeakably perfect swipe of VU's "Sister Ray" and, as the story goes, Richman was such a huge fan of the band that he used to sleep on the couch of their recording studio. The rest of the <I>The Modern Lovers</I>, is a triumph of simple pre-punk that, thanks to Richman's almost childlike innocence, continually subverts the nihilism of punk and replaces it with a level of honesty that at times makes the listener uncomfortable. Richman's unabashed loneliness, his willingness to express his total isolation, and, most importantly, his desire for inclusion goes beyond creating a "sensitive guy" persona. What comes out is a bizarro honesty that calls into question how in touch with reality Richman really is. People just don't say the corny things he says without coming off looking like a fake, but Richman does, and always has. This founding incarnation of the Modern Lovers didn't last long, mainly because the music Richman wanted to make was far less aggressive than the jagged pre-punk of that band. Still the music they recorded stands as a blueprint for countless bands, in much the same way that the first VU albums do. - Mike McGuirkPunk Pioneersen720Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:15:46 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4547&variant=artist-playlists&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss If "Roadrunner" were the only song the Modern Lovers ever recorded, they would still go down in history as one of the most important bands of the pre-punk era. Boston-bred loner Jonathan Richman's brainchild was one of the very the first bands (of the many thousands) directly influenced by the Velvet Underground. "Roadrunner" itself is a jubilant, unspeakably perfect swipe of VU's "Sister Ray" and, as the story goes, Richman was such a huge fan of the band that he used to sleep on the couch of their recording studio. The rest of the <I>The Modern Lovers</I>, is a triumph of simple pre-punk that, thanks to Richman's almost childlike innocence, continually subverts the nihilism of punk and replaces it with a level of honesty that at times makes the listener uncomfortable. Richman's unabashed loneliness, his willingness to express his total isolation, and, most importantly, his desire for inclusion goes beyond creating a "sensitive guy" persona. What comes out is a bizarro honesty that calls into question how in touch with reality Richman really is. People just don't say the corny things he says without coming off looking like a fake, but Richman does, and always has. This founding incarnation of the Modern Lovers didn't last long, mainly because the music Richman wanted to make was far less aggressive than the jagged pre-punk of that band. Still the music they recorded stands as a blueprint for countless bands, in much the same way that the first VU albums do. - Mike McGuirk http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.28573639&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss Alt/Punk Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:08:39 -0700 Playlists Featuring The Modern Lovers on Rhapsody Online 28573639 ply.28573639 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.28573639&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.25327366&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss Alt/Punk Mon, 18 May 2009 08:24:49 -0700 Playlists Featuring The Modern Lovers on Rhapsody Online 25327366 ply.25327366 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.25327366&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.23637454&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss Alt/Punk Fri, 17 Oct 2008 06:49:48 -0700 Playlists Featuring The Modern Lovers on Rhapsody Online 23637454 ply.23637454 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.23637454&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.10388480&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss Alt/Punk Mon, 19 Mar 2007 07:59:38 -0700 Playlists Featuring The Modern Lovers on Rhapsody Online 10388480 ply.10388480 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.10388480&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.9351314&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss Alt/Punk Sat, 27 Sep 2008 11:31:14 -0700 Playlists Featuring The Modern Lovers on Rhapsody Online 9351314 ply.9351314 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.9351314&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.9351343&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss Alt/Punk Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:54:07 -0800 Playlists Featuring The Modern Lovers on Rhapsody Online 9351343 ply.9351343 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.9351343&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.9273310&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss Alt/Punk Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:13:48 -0700 Playlists Featuring The Modern Lovers on Rhapsody Online 9273310 ply.9273310 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.9273310&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8946194&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss Alt/Punk Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:42:26 -0800 Playlists Featuring The Modern Lovers on Rhapsody Online 8946194 ply.8946194 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8946194&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8630094&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Tue, 4 Nov 2008 15:27:45 -0800 Playlists Featuring The Modern Lovers on Rhapsody Online 8630094 ply.8630094 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8630094&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8597979&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss Alt/Punk Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:58:41 -0700 Playlists Featuring The Modern Lovers on Rhapsody Online 8597979 ply.8597979 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8597979&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8607844&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss Country Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:59:59 -0700 Playlists Featuring The Modern Lovers on Rhapsody Online 8607844 ply.8607844 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8607844&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8601311&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss Alt/Punk Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:48:33 -0800 Playlists Featuring The Modern Lovers on Rhapsody Online 8601311 ply.8601311 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8601311&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8594626&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss Alt/Punk Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:48:18 -0800 Playlists Featuring The Modern Lovers on Rhapsody Online 8594626 ply.8594626 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8594626&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8593877&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss Alt/Punk Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:28:49 -0700 Playlists Featuring The Modern Lovers on Rhapsody Online 8593877 ply.8593877 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.8593877&variant=play&rws=%2Fthe-modern-lovers%2Fplaylists.rss