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.

The 1986 Listening Post - Game Theory - The Big Shot Chronicles

Game Theory - The Big Shot Chronicles

#35/1202

1986 Housekeeping

Game Theory

The Big Shot Chronicles

Genre: Power Pop

4.5 out of 5 

Highlights:

Here It Is Tomorrow

Where You Going Northern

Erica’s Word

Regneisraen

Never Mind

I was blown away by the first Game Theory album. When that came out, all of the band save for Scott Miller, were jettisoned or left and the new band recorded this one, with Mitch Easter at the helm. 

It’s even more spacey and experimental than the last one, bending the ideas of Power Pop into a Pre-Jellyfish form. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-big-shot-chronicles/1154726995

The 1985 Listening Post - Game Theory - Nighttime

Game Theory - Nighttime

#376/1012 LISTENING POST DISCOVERY

1985 Housekeeping

Game Theory

Real Nighttime

Genre: Jangle Pop

4.75 out of 5

Highlights:

24

I Mean it This Time

Friend of the Family

Real Nighttime

Oh, man, where has Game Theory been in my life?

Let me explain why I am so baffled that I never heard of them:

There was a bit torrent site called Soulseek in the mid aughts. I used to linger there and convince millennials to download Throttle Back Sparky’s album. Especially in the densely populate “Indie” room. And that’s where I heard of sooooooo many bands who would’ve escaped my notice. Groups like Exploding Hearts and Epoxies and The Thermals and Olivia Tremor Control and others. (And yes, I bought their CDs, so shut up)

I won’t say what member of what band was on there and traded some of his stuff with me, but suffice to say the band was excellent and one of their part time members is in this group. 

I conversed with him (and others) about Power Pop as it’s so often misidentified. That sent me on a journey (on soulseek and a variety of places) for all things PP. From Raspberries to Bay city Rollers to Big Star to Rick Springfield and all stops between and off the track and never once did I hear the name Game Theory. I mean, I heard of The Spongetones, dammit. But never ever ever this band. 

That this brilliance escaped that journey is mind boggling. 

The second (or 3rd) Power Pop renaissance in LA, with the likes of Martin Luther Lennon, Chewy Marble, The Andersons, Wonderboy, Lisa Mychols, Sparklejets U*K*, Jellyfish, The Wonderments and so many others, owe more, I think, to Game Theory than, almost anyone else. Sure, the Chilton is there but I feel like there are over 1000 bands who have been featured on the International Pop Overthrow who owe something to Game Theory. 

RIP, Scott Miller.

https://music.apple.com/us/album/real-nighttime/972445469