The 1981 Listening Post - ALRN (Alternate Learning) - Painted Windows

 Reviewed by Paul J Zickler

Released: 1981 ALRN (AKA Alternate Learning) Painted Windows Genre: Post-Punk, New Wave Rating: 3.75 out of 5 Highlights: The New You Dark Days Occupation: Unknown While waiting for the Google Drive download, I found out ALRN (aka Alternate Learning) was fronted by Scott Warren Miller, who was later in Game Theory. If you like mid-80’s college radio, you might really like their song 24. I do and I do. The band was formed in 1977 in Davis, CA., when they were all in high school. Most of the original members left before 1981, when this album was recorded. They played some shows in San Francisco. They opened for Pylon. They put out a very cute, handwritten newsletter. [1] Overall, I’d put them closer to Post-Punk than New Wave, although the best song here, Dark Days, could almost qualify as Power Pop. It should have been a hit, and based on their newsletter, it was, among their fans at least. Occupation: Unknown is the strongest of the Post-Punk tunes, with its semi-frenetic drumming and front-and-center bass line. There’s also a lush ballad called The New You that might remind you of Tears for Fears. [2] For my money, the more ambitious tracks don’t quite make it – Another Wasted Afternoon opens with long, quiet sound effects (a weird way to start an album), Painted Windows shifts gears a few times, verging on Prog, and I wanted to like it, but all I could think was: hey, play some more of that fun, upbeat stuff! [3] ALRN’s Painted Windows has a really cool front cover. Hopefully you can see it below. If you want to buy a copy of the vinyl in the United States, one can be had for $130 with shipping via Discogs. ************ 1. See for yourself here: https://ia600901.us.archive.org/8/items/mbid-6b2cd59d-ec4b-46e4-beb7-4209e085734b/mbid-6b2cd59d-ec4b-46e4-beb7-4209e085734b-6229240342.jpg (front) https://ia800901.us.archive.org/8/items/mbid-6b2cd59d-ec4b-46e4-beb7-4209e085734b/mbid-6b2cd59d-ec4b-46e4-beb7-4209e085734b-6227272279.jpg (back) 2. I’m sure someone with more extensive knowledge of the era and the genre(s) could come up with a better comparison. 3. By which I mean happy, jumpy music with bleak, depressing lyrics, a musical style I'm quite partial to, personally.