Galaxie 500 - Today (Album Review)

 

Galaxie 500 - Today

(1988)


My copy: 2009 remastered reissue by 20|20|20.


Today is the first of three albums from the short-lived trio of Galaxie 500. Their style rides the line between the melodic focus of The Feelies and the straightforward punk mentality of Beat Happening.

The first impression is one of simplicity: “Flowers” is mid-tempo with gentle vocal harmonies and simplistic guitar strumming. The catch is in the album’s warmth, along with a combination between distinct bass melodies and layered guitar lines that tread between slowcore and punk. “Pictures” is similarly soft and sweet but with a stoned demeanor that proves to be only slightly more focused than the heartfelt mutterings of Jonathon Richman. The tempo and atmosphere become more energetic on “Parking Lot” where mystery is injected via fuzzy guitar solos and stoned vocals. “Don’t Let Our Youth Go To Waste” is a stretched out cover of The Modern Lovers as if it were played by a more hypnotic incarnation of The Velvet Underground. 

The bass steals the show on “Temperature’s Rising” where the feverish vocals are pushed to the background in the supremely catchy choruses. Harmonica accompanies bouncy guitar and layered, echoing vocals on “Oblivious” which is a standout track for again focusing the melody on the bass. “It’s Getting Late” is almost totally boring, but swelling synth strings help to provide a sense of belonging. “Instrumental” features the tightest guitar work, with shining arpeggios over pounding tom drums. The song switches from muted chords and tension to vibrant melodies that eventually rise into a contained storm before ending. “Tugboat” is the ultimate slacker anthem, with echoed vocals that call out stoned decrees over caressing melodies. 

Not included on the vinyl release is “King Of Spain” which is another hazy piece of melodic dream-pop. Galaxie 500 predates the mass flood of bands attempting to purposefully capture a dream-pop sound, and so we have something special that sits as a hybrid of many stylings. The core aspect holding Today back is its lack of unique sound, though its slacker writing style mixed with the warmth of the production and vocal sincerity create something that holds up to this day. Today succeeds at turning punkish angst into a form of meditative rebellion.

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